Stranraer
Formed 1870
Elected to Scottish Division “C” (South West) 1949
Kit History
1877-1879 a
1879-1882 a
1889-1890 a c
1890-1893 a
1893-1894 a
1899-1900 a c
1900-1901 a i
1901-1902 a c i
1908-1909 a i
1910 a
1927-1928 a
1935-1936 a d
1947-1948 a
1948-1955
1955-1961 a
1961-1963 a
1963-1973 a e
1973-1977 a
1977-1978 a
1978-1981 a b
1981-1982 a
1982-1985 a
1985-1987 b h
1987-1988 h
1988-1990 h j
1990-1993 b j
1993-1996 b f
1996-1998 g h j
1998-1999 j
1999-2001 b j
2001-2002 b
2002-2004 b
2004-2006 b
2006-2008 b
2008-2009 b
2009-2010 b
2010-2011 b
Background
The market town and port
of Stranraer is the main sea artery connecting Scotland with Ireland:
situated in the far south-west of Scotland, it is one of the most remote
and picturesque locations represented in the Scottish League.
The team was formed in 1870, which makes Stranraer one of the oldest clubs in Scotland, but they did not join the Scottish FA until 1877. Indeed, they were not SFA members between 1882-1899 and 1907-1910 and may have been inactive or playing at junior level during these periods. The club played friendlies and in the many cup competitions that proliferated in southern Scotland where small, dispersed communities made regular leagues difficult to organise. It was not until 1928 that Stranraer joined the Southern Counties League where they played until 1935. They then joined the Scottish Combination (1935-37) followed by the Scottish Alliance (1939-40).
When organised football resumed after the Second World War, the Blues became members of the South of Scotland League. They first came to national attention in 1948 when Rangers visited Stair Park for a Scottish FA Cup tie. Stranraer acquitted themselves very well indeed, being narrowly defeated 0-1. Two seasons later, Stranraer were invited to join Division “C.” This had been created in 1946 as a mainly reserve league with one or two non-reserve sides: in 1949 the division was enlarged and split into two regional sections. In 1955 this level was abolished and Stranraer joined the expanded Division “B” (second level).
The club remained a very modest outfit, finishing around the middle of the table until the reconstruction of 1975 took them down into the new Second Division (now the third tier). Here they languished until 1994 when they won their first ever senior honour, the Second Division championship. The following season they finished last, 12 points adrift and returned to the bottom flight. History repeated itself in 1998 and 1999.
In 2003 the Blues were relegated to Division Three (tier four), won successive promotions in 2004 and 2005 to return to Division One (tier two). In a remarkable turn of events, the club then made the return journey, successive relegations taking them back into the basement in 2007.
Sources
- (a) Alick Milne
- (b) SNSPix
- (c) Brian McColl
- (d) London Hearts
- (e) relichtieplus
- (f) Ayr United FC - Images of Sport (Duncan Carmichael 2002)
- (g) Old Football Shirts
- (h) Ralph Pomeroy
- (i) These kits were not registered with the Scottish FA but are described in Stranraer FC - Centenary 1870-1970
- (j) Donald Gellatly