MVP: LDw

Team DPs: 52

EST are rivals to 3 teams.

Season 41 Needs A bigger playing squad

SEASON 41 UPDATE

Real Life

East Stirlingshire was formed in 1881 and have been a bedrock of the Scottish Footballing fraternity ever since. Incredibly the club only appointed their first manager in 1966, up until that time the Board of Directors made all key decisions. The Club's most famous manager is the great Sir Alex Ferguson, who took on the Shire in his first ever managerial position. 

Much like in SESL the club has not won the top division ever and have only one Division Two on one occasion in 1932. The Stirlingshire Cup, a cup set up by the Stirlingshire Football Association is where they have tasted success though and are the second most successful team in the Cup history with 21 wins, behind major rivals Falkirk. Teams participating in the latest version of the cup were Alloa Athletic, Dumbarton, East Stirlingshire, Falkirk, Stenhousemuir and Stirling Albion. 

In 2018 East Stirlingshire finished fourth in the 2017/18 Lowland Football League winning only 7 of their 15 home games but incredibly winning 12 of their 15 away games. The current coach is John Sludden and the captain is Derek Ure.

SESL History

East Stirlingshire were formed in Season 3 and put under the guidance of Arnold Yzermans, three seasons of near misses in the race for promotion from Division 3 would set the tone for the teams history in the SESL. Chris Martin would be up next and would earn the club its first wooden spoon and a high finish of 9th in season 12. Mediocrity for EST in SESL continued for another 7 seasons where the team failed to even make the top 10 of the league.

First venture into Division 2

Jose del Rio took over the management of the club in Season 19 and promptly led EST to their highest ever finish in the league, sneaking into the promotion in fourth spot. It was all too much to face as EST were mauled and lost 20 games in an immediate return to division 3. The expensive venture into Division 3 gave EST no chance and an old squad finished in the Wooden spoon position in season 21, the third wooden spoon. Del Rio managed to hang onto the job and two seasons later snuck into division two through fourth spot. Season 24 saw EST try harder but ultimately head back down via the playoffs. The disappointment was too much and del Rio handed in his resignation

The reign of Kalmbach and Cassiman

Byrce Kalmbach was the man chosen to take EST forward, and spent three seasons in promotion fights, ultimately ending his reign in success by getting EST to the playoffs and winning his right to fight in Division 2. Erwin Cassiman was selected for the third season in Division 2 which like the previous attempt led to relegation from the playoffs. EST would return to Division 3 in Season 29.

The Barnard Era Begins

After a 13 season sabbatical, EST wowed the fans with the announcement of South African Tyron Barnard as the man to lead the club in Season 29. EST played an exciting brand of football and won 23 games on the way to their first-ever title in SESL. The pressure was on avoiding immediate relegation in Season 30. But EST shocked many by pushing for promotion and sneaking it over ALB to venture into Division 1 for the first time in their history. Of course, the quest for promotion meant EST had a weak squad and managed only 8 wins in securing an immediate return to Division 2. Division 2 was the same as an old team in a rebuilding status lost 18 games to return to Divison 3. Season 33 saw EST run last for the first half of the season before the Barnard project paid a dividend by avoiding the Wooden spoon with a great run to finish 14th. The project continued with EST sneaking into the playoffs in Season 34 and then season 35 saw EST return to Division 2.  

They have subsequently yo-yoed around as in S36 they struggled and came straight back down to Div 3, where they again snuck in and secured promotion meaning Barnard would lead them in Div 2 for the fourth time and 7th in their history. What started well quickly fell apart and MSA dismantled the Shire folks who were once again relegated to Division 3. Barnard vowed to rebuild and take a team with youngsters up to Div 2 in the next two seasons!

True to his word in season 39 Barnard did it leading EST to the second division for the 5th time (four promotions, one relegation) in his reign after a late charge snuck EST into the Playoffs and victory was secured. EST was fancied to go straight down in Season 40, but tactical management by Barnard saw his unfancied team secure a 10th place finish and for the first time in 38 seasons EST would be in Division 2 for two consecutive seasons. 

Kit for the new season

Summary of Managers

Season 41 Update

I am a South African who is a full-time Chartered Accountant, but also a part-time Sports Analyst and website owner (Sports 24 Seven - All Things Jabu). I have been married for nearly five years now and we have welcomed our first child, Callum Jabu Barnard (ironically Callum is a Scottish name) into the world in August 2016. The little man is the absolute focus of my life and worth every second! From a professional point of view, I have just resigned from KPMG where I have worked for 11 years and am moving to an Insurance company as their FM. 

From a personal point of view, I play 6 a side soccer once a week, where I'm a goal scoring full back (I scored a double hat-trick last week, more goals than I have scored in the past 6 months combined), hockey once a week and have taken up running for a health and fitness approach. I have completed two half-marathons now. 

From a sporting point of view, my first love is and always will be Arsenal. My father supported them and I grew up as a supporter. My picture used to be up in the Emirates Stadium for two years as I won a competition to be their South African fan. I also received a signed letter from Arsene Wenger on my wedding. 

As a South African, I am also a big rugby fan supporting the Cheetahs and the Springboks. And in Scottish football Rangers > Celtic.

SESL Bio

I played in SESL as the DEV and INV managers many years ago leading DEV for Season 13,14,15 which is about 10 years ago an accumulated a very average record. I was also at INV for S17 &18 gaining promotion to Div 1 and avoiding Relegation.

Season	Team	P	W	D	L	League Position
13	DEV	37	11	4	22	Div 3 - 15, SESL R2
14	DEV	41	14	7	20	Div 3 - 13, CECIL R2, SESL R2
15	DEV	37	13	6	18	Div 3 - 11, CECIL R1, SESL R1
Total	DEV	115	38	17	60	0.404
17	INV	40	19	10	11	Div 2 - 3, CECIL R2, SESL R2
18	INV	38	13	4	21	Div 1 - 12, CECIL R1, SESL R2
Total	INV	78	32	14	32	0.5

It was then a big break before I returned to take over EST where he won D3 and then followed it up with promotion from D2 to lead EST to their first ever season in D1. I have now completed more than double the next longest serving manager of EST history and have managed the Prediction League since S37

Total

EST

463

178

81

204

0.472