Two thousand, one hundred and forty-seven days – that’s how long ago it was that Max Currie last pulled on a Stranraer shirt.
Fifteen different men have stood between the posts for the Blues at Stair Park between the goalkeeper leaving and returning to the club.
So, it is a welcome home to Currie, who has, finally, made his way back to the club after leaving in 2020.
He said: “It is good to be back and it is a long time coming.
“I was close to joining two seasons ago when Scott Agnew was the manager and I ended up with a suspension that stalled things.
“Then I was close to joining in the summer with Chris Aitken.
“I was supposed to sign again and then just last minute I decided to stay with St Cadoc’s.
“It was basically agreed to sign with Chris and then, literally at the last minute, things went south.”
But when Josh Lane was recalled by parent club Hamilton Academical it opened the door for Currie once again.
And this time there was no turning back as he put pen to paper to return to the club where he made his senior debut.
Currie has already been in training with the squad and was at the Lime Stadium at Stair Park for the Tuesday night Scottish Cup clash with Queen’s Park.
Now, he is hoping to get the call for Saturday’s contest with his former club, East Kilbride.
He said: “I was cup-tied for the Queen’s Park game but Saturday is the first time that I am available for selection and in the squad.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Currie made 91 appearances during his first spell at the club, making his debut against Stenhousemuir on Boxing Day 2015.
Spells at Airdrie, Queen of the South, East Kilbride and St Cadoc’s followed before he joined Glenafton Athletic.
However, despite his time away from Wigtownshire, he admitted it was a club that remained close to his heart.
He said: “Stranraer were the club where I made my senior debut.
“I have played with a couple of clubs but none of them really stood out to me.
“I was a young boy at Stranraer, I made my debut and then went onto play for four or five seasons.
“I really enjoyed it and it was one of those that when you leave you have always got that connection and always look out for them.”
Last meeting
Conditions were far from ideal when Stranraer made a midweek trip to K-Park Stadium earlier this season.
Pouring rain and swirling winds made things difficult but it was the visitors who emerged victorious. The deadlock was broken from the penalty spot by Mark Russell after Beejay Coll had been fouled in attempting to go for a cross.
That was it for the first half but Deryn Lang doubled the lead with a well taken strike from the edge of the box.
Rhys Breen pulled one back from close range but Stranraer would score twice more. First, Daniel McManus cut in from the wing to send a shot into the far corner. Then, Lewis Hunter finished off a fine team move when he tapped into an empty net.
East Kilbride: Morrison, Ferguson, MacKenzie (See 58), Fagan, Breen, Leitch, Balde, Robertson, Lyon, Foster (Healy 46), Young.
Not used: Hamilton, Sula, Dobbie, Mimnaugh, Spence and Owens.
Stranraer: Lane, Reid, Rough, Docherty, Coll, McKnight (Stuart 74), Russell, Hughes (Quigg 67), McManus (Sharp 75), Hunter (Ecrepont 75), Lang (Dolan 74).
Not used: Dunne and Henderson.
Last five meetings
- East Kilbride 1 Stranraer 4 (Breen; Russell (Pen), Lang, McManus and Hunter) at K Park Stadium on December 9, 2025
- Stranraer 1 East Kilbride 3 (Russell (Pen); Robertson x2 and Elliott) at Stair Park on November 15, 2025
- East Kilbride 3 Stranraer 1 (Robertson (Pen), Ferguson and Balde; Turay) at K Park Stadium on August 16, 2025
- Stranraer 3 East Kilbride 1 (Gallagher, Ross and Gilmartin; Samson) at Stair Park on May 18, 2024
- East Kilbride 2 Stranraer 2 (Stirling and Robertson; McIntosh and Ross) at K Park Stadium on May 11, 2024
Last five games
Stranraer
- WIN v Queen’s Park (H): 1-1 (Stranraer win 6-5 on penalties) (Plank)
- LOSS v Ayr United (A): 4-1 (Hughes)
- DRAW v Forfar Athletic (A): 2-2 (Ecrepont and Lang)
- DRAW v Edinburgh City (H): 1-1 (Lang)
- DRAW v Annan Athletic (A): 2-2 (Russell (Pen) and Lang)
East Kilbride
- WIN v Stirling Albion (A): 1-2 (Robertson and Balde)
- DRAW v Clyde (H): 1-1 (Robertson)
- LOSS v Annan Athletic (H): 1-3 (Young)
- LOSS v Dumbarton (A): 2-0
- LOSS v Stranraer (H): 1-4 (Breen)
Last time out
Stranraer
Lineup v Queen’s Park: Tas, Ecrepont (Coll 106), Reid, Rough, Dunne, McManus (McKnight 46), Stuart (Quigg 9), Gillies (Hunter 86), Dolan (Russell 100), Lang (Cleland 108), Plank.
Not used: Docherty, Hughes and Henderson.
East Kilbride
Lineup v Stirling Albion: Hepburn, S Young, Hamilton, Breen, McGregor, Leitch, McLuckie, Balde (C Young 79), Robertson, Williamson (Spence 62), Elliott.
Not used: Ferguson, McLean, Dobbie, Lyon, Foster and Owens.
Five facts
- The 15 goalkeepers to have featured for Stranraer since Max Currie left are: Greg Fleming, Curtis Lyle, Luke Scullion, Jack Baker, George O’Connor, Matthew Connelly, Martin McDonald, Lewis Budinauckas, Jacob Pazikas, Harry Broun, Robbie Mutch, Sam Kane, Josh Lane, Ewan Henderson and Lyndon Tas.
- Lewis Hunter has taken two spot kicks for Stranraer this season. Both have come in penalty shoot-outs, both have come in sudden death and both have proved the winner.
- Stranraer have not suffered a defeat away from home in the league since August. Ryan Shanley’s goal was enough to give Stirling Albion all three points at Forthbank.
- Max Currie’s home debut lasted just nine minutes 10 years ago. He came off the bench to replace David McGurn in the closing stages of a 1-0 win over Ayr United. Jamie Longworth was the goalscorer and the home team was: McGurn (Currie 81), Robertson, Pettigrew, Bell, Dick, Rumsby, Cairney, McCloskey (Stirling 76), Malcolm, Longworth, McGuigan (Turner 85). Not used: Keenan, McGill, Kemp and Nequecaur.
- The last time Stranraer played on January 24 was in 2015. That saw a trip to Airdrie where all the action came in the final five minutes. Jon McShane scored three minutes from time but there was still for Jim Lister to find an equaliser.
Admission
Supporters can purchase tickets online via the home club’s Fanbase ticketing platform.
Podcast
Check out the latest edition of Look Blues Talking for all the talking points from Tuesday night’s Scottish Cup clash with Queen’s Park, plus a look ahead to the league meetings with East Kilbride and Clyde.
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 on Saturday night, along with full match footage.
Extended highlights will be available via YouTube on Sunday, with Laurence Nelson and Brian Martin on commentary.
Photos: Bill McCandlish
