Stirling Albion start season with home cup ties

Jun 5 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

STIRLING Albion start next season with a double header of home cup ties after being paired with Ayr United in round one of the Co-operative Insurance Cup on August 1.

The Binos last week landed another Forthbank clash with Division Two champions Raith in the first round of the ALBA Challenge Cup on Saturday, July 25 and will face Ayr a week later, before the Second Division games begins on August 8.

Albion just missed out on being seeded in the draw yesterday (Thursday), which involved 32 clubs. The remaining four Clydesdale Bank Premier League clubs not involved in Europe will join in round two, with Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Aberdeen, Falkirk and Motherwell coming in at the third round.

Good news for fans is that all cup ties and friendlies are part of the season ticket package. Season books are now on sale from Forthbank, priced £215 for adults, £135 for juveniles/seniors citizens and £120 for members of the Young Reds. Walk-up prices remain £12 for adults, £8 concessions and £7 for Young Reds.

Co-operative Insurance Cup first-round draw: Brechin City v Elgin City, Queen's Park v Queen of the South, Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Annan Athletic, Stenhousemuir v St Johnstone, Ross County v Montrose, East Stirlingshire v St Mirren, Partick Thistle v Berwick Rangers , East Fife v Raith Rovers, Dundee v Stranraer, Stirling Albion v Ayr United, Airdrie United v Alloa Athletic, Cowdenbeath v Morton, Peterhead v Arbroath, Albion Rovers v Livingston, Clyde v Forfar, Dumbarton v Dunfermline Athletic