3 3'8 Artie-.01?
Stirling County are taking on the might of the Barbarians in a match which brings to mind another sporting competition between a chap called David and a giant called Goliath. In this case there are two good reasons for the match: one is that large local employer, Scottish Amicable sponsor the Barbarians, the other is that the match is a celebration of a remarkable achievement. Twenty years ago Stirling County was a struggling club in the bottom division seven. Two decades later and they were the champions of Scotland. An important factor in that development, claims the Stirling captain Kevin McKenzie, was industrial action off the playing field. ‘About sixteen years ago Stirling was the first club to introduce mini- football for 8-12—year-olds, and maxi- rugby for 14—1 8 years. At that point strong sides like llawick and Gala all depended very much on school’s rugby. Then there was a large teachers’ strike in the mid 80s and that put an end to a lot of school rugby and talent. Stilring, however, had all these kids playing mini-rugby
It’s all in the way you handle your balls
that had nothing to do with school. Those players have developed together and have a strong loyalty to the club which can be seen in our first XV; I started with Stirling when I was eight and just about every one of our players is the same.’
Certainly it should be a great day for Stirling as a carnival atmosphere descends upon the town awaiting the famous charity team made up of internationalists from around the globe. Their style oi play is both attacking and flowing and it is certain to make a iew jaws drop. McKenzie is relishing the challenge for his team to improve on the disappointing start they have made to the new season.
‘I see it as a chance for us to fine tune because we have the players, it’s just that we started a bit sluggishly.l can’t remember the last time a team in Scotland were honoured with a game against the Barbarians, so with 6,000 people there it will be quite a day.’ (Philip Dorward)
Stirling County v Barbarians, Forthbank Stadium, Stirling, Tue 26.
Events are listed alphabetically by sport. then by day. Sport listings compiled by Jonathan Trew.
ATHLETICS Sunday 24
I The City oi Glasgow Sprint Distance Triathlon Easterhouse. Glasgow. 227
51 15. 9am. This event gives local people the opportunity to race alongside some of Britain's top athletes in this three stage race. Both individuals and teams of three will take on a 750m swim at Easterhouse Pool; a twenty-kilometre cycle around
Easterhouse and a live-kilometre run at Adchinlea Park. Five neighbourhood forums from the area will be fielding teams and there are prizes for the best local team and individual as well as the tnain prizes. The emphasis is firmly on fun as much as it is on competition.
Glasgow
I Race Days Tuesday s. Thursdays and Saturdays. Shawfield Stadium. Rutherglen Road. Glasgow. There are ten races in each meeting starting at 7.45pm.
I
Saturday 23
PREMIER LEAGUE , I Rangers V liibs lhrox. lidnuston Drive. 1 Glasgow. 3pm. I I Hearts V Celtic 'l'ynecastle Park. Gorgie Road. Edinburgh. 3pm. I Kilmarnock v Aberdeen Rugby Park. Kilmarnock. 3pm.
I Falkirk v Motherwell Brockvtlle Park. Hope Street. lialkirk. 3pm. 1 I Raith Rovers v Partick Thistle Starks l Park. Pratt Street. Kirkcaldy. 3pm. Surer this has to he a better result for the ‘ Kirkcaldy hoys titan their lhrox slaughter three weeks hack'.’
FIRST DIVISION
I Dundee United v Airdrie 'i‘annadiee Park. 'l’annadicc Street. Dundee. 3pm.
I Marlon V Dunfennline (‘appielow l’ut‘k. Sinclair Street. (.irecnock. 3pm.
I St Johnstone v Clydebank McDiarmid Park. Criel Road. Perth. 3pm.
I Dumbarton v Dundee Bogltead Park. Miller Street. Dumbarton. 3pm.
I Hamilton v St Mirren l-‘irhill Park. liit'ltill Road. 3pm. SECOND DIVISION I Clyde V Stenhousemuir Broadwootl Stadium. Cumbernaultl. 3pm. I East Fife V OOS Bayview Park. Methil. Fife. 3pm. I Derwick v Forfar Sielt'teld Park. Tweedmouth. lierwick-upon-Tweed. 3pm. I Montrose v Ayr United Links Park. Wellington Street. Montrose. 3pm. I Stranraer v Stirling Albion Stair Park.
i London Road. Stranraer. 3pm.
Saturday 30
l PREMIER LEAGUE
i I Aberdeen v Baith Rovers Pittodrie
Stadium. Pittodrie Street. Aberdeen. 3pm.
I Motherwell v Kilmamock Eirpark.
; Motherwell. 3pm.
1 I Celtic V Rangers Celtic Park. Ken‘ydale
3 Street. Glasgow. 3pm.
l I Partick thistle v Falkirk Minn Park.
Eirhill Road. Glasgow. 3pm.
FIRST DIVISION
I Dunferrnline v St Johnstone East End
Park. Halbeth Road. Dunl'ermline. 3pm.
