Not many players have to wait until they are 29 before getting the chance to make their SPFL debut.
Jordan Stuart has had to be patient in making the step up having spent his career in the West of Scotland Football League.
The former Dalry Thistle, Kilwinning Rangers and Beith midfielder was among the signings joining Stranraer during the summer.
And he revealed it was an opportunity that he just could not turn down.
He said: “I have known the manager from when I was at Kilwinning Rangers with him.
“We got on brilliant and he obviously liked me as a player.
“He contacted me during the middle of last season and we always kept in contact.
“He asked if I would be interested and I was at Beith and I was happy to sign at Stranraer.
“I have loved it so far and it is all positive.
“There were a few conversations with Scot Rough and Steven Noble.
“I asked Steven about the club and he could not have been nicer about it.
“He was talking the club up, it was full of great people and how he enjoyed his time here.
“I know myself and Scot are both enjoying our time as well.
“I thought my chance of playing in the SPFL had passed me by but I am just grateful to get the opportunity and hopefully I can grab it with both hands and have a successful season.”
Stuart, who lives in Ayrshire, was set to make his League Two debut last weekend in the trip to Forfar Athletic.
He said: “On the Thursday night, I felt a wee twinge in my hamstring.
“On the Friday, I was doing gym work and it felt better so I gave the gaffer the go ahead to put me in the team.
“As soon as I started sprinting and turning in the warm-up, I just pulled up again.
“I went to see somebody on Monday and I am hoping to be back for the East Kilbride game; so, it is not too serious.
“You want to play every game and from a selfish point of view I was gutted not to play but it was best for the team if I stayed away.
“There was no point in risking it and then being out for six or seven weeks.”
And while Stuart is still in the very early stages of his Stranraer career, he came within a matter of weeks of lining up alongside a family member.
He revealed: “It is a strange one but I think my auntie is married to Scott Robertson’s uncle.
“I think that is how it has worked out but I have never met the guy!
“I have heard very good things and he is obviously a legend down at Stranraer.
“It was a nice wee touch.”
Last meeting
Twenty-one days have passed since Stranraer and Edinburgh City last faced each other.
The League Cup game at Meadowbank Stadium was far from a classic with Innes Lawson having the best chance for the hosts in the first half.
Stranraer’s best opportunities came late in the game as Mark Weir pulled off a great save to deny Daniel McManus before the midfielder then headed off target.
It all came down to a penalty shootout, with the capital club netting all five spot kicks to take the bonus point.
Edinburgh City: Weir, Mitchell, Duncan, Lynch, McArthur, Stokes, Mahon, Quinn (Sammut 85), Lawson, Brodie (Myles 85), Daramola (Burgess 89).
Not used: Lang, Richardson, MacKay and Marinovic.
Stranraer: Lane, Reid, Rough, Dunne (Docherty 72), Coll, Quigg (Sharp 79), McKnight (Hughes 64), Hunter (Edgar 64), Russell, McManus, Turay (Stuart 64).
Not used: Ecrepont and Henderson.
Last five meetings
- Edinburgh City 0 Stranraer 0 (Edinburgh City win 5-3 on penalties) at Meadowbank Stadium on July 19, 2025
- Stranraer 2 Edinburgh City 0 (Guthrie and Lang) at Stair Park on April 19, 2025
- Edinburgh City 0 Stranraer 1 (Ross) at Meadowbank Stadium on March 1, 2025
- Stranraer 0 Edinburgh City 0 at Stair Park on December 14, 2024
- Edinburgh City 1 Stranraer 2 (Mitchell; Russell and Guthrie) at Meadowbank Stadium on October 5, 2024
Last five games
Stranraer
- LOSS v Forfar Athletic (A): 1-0
- WIN v Queen of the South (H): 1-0 (Quigg)
- DRAW v Edinburgh City (A): 0-0 (Edinburgh City win 5-3 on penalties)
- LOSS v Partick Thistle (A): 2-0
- DRAW v Ross County (H): 1-1 (Sharp) (Stranraer win 6-5 on penalties)
Edinburgh City
- LOSS v Stirling Albion (H): 1-2 (Mahon (Pen))
- LOSS v Ross County (A): 8-0
- DRAW v Stranraer (H): 0-0 (Edinburgh City win 5-3 on penalties)
- LOSS v Queen of the South (A): 4-0
- LOSS v Partick Thistle (H): 1-4 (Daramola)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Forfar Athletic: Lane, Ecrepont (Coll 81), Reid, Rough, Dunne, Quigg (Sharp 72), Hunter (Turay 60), Hughes (Dolan 61), Edgar (McKnight 60), McManus, Russell.
Not used: Henderson.
Edinburgh City
Lineup v Stirling Albion: Weir, Mitchell (Gaughan 55), McArthur, Duncan, Lynch, Jarvis, Mahon, Service (Myles 46), Stokes (Plesiewicz 69), Daramola (A Trialist 55), Brodie (B Trialist 60).
