The Inver Reds return to action this Saturday as we travel to Scotland to face Stranraer in a pre-season friendly at Stair Park. Kick-off is at 2pm.
TICKETS AND TRAVEL
For those who have booked on the ‘cruise with the champions’ offer with our partners at P&O Ferries, the boat will depart Larne Harbour at 8am and depart Cairnryan for the return sailing at 8pm the same evening. We urge all of those travelling across to check P&O Ferries guidelines with regards to arrival and check-in times at the terminal.
Please be aware that this sailing is sold out and there is expected to be over 250 supporters onboard to Cairnryan.
Onboard the sailing, supporters will have the opportunity to get photos with the first team squad. Food and drink facilities will be available for the full duration of the sailing.
We hope to have our new 2024/25 home shirt on sale for the very first time during the crossing so make sure to bring along extra money if you want to be one of the first to have it! The replicas will be priced at £50 for adult sizes and £40 for kids.
For those who have availed of the foot passenger discount with P&O Ferries, transport to Stranraer from Cairnryan will be provided by Supporters Clubs for a small fee once we arrive in Scotland.
Once we arrive at Stair Park, there will be a cash gate in operation. Entry will cost £10 for adults, £5 for concessions (65+), £3 for children (5-16) and those aged 5 and under will get in for free.
MATCH PREVIEW
In what used to be a regular occurrence in the pre-season schedule, Tiernan Lynch’s side will travel to Stair Park for the first time since 2017, in what was Tiernan’s first game in charge of the club.
Since the last meeting of the sides, both teams have had contrasting fortunes.
The Invermen were down near the bottom end of NIFL Championship, struggling to challenge those above them and playing at an Inver Park which needed drastic work. Now, after much needed investment from Kenny Bruce MBE, Tiernan Lynch is heading into this pre-season after guiding the Invermen to back-to-back Sports Direct Premiership titles, which sees his side preparing for Champions League action in July.
On the other hand, when the sides last met at Stair Park, Stranraer were competing in SPFL League One and went on to finish 5th in the table during the 2017/18 season. Now, after suffering relegation from SPFL League One in the 2019/20 campaign, with just 16 points from 27 games, Stranraer now compete in SPFL League Two.
In the campaign just completed, Stranraer narrowly avoided relegation to the Regional league after finishing 10th in the table. As a result, Stranraer had to face East Kilbride in a promotion/relegation play-off to save their SPFL status and they did so by winning 5-3 over the course of the two legs and extra-time.
Saturday’s first pre-season game will see the Invermen debut the new 2024/25 home shirt for the very first time, with those travelling across able to get a close look at what the players will be representing throughout the campaign.