I Airdrie V Hamilton Broatlwotxl
l Stadium. Cumbernauld. 3pm.
3 I Clydebank v Dumbarton Kilbowie Park.
Arran Place. Clydebank. 3pm.
I Dundee v Dundee United Dens Park.
Sandeman Street. Dundee. 3pm.
; I St Mirren v Morton St Mirren Park. Love Street. Paisley. 3pm.
SECOND DIVISION
I Stenhousemuir v East Fife ()chilview
Park. Gladstone Road. Stenhousemuir.
3pm.
I Ayr United v Stranraer Somerset Park.
! Trylield Place. Ayr. 3pm.
I 003 V Berwick Palmerston Park.
'l‘erregles Street. Duml'ries. 3pm.
I Forfar v Montrose Station Park.
Carseview Road. Forl’ar. 3pm.
, I Stirling Albion v Clyde liorthbunk
Stadium. Sprinkerse Industrial Estate.
Stirling. 3pm.
Sundayl
PREMIER LEAGUE I Hibs V Hearts Easter Road Stadium. Albion Road. Edinburgh. 3pm.
Saturday 23
I Duncan Airlie James v Hassan Bibchi Easterhouse Sports Centre. Glasgow. 6pm. £12/£15 (£8 children). The World Kickboxing Organisation has set up this world championship cruiserweight title light between Scotland‘s James and Holland's Bibchi. Look out for an exhibition appearance by American Bill ‘Superl’oot‘ Wallace. supermiddleweight world chatnpion. Apparently. while he is over here. he intends to look up his Scottish roots; shouldn‘t be too difficult with a name like Wallace.
DEE}- Monday 18
I Edinburgh Races Edinburgh Racecourse. Musselhurgh. First race 2pm. Hat racing. Once again. the sunny. seaside town of Musselburgh echoes to the sound of gnashing teeth and distraught punters ripping up their slips.
Saturday 23
SRU TENNENTS NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1
I Melrose v Edinburgh Academicals The Greenyards. Melrose. 3pm.
I liawick v Watsonians Mansfield Park. llawick. 3pm.
I Boroughmuir v Stirling County Meggetland. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Heriot’s F? V Gala Goldenacre. Edinburgh. 3pm.
DIVISION 2
I West at Scotland v Stewart’s Melville FP Burnhrae. Glasgow Road. Milngavie. Glasgow. 3pm.
I Glasgow High/Kelvinside v Kelso Old Anniesland. Glasgow. 3pm.
I Jed Forest v Dundee liS FP Riverside Park. Jedburgh. 3pm.
I Currie V Selkirk Malleny Park. Balerno. 3pm.
DIVISION 3
I Biggar v Kirkcaldy Hat'tt‘ce Mill. Biggar. 3pm.
I Peebles v Musselburgh Gytes Leisure
1 Centre. Peebles. 3pm.
I Preston Lodge FP v Glasgow Academicals Pennypit Park. Rope Walk. Prestonpans. 3pm.
I Grangemouth v Corstorphine Glensburgh. Glensburgh Road. Grangemouth. 3pm.
Saturday 30
SRU TENNENTS NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION 1
I Boroughmuir v Watsonians Meggetland. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Edinburgh Academicals v Hawick Raeburn Place. Stockbridge. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Stirling County v lleriot’s FP Bridgehaugh. Stirling. 3pm.
I Gala V Melrose Netherdale. Galashiels. 3pm.
DIVISION 2
I Dundee HS FP v Glasgow High/Kelvinside Mayl'teld. Arbroath Road. Dundee. 3pm.
I Kelso v West of Scotland Poynder Park. Poynder Place. Bowmont. Kelso. 3 )m.
II Currie v Stewart’s Melville FP Malleny Park. Balerno. 3pm. .
I Selkirk V Jed-Forest Philiphaugh. Ettrickhaugh Road. Selkirk. 3pm. DIVISION 3
I Corstorphine v Preston lodge FP Union Park. Carrickknowe Parkway. Edinburgh. 3pm.
I Kirkcaldy V Peebles Beveridge Park. Kirkcaldy. 3pm.
I Glasgow Academicals v Biggar New Anniesland. Glasgow. 3pm.
I Grangemouth v Musselburgh Glensburgh. Glensburgh Road. Grangemouth. 3pm.
SPEEDWAY ' Sunday 24
I Glasgow Tigers v Eastbourne Shawfield Stadium. Rutherglen Road. Glasgow. 613 1552. 6.30pm. £7.50 including race card. £3.50 for kids and OAPs. Premier League match.
Sundayl
I Glasgow Tigers v Sheffield Shawfield Stadium. Rutherglen Road. Glasgow. 613 1552. 6.30pm. £7.50 including race card. £3.50 for kids and OAPs. Premier League match.
‘ 78 The List 22 Sect-5 Oct l995