Stranraer Football is based in Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway. The club was founded in 1870, making it the third oldest football club in Scotland. Stranraer itself lies on the shores of Loch Ryan, on the northern side of the isthmus joining the Rhins of Galloway to the mainland and is Dumfries and Galloway's second-largest town, with a population, including the surrounding area, of nearly 13,000. Its industries are the ferry port and associated industries, tourism and, more traditionally, farming.
Despite its historic status it was not until the 1949/50 season that the club even reached the C Division, where it competed against the reserve teams of some of Scotland's big clubs. The club finally achieved full league status in 1955/6, but it was forced to fight for its league place in the early 1960s along with four other small clubs, due a motion put forward by Rangers threatening expulsion. This was eventually defeated thanks to some legal wrangling and Celtic stepping forward as a powerful ally, stating: “Stranraer are a small club which has done football a great deal of good” and “there should be no question of them being eliminated”.
The club has won the Scottish Second Division on two occasions, 1993-94 and 1997–98 as well as being runners-up in 2004–05 and 2014–15. They won the Third Division in 2003-4 and were runners-up in 2007-8. Their only ever national cup final came in 1996, when the club defeated First Division champions St Johnstone 1–0 in the Scottish Challenge Cup final.
Rangers' attempt to lobby Stranraer out of the league 50 years earlier somewhat re-bounded with the 2012 liquidation of Rangers, and the decision to expel them from the SPL which led to Scottish Football League member clubs voting Rangers into the Third Division. This meant that an additional team from each tier of Scottish football was promoted for the 2012–13 season. As Stranraer were runners up in the previous season's third division promotion play-offs, they were promoted to the Second Division. By coincidence Stranraer were also the beneficiaries when Gretna went out of business.
Manager: Brian Reid
Ground: Stair Park (capacity 4,178)
Travel:
By road:
From The North:
Take the A77 from Glasgow down to Stranraer. As you come into Stranraer turn left from the A77, where the 'football traffic' is indicated by a sign. This takes you up to the A75 and again turn left and the ground and park are on the right.
From The East:
Follow the A75 into Stranraer. As you pass a school on your right, you will come to the ground and park.
By rail:
Stranraer Railway Station isfifteen minutes from the ground. Walk up to the ferry terminal building, opposite North West Castle Hotel. Turn left, walk about 150 yards to the 'Craig n Elder' Hotel. Turn right onto Stair Drive . At the end of Stair Drive turn left. This takes you onto London Road walk for about 200 yards and Stair Park is on the right hand side actually inside the public park.
Despite its historic status it was not until the 1949/50 season that the club even reached the C Division, where it competed against the reserve teams of some of Scotland's big clubs. The club finally achieved full league status in 1955/6, but it was forced to fight for its league place in the early 1960s along with four other small clubs, due a motion put forward by Rangers threatening expulsion. This was eventually defeated thanks to some legal wrangling and Celtic stepping forward as a powerful ally, stating: “Stranraer are a small club which has done football a great deal of good” and “there should be no question of them being eliminated”.
The club has won the Scottish Second Division on two occasions, 1993-94 and 1997–98 as well as being runners-up in 2004–05 and 2014–15. They won the Third Division in 2003-4 and were runners-up in 2007-8. Their only ever national cup final came in 1996, when the club defeated First Division champions St Johnstone 1–0 in the Scottish Challenge Cup final.
Rangers' attempt to lobby Stranraer out of the league 50 years earlier somewhat re-bounded with the 2012 liquidation of Rangers, and the decision to expel them from the SPL which led to Scottish Football League member clubs voting Rangers into the Third Division. This meant that an additional team from each tier of Scottish football was promoted for the 2012–13 season. As Stranraer were runners up in the previous season's third division promotion play-offs, they were promoted to the Second Division. By coincidence Stranraer were also the beneficiaries when Gretna went out of business.
Manager: Brian Reid
Ground: Stair Park (capacity 4,178)
Travel:
By road:
From The North:
Take the A77 from Glasgow down to Stranraer. As you come into Stranraer turn left from the A77, where the 'football traffic' is indicated by a sign. This takes you up to the A75 and again turn left and the ground and park are on the right.
From The East:
Follow the A75 into Stranraer. As you pass a school on your right, you will come to the ground and park.
By rail:
Stranraer Railway Station isfifteen minutes from the ground. Walk up to the ferry terminal building, opposite North West Castle Hotel. Turn left, walk about 150 yards to the 'Craig n Elder' Hotel. Turn right onto Stair Drive . At the end of Stair Drive turn left. This takes you onto London Road walk for about 200 yards and Stair Park is on the right hand side actually inside the public park.