Stirling has come a long way
Ben Stirling believes there’s a fair wind sending his career in the right direction with Hamilton Accies.
He was preparing to cope with the gales that swirl around Arbroath’s Gayfield Park at this time last year – and loving it.
This afternoon the midfielder is ready to face Rangers at Ibrox with Accies.
Stirling’s theory is that the loan spells he experienced during his time with Hibs helped prepare him for life in the top flight.
The 22-year-old should come up against £7-million man Ryan Kent today.
He said: “You want to play against the top players, and Ryan Kent definitely is one.
“I’m sure it will be a big contrast from playing for Arbroath a year ago.
“I was probably getting ready to play at Gayfield, it would have been freezing cold and blowing a gale. But it’s what got me to where I am now.
“It was a great experience at Arbroath. Dick and Ian Campbell were brilliant.
“Dick has his ways, but they’re definitely the right ways when you see where they finished in the Championship last season.
“Then in the latter stage of last season, I went on loan to Alloa, and Peter Grant is probably one of the best managers I’ve worked with.
“They love to get the ball down and play. “I featured in eight games on the bounce and then Covid-19 struck.
“That was disappointing. I was playing every week, and was probably the fittest I’d ever been when it got shut down.”
Stirling came through the ranks at Hibs and looked like making the big breakthrough on a number of occasions.
He could have stayed with the Easter Road side, but decided to seek pastures new in search of regular action.
He continued: “I went straight from my boys club to join Hibs Under-15s, and played all the way through the levels alongside guys like Ryan Porteous
“There are a lot of young boys who have had an opportunity at Hibs.
“When you’re training with them every day, it gives you hope that you’re going to be the next one.
“I always felt I was just as good as them. I was confident that if I got my opportunity, I would take it.
“But, sadly, I never got it.
“There was a game at the start of this season against Dundee United when Paul Mcginn went down injured.
“Jack Ross told me to warm up, and I was thinking this was going to be my time to kick on.
“But Paul recovered quite quickly, and ended up playing the full 90 minutes. That was a key moment.
“I realised I would probably have to look elsewhere and grab another opportunity with both hands.”
This will only be Stirling’s second visit to Ibrox. He went as a supporter – backing Edinburgh’s other team!
He’s looking forward to meeting up with Brandon Barker, who he got to know during the Englishman’s brief stint with Hibs.
Stirling said: “Facing guys like him is definitely where I want to be. He was at Manchester City as a youth, and I think played just a couple of pre-season games for them. Now he’s playing most weeks for Rangers.
“To be on the same pitch as him is great, and I want to be playing regularly in the highest league in Scotland.”
Stirling has already played at right-back and in central midfield for Hamilton. He said: “I do like the centre of the pitch, the holding role. I have a good range of passing.”
Accies yesterday completed the capture of 31-year-old centrehalf, Aaron Martin, who was released by Exeter City in July. The Englishman’s former clubs include Southampton, Birmingham City, Coventry City and Oxford United.
Martin, who is available to face Rangers today, said: “I’ve been in the game a long time now. I’m looking forward to playing a different style of football and getting going again.”
Accies brought in 26-year-old former Motherwell winger, Nathan Thomas, on Friday.