East Stirlingshire F.C facts for kids
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| Full name | East Stirlingshire Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Shire | ||
| Founded | 1881 | ||
| Ground | Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir | ||
| Capacity | 3,746 (626 seated) | ||
| Chairman | Alan Archibald | ||
| Manager | John Sludden | ||
| League | Lowland League | ||
| 2015–16 | Scottish League Two, 10th (relegated via play-offs) | ||
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East Stirlingshire Football Club is a Scottish football team from Falkirk. The club started in 1881. They play in the Lowland Football League, which is the fifth level of Scottish football. The club's story began in 1880. A local cricket team formed a football team called Britannia in Bainsford.
East Stirlingshire joined the Scottish Football League in 1900. They have been part of the league system for most of their history. The club has won the second level of Scottish football once. They also finished second once, which led to them moving up to the top league both times. Their highest league position was in 1932–33 and 1963–64. These were the only two seasons they played in the top league. In 2016, East Stirlingshire was the first club to be moved out of the national league system.
The club first played in the Scottish Cup in 1882. Their best result was reaching the quarter-finals three times. The last time was in 1981. In 2000–01, they reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Challenge Cup. They lost to Livingston. In 2008, the club left Firs Park. They moved to Ochilview Park to share a stadium with local rivals Stenhousemuir.
Contents
Club History: The Shire's Journey
East Stirlingshire officially started in 1881. But their beginnings go back to 1880. A cricket club called Bainsford Bluebonnets formed a football team named Britannia. Their first game was a friendly match against Falkirk's second team in December 1880. They lost 7–0. Their first game as East Stirlingshire was against the same team in August 1881. The club's nickname is "The Shire." This comes from the "Stirlingshire" part of their name.
After joining the Scottish Football Association, they could play in the Scottish Cup. This is Scotland's main knockout competition. They were knocked out in their first game in 1882. In December 1883, the Stirlingshire Football Association was created. This led to a new local tournament called the Stirlingshire Cup. The club reached the final in its first year. East Stirlingshire was very strong in the early years of this tournament. They won it four years in a row between 1885 and 1889. This included a big 9–0 win against Falkirk in the 1888 final. Lawrence McLachlan scored two goals in that game. He was a key goalscorer in the club's early success. He scored 135 known goals, more than any other East Stirlingshire player.
The late 1800s were East Stirlingshire's best time in the Scottish Cup. They reached the quarter-finals in 1888–89 and 1890–91. This was the last time for 91 years. They lost to Celtic and Hearts. In the 1888–89 tournament, they had their biggest wins. They beat local rivals Stenhousemuir 10–1. Then they won 11–2 against Vale of Bannock. During this time, four East Stirlingshire players played for their countries. Humphrey Jones, the captain of the Wales national football team, played five times for Wales while with the club. Three other players, David Alexander, Archibald Ritchie, and James McKie, played for the Scotland national football team.
Between 1891 and 1899, the club played in regional leagues. They won the Midland Football League and the Central Football Combination. In 1900–01, they were chosen to join the second level of the Scottish Football League. They finished 7th out of ten teams in their first season. In March 1905, there was an idea to merge the club with Falkirk. Falkirk agreed, but East Stirlingshire did not.
The club finished last in the league in 1905–06, winning only one game. But they also finished as high as third in 1912–13, almost winning the championship. The club stayed in Division Two until 1914–15. Then the league and the Scottish Cup were stopped because of World War I.
After World War I, the club rejoined Division Two in 1921–22. The year before, they moved to Firs Park. They had left their old ground, Merchiston Park, in 1920. In 1921, a record 12,000 fans came to watch them play Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup. The club was moved down to the new Division Three in 1922–23. But they moved back up to Division Two after just one season. They set a record of 23 home games without a loss.
