Stirling Albion will kick off their new cinch League Two campaign away to Dumbarton on Saturday, July 30.
The SPFL published the fixtures last Friday and Darren Young’s men will start against Stevie Farrell’s side in a repeat of their Premier Sports Cup Group A opener on Saturday, July 9.
The Sons were relegated in May after losing to Edinburgh City in the play-offs but have been busy in the transfer market this summer.
Their seven new recruits include former Binos David Wilson and Martin McNiff, as well as Ally Love from Clyde and Ryan Wallace from East Fife. After another failure to reach the play-offs last season, Stirling will be desperate to achieve top four as a bare minimum so the Dumbarton clash is likely to be an early test of their promotion credentials.
League Two lacks an obvious big-hitter this year after Cove Rangers, Queen’s Park and Kelty Hearts took the title in recent years and several sides will feel they have a chance of claiming top spot.
Stirling’s first home league game of the season is against Elgin City on Saturday, August 6 with Gavin Price’s men having enjoyed their recent visits to Forthbank.
Albion host Stenhousemuir the following weekend then travel to Galabank to play Annan Athletic before ending the month with a visit to New Dundas Park to take on Bonnyrigg Rose.
The SPFL newcomers are managed by former Berwick Rangers boss Robbie Horn and defeated Fraserburgh then Cowdenbeath in the play-offs after winning the Lowland League by some distance.
Stirling’s festive fixtures are against Elgin at Borough Briggs on Christmas Eve and Stenhousemuir at Forthbank on Monday, January 2. They end the 2022/23 campaign against Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill on Saturday, May 6.
Training continued for the players at Stirling University on Saturday and Binos boss Young is still looking to add to his squad following the arrivals of Robert Thomson (Stenhousemuir), Cameron Clark (Annan Athletic) and East Fife trio Danny Denholm, Ross Davidson and Aaron Dunsmore.
Meanwhile, Stirling Albion will face Alloa in a friendly at the Indodrill Stadium next Tuesday.
They play Airdrieonians at Broadwood in the North Lanarkshire Cup on Saturday, July 2, with the winners taking on Albion Rovers or Cumbernauld Colts the following day.
