News
Fiona Brown helped Scotland's Women's Football team make history last week when they beat Albania to ensure first-ever participation in next year’s women’s World Cup in France. Fiona now has 31 Scotland Caps but it hasn't been an easy road for the Dunblane lass as you will see from her story below.
As a child, I ran about like a headless chicken, usually after my brother. I tried everything and anything - tennis, golf, squash, athletics and gymnastics. I started to play football aged 6 when Active Stirling started a girls football session at my school (Dunblane Primary). I loved every minute and was desperate to join a team, but there was nothing for girls in the local area. The coach of the active schools sessions (after persistent begging from me) started a girls section at local club- Newburgh. I was aged for under 11’s but played in the u13’s league and completely caught the bug. Being the most competitive kid you will ever meet, being half the size of everyone else just added to the challenge. The club later reformed as Stirling Girls and was run by volunteers, most of whom were parents. Later, naturally with age some of the girls lost interest, numbers became lower and we all transferred to Stenhousemuir F.C Girls section. I played there for two years at U15 level, and it was around this time I realised that this is what I wanted to do. I remember telling my mum aged 13 that I wanted to be a professional footballer, not sure how she managed to keep a straight face!
Aged 14, I was given a ‘Regional Trial’ by the Scottish FA. Still playing at Stenhousemuir, who, at the time were one of the weaker teams, over achieving in a league of top clubs, this was a huge thing for me. After a successful regional trial, I joined the central region and later that year received my first Scotland cap at u15 level against Wales. A dream come true. Afterwards, I was asked to join Celtics youth academy, and being a 14 year old Celtic fan, it was an easy decision. Looking back now, I have my parents and brother to thank for everything. An easy decision for me meant 3 nights training 7-9pm in Glasgows west end as well as a game on a Sunday, which could be just about anywhere in the country. I don’t think I would have been able to achieve anything that I have if my parents hadn’t given it so much of their time or if my brother wasn’t so selfless. This was the age I missed out on a lot of social things with my friends, it was a hard for other people to understand why I was putting in the time and sacrifices for a game, but now I’m so glad I did. I also had a very supportive group of friends throughout my school years.
At U15 level at Celtic, we were hugely successful and had one of the best teams of our age group at the time. We won both cups and the league title that year, going undefeated in the league too. The next year, I was asked to join the first team at Celtic, aged 15 it was probably too soon, but it was a huge learning experience for me. I also moved up to U17 with Scotland reaching the Elite round of the European Championships two years running. In my second season at Celtic first team, unfortunately I suffered an ACL injury, which ultimately ended in surgery and a year on the sidelines. This was hard for me, as everything had gone so well up until that point.
In 2012, I was selected for The SFA National Performance Centre. This was a scholarship programme that allowed me to complete my university degree while having individual training every morning and club training at night. After returning from injury, I found form and was asked to join Glasgow City FC. I also moved up to u19 level at Scotland. During three successful seasons at Glasgow City, winning 2 League Cups, 2 Scottish Cups and 3 League Titles as well as reaching the quarter finals of the Champions League and the finals of the U19 European Championships, I received my first full International Cap, playing in a 3-0 win against Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, in the middle of all of this, another ACL injury kept me sidelined for yet another 9 months.
After playing Eskilstuna DFF, a Swedish team in the Champions League with Glasgow City, I was offered my first full professional contract. Moving out to Eskilstuna in 2017 was a huge step for me. It was in fact the best move of my career. Continuing to play with the Scottish Women’s National Team, we reached and competed at the European Championships in Holland, the first time in history. At the end of my first season in Sweden, I was asked to join F.C Rosengård. One of the best teams in Europe, I couldn’t turn it down.
This year, we have qualified for the World Cup. Probably the pinnacle of my career to this point. I hope to have a gold medal to add to the collection at the end of this domestic season too!
Dunblane's Jamie Murray has won his 6th grand slam title at the US Open 2018. Read about his latest win here : https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/45461248
The disruption is due to work to electrify the Glasgow to Aberdeen line
Go to the Scotrail website
Work to electrify the Glasgow to Aberdeen line will mean disruption for rail travellers leaving Glasgow Queen Street station over the next two months. Electrification work at Dunblane, Stirling and Alloa means that coaches will be laid on for rail travellers over eight Sundays starting from this Sunday, September 2. Services will be disrupted over the months of September and October, on Sunday, September 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 as well as Sunday, October 7, 14 and 21. Trains travelling from Glasgow Queen Street to Aberdeen/Inverurie will be diverted (via Fife), with buses replacement services in operation between Falkirk High and Dundee calling at intermediate stations. And trains travelling from Glasgow Queen Street to Inverness will be diverted (via Fife) and will not call at Larbert, Stirling, Dunblane & Gleneagles. Buses will operate between these stations and connect into train services at Perth.
