Round the world to cheer on Binos

Mar 6 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

STIRLING Albion striker Martin Grehan found himself three new fans at the Binos’ match with Arbroath on Saturday.

Three Chinese graduates who are spending a year with Diageo technical experts at Menstrie were guests of the drinks giants at Albion’s home match with the Red Lichties.

The girls are Jing Jing Li, who is from Hangzhou and has a masters degree in risk management; Dede Cao, from Chongqing, a masters graduate in materials for industry; and Emily Ren from Inner Mongolia, who has a masters degree in polymer technology. They are spending a year training with technical experts at Menstrie before taking up posts with the company in China.

The girls had never been to a football match and enjoyed every minute.

Dede said: “The action was great but we really missed replays as the everything happened so quickly.”

After the match Binos boss Allan Moore arranged for the girls to meet a few of the players but Martin who was the favourite and he ended up signing autographs and posing for photographs. They also met club chairman Peter McKenzie.

Diageo’s Robert McElroy said: “The girls are learning a great deal from just working beside the many experts at our technical centre in Menstrie but they are also keen to experience all that Scotland has to offer so when they asked to see a football match, as a Stirling Albion fan, there was only one solution.”

Jing Jing, who grew up in eastern China, said: “We were so happy to be able to meet the players, the manager and Peter.

“He told us of how he played football and all about the history of the club. we had a great day out,”

Emily added: “We do love Stirling and Scotland. Everyone is so kind. This is our first job with Diageo and we are so lucky to have started our career in Scotland.”

The girls and their manager John Zhang, who is from Cangzhou in Hebei province, return home in September.