Chairman for the Day

Lifelong East Stirlingshire fan, Charles McLaughlin, will create history tomorrow after submitting the highest bid to become the Third Division club’s Chairman for the day for their visit to Rangers for what will be the first ever Third Division fixture for the home side.

The opportunity arose when the Shire’s present Chairman, Tony Ford, put the role up for grabs as he cannot attend the game due to a reunion with former submariner colleagues.  Ford, who was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, wanted to raise the profile of the support services available to sufferers as well as raise funds for research into the condition and he achieved both with nine bids being submitted with McLaughlin’s winning offer being for ‘more than £500’ according to Ford.

Edinburgh based McLaughlin will meet the team bus at the club’s former Firs Park home tomorrow before travelling to a hotel in Paisley where John Coughlin and his players will have a pre-match meal.  He will then lead the Shire squad into Ibrox where he will be entertained in the Boardroom before watching the game from the Directors Box.

“It is a far cry from how I have travelled to see Shire in the past,” said McLaughlin before adding, “At one time, I went to see their games in the back of a transit van sitting on a stool from their Social Club.

“I first watched them 50 years ago but this is the first time I have done anything like this.  I will be honoured to take the team in my temporary role and I am delighted to support Tony in helping raise the profile of Parkinson’s.”

It will not be the first time McLaughlin has seen his side against a team of international superstars as he explained: “I was at Firs Park 40 years ago when Chelsea visited as part of the relationship between the clubs that built up when Eddie McCreadie moved from the Shire to Stamford Bridge.  Peter Bonetti, Alan Hudson, Terry Venables and Ian Hutchison were all there and we drew 2-2.

“Me being Chairman of the Shire for the day is not as far fetched as the Shire drawing with Chelsea.”

Following his team has given McLaughlin a lifetime of memories as he added: “I have seen other great things like the time we beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s St. Mirren 5-0 in his first game back after leaving us and we had to wear Stenhousemuir shirts as they turned up in black and white stripes.

“I saw big George Wood ,who went on to play in goal for Scotland, play outfield in a jersey that was too small for him.  I saw us beat a Hearts side ironically managed by another Tony Ford 1-0 in 1980 and I also saw us lose 6-1 to Falkirk on my 21st birthday.”

However, the trip to Ibrox is still to sink in for McLaughlin who said: “I never thought I would see the Shire face Rangers in a Third Division game and I would be the Chairman of the club.”