Scotland's first senior fans' owned "Home International"

Stirling Albion, Scotland’s first senior fans’ owned football club has announced it is to play Northern Ireland’s fan owned Cliftonville in what is being billed as Scotland’s first fan owned ‘home international’.

Cliftonville will travel to the Doubletree Dunblane Stadium next summer to defend the Ladbrokes Supporters Cup which it won in July 2010 in Belfast against FC United of Manchester when they ran out 2-1 winners.

The Scottish First Division side will take on the Irish Premier League side on the 16^th of July 2011.

Paul Goodwin, Director of Stirling Albion, said: "The idea of a trophy that is played for between fan owned teams in the UK and Ireland is wonderful, so it will be an honour for us to host Cliftonville and to get involved with the competition.

"We have seen the progress achieved by members-owned teams such as Cliftonville and FC United, and we are keen to emulate how they operate off the field."

Gerard Lawlor, Cliftonville chairman, said: “It was a privilege to host FC United last summer in the first year of the competition, and we are looking forward to defending the Cup against Stirling Albion.

“Everyone at the club is excited about the trip to Scotland. It is another opportunity to spread the word about how members-owned clubs can be a positive movement for the game of football.

“It will also be a great chance for our players to test themselves against professional opposition and for our fans to enjoy a great day out. Hopefully we will give a good account of ourselves.”

Ladbrokes spokesman David Williams said: “After the success of last year’s match between Cliftonville and FC United, we are proud to be backing year two of the Ladbrokes Supporters Cup.

“What Stirling Albion are doing in Scotland is similar to what Cliftonville have achieved in Ireland, so the two clubs have a lot in common.

“We understand the growth of members-owned clubs in the UK and Ireland and are proud to be able to bring these two sides together.

“We wish both teams every success for the remainder of the season and may the best team on the day win.”

In July this year, Stirling Albion made history when they became the first senior football club in Scotland to be fully owned by its supporters.

The Stirling Albion Supporters Trust took over when the club were threatened with bankruptcy and became a 100 per cent community-owned club.