The Mighty Shire

Thanks for all your comments. Although light years away in fitba ability what we have in common is that both clubs were totally shafted by people and have had to pick up the smashed remains and carry on.

Greetings mighty Gers from old chap at East Stirlingshire. As you sit proudly and predictably at the head of League One have you noticed that The Mighty Shire sit proudly at the head of League Two? Your club has played a part in that I think. Your season with the "no hopers" has boosted our finances together with some sterling work by our Secretary, Chairman and Manager and we've managed to assemble a side which so far is making us feel more confident than for many seasons. For the first time for years we are also running a reserve team which is helping to keep squad players fit /getting injured players back as well as giving the best of our youngsters the opportunity to play in the "real world" outside of youth football (ouch!). It is a very small step for us and we may well be dislodged from our lofty perch - I'm under no illusions - but if we can get away from "the Scottish League's worst team" for a while that will be a bonus. Best of luck for the season boys and girls although you don't seem to be needing much help at the moment!

....as you set forth on your next journey out of the hapless Division Three. The Mighty Shire have, as usual, ended up rock bottom with a most unimpressive playing record but, along the way in our meetings, we have given you a couple of decent games although you have also had cause to complain about one or two of our cloggers and I have no argument with that. I am not aware that we have had any "problems" with Rangers supporters despite the reputation forecast by some who may, or may not, have their own agenda. We have had terrible injury problems and have virtually no back up to replace those.and so we have had a number of disastrous games although we did (briefly) get to 6th place. But that was then. I "think" we have enjoyed playing you and have given you a couple of decent games although there was only likely to be one winner in all of them. However I am happy that, with luck, we did not disgrace ourselves against the mighty Gers. I had hoped we would not be bottom (again) but there we are. A couple of years ago, as previously posted, we were close to going out of business so I should probably shut up moaning. It's been an odd week this end. The World's Greatest Football Manager has announced his retirement.. He started out as a Manager with East Stirlingshire (only for 110 days before being poached by St Mirren) but that is where he started and still remains the Patron. I have no idea what your budget was for this season (in your reduced circumstances) but I can now exclusively reveal - as the season is over - what the playing budget was for East Stirlingshire. It was £40,000.. Best of luck for next season Gers.and personally all good wishes.

Yes I remember some of that and your brother. Good times of a different era but we are fighting back if we can and we've still got our club to support. Fergie has always been good to The Shire - still in touch and still our Patron. Fergie isn't all Hair Dryer - he's gone down a vastly different road but we were his first pathway to "get the bug" as it were. Yes indeed we have our history, bit less impressive than yours - but it's OUR history. Formed by a cricket club who wanted something for the blokes to do in Winter.................. Best wishes for the season to you all.

[ I enjoyed the young goalkeeper his employment being a welder in the shipyard . He was excellent I'm delighted for our keeper Grant Hay. He's only 19 and, to be perfectly honest, wasn't going to be No 1 (probably) but the loan player who was told us to get stuffed as I understand. He's been thrown in at the deep end and I'm more than happy for him to be in goal for us. Obviously Gers are streets ahead of the rest of Div 3 but I honestly don't feel that Grant let us down at all against the Div 3 keepers. The good thing at our club is that he gets lots and lots of practice. He's a great lad as well (if that matters) and would really like to do fitba full time if possible. I'm sure welding has it's delights but still.......... We gave you a decent game for about an hour or so. I'm more than happy with that.

Not bothered about the naughty songs myself. At the end of the day it is the fans who are the heartbeat of any club - the owners, directors, managers, players come and go but who are still there?

I'm still here and I'm still passionate about The Mighty Shire. I thought we gave a half decent account of ourselves today - obviously you were the better side with a lot more skill than we can currently muster but, without boring any of you again, we are in the process of picking ourselves up with few financial resources. It's a long hard slog but we've got a good set of people at the top now and although it will be a slow process I am more hopeful than I have been for some time. Like yourselves we had a painful collision with people who turned our little club over leaving us homeless as mentioned by "Top Goalie". We nearly went under because of that. So far as I am concerned Gers fans and their team are welcome at any time although I don't suppose we will be seeing much of you after this season. You had too much for us today and I expected that but I didn't think 3-1 to a quality side was that much of a disgrace. I'm sure, also, that it will have been a big thrill for our part timers to play to such a huge audience and telly and all that!

I shouldn't think you need to worry too much - it's only us! Hoping that we can give a decent account of ourselves - we are up to 6th you know (first time that has happened for a long time). Evening all.

Thanks for your good wishes. I think we will be fine now - basically it is now run by the supporters and while money is still very very tight it's getting better. Last year was a disaster because we had no pre season that you could call a pre season and didn't even know if the club would still exist similar to your uncertainties. Great to be part of a little bit of football history - there's some future pub quiz questions there I think! It's a very unusual season for clubs like ours though - 49,000 at your place this coming Saturday it will be around 500 I would think.