Ten years later, East Stirlingshire moved up to Division One. This was Scotland's top league, for the first time. They were at the top of Division Two for 32 weeks. They finished with 55 points, the same as St Johnstone. East Stirlingshire won the championship because they had scored more goals. They stayed in the top league for one season, finishing last. In 1935–36, they had their biggest league defeat, losing 12–1 to Dundee United. In 1938–39, Malcolm Morrison scored 36 goals. This was the most league goals by an East Stirlingshire player in one season.
The club was not included in the wartime league in 1939. They were also not allowed back into the Scottish Football League Division Two after World War II. So, they played in a new Division C with reserve teams from bigger clubs. In their second season in Division C, East Stirlingshire won the league. They were promoted back to Division Two (now called "Division B"). But they finished last in 1948–49. Division C was then removed. The club had to leave the Scottish Football League for six years. They played in local leagues. They rejoined Division Two in 1955–56.
The club sold many young players to bigger clubs. One was Eddie McCreadie, a defender, who went to Chelsea in 1962. He played 23 times for Scotland. The money from this sale helped them get new players. In 1962–63, the club moved up to the top league for a second time. They finished second in Division Two, behind St Johnstone. Like before, East Stirlingshire stayed in the top league for only one season before being moved down.
The Controversial Merger
After being moved down from Scotland's top league, East Stirlingshire was controversially merged with Clydebank Juniors in 1964. The new club was called East Stirlingshire Clydebank. It moved to Kilbowie Park in Clydebank. Many fans did not want this. But the merger only lasted one season. East Stirlingshire shareholders won court cases against it. The club went back to its original name and moved back to Falkirk. During the time as E.S. Clydebank, the club set a record attendance at Kilbowie Park. 14,900 fans watched a Scottish Cup game against Hibernian in February 1965.
In 1966, Lawrence Binnie became the club's first official manager. Before him, the club's directors made all the management decisions. After the merger ended, the club played ten seasons in Division Two. Then, because of league changes, they moved to a new Second Division in 1975–76. This was now the third level of Scottish football. During this time, the club got past the group stage of the Scottish League Cup for the first time.
The year before, the club hired its most famous manager, Alex Ferguson. He was at the club in 1974 before moving to St Mirren. In 1979–80, East Stirlingshire moved up to the First Division. This was the last time the club was promoted in the league. Managed by Billy Lamont, the club finished second in the Second Division. They were just one point behind rivals Falkirk. The two clubs were at the top for most of the season. They went into the final game with the same points. East Stirlingshire needed to do better than Falkirk to win. But Falkirk won their match, and East Stirlingshire drew, so they finished second.
In 1994–95, the Scottish Football League changed again. East Stirlingshire moved to a new Third Division, which was now the fourth level. They finished fourth in their first season and again in 1997–98. Most other times, East Stirlingshire finished lower down the table. In 1996–97, they won their final game against Arbroath to avoid finishing last. In 2000–01, the club reached the semi-final of a national cup for the first time. They lost 2–1 to Livingston in the Scottish Challenge Cup.
At the start of the 2000s, the club had money problems. Players were paid very little. Manager Dennis Newall became the first unpaid manager in Scottish football. Because of this, the club finished last in the Scottish Football League for five years in a row, from 2002–03 to 2006–07. In 2003–04, they lost 24 league games in a row. They only got 8 points from two wins and two draws in 36 games.
From 2005–06, if a club finished last in the Third Division twice in a row, they could lose their voting rights. East Stirlingshire had a vote, and the league let them keep their full member status. But they had to not finish last the next season in 2008. The club won its final game of the season, 3–1 against Montrose, to move off the bottom. This was also the last game at Firs Park. The next season, the club moved to Ochilview Park. They now share the stadium with neighbours Stenhousemuir.
Under manager Jim McInally, the club finished third for two years in a row. This meant they could play in the promotion play-offs. But after finishing second-to-last in 2010–11, McInally was replaced by John Coughlin. The club finished last two more times after that. This could have put them in danger again. But because of talks about changing the league, the rule was not used. These talks led to a new group, the Scottish Professional Football League. It was formed by joining the Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League. East Stirlingshire joined the Scottish League Two, which replaced the old Third Division.
