Stirling University’s football team is set to be backed by more than 1,000 supporters as the students plan to cause one of the biggest upsets in Scottish Cup history this weekend.
The Uni will have the backing of an enormous and rowdy away support when they travel to take on Premiership outfit Dundee United on Saturday.
More than 1,000 supporters – comprising students, staff, alumni, and members of the local community – are expected to travel north for the highly-anticipated fourth-round clash.
Due to the huge demand for tickets, supporter Professor Gordon Mackay – a world-renowned sports surgeon whose practice, The Mackay Clinic, sponsors the club’s strips – has hired a fleet of buses to ferry the mammoth support to and from Tannadice.
It comes as former Scotland boss Craig Brown – whose grandson and namesake played for the university for four years, captaining the side in the 2020/21 season – was among those to wish the players well ahead of the match.
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In a short film sent to players and coaching staff, Brown – the last manager to lead Scotland to a World Cup – said: “I wish you all the very best ahead of your cup tie at Tannadice on Saturday. I saw your team quite often in the last few years and I thought they were excellent.”
Acknowledging the team’s Scottish Cup run and impressive campaign in the Lowland League, he continued: “It’s a terrific achievement. I haven’t seen you play this season, but I look at your results regularly and I’m delighted to see you doing so well.”
He added: “You guys can create history, I’m certain, and everyone outwith the Dundee United fans will be hoping for a cup upset. They need look no further, I hope, than Tannadice on Saturday because, if you’re on form, and you get them on a dodgy day, there’s an opportunity for a shock result.
“Everyone loves a shock, and everyone loves the underdog – so, as the underdog, University of Stirling hope to win this match, and I dearly hope they do. It would be a terrific achievement. All the very best lads – and good luck on Saturday.”
The team – managed by head coach Chris Geddes – is the first university side to reach the last 32 of the Scottish Cup in more than 50 years. Made up of students on football scholarships, Geddes’ side beat League Two side Albion Rovers in the last round, with midfielder Euan McGill scoring the only goal of the game in extra-time.
Progress in the national cup competition is just the latest success for the university – as they continue their bid to win promotion from the Lowland League.
Geddes this week said: “This is a very exciting week for our players and coaching staff, with two huge games coming up. The players have put in exceptional performances all season and they are rightly being rewarded with two huge ties, including the trip to Tannadice on Saturday.
“We know that it’s going to be a really tough match, but we are relishing the opportunity to test ourselves against a Premiership side and will enjoy the occasion regardless whether we win, lose or draw.
“We have received so many messages of support over the last few weeks and the ticket sales have been phenomenal.”