That would be Nathan Shepherd. I think he's 20 - started out as a wee lad at Morton and last year played for Stranraer. I think he'll be good for us - didn't let us down in a "big" atmosphere.

Around £200 a week I would say but then, of course, most have full time jobs on top of that. At our lowest ebb (last season) I think the max was £100 a week. We nearly went under last season - it was touch and go. We didn't do that well but at least we tried to give you a bit of a game and I'm happy with that. We are not up to your standard and of course we ran out of steam in the second half -no daily training this end. Yes we got stuffed but it was a privilege to play before such a big crowd - we are lucky if we get 500 at home - and so I thought it special. I am just happy I still have a club to support as it very nearly went out of existence. Ring any bells?

Thanks for your comments everyone - much appreciated. I think everyone enjoyed their day out and I know the spectators and the players will have appreciated your generous applause. Begg's tackle was a bit OTT and I can't defend that but I am afraid that you may find that a bit in Div 3 - it's a bit like junior football at times when a less skilled player will have a go at someone skinning him. So apologies for that but I do agree it was real football and it's not synthetic like some of the SPL. I hope you enjoy your journey through this League. You'll meet some great and very genuine supporters on your travels - this is not your armchair fans but the proper grass roots of the game (okay, it's sometimes synthetic grass). I'm hopeful that against lesser skilled teams we will have a decent season - a decent season this end is not being bottom of the league. Look forward to seeing you at Ochilview. PS: The only downside a few of our supporters found was that there were Hibs/Celtic fans around them intent on hurling abuse. Pity. I am not suggesting Div 3 is Land of Narnia but we really aren't used to that in this Division and they didn't like it.

.........I'm still immensely proud of my tiny club. Even after your financial problems you still have the sort of money we can only gasp at. We just have part timers. But it was not double figures! We took Greenhill off at half time because his Father had died and he didn't feel up for the second half. At the risk of ridicule I would like to mention the following: EAST STIRLINGSHIRE Ryan McWilliams: The 22-year-old goalkeeper joined on loan a fortnight ago from Albion Rovers after spells at Morton and Ayr United. He sat on the bench for the Honest Men against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final at Hampden. During the week he’s a care worker who also helps coach kids down at Morton. Craig Hume: An electrician, Hume was playing amateur football until three months ago and at the age of 25 was happy doing so with friends until Shire manager John Coughlin invited him in for pre-season. Nathan Shepherd: As a youngster he was on the books at Morton and played briefly in their first team before spending last season at Stranraer. The 20-year-old combines playing with his role as a Civil Servant within a Job Centre. Ricky Miller: Rough and tumble centre-half whose job will be to win headers at Ibrox. The summer signing from East of Scotland side Vale of Leithen is a painter and decorator. Steven Jackson: ‘Chico’ has been with the club since he was 17 after being spotted playing for a youth side after being released by St Johnstone. Now 19, he has become a regular in the Shire team and the club have high hopes for the player who is presently not working. Rhys Devlin: Bank worker Devlin joined on loan from Airdrie last season before joining permanently in the summer. The 21-year-old has had the misfortune to be sent off four times in his career so far with his last dismissal coming in April at Hampden against Queen’s Park David Greenhill: Head coach John Coughlin’s most ambitious capture of the season when he persuaded his former charge at Berwick Rangers to be the bright ‘spark’ in the Shire’s midfield. The 27-year-old fits the bill as he is a self-employed electrician. Kevin Turner: The captain spends his time away from football delivering legal papers. An ex-Rangers youth player, he was picked up from amateur football a year ago and made skipper at the club. Paul Quinn: Striker Quinn worked with Coughlin at Stenhousemuir and moved quickly to join him in the summer from Albion Rovers. Started his career at St Mirren, however he is now a care worker as opposed to a full-time footballer. Scott Maxwell: Silky left-sided player who stepped up from Dalkieth Thistle just over a year ago. A joiner away from the football field, he won an SFL Goal of the Month award last term for a 45-yarder against Peterhead. Craig Donaldson: Just returned to the club after more than a year out with an ankle injury. He is a fans’ favourite and also a favourite with customers throughout central Scotland where he works as delivery driver for kegs of beer.

Good evening lads and lassies. Does anyone know what the prices will be for this game? We don't at the moment. However we have produced a special scarf to celebrate the occasion.

All those good wishes obviously worked - got off to a fine start today by beating Div 2 Ayr 3-1 at home and a thoroughly deserved win, too. Great game - real Cup match and both sides went for it but we were quite comfortable in the end. And yes we do have at least one fan in Oz!