I am 24, I live in London (SouthEast - Bromley). I've been a Shire Fan for about 4 years now. I first came across the might of East Stirling during my visits to the bookies..... Whilst filling out my football accumulator sheet on a weekly basis I noticed the odds were always heavily stacked against The Shire... I started looking out for their results and the following has gone from there. A couple of my workmates have also taken an interest and we now have a small following from work! I am also an Arsenal supporter and have been for around 20 years....
Dan Bingle
My names dan bingle.
I am 25 and come from a town called stonehouse in
gloucestershire.
I have been following the shire for about 3 years now.
Why The Shire? Well it all
started in the betting shop 3 years ago, Shires results were poor, but
the odds were getting big! 11/1 to win away at elgin city -
you just cant resist a couple of quid on it! :o) That kind of set
the tone for the last 3 years, if my local team werent at home,
then i'd make the trip to the bookies instead, couple of quid on The
Shire, then off the the pub with me betting slip in hand to watch
Jeff Stelling read out the latest scores on Sky Sports! Praying for The
Shire to pull off the result!
The odds have somewhat dropped off recently and my gambling habits have
turned towards the horses, but I still check out The Shires results
everytime with keen interest.
On the 4th
march 2006, I was fortunate enough to make it up to Firs Park for the game
against Stenhousemuir, only for it to be called off due to a frozen pitch :o(
My other teams include - norwich city and gloucester city
Marko Bok
I`m 25 years old, I live in Friesland, in the North of Holland. I had never heard of East Stirlingshire until I played the Championship Manager games. I never liked playing with the good teams, so I was looking for a small club in England/Scotland. Well, I found East Stirlingshire,searched for websites, but there was absolutly nothing! (1998...). BBC Football website didn`t know a website either, so I searched on the Championship Manager forum for info and I was surprised how many people wanted to play with the 'cult' club East Stirling, so since then (1998/99) I`ve been an East Stirlingshire fan. Other clubs I support (visit their website daily): Holland: SC Heerenveen UK: Barnet, Hull, AFC Wimbledon, Yeovil, Plymouth, Celtic, East Stirling Rest of Europe: Brann Bergen, Tampere United I support a lot of other clubs, but not as the above. Just watching the scoresheets etc.
Robert Garforth
My name is Rob Garforth and I am 34 years old from Bognor Regis, West Sussex. I have supported The Shire for the last couple of years Why The Shire? Well, myself and a workmate adopted them because of their struggle at the foot of the table. Have looked out for their results ever since. Made our first visit to Firs Park Saturday 22nd April 2006 versus Berwick Rangers. Enjoyed our visit and hope to make more. I also support, Bognor Regis Town (Nationwide South) - I am kit manager and programme editor. Favourite League side is Ipswich. Get to Portman Road whenever I can and my daughter (now aged 11) was mascot for their game at home to Watford in February 2005.
Rob Grigg
I'm aged over 40 (and that's all i'm saying!) and come from South Staffordshire.
I've supported The Shire since 2003.
I like the struggle against the odds, the apparent hopelessness, and
the possibility that the only way is up and might be achieved.
I also support Walsall! Bob Kane
I'm 46 years old and was born in Kennard Street, about 200 metres from Firs Park! I've supported The Shire since I was a wee lad as they were my local team and they had great pies!!! I've seen The Shire play many times, but the Scottish cup game against Rangers in the 1970s sticks in my mind. I moved to Aberdeen in 1980, before emigrating to Australia in 1984. I have a wife who is a Dons
supporter, a daughter who is a Real Madrid supporter and a son who
claims to support Pokemon, even though it's just a cartoon, kids eh!! I also support Queensland Roar. Barry Leverington
I'm 24 years old and from London.
I've supported The Shire for about the past 18 months.
I started following them because of their status as officially being the worst professional football club in Europe!
So far I have not manged to get u to Firs Park but would love to in the future.
I'm also a season ticket holder at Spurs. Sponsors Jock Meikle
I'm 53 years old and was born in Falkirk Royal Infirmary in January, 1952.
My father took me to Firs Park in 1956 after a New
Years Day game with Falkirk and I was given the honour of picking up the debris
of fag packets and tins of McEwans...before being shown into the Hallowed
Dressing Room.
My old man was a staunch Shire man and he was part
of a a group of supporters who raised dosh to fight the Steedman brothers
stealing of the Club and moving it to Kilbowie Park Clydebank. On ther sucessful
Court of Session victory in Edinburgh I was at the front of the Victory
Parade through Falkirk.
