Promotion still on Binos’ radar
But club mourns as ex-owner dies
Andy Murray’s injury worries of 2017 carried on into the New Year with the news that he would not play in the Australian Open.
Big brother Jamie carried the flag with doubles partner Bruno Soares but not for long. They went out in the second round.
The weather was kind to football and rugby and Stirling Albion kept in the promotion hunt, winning six matches, losing to Stenhousemuir, Montrose and Peterhead. Darren Smith won Player of the Month for January.
There was sadness at Forthbank in January when former owner/ chairman Peter McKenzie died. Known to many as Mr Stirling Albion, Peter joined the Albion board in the mid-1980s and within a few years had become chairman. For more than two decades he was the driving force behind the club and oversaw the move from Annfield to Forthbank in 1993.
While he enjoyed league wins and promotions, he will be best remembered for his generosity which allowed the club to be bought by Stirling Albion Supporters Trust in July 2010 to become the first 100 per cent supporters-owned football club in Scotland.
On the amateur front Bannockburn reached the last 16 of the Scottish Amateur Cup, beating Fallin in a replay.
Milton and Cambusbarron Rovers went out in round six.
Stirling County’s BT Premiership league form left them near the bottom of the table but a 32-8 win over Glasgow Hawks ensured safety while a thrilling 22-15 win over Edinburgh Accies saw them into the semi-finals of the BT Cup.
The club’s boys and girls also picked up silverware, winning the Mitsubishi Mirage Challenge (girls) and Mitsubishi Shogun Challenge (boys).
Strathendrick continued on their merry way in BT West League 2 with three wins to remain top of the table.
The Winter Olympics began in PyeongChang, South Korea. Stirlingbased curlers were in action, with the rink led by Eve Muirhead reaching the semi-final only to lose the bronze medal play-off to Japan.
Forth Valley Ice Speed Club Elise Christie came back medal-less. She fell in the 500m final and 1500m semi-final, injuring herself in the latter. She fell in the 1000m but after coming second in a restart she was disqualified for an offence.
Cross country and orienteering enjoyed successv. Central AC’s senior men and women won titles at the East District Cross Country and they won their eighth team title in a row at the Scottish Cross Country Championships.
Five Forth Valley Orienteers were successful at the Edinburgh Big Weekend while three of them - Kris Jones, Chris Smithard and Graham Gristwood - were chosen for the European Championship team.
Indoors Central teenager Ben Macmillan won the U17 1500m title at the Scottish Championships, brothers Tom and Matt Chandler won medals in the Scottish Combined Events, Tom taking silver in the senior men and Matt a bronze in the U20s.
And the club’s U17 girls won the Scottish title in the 4x200m relay event.
Stirling Knights U16s won basketball’s National League 1 and squash players at Bridge of Allan Sports Club fought battles at either end of the table.
The firsts staved off relegation from East of Scotland League 1 with a win over Watsonians 1 while the second prepared to join them in the top division after clinching promotion.
For more than two decades he was the driving force behind the club