Stirling University F.C. are a football club who play in the Lowland League. They were admitted to the first division of the East of Scotland League in 2008 after Berwick Rangers withdrew their reserve team but were admitted to the new Lowland League in 2013.
The club operates five teams which compete in a combination of British University competitions and in senior and amateur leagues across Scotland. The University deliver a High Performance Football Programme which provides players to the first team. As part of this programme, students can be offered football scholarships to study for a degree and play football at the University. The football scholarship programme is named after Craig Gowans, a talented Falkirk FC player who died in 2005 while training at the University of Stirling.
The 2009-10 season was one of great success for the students winning the First Division championship in only the team’s second season in the East of Scotland leagues, the Scottish Universities championship and they reached the King Cup final losing to East of Scotland Premier League champions Spartans F.C. 0-2 at Ferguson Park, Rosewell. In the 2010-2011 season, in their first season in the East of Scotland Premier the students secured a second place and also suffering defeat in the King Cup final at the hands of Spartans at the Falkirk stadium. They were successful in the Alex Jack Cup winning the final at the Falkirk Stadium 7-0 against Lothian Thistle.
In 2012 Stirling again won the Alex Jack Cup final 3-0 against Gretna 2008, The Man of the Match was Kieran Mccaffrey who scored the first and got an assist. The promising young central midfielder was signed by the University from Scunthorpe United FC in the summer of 2011.
In March of 2012 The Universities first year scholar Stephen Hoyle left the program to sign for ASB Premiership side Hawkes Bay United.
Stirling had a remarkable 2012 season bringing three trophies back to the University, including the East of Scotland Premier League title for the first time. This means the University will compete in the 2012–13 Scottish Cup, participating in the national cup competition for the first time in the clubs history. Stirling University were drawn against Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic in the second round.
When it was announced in 2013 that Stirling University would be admitted to the Lowland League, it was also announced that they would use Stirling Albion's Forthbank Stadium for their home fixtures.
At the end of the 2012-13 season, goalkeeper Kevin Walker left the University to sign a 1 year professional contract with Scottish First Division side Livingston F.C. http://www.livingstonfc.co.uk/news/news_20130528_1.php Former student Danny Denholm also signed for the club after a successful spell at Forfar Athletic which saw him named Young Player of the Year last season. http://www.livingstonfc.co.uk/news/news_20130529_1.php
Read more about Stirling University F.C.: Players
Famous quotes containing the words stirling and/or university:
“Oh, if thy pride did not our joys control,
What world of loving wonders shouldst thou see!
For if I saw thee once transformed in me,
Then in thy bosom I would pour my soul;”
—William Alexander, Earl O Stirling (1580?–1640)
“Within the university ... you can study without waiting for any efficient or immediate result. You may search, just for the sake of searching, and try for the sake of trying. So there is a possibility of what I would call playing. It’s perhaps the only place within society where play is possible to such an extent.”
—Jacques Derrida (b. 1930)