University of Stirling head coach Chris Geddes gives an open and honest interview with Cameron Wanstall about his many duties with the Uni, his grievance with Sportscene and The Students’ recent Scottish Cup exit to Premiership outfit Dundee United.
Attendances, infrastructure, and recruitment. Three crucial components that must be capitalised on by football clubs teetering on the edge of the SPFL.
Yet, University of Stirling – whose first team currently sit fifth in the Lowland League and compete in eight different competitions each season – remain an anomaly. They can’t rely on high attendances, their infrastructure is unique, and their recruitment is limited. And still, they remain in the fight.
Chris Geddes, head coach of The Students, manages the firsts in the Lowland League, East of Scotland Second Division and BUCS (British Universities and College Sport) Premier North. Not three separate squads, just one. All competing on multiple fronts for silverware. And, for good measure, the ever-busy 37-year-old also coaches the Uni's 20s team – who battle in just the four competitions.
Laborious does not even begin to cover Geddes’ efforts with his beloved Uni – he was just one dugout appearance shy of a century last season – but the manager insists, “I'm happy where I am, to be honest, it's a good place for me.
"I've got good bosses and they kind of let me get on with things. People trust me. And obviously, I've been at the Uni twelve years now. I'm a Uni guy, through and through.”
The long hours and endless fixture schedules are all worth it when something special comes along, as was the case in January when The Students ventured further than ever before in the Scottish Cup.
A routine win over Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale, a fiery flourish over Dunbar United, and a narrow victory over cinch League Two side Albion Rovers teed up a fourth round clash against Premiership club Dundee United at Tannadice – making Stirling University the first university to reach the last 32 in almost 54 years.
“When you get to that round, you obviously want a big team,” Geddes admits. “And obviously, if you can't get the big two, you want one in the next three or four, which are classed as the big, big teams.”
Despite the even larger gap between the eventual upset of the round of Aberdeen and Darvel, Geddes was admittedly “blindsided” by the media attention the Uni received in the lead up to the Tannadice trip. BBC Radio Scotland, The Scotsman, The Athletic, and many more organisations all surfaced in Stirling to soak in the feel-good atmosphere within the eager squad.
“My partner drove to work on the Thursday morning, and she sent me a voice note saying, ‘I don't want to drive to work and listen to your voice on the radio!’
“Ultimately, some of the media stuff made me a wee bit cringe because I didn't want it to be about me. I wanted it all to be about the players, what these guys sacrifice, and how good they are.”
However, Geddes concedes that it will be pleasing to one day reflect on it all, as well as the game itself, which the manager described as: “a great run and a great experience."
With over 5,500 in attendance, which included an incredible support of over 1,100 in the away end, it was an entirely different atmosphere for one of the Lowland League’s lesser supported clubs.
“It was tough at times, because it was the first time I've ever been coaching at a game where they couldn't hear me because our fans were loud… They didn't shut up; they were literally loud the whole game.”
United bested Uni come the full-time whistle. The Students held on bravely until the very end of the first 45 when Australia's Aziz Behich, who faced off against Lionel Messi and co. at the World Cup weeks prior, opened the scoring, before a further two goals in the second half from Jamie McGrath and Glenn Middleton brought Stirling Uni's run to an end.
The Students fought hard against Premiership side Dundee United (Slideshow Photos: George Vekic)
“Obviously, people have said, ‘Oh Chris, he was so happy when he lost.’” Geddes said. “But I'm a realist, it was always going to be difficult. Why get all upset when you're going into a game where you should lose?
“It was a day where so many more positives came out of it than negatives. Don’t get me wrong, we lost the game of football, so everyone is disappointed. We made a few mistakes that we wish we could have back, but so much positivity came out of that game. Who am I to sit there and be grumpy that we lost to Dundee United? What right do I have?
“Our boys took loads from that, and it's something that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. Nobody can ever take that away from them.”
Geddes does have one grievance, however: “The Sportscene highlights were rubbish! They gave us one shot at goal.
“We were all really disappointed with that when we see it, because then the people were watching us going, ‘Stirling Uni got pumped, they didn’t even touch the ball.’ When in fact, we actually played not bad.”
Geddes tells of former players Alex Webb and Ben Davidson both making the trip up to Tannadice following their own game being postponed that day, despite knowing they would only catch the second half.
While hailing the pair for their commitment, there was also praise for many former Stirling Uni alumni who still support and care for the programme, as well as keep in touch with Geddes himself.
“I'm always looking out for their results. I don't necessarily care who they play for, I care for them. I'm watching how their team plays and seeing if they are playing.
“A lot of the time, the problem with the young lads who go to the SPFL is they just need a bit of time. Conor (Doan) didn’t start at Bonnyrigg regularly early doors, he was in and out, and then I think he's started the last eight, nine, even ten games.
“Robbie (Horn) is really good like that. He’s willing to have a look at players, and I realise the position he is in just now, but he's still willing to have a look at guys. Whereas a lot the other league teams, I'm not sure they're that keen to have a look.”
That togetherness and lasting bond is likely only strengthened by the club’s unique recruitment policy, where players must study at the Uni during their tenure and are not paid a penny. No fees are paid, nor received, for transfers. While any money made goes straight to getting the players ‘a new embroidered Nike bag’ or ‘a new beanie hat.’
Some would argue this has held back The Students in recent years as mid-table finishes in the Lowland League have played second fiddle to successes in the BUCS, and development, leagues.
These successes, such as winning the BUCS Premier North title for a third consecutive season just days before the trip to Tannadice, mean more to Geddes than any rise up the Lowland League table, however, “We've got that many big games coming up that I'll end up needing to prioritise.
“For instance, if we got to the British Championship final, and it's a midweek, but we had a game versus Spartans or Tranent that day as well, I'd have to send the 20s, or the second team, or whoever, to play Spartans or Tranent. That's just the way we’d work. That game would be bigger on the day."
Geddes then proceeds to rattle off the wide array of competitions his teams are still challenging in, from challenging in the Lowland League to taking on Edinburgh Napier in the Scottish Uni Cup, before stating: "There's no meaningless games.” Each fixture, each competition, each team are all crucial to Geddes and the Stirling Uni football programme.
Before the extremely narrow SPFL promotion pathway opened, The Students were consistent high-flyers in the newly formed Lowland League – finishing 2nd in 2014 during its inaugural season – and this is the closest the Uni have come to replicating such a high finish as the league becomes increasingly more competitive.
When focus is played upon the Lowland League from a University of Stirling perspective this season, Geddes does accept the Uni are now always punching upwards against their fellow competitors blessed with deep pockets.
“For us, there’s a smile on our face at times because we're playing teams that are investing loads of resources into their programmes… We haven't signed anyone. The players we have got are the players we will use.
“If we can be up there challenging or being up there in the top four or five, that's great. But, in terms of talking winning titles, nobody's talking about that at Stirling, to be honest.”
While finishing up our chat, Geddes – who has already declared his love for the Uni and willingness to continue for the foreseeable – does lament the lack of opportunities open to not only himself but also those around him.
“I guess you can only leave a job if you have another one, nobody has phoned me offering me another job! Nobody's going to come in for me. If you look at the Scottish football landscape, it's the ‘been there, done that’ type of people that get the jobs and I understand that.
“Nobody's going to take a chance on guys like me.”
The honest, humble and headstrong Geddes may feel the footballing establishment is against him, but in a football system that relies heavily on financial power, there is no denying there are few out there to have accomplished so much while working with so little.
If you would like to hear more from Chris, click on the link below to listen to our full conversation on Spotify:
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