Forfar Athletic v Stranraer – Match Preview
Venue – Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park – ko 3pm.
Saturday 25th January, 2025
William Hill league 2 – match no 20
Stand admission charges are;-
Adults £16
65 & over £10
Under 17’s £5
Terracing admission charges are;-
Adults £15
65& over £10
Under 17’s £5
Payment on the day by cash at turnstile. Tickets can also be purchased online here - https://forfarathletic.ticketco.events/uk/en/m/e/forfarathletic_v_stranraer
Forfar Athletic Season Tickets are of course valid for this fixture
1984 Lounge
The 1984 Lounge at the ground will be open to supporters from 12.30pm. to 2.50pm. The lounge will re-open again on the final whistle till approximately 8pm.
The Refreshment Kiosk and Club Shop will be open as usual at the fixture.
50/50 tickets will be on sale from vendors within the ground and pre-match in the 1984 Lounge.
PREVIEW
All connected with Forfar Athletic hope that as predicted the remnants of Storm Eowyn which to be fair has not hit Angus to date as bad as other areas will have passed on by tomorrow and that the vital home William Hill League2 game against Stranraer at the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park will go ahead in reasonable weather conditions. Certainly at present no inspection of pitch or overhead conditions is anticipated or planned.
It is without doubt a very important game for both sides who there is no hiding that fact, as they sit currently in the bottom two places in the league table. A victory for Stuart Morrison and his colleagues will see them reach the same points tally as their opponents whom they meet again at Stair Park on Tuesday week and the home side will go into the game with the knowledge that Stranraer are one of two teams that they have defeated on home ‘turf’ during this league campaign to date. Back in mid September, Max Guthrie gave Chris Aitken’s side a first half lead, Nathan Cannon netting a deserved equaliser before the break, Blair Malcolm the scorer of the second half counter on the day which secured a 2-1 win for the ‘Loons.’
Manager Jim Weir acknowledges as always that a tough ninety minutes awaits for his side. He is delighted that Russell McLean will return from injury, but the game will come a week too early for Craig Slater. Adam Hutchinson will also require a pre-match fitness check.
Jim is working hard behind the scenes to augment the Station Park squad but as many other managers who have also been quoted in a similar vein, is finding the current open registration window a tough one with it would appear few of the type of player he is looking for readily available. He was delighted to bring in Marley Sweenie-Rowe this week on loan from Dundee, the left sided defender having impressed on loan to Highland League Fraserburgh in the first half of the campaign, that stint at Bellslea ending with an accomplished performance in the glare of the television cameras at Ibrox on Sunday past.
The other new face in the ranks to date this month Mackenzie Lemon will also be in the squad for Saturday’s clash.
Stranraer who have brought in goalkeeper Scott Kane on a temporary transfer from Queens Park this month have only been in January match action on two occasions, losing 1-0 up at Peterhead, before being on the wrong end of a 2-0 score line at home to league leaders East Fife last weekend.
The ‘Loons’ will certainly go into the contest keen to quickly put the memory of a disappointing cup performance at Cove firmly behind them and the management team hope to see a return to the pre-Christmas home league form when we blew Bonnyrigg away and came so close to what would have been a deserved win over a strong Peterhead side.
Jim is also keen that the players put on a show for the watching Brash family and a few Station Park legends of the past who will be in attendance as the club officially recognises just prior to kick-off Alex’s sad passing and contribution over a 12 year period to the Forfar Athletic cause. Hopefully the Forfar faithful will turn out in numbers and in good time both to pay their own tribute to Alex and then get right behind the current Station Park squad as they have done to such a healthy degree throughout the campaign despite results not being as many would have hoped for.
Greg Soutar is the match referee, the first time he has handled a ‘Loons’ league fixture this season.
C’mon the ‘Loons’
Match Sponsor – Milnbank Developments Ltd.
Hospitality Guests – Craig Fotheringham & Friends, Raymond Martin & Friends, Ian Nicoll/Fred Richardson & Friends, Jane Rae & Friends
1984 Lounge Hospitality – William Pirie & Friends
Saturday’s other William Hill League 2 fixtures;- Clyde v Elgin City, East Fife v Edinburgh City, Spartans v Peterhead, Stirling Albion v Bonnyrigg Rose.
