Top award for University of Stirling football coach

The head coach of the University of Stirling’s men’s football team – which competes across eight competitions – has been recognised with a prestigious award.

Chris Geddes was crowned Coach of the Year at the Scottish Student Sport Awards – recognising his achievement in leading the team to back-to-back titles in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Premier North Division. In further recognition of his efforts, Geddes was also shortlisted for Coach of the Year at the 2022 BUCS Awards.

Reflecting on his award, Geddes said: “I am absolutely delighted to win Coach of the Year at the Scottish Student Sport Awards, and to be shortlisted at the BUCS Awards.

“While this is an important personal achievement for me, it is also a reflection on the talent, hard work and commitment of our players at the University of Stirling, as well as the excellent team I have working alongside me. This award is for them too.”

He added: “We have enjoyed success in recent seasons – particularly in BUCS – and we’re already looking forward to the 2022/23 season getting under way in a few weeks’ time. I’m confident that we can continue to push on and hopeful that our players will be lifting more trophies again soon.”

Chris Geddes (left) won Coach of the Year at the Scottish Student Sport Awards. Pictured alongside Pete Burgon, Chair of Scottish Student Sport.

The University men’s first team compete in the Lowland League – the fifth tier of Scottish football; BUCS Premier North; the Scottish Cup; Lowland League Cup; South Challenge Cup; Football Nation Qualifying Cup; BUCS British Championships; and the Queen’s Park Shield.

Geddes – a former striker who was one of the University’s longest serving players and all-time top scorer – took over as head coach in 2017, following the departure of Shelley Kerr. He is supported in his role by assistant Mark Adams, coach David Binnie, and analyst Nuno Almeida.

He led the team to the BUCS Premier North title in 2019/20 and then, following a hiatus due to the pandemic, they lifted the trophy again in 2021/22. Under Geddes, the team has also enjoyed impressive wins in the Scottish Cup in recent years, including making the Third Round in 2018/19.

In addition, the football programme develops and supports talented student footballers to progress into the professional ranks after graduating from Stirling. In recent years, a number of players have left to join clubs in the Scottish Professional Football League, including Conor Doan, Robbie McGale, Craig Brown, Angus Mailer, Lewis Hunter, Blair Lyons, and Rory MacEwan.

Congratulations

Cathy Gallagher, Executive Director of Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “I wish Chris a huge congratulations on this thoroughly deserved award.

“Under Chris’s leadership, our football scholarship programme continues to attract top talent to train, compete and study at Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence – which is reflected in the success the club has enjoyed in recent years.”

For more information on football scholarships, visit the University website.