Cristiano Ronaldo Backs Supporters’ Campaign To Buy Club

May 7, 2009 5:29:03 PM

The Manchester United superstar has leant his backing to a campaign by supporters of Scottish Second Division outfit Stirling Albion, who want to buy their club.

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo has emerged as an unlikely ally to Stirling Albion supporters, who are aiming to make their side the first team in Britain to be owned 100 per cent by the fans.

Ronaldo, who performed a pivotal role in the Red Devils’ 3-1 Champions League semi-final success over Arsenal on Tuesday evening, and the team at Soccerade are quoted by several media outlets, including Scottish tabloid The Daily Record, “Buystirlingalbion.org.uk is a great community football project that we fully endorse.”

The Binos are about to conclude their season in the third flight of Scottish football, in which they will finish fifth. But the Stirling Albion Supporters Trust is concerned by the long term future of the debt-ridden club and has started the BuyStirlingAlbion scheme, which aims to recruit 20,000 members, each paying £40 to raise a sum of money sufficient to buy the club.

At a press conference on Tuesday night, Paul Goodwin of BuyStirlingAlbion explained, “This is the chance of a lifetime for everyone to be part of the first 100 per cent fans trust-owned league club in the UK.

"Fans trusts already have ownership in clubs across the UK and in four cases have majority stakes but this innovative and ambitious campaign aims to make Stirling Albion FC the UK's first ever 100 per cent fans trust-owned club.

"However, we have to be very clear that if this campaign doesn't come off, there is a serious danger that the club may cease to exist as a league club, which is why it's so important that it succeeds."

Amongst the perks afforded to members of the scheme is the ‘Think Your Good Enough?’ initiative, which allows supporters the chance to trial for the team.

Interestingly, Stirling is the home of the world’s oldest known football, which was discovered in the city’s famous castle. The ball has been confirmed by scientists to be at least 440 years old.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com

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