Not used: Marinovic.
Ins and outs
Stranraer
Ins: Beejay Coll (St Cadoc’s), James Dolan (Unattached), Evan Dunne (Beith Juniors), Ewan Henderson (Whitletts Victoria), Ronan Hughes (St Cadoc’s), Lewis Hunter (The Spartans), Josh Lane (Hamilton Academicals, loan), Daniel McManus (St Cadoc’s), Corey O’Donnell (Stenhousemuir), Lewis Reid (Queen’s Park, loan made permanent), Scot Rough (Beith Juniors), Tommy Sharp (Livingston), Jordan Stuart (Beith Juniors), Sallu Turray (Partick Thistle) and Corey O’Donnell (Stenhousemuir).
Outs: Tomas Brindley (Cumnock Juniors), Adam Cummins (Irvine Meadow), Grant Gallagher (Cumnock Juniors), Matty Grant (Johnstone Burgh), Dean Hawkshaw (Hurlford United), Craig Ross (Airdrieonians), Max Guthrie (Ayr United, end of loan), Sam Kane (Queen’s Park, end of loan), Josh Lane (Hamilton Academical, end of loan) and Scott Robertson (retired).
Edinburgh City
Ins: Bradley Barrett (Bonnyrigg Rose), Jack Duncan (Broxburn Athletic), Jaden Ferguson (Dundee North End), Ryan Gaughan (Partick Thistle), Robbie Mahon (Loughgall), Szymon Plesiewicz (Heart of Midlothian), Jake Service (University of Stirling) and Malik Zaid (Hibernian, loan made permanent).
Outs: Dean Beveridge (Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare), Sam Gormley (Broxburn Athletic), Robbie Hamilton (Broxburn Athletic), Sam Jones (Tranent), Callum Pitt (Berwick Rangers), Jon Robertson (Broxburn Athletic), Shea Scally (St Mary’s University), Ouzy See (East Kilbride), Dylan Wells (Motherwell, end of loan) and Josh Grigor.
Five facts
- Evan Dunne’s red card at Station Park was the first sending off for a Stranraer player in the opening league game of the season since 2020/21. The Blues went down 4-1 at home to Elgin City with Kieran Millar sent off as Stranraer trailed 3-1. The home side that day was: Fleming, Robertson, Burns, Cummins (Victoria 55), Devitt, McManus, Gallagher, Millar, Duffy (Orr 55), Stirling, Paton (Elliott 34). Not used: McIntyre, Hamill and Walker.
- One man who played in the above game will celebrate turning 25 on Saturday. Ruari Paton spent a single season at Stair Park during 2020/21. He would score nine goals in a season largely played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus restrictions.
- Stranraer last lost their opening two league games in 2016/17. On that occasion, the Blues went down 5-1 at Livingston and 5-2 to Alloa Athletic (Craig Malcolm scoring all of Stranraer’s goals).
- The spoils have been shared in the last five league meetings between Stranraer and Edinburgh City at Stair Park. The Blues have won two (Max Guthrie and Deryn Lang scored in a 2-0 win last season while Andy Stirling and Tom Orr scored in a 2-1 win in 2021). Edinburgh City have won two (Ouzy See and Danny Handling scored in a 2-0 win in February 2022 while See also scored in a 1-0 win in September 2021). The remaining contest ended goalless.
- A penalty shootout was needed to determine a winner when the sides last met. That was Stranraer’s second shootout of the campaign having defeated Ross County on day one. The Blues have not been involved in three penalty shootouts in a single season for more than 25 years.
Admission
Admission in the Eco Gen Stadium at Stair Park is ‘pay at the gate’ only. Season tickets are valid for Saturday’s game.
Away fans can enter the ground from the away turnstile opposite the main stand. This turnstile is cash only.
The following pricing applies:
- Adult – £15
- Concession (over 65) – £10
- Youth (5 to 16) – £5
- Under 5 – FREE
Merchandise
Stranraer FC merchandise is available from the hut outside the main McLeans Taxis Stand, including limited numbers of this season’s kits, hats, leisurewear and sale items from last season.
Cash and card payments are accepted and we open from 1.30pm.
You can also purchase a range of merchandise online.
Pavilion Bar
Pop into our popular Pavilion Bar outside the away turnstile from 1pm for a pre-match refreshment with fellow fans.
Home, away and neutral supporters are warmly welcomed, and the bar accepts both cash and card.
Or, stop off at the Stranraer FC Fitba’ Bar on North Strand Street in the town centre, which is also open to all.
Coverage
If you’re further afield, follow our live matchday updates on X (formerly Twitter).
The manager’s post-match reaction will be available on YouTube following the game.
Club 1870 subscribers get a first look at the goals from 10pm on Saturday night, along with full match footage.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with the familiar voices of Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish, Colin Poultney (Collarge Images)