After finishing last in the 2015–16 Scottish League Two, East Stirlingshire played a play-off against Edinburgh City. The winner would play in the 2016–17 Scottish League Two. Edinburgh City won 2–1. This meant East Stirlingshire moved down to the Lowland Football League. This ended their 61 years in the Scottish national league system.
Team Colours and Crest
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| Black and white hoops from 1882 |
East Stirlingshire's home colours have been black and white hoops for most of their history since 1882. The club's first kit was thin blue and white hoops between 1880 and 1882. Then they changed to colours similar to today's. An all-black shirt was used from 1960 to 1962, and again from 2008 to 2010. The club's 100-year anniversary kit in 1981 was all-white. In 1996–97, the stripes changed from horizontal to vertical for a whole season. A similar design was used for one month in August 1982 before changing back.
The first company to make kits for East Stirlingshire was Bukta from 1979 to 1987. For the 1998–99 season, the club signed a deal with French company Le Coq Sportif. They could not deliver the kits on time. So, they sent Queen's Park kits with East Stirlingshire's crest and sponsors ironed on top. The kit supplier for the 2012–13 season was Jako. Other past suppliers include Hummel, Umbro, and Joma.
The club crest is a shield with black and white stripes and a football design. A banner at the top shows the club name. There are different versions where the football and banner are black, white, or orange.
Home Grounds: Where They Play
East Stirlingshire has played at several grounds over the years. When the club was called Britannia, they played one of their first games at Burnhouse. This is thought to be where Merchiston Park later was. The club played many games there in the late 1800s. Some home games were also played at Randyford Park.
Merchiston Park was a football ground in Bainsford, about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) north of Falkirk. It was near the Forth and Clyde Canal. Merchiston Park hosted East Stirlingshire's first Scottish Football League game in 1900–01. They lost 3–2 to Airdrieonians. Merchiston Park was the club's home until 1921. A nearby iron works bought the ground for expansion, so the club moved to Firs Park.
Firs Park was in the centre of Falkirk, named after Firs Street. The club moved there in 1921. In the same year, a record 12,000 fans came to a Scottish Cup game against Partick Thistle. Firs Park was East Stirlingshire's home for 87 years. The only exception was one season in 1964. The club played at Kilbowie Park in Clydebank after the controversial merger with Clydebank Juniors. Firs Park was closed because of the merger. But after only one season, the merger ended. East Stirlingshire moved back to Firs Park. They stayed there until the end of the 2007–08 season. The club decided to close Firs Park because it was too expensive to update it to meet new stadium rules. When it closed, the ground could hold 1,800 people, with 200 seats.
East Stirlingshire now plays its home games at Ochilview Park. This is the home ground of local rivals Stenhousemuir. After leaving Firs Park in 2008, the club agreed to share Ochilview Park with Stenhousemuir. This was planned for five years. The club hoped to build a new stadium in Falkirk. In May 2014, East Stirlingshire FC started a project with LK Galaxy Sports. They plan to build a new playing facility at Little Kerse in Grangemouth. This site will also be used for other sports.
Rivalries: Who Are Their Biggest Opponents?
East Stirlingshire's main rival is Falkirk. The club's first games as both Britannia and East Stirlingshire were friendly matches against Falkirk in 1880 and 1881. Both clubs are from Falkirk. They have played against each other in competitions like the Stirlingshire Cup since the late 1800s. East Stirlingshire joined the Scottish Football League in 1900. Falkirk followed two seasons later in 1902–03. The first league game between them was in August 1902. Falkirk won 2–0 at Merchiston Park. The two clubs' old grounds, Firs Park and Brockville Park, were very close. They were less than half a mile apart.
On a local level, East Stirlingshire also has rivalries with other clubs from the Stirlingshire area. These clubs have played in the Stirlingshire Cup since the 1880s. They include Stenhousemuir, and since 1945, Stirling Albion and Alloa Athletic. East Stirlingshire shares Ochilview Park with rivals Stenhousemuir.
