BINOS ARE RECORD-BREAKERS
David adds Albion scarf to world’s biggest collection in Madeira pub
Stirling Albion have broken a world record after a club scarf delivered to a pub on a Portuguese holiday island smashed the top tally for the largest collection in the world.
The piece of Binos memorabilia was handed over by longtime fan David Philp to the owner of a bar in Madeira.
He purchased the scarf from the Albion club shop and packed it in his suitcase as he jetted off on a sunshine break to the city of Funchal with wife Frances.
He handed over the scarf to Ricardo Sousa, owner of Bar O Avo where the impressive scarf collection is on display. Club scarves from around the globe that adorn the ceiling and walls of the establishment make up the world record for the biggest haul.
David and Frances have holidayed in the coastal city, birthplace of Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo, for the last six years and had visited the bar on a number of occasions.
David noted a number of club scarfs from Scotland but realised that the scarf of his beloved Albion was missing. The collection boasts over 1626 scarfs from clubs in Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Oceania.
The addition of the Binos scarf further secured the pub’s place in the record books.
David has been an ardent Stirling Albion supporter since the 1960s, attending his first match against Hearts at Tynecastle in a 1-1 draw in 1963.
He said: “I remember the turning on of the floodlights with the game against Birmingham City. My friend Andy Rogerson played centre-half on the tour to Japan when Stirling Albion were the first UK team to play in the Far East.
“When they decanted from Annfield, things were never the same, no more charging down the hill in the second half trying to get on level terms or score a winner.
“I even had a house visit from Bob Shankly and Alex Smith after I wrote them a letter telling them they were useless. I’m glad to say they took some advice and played some very good youngsters from the reserve team to avoid relegation.”
David and Frances stumbled upon the bar whilst walking through the back streets in Funchal. He said: “Ricardo invited us in to see his very impressive collection of scarfs and told us that Guinness were visiting the following week to confirm that the collection was the largest in the world, which was verified.
“He asked what our local team was and said he did not have a Stirling scarf, so I told him I would bring him one out this year.
“The week before we left, I went to Forthbank to buy a new scarf for him. It was my first time in Forthbank and I must say the pitch looked in great condition. So the Stirling Albion scarf was added to his collection and broke the existing record.”
The only Scottish scarfs not in the collection are Alloa Athletic, Stenhousemuir, Cove Rangers,
Peterhead, Albion Rovers and Raith Rovers and David has vowed to take an Alloa scarf on next year’s holiday.
On the trip, David also visited a shop run by the cousin and uncle of Cristiano Ronaldo.
David said: “It’s great to know that our great wee local team has a place in some world history and in Madeira – named the world’s best holiday island.
“If only we could just convince local hero Cristiano Ronaldo to come and play his last few years with Stirling Albion.”
Albion chairman Stuart Brown said: “We were delighted to learn of David gifting his Albion scarf to Ricardo at Bar O Avo where he houses the world’s biggest collection of football scarves.
“It may have been the biggest but it certainly wasn’t the best until David’s good deed.
“If David contacts me at the club, I’ll be more than happy to arrange a complimentary replacement.”