I played centre half for the Shire Boys Club and
wore with pride the Scotland jersey Eddie Mc Creadie donated to the Shire Boys
Club.
Eddie was my hero and having joined Chelsea in 1962
he became oneof their longest serving players ,won 60 Scotland Caps and became
Chelsea Manager in the early 1970 S
So having moved to London with ICI in 1986 my local
Team was of course Chelsea....Chelsea kept the Shire alive in the 1960 s by
giving us dosh every time Eddie played 30 games..they also took Sanderson
and Kemp for good money.
Since my easrly retirement as Personnel Director of
Zeneca Agrochemicals in 2002 I have sponsored the Away Shirt and try to get to
Firs Park and away games as much as I can.
Lee Mills
I'm 35 years old and from Enfield. I started supporting The Shire towards the end of last season after reading about them in the press. Being a genuine non-league
fan, I feel an affinity towards the dedicated few who keep the club
running. More power to their elbow! As a child, I lived just
outside of Stirling and went to watch "The Albion" a few times; but I
have realised there is only one "Stirling" team to support. I am hoping to get up to Firs Park next season to watch the boys in action. Away from following The
Shire, I am a qualified referee and a member of the supporters trust
which owns and runs Enfield Town F.C. My favourite premiership team
is Arsenal and I follow Barcelona having been lucky enough to see them
play at the Nou Camp whilst on holiday. Up The Shire! Lee Phillips
My name is Lee Phillips and i'm 30 years old, from Sittingbourne in Kent.
I've supported The Shire for 5 years now, I started supporting The Shire because every one supports a team from a different league to there own team so when looking a few years ago at the tables in Scotland I saw this small team at the bottom of the league and started to look out for them each Saturday on Sky Sports hoping that this was the week that they would pull off a win and so my love affair with The Shire began and will go on for many long years to come
I also support West Ham United, Sittingbourne and Upchurch FC.
UP THE SHIRE !!!!!!
Ian Thomas
I'm aged between 35 and 45 (that's all you need to know!), and come from Salisbury in Wiltshire.
I've supported The Shire since September 2004, and have managed to get to Firs Park twice.
My main team that I support is Southampton. Simon Ratchford
My name is Simon Ratchford and I live in Fleet, Hampshie in the South of England.
I started watching East Stirling in the 1980-81 season and had a season
ticket from 81-82 through to 88-89 when our family moved down South.
During that time my Dad and I rarely missed a match both home and away.
Until the last few years and kids arriving etc I would get up two or
three times a season but have not seen a Shire game for about 3 years.
I think it is a great idea to set up some type of exiles club maybe to
try and sponsor a game or something. Although from what I have heard
over recent years the current board are not too keen on supporters
helping the club!!! Or am I being cynical.
I also follow Aldershot Town of the Conference. Sponsors Dan Studley
I am 13 years old and come from Bristol.
I have supported The Shire for around the past two years, I chose The
Shire because they have the smallest capacity in Britain for a
professional club!
I also support Bristol City.
Because of my age, I a cannot attend any Shire games, but am very
excited about getting a Shire shirt for Christmas and cannot wait to
make the long trips up to Scotland when I am older. Trevor Watson
I currently live in Grays, Essex although I originate from Wolverhampton.
As a Wolverhampton person I was taken to see the Wolves as a kid. The first match I ever saw was Wolves v West Bromwich Albion. The match was a 1-1 draw and I prefered the blue and white stripes to the gold and black of the Wolves. To my families dismay I have been an Albion fan ever since. I still try to get to Albion matches occasionally but also attend our local team (Grays Athletic) as I have friends involved there.
Why the Shire? I had relatives in the Falkirk area when I was young and spent several holidays there. I got to see the Shire on several occasions. Although my relatives in the area have long since moved on I have followed the Shire ever since. Whenever I get to Scotland I attempt to arrange it around a Shire match.
I haven't been to a Shire match for a couple of seasons but would like to get more involved. Let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Oh my age range is 16 - 60 (53 really).
Steve Wilson
I am 19 years old and come from East London/Essex. I have supported The Shire for the past two seasons. Why The Shire? I started
supporting The Shire because I like the underdog and there is no more
frequent an underdog than East Stirlingshire Football Club! I managed to get up to Firs
Park in April, for the Albion Rovers match and hope to get back up
there before the end of the season. I also support the mighty Dagenham and Redbridge FC from The Glyn Hopkin Stadium, PSV Eindhoven, Deportivo Wanka and Togo!
