Forfar Athletic v Stirling Albion – Match Preview
Scottish Gas Scottish Cup – Round Three
Venue – Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park – ko 3pm.
Saturday 30th November, 2024
Admission Charges – Stand & Terracing
Adults £15
Concessions (65 & over) £10
Under 17’s £5
Payment on the day by cash at turnstile. If anyone would like to purchase a ticket online in advance, they can be purchased at https://forfarathletic.ticketco.events/uk/en/m/e/forfar_athletic_v_stirling_albion_cup24 Please note that anyone purchasing a concession or u17 ticket online may on the day be asked to produce proof of their age and entitlement to a concession ticket, failing which entry to the ground with their online ticket may be refused.
Forfar Athletic Season Tickets not valid for this fixture.
The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open to supporters from 12.30pm. to 2.50pm. The lounge will re-open again on the final whistle till approximately 8pm.
The Refreshment Kiosk and Club Shop will be open as usual at the fixture.
50/50 tickets will be on sale from vendors within the ground and pre-match in the 1984 Lounge.
PREVIEW
The Loons welcome Stirling Albion to Station Park on Saturday in a third round Scottish Cup clash and despite being the underdogs keen to produce a winning performance and with it a fourth round berth for the second season running.
The match will also mark the return to the Station Park dugout for Jim Weir following the midday postponement of last weekend’s league clash with Peterhead. Jim and his assistant Gavin Price are eagerly looking forward to the occasion. Jim is aware that a wee cup run can be a massive boost in many ways, not the least financially for a club at our level. However he is excited by the prospect of the clash with Alan Maybury’s side who sit in four place in the SPFL2 and naturally anticipates a hard fought ninety minutes.
Last week’s postponement however disappointing at the time has been a bonus in other directions for the incoming Forfar management team. They have had a further two intense training sessions with the squad making for much better preparation than would have been the case for the Peterhead fixture. Jim is first to admit that he has been delighted by the response of the players in training and is confident that the air of positivity evident at Station Park on Thursday evening can be carried forward to 3pm. on Saturday afternoon.
The manager was also delighted to note that Finlay Allan netted a hat trick for Dundee’s second string at Falkirk in midweek, a match watched by Gavin Price.
All four loan players including of course our second round match winner Arran Cocks are available for selection for the tie. On the injury front Adam Hutchinson and Ross MacLean remain unavailable although both could return to full training next week.
Albion reached this stage of the tournament with a crushing 6-0 win over East of Scotland League 2 outfit Boness Athletic.
The ‘Binos’ and the ‘Loons’ have already met this season on league business, the home side winning 2-1 at Forthbank in early October. Bradley Rodden gave the Athies an early lead in that contest, Erik Sula and Ricky Waugh the home side’s marksmen.
As mentioned earlier in the week the clubs have only ‘crossed swords’ on one previous occasion on Scottish Cup duty, Albion winning 2-1 in January 1976, the match played at their previous residence Annfield. Kenny Payne was the Forfar scorer that wintry afternoon, a slip by goalkeeper Tony Miklinski costing the visitors the chance of a replay.
Back to the present and the incoming manager admits how delighted he is to be back at Station Park, also commenting that Gavin and himself have been overwhelmed by the response from all quarters to their respective returns to the club. They fully intend to repay that response hopefully with cup tie success on Saturday but most certainly as the season progresses.
Referee on Saturday is Jordan Curran who was also the man in the middle for East Fife’s visit a few weeks back.
C’mon the Loons
Hospitality Guests – Scott Kydd & Friends, David McSheffrey & Friends
1984 Lounge Hospitality – Sandy Nicoll & Friends
Match Ball Sponsor – Stag Hotel
Footnotes;- There are no replays in the Scottish Cup these days. If the scores on Saturday are level at the end of normal time, thirty minutes extra-time will be played. If still level at the end of extra-time, a penalty shoot- out will determine the winner. The draw for the fourth round of the Scottish Cup will take place on the BBC Scotland channel at the conclusion of the East Kilbride v Falkirk tie on Monday evening.