The routes set to be affected
Meanwhile, replacement buses will also be in operation for people travelling to Alloa and Elgin from Glasgow Queen Street on the dates above, with buses between Falkirk Grahamston and Alloa and, with respect to the Elgin route, train services starting from Perth, with buses in place between Falkirk High and Perth. Scotrail are advising that journey times will be increased and replacement buses may arrive/depart earlier or later than advertised train times.
This Planning Application is being considered now by Stirling Council
Major development on A9 Northbound at Firs of Kinbuck on land some 500m South West of Balhaldie Farm, Dunblane
Proposed roadside services comprising Petrol Filling Station (sui generis), Truck Stop, Restaurants and Drive-thru (Class 3/sui generis), Amenity Building (Class 1 & 3 and ancillary uses), Hotel (Class 7), landscaping, access and ancillary works. View Planning Application 19/00243/PPP
Tell the Council what you think asap
This News Item was posted in 2018
The Proposal of Application Notice is for Land at Firs of Kinbuck, A9, 500m South-west of Balhaldie Farm, Dunblane.
The Notice is for the Erection of a Roadside Services Area comprising Petrol Filling Station, a Truck Stop, a Restaurant and Drive-thru’s an Amenity Building and a Hotel and Leisure (whatever all that means!)
You can read the Proposal of Application Notice and look at the location plan
If you want to know more, come along to a Public Exhibition in the Victoria Hall, Dunblane on Tuesday 2nd October 2018 from 3pm to 8pm
Historic Environment Scotland - a branch of Scottish Government - has decided that the building at 22/24 High Street, Dunblane is a 'Building at Risk'.
22/24 High Street is opposite the Sue Ryder shop. It contains two shops and has three flats above. It used to house Tickety Boo and Fuzzies. It has been empty for a number of years. It is a listed building and it is in a conservation area. It dates from 1726.
A 'Building at Risk' is a building which is listed, or within a conservation area, that meets one or several of the following criteria:
- vacant with no identified new use
- suffering from structural problems
- fire damaged
- unsecured and open to the elements
- threatened with demolition
The Buildings at Risk Register has been in operation in Scotland since 1990 in response to a concern at the growing number of listed buildings and buildings in Conservation Areas that were vacant and had fallen into a state of disrepair. The Register is maintained by Historic Environment Scotland, and provides information on properties of architectural or historic merit throughout the country that are considered to be at risk.
A group of local people is considering setting up a local community radio station.
Your views are important to us and we would like to hear them.
Please circulate our Survey Form to family and friends, as all your opinions count.
Once completed, please email the survey form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or hand it into the Dunblane Centre.
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FAMILIES living with dementia in Dunblane can benefit from a programme of community activities thanks to a funding boost.
From Stirling News website
The Dunblane Development Trust has been given £20,000 from the Life Changes Trust. It will work alongside a range of other organisations and businesses as part of the Dementia Friendly Dunblane Initiative. The money will help to develop the services and activities that have already been established, along with creating new ones based on what people with dementia say would be most meaningful to them. This will include the continued expansion of dementia friendly activities such as inter-generational engagement with local schools, music memory activities with charity Playlist for Life, encouraging local businesses to become dementia friendly and developing Dunblane as a dementia friendly community.
Barbara Allan, chairperson of Dunblane Development Trust, said: “We are very excited to receive this grant which will allow us to continue our work with the range of local organisations who have already committed to being part of Dementia Friendly Dunblane. "This will allow us to reach more people living with dementia and their families and make a real difference to their lives.” Anna Buchanan, director of the Life Changes Trust dementia programme, said: “This project is aiming to be truly community based and community led. "The Dunblane Development Trust are encouraging everyone in the local area to get involved in making the community one which is not only safe for people with dementia, but inclusive, empowering and stimulating. "The aim of this funding is to bring awareness about dementia across Dunblane and give people with dementia and carers opportunities that help them thrive rather than just survive.”
The project will also support and develop the Braeport Memory Cafe, working hand in hand with local volunteers and businesses to reach even more families affected by dementia. The café will be developed in consultation with people with dementia and their carers, so that the programme of events reflects their wishes and interests, including special and seasonal events. Dunblane Development Trust will also work with residents of the local residential home to provide opportunities to join in community activities, such as meeting friends at the memory cafe, attending lunch club at the Dunblane Centre, taking part in outdoor activities or attending church. Another phase of the project will focus on creating dementia friendly sports facilities such as tennis, golf and bowling clubs, and community groups such as Church Guilds and the Dunblane Centre Senior Citizens Club.
In addition to their normal opening hours of 1.30am - 4.30pm Mon to Sat, Dunblane Museum will also be open on Sundays throughout July & August from 2.00 - 4.00pm.
July exhibition is all about local people & celebrities including Hercules the Bear.
Find out more about the museum on their website : http://dunblanemuseum.org.uk/