Stirling Albion FC Supporters Trust

Stirling Albion fans have become the latest group to back the creation of a Supporters' Trust. At a meeting of fans in the King Robert Hotel on Sunday there was unanimous support for the idea. A group of 12 fans were elected to take the idea forward and they are now putting the final touches to the legal work required to formally register the Trust.

The creation of the Stirling Albion Supporters' Trust follows hot on the heels of near neighbours Falkirk and brings the number of Supporters' Trusts in Scotland to seven with four others in the pipeline. Throughout the UK there are now over 60 Supporters' Trusts with around half holding a shareholding in their club and over a third boasting representation at board level.

Supporters Direct's caseworker in Scotland, James Proctor, who attended the meeting, commented, "There is now a serious movement of supporters in Scotland who believe they can contribute to the solutions so urgently needed in our game. At a time when our football stumbles from one crisis to another, supporters are showing there is still plenty of passion for the beautiful game."

"Supporters like the Stirling Albion fans are leading the way and showing that they cannot be written off as troublemakers or turnstile fodder. By taking the time to go through the process of starting a Supporters' Trust they have shown themselves to be thoughtful, diligent and professional. They are to be commended for their positive attitude and Supporters Direct will continue to assist them as they build and grow their organisation."

Since receiving funding from the Scottish Executive earlier this year Supporters Direct has had enquiries from 26 of the 42 league clubs.

Notes:
Supporters Direct in Scotland is funded by the Scottish Executive to assist football supporters who wish to play a responsible role in the running of their football club.
Supporters Trust are constituted as Industrial and Provident Societies which enshrine the values of democracy, mutuality and not-for-profit.
Supporters' Trusts are established at Celtic, Greenock Morton and Falkirk while Aberdeen, Partick Thistle and Hibernian have some form of supporter-shareholder organisation. Motherwell, Dundee United, Dumbarton and Raith Rovers supporters are at various stages of the process of starting their own Industrial & Provident Societies.