JOIN US IN STIRLING FOR A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION FIND OUT MORE
Date: 11th August 2026
Bone, Bremner and an idea created to celebrate Stirling’s football heritage – by Paul Goodwin
Scotland’s National Fans Organisation (The SFSA) are set to honour Stirling’s finest players with the creation of a new City of Stirling Football Hall of Fame.
Dick Campbell and Duncan Ferguson will star on a special launch night in the city on the 28th of August.
But this concept is much more than just a fundraising dinner event, with a range of activities and plans being put into place that will develop Stirling’s football history and heritage.
At the launch five of Stirling’s most famous football sons will be celebrated when they will be inducted into the new Hall of Fame.
There are also plans for a football tourist walk, collaborations with other interested parties and of course a permanent display that will act as a magnet for football supporters of all teams.
The idea to create this concept came way back in 2019 when local legend Jimmy Bone travelled with me to Malawi as a guest of Play Soccer Malawi and the Malawi FA to offer advice, and of course to look at how we in Scotland might be able to help one of the poorest nations in Africa develop its football programmes.
Nearly three weeks in the company of the great man himself meant we talked football all day, every day and often into the wee small hours. It was on one of those late night chats sitting at the stunning Lake Malawi, which ironically is known as the lake of stars, that we watched the sun go down after another busy day of coaching. We did manage to fit in a Champions League game as well and it was around then that the conversation came around to Stirling. In particular we started talking about some of the legendary players that came from this wee town, now a wee city of course. Billy Bremner of course was top of the list, but Busby Babe Jimmy Ryan, Big Dunc, the Caldwell brothers, Ali Dick and of course the Binos’ legendary manager Alex Smith, who was a great friend of both Jimmy and Billy.
Apart from Alex, there was not much of a connection to Stirling Albion and we came to the conclusion that it was a real shame that most folk didn’t know about the players that came from Stirling.
We decided that we should look to do something to recognise the achievements. Not long after our return the Billy Bremner campaign kicked off with Jimmy very much determined to play his part in the fundraising for the statue of ‘the wee man’ in the Raploch.
With Jimmy’s sad passing I was contacted by a group of ‘Jimmy’s boys’ who had all been guided by him in their own coaching career. They wanted to mark his life and celebrate Jimmy. As I started to wonder what we could do, I remembered our discussion a few years back in Malawi.
Jimmy of course was far too modest to consider himself to be on the legendary list of players, but it seemed appropriate to develop the City of Stirling Hall of Fame and to bring it to life in his honour.
With his book by journalist Ben Ramage set to be released at the end of August, it seemed the perfect way to reflect on not just his contribution but of the other greats too.
Our fundraising launch night, taking place at Stirling Rugby Club with tickets still available, is just the launch of the concept and will start the fundraising process which will lead to blue plaques, a tourist walking guide, a history of Stirling football website and many more innovative activities that will appeal to all football fans, whether the live in the area or are tourists visiting.
If you love football please, support our launch event by booking tickets. You can also follow our progress on www.scottishfsa.org
Tickets can be purchased here: https://buytickets.at/scottishfootballsupportersassociation/2301085
The full event details are below:
The SFSA are delighted to announce a special evening of entertainment for football fans in the city of Stirling, which will be hosted by the multi-award winning sports broadcaster Richard Gordon.
Held at Stirling Rugby Club in Stirling, the event will see football legend Dick Campbell help launch the long-awaited book from his close friend Jimmy Bone, who passed away in September 2025 it was written by Scottish Sun journalist Ben Ramage.
Jimmy enjoyed an incredible career that saw him inducted into four Hall of Fames – Partick Thistle, St Mirren, Arbroath and Norwich City – with the new Stirling Hall of Fame nod taking him to a fantastic five.
Dick Campbell said: “I am thrilled to be at the event that will see Jimmy Bone honoured by his home city.
“He was a wonderful friend to me and a real football legend that Stirling can be rightly proud of.
“It will be a fitting tribute to his legacy.”
The night will see the launch of the City of Stirling’s Football Hall of Fame, where the first players will be inducted as founding members. Another of the first inductees, who will be in attendance to accept the award and provide the audience with insights of his glittering career, will be Duncan Ferguson.
The former Everton and Scotland star will be making his first public appearance in his home town since he departed many years ago as a teenager.
Duncan Ferguson said: “I am delighted to be inducted into the city of Stirling’s Hall of Fame, and to be mentioned in the same breath as legends such as Billy Bremner and Jimmy Bone.
“I am really looking forward to what should be a very special night in my home city.”
The SFSA have confirmed that all profits generated by the event will go towards projects that Jimmy Bone was working on for the organisation, including the Billy Bremner statue at The Raploch and the ongoing commitment to work with Play Soccer Malawi. There will also be donations to Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and to Kippen FC’s pitch upgrade scheme, as well as the installation of the Hall of Fame materials.
Alexander Gibb, Project Manager for the SFSA, said: “We are hugely excited by the prospect of honouring so many football legends and generating funds that will be reinvested in local football projects.
“We really do hope that all the football lovers of Stirling and indeed from elsewhere come together for what promises to be a magical unique night.”
Tickets are £75 per person, or £100 VIP meet and greet. Tables of 10 are available. Standard tickets include a two-course meal, as well as both featured talks with Dick Campbell and Duncan Ferguson. VIP includes meet and greet and picture opportunities. Signed copies of Jimmy Bone’s book will be available on the night.
The first five inductees into the Stirling Football Hall of Fame will be: Billy Bremner, Duncan Ferguson, Jimmy Bone, Alex Smith and Jimmy Ryan.
The SFSA is Scotland’s only fully independent supporters organisation, open to fans from all clubs and at all levels of our national game. A non-profit voluntary organisation and a community interest company The SFSA works with fans, clubs, the football authorities and the Scottish Government to make Scottish football better for everyone, with supporters at the very heart of it.
See SFSA website for more information: www.scottishfsa.org
Tickets can be purchased here https://buytickets.at/scottishfootballsupportersassociation/2301085
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Tags: Billy Bremner, jimmy bone