Cup finals' fans can boost Reds

May 29 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

THE campaign to buy Stirling Albion is targeting the Scottish and FA Cup Finals tomorrow (Saturday).

Already supporters of cup finalists Rangers, Falkirk, Chelsea and Everton have signed up to the BuyStirlingAlbion.co.uk campaign.

One of the backers, Everton fan Mark Crowley wrote to organisers to suggest that if every fan at the games donates just £1, around £140,000 could be added to ever-growing fund.

Campaign spokesperson, Paul Goodwin said: “More than 140,000 football fans will live their dreams by attending Hampden and Wembley this cup final weekend and if every one of them donated just £1 to the BuyStirlingAlbion campaign we think we could buy the club.

“The generosity of the family of football fans has been shown countless times in recent years so this weekend could be our cup final too. In fact, it was actually an Everton fan, Mark Crowley, who contacted us to suggest we do this.

“As well as reaching their respective cup finals, Rangers won the SPL, Falkirk avoided relegation, Everton secured European qualification and David Moyes picked up the League Managers’ Association Manager of the Year award and Chelsea qualified for the Champions League so we know that this weekend is going to be big for all of them.

“We really hope that we can take a major step towards saving Stirling Albion with their help.”

Fans from the three other finalists are urging their fellow supporters to back the Binos campaign.

Stewart Russell, a Rangers fan from Derby said: “I can’t make it up for the cup final but I think this is a great way for fans of the four finalists to give something back to football. I am sure all the supporters would not mind giving a £1 so why not do it online and help save a bit of history!”

Alison Friel from Falkirk said: “Falkirk fans will be living their dream at Hampden on Saturday so a pledge of just £1 to help the survival of Stirling Albion and for their fans to hold on to the dream of playing in a cup final is a must do for everyone.”

And Steve Raher, a Chelsea fan from Chesham in Buckinghamshire added: “Come on Blues fans let’s raise the most and show we care.”

Paul Goodwin added: “When we launched our campaign a few weeks ago we said that saving Stirling Albion would be our cup final so we hope that the generosity of fans of Rangers, Falkirk, Everton and Chelsea, as well as fans from every club around the world, will help us reach our dream.”

Online donations can be made by visiting www.BuyStirlingAlbion.org.uk. The campaign is still urging football fans to buy an “Albion Trust Membership” costing £40 which will see football fans from across the world having a direct input into the running of the club, through the Stirling Albion Supporters Trust.