Club Officials and Players
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Coaching staff
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Current Squad
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Notable Players: Club Legends
Gordon Russell holds the record for the most league games played for East Stirlingshire. He played 415 matches between 1983 and 2002. He also managed the club for a short time in 2002.
Four East Stirlingshire players have played for their country's main national team. This happened 9 times in total. The first was Humphrey Jones. He was captain of the Wales national football team four times out of his five games while at East Stirlingshire. His first game was against England in 1889. The other three players were Archibald Ritchie, David Alexander, and James McKie. They all played for the Scotland national football team. Each of them played their first game against Wales. Archibald Ritchie's only game for Scotland was in March 1891 against Wales, whose captain was Humphrey Jones. David Alexander played two games, scoring against Wales in 1894. James McKie scored twice in his only game for Scotland, a 5–2 win over Wales in 1898. He is the last East Stirlingshire player to play for his country.
Notable Managers: Famous Faces
East Stirlingshire did not officially have a manager until 1966. Before then, the club's directors made all the management decisions. The first person to manage the club was Lawrence Binnie in 1966. The club's most famous manager is Sir Alex Ferguson. He later managed Manchester United. East Stirlingshire was his first job as a manager in 1974. He then moved to St Mirren.
No manager has won a league title with the club. However, Billy Lamont led East Stirlingshire to promotion to the 1980–81 Scottish First Division. They finished second in Division Two, just one point behind rivals Falkirk. He also took East Stirlingshire to the quarter-finals of the 1980–81 Scottish Cup. This was the furthest the club had gone in the tournament since 1889–90.
After five years of finishing last in the Scottish Football League in the mid-2000s, Jim McInally helped turn things around. He managed East Stirlingshire to third-place finishes in the Third Division in 2008 and 2010. This allowed them to play in the promotion play-offs. John Coughlin became the head coach in May 2011, taking over from Jim McInally.
Honours: What They've Won
League Titles
- Division Two (before 1975) and First Division (after 1975):
- Winners (1): 1931–32
- Runners-up (1): 1962–63
- Division Three (1923 to 1926), Division C (1946 to 1949) and Second Division (after 1975):
- Winners (1): 1947–48
- Runners-up (2): 1923–24, 1979–80
Cup Wins
- Scottish Qualifying Cup:
- Winners (2): 1888–89, 1910–11
- Stirlingshire Cup:
- Winners (21): 1885–86, 1886–87, 1887–88, 1888–89, 1890–91, 1892–93, 1893–94, 1896–97, 1900–01, 1902–03, 1906–07, 1913–14, 1923–24, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1931–32, 1935–36, 1961–62, 1968–69, 1984–85, 2000–01
Records and Statistics
The club's biggest win in the Scottish Football League was 8–0 against Arthurlie in August 1927. Their biggest defeat was 12–1 to Dundee United in April 1936. In the Scottish Cup, their biggest winning difference was 9 goals. They did this twice in a row in 1888: 10–1 against Stenhousemuir and 11–2 against Vale of Bannock. Their biggest loss in the cup was 2–10 to Renton in October 1884.
East Stirlingshire's record for home attendance was 12,000 fans. This was for a Scottish Cup match against Partick Thistle on February 19, 1921, at Firs Park.
Gordon Russell has played the most league games for East Stirlingshire, with 445 matches between 1983–84 and 2000–01. The record for most league goals in one season is 36. This was achieved by Malcolm Morrison in 1938–39 and Henry Morris in 1947–48. Humphrey Jones holds the record for the most international games played while at East Stirlingshire, with 5 caps for the Wales national football team between 1889 and 1890.
The highest amount of money received for an East Stirlingshire player was £35,000. This was from English club Chelsea for Jim Docherty in 1978. The most the club has paid for a player is £6,000 for Colin McKinnon from Falkirk in 1991.
