From Pampers To Champers For Brave Binos

Jan 13 2008 Stefan Pavleski

Minnows Stirling Albion Had A Taste Of The Big Time When They Made The Trip To Parkhead. Mailsport's Stefan Pavleski Was With The Squad Every Step Of The Way During The Build-Up And Sends This Report ...

IT was bitterly cold as Stirling stars prepared for the game of their lives on the banks of Loch Ard.

But luckily for boss Allan Moore his players didn't freeze on their big occasion at Celtic Park.

History will show they lost 3-0 but the First Division strugglers held their own for long periods.

And it was a massive improvement on the 8-0 trouncing they suffered on their last visit to Parkhead.

The romance of the Scottish Cup is still alive for smaller clubs.

So it was apt Albion camped out at the luxurious Forest Hills complex near Aberfoyle - a stunning venue more suited to footballers' wives than part-time players.

However, the weekend had got off to a slow start as the bus picked me up at the Crowwood Hotel 90 minutes late.

Then the driver couldn't find his way to Aberfoyle but we arrived at the picturesque setting in fine spirits.

It didn't take long to realise bubbly boss Allan Moore is the man behind this with his chirpy personality.

Football was on the back burner as players chilled out using the superb facilities and the way they tackled table tennis and bowls suggested the likes of Scott McDonald and Scott Brown would be nursing a few knocks following the big game.

Then it was time for dinner at 8pm where we had a choice of either chicken or salmon pasta.

I preferred chewing the fat with Moore and No.2 Mark McNally as they discussed tactics for the following day.

The squad were left to their own devices for the rest of the evening and there were more battles at bowls and table tennis with the obligatory poker card school.

And no doubt players retired to their rooms early hoping they would come up trumps at Celtic Park.

The team gathered at 10.30 yesterday morning for a casual stroll.

It was bitterly cold but everyone knew their bodies would be warming up soon enough as they chased the likes of Aiden McGeady about the park.

Skipper Chris Aitken assured his team-mates they were right to be bricking it - and maybe Albion should have arranged for sponsorship from Pampers.

After a pre-match bite it was time to set off for Glasgow's east end.

I gathered the thoughts of a few players and discovered right-back Paul Nugent had made his debut in that nightmare 8-0 thrashing so I passed him my piece of lucky white heather.

Team-mate Steven Bell was in the stands that evening cheering on Celtic but this time he assured me he'd be rooting for Albion.

When the underdogs took to the pitch they didn't lack bite and held out for 37 minutes before Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink broke through.

Two more Hoops goals followed but the Binos had kept it respectable - and the Pampers could be swapped for champers.