Stranraer F.C. Totally Explained

Everything about Stranraer F C totally explained

Stranraer Football Club is a Scottish semi-professional football team based in the town of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway. They are members of the Scottish Football League, and are currently playing in the Third Division after being relegated at the end of season 2006-07.

History

The club was founded in 1870, making it the third oldest club amongst current Scottish League members. Despite this, Stranraer didn't enter the league until 1949; the town's comparative isolation in the far South West of the country no doubt contributing to this. Prior to gaining Scottish League membership, they'd competed in the Southern Counties League, Scottish Combination, Scottish Alliance and South of Scotland League.
   The club came to national attention when Rangers came to Stranraer for a Scottish Cup tie in 1948. The Glasgow side recorded a narrow 1-0 victory in front of Stair Park's record attendance. Two seasons later Stranraer were elected to join the Scottish League's 'C' Division, competing mainly against the reserve teams of top flight clubs. The club were finally elevated to the mainstream of the Scottish League following the scrapping of 'C' Division in 1955.
   With the league reformation at the end of the 1993-94 season, Stranraer found themselves playing in the new First Division in season 1994-95. Unfortunately, they finished rock bottom with only 17 points from 36 games. Stranraer spent three seasons in the Second Division before winning promotion back to the First Division at the end of the 1997-98 season. Once again, they finished bottom of the league, with the same points total as before and a whopping 29 defeats.
   The club then spent a further four years in the Second Division, with the most notable event being a good Scottish Cup run in season 2002-03, which saw them go all the way to the Quarter Finals, where they were beaten 4-0 by SPL side Motherwell. However, the team's good Cup run didn't reflect their league form, as they finished 9th in the Second Division, and thus were relegated to the Third Division for season 2003-04. However, the team's fortunes improved from there, as they won the Third Division at the first attempt, gaining promotion back to the Second Division. In season 2004-05, the team shocked most people, as they stayed in the top two for most of the campaign. A 1-1 draw with closest promotion rivals Morton on April 30, 2005 saw them gain promotion to the First Division for the third time, but as in each of Stranraer's previous campaigns at that level, they were unable to avoid relegation at the first time of asking.
   The team has had a largely unsuccessful campaign in 2006-07, as heavy defeats at the hands of relegation rivals Peterhead and Forfar left them dangerously poised in the relegation zone. They eventually finished 9th, setting up a promotion play-off with East Fife. A 4-2 aggregate defeat (despite winning the second leg 1-0) saw them relegated to the Third Division. In 2007-08 Stranraer finished second in the Third Division, qualifying for promotion play-offs. Stranraer beat Montrose 4-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals, but lost 2-1 on aggregate in the final against Arbroath. While the possibility of promotion remains open should Gretna go into liquidation, if Stranraer remain in the Third Division this will be the first time since 2002-03 that the club will have spent successive years in the same division.
   In 2007-08 the club also experienced controversy with Club Secretary Barney Duffy resigning over allegations of sex acts in the boardroom, and ex-Chairman Jim Bark receiving 250 hours community service after pleading guilty to a charge of embezzling cash from the club's lottery.

Current Squad

Club Records & Honours

Year of formation: 1870

Most League points in a season: ť 56 (Second Division - Season 1993/94) (2 Points for a Win)

ť 79 (Third Division - Season 2003/04) (3 Points for a Win)

Most League goals scored by a player in a season: Derek Frye (Season 1977/78) & Michael Moore (Season 2003/04), 27 Goals

Record Attendance: 6,500 (v Rangers - 24/01/1948)

Record Victory: 7-0, v Brechin City, Division 2, 06/02/1965

Record Defeat: 1-11, v Queen of the South, Scottish Cup, 16/01/1932

Honours: ť Scottish Second Division Champions: 1993/94, 1997/98

ť Scottish Second Division Runners-up: 2004/05

ť Scottish Third Division Champions: 2003/04

ť Scottish Third Division Runners-up: 2007/08

ť Scottish Challenge Cup: 1996

ť Scottish Cup Quarter Finalists: 2002/03

ť Scottish League Cup Quarter Finalists: 1968/69

ť Qualifying Cup: Winners (1937), Runners Up (1946, 1947)

Notable Former Players

Peter KavanaghFurther Information

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