Ben Stirling

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Ben Stirling

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|fullname =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|8|16|df=y}}

|birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland

|height = 1.85m{{soccerway|ben-stirling/449290}}

|position = Defensive midfielder, Centre-back

|currentclub = Stenhousemuir

|clubnumber = 15

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 =

|years1 = 2016–2020

|clubs1 = Hibernian

|caps1 = 0

|goals1 = 0

|years2 = 2016–2017

|clubs2 = → Berwick Rangers (loan)

|caps2 = 11

|goals2 = 0

|years3 = 2017–2018

|clubs3 = → Cowdenbeath (loan)

|caps3 = 7

|goals3 = 1

|years4 = 2019

|clubs4 = → Arbroath (loan)

|caps4 = 6

|goals4 = 0

|years5 = 2020

|clubs5 = → Alloa Athletic (loan)

|caps5 = 7

|goals5 = 0

|years6 = 2020–2022

|clubs6 = Hamilton Academical

|caps6 = 24

|goals6 = 0

|years7 = 2022

|clubs7 = → Edinburgh City (loan)

|caps7 = 17

|goals7 = 0

|years8 = 2022–2024

|clubs8 = Edinburgh City

|caps8 = 24

|goals8 = 0

|years9 = 2024–

|clubs9 = Stenhousemuir

|caps9 = 3

|goals9 = 0

|nationalyears1 = 2013

|nationalteam1 = Scotland U16

|nationalcaps1 = 3

|nationalgoals1 = 0

|club-update = 16:34, 12 April 2024 (UTC)

}}

Ben Stirling (born 16 August 1998) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for Stenhousemuir.{{soccerbase|92851}}

Club career

Stirling began his career with Hibernian, moving on loan to Berwick Rangers in July 2016.{{cite web | url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/6623 | title=Mackie and Stirling Join Berwick On Loan | publisher=Hibernian FC | website=hibernianfc.co.uk | date=8 July 2016 | accessdate=9 July 2016 | archive-date=5 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005100114/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/6623 | url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2016/07/hibs-youngsters-ben-stirling-and-sean-mackie-join-berwick-rangers-on-loan/|title=You are being redirected...|website=theedinburghreporter.co.uk}} He moved on loan to Cowdenbeath in August 2017,{{cite web|url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/7749 |title=STIRLING AND CRANE HEAD OUT ON LOAN |website= |publisher=Hibernian FC |date=4 August 2017 |accessdate=4 August 2017}} but the loan was cut short in January 2018 after he was recalled by Hibernian manager Neil Lennon.{{Cite web|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/ben-stirling-will-be-next-youngster-make-hibs-breakthrough-591708|title=Ben Stirling '˜will be next youngster to make Hibs breakthrough'|website=www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/ben-stirling-makes-most-surprise-call-hibs-trip-591801|title=Ben Stirling makes most of surprise call to Hibs trip|website=www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com}} He spent further loans spells at Arbroath in September 2019,{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/10236 |title=LOANS FOR DEVELOPMENT SQUAD TRIO |website= |publisher=Hibernian FC |date=23 August 2019 |accessdate=23 August 2019 |archive-date=13 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913213237/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/10236 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/latest-hibs-news/hibs-duo-josh-campbell-and-ben-stirling-join-arbroath-loan-542220|title=Hibs duo Josh Campbell and Ben Stirling join Arbroath on loan|website=www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/sport/17882865.hibs-youngster-ben-stirling-makes-arbroath-loan-switch/|title=Hibs youngster Ben Stirling makes Arbroath loan switch|website=East Lothian Courier}} and Alloa Athletic in January 2020.{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/10521 |title=DEVELOPMENT SQUAD PAIR SECURE LOAN DEALS |website= |publisher=Hibernian FC |date=24 January 2020 |accessdate=24 January 2020 |archive-date=24 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124224037/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/10521 |url-status=dead }}

He moved to Hamilton Academical in September 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk/stirling-signs-for-accies/|title=Stirling signs for Accies!|date=28 September 2020|website=Hamilton Academical Website|access-date=28 September 2020|archive-date=19 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019222933/https://www.hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk/stirling-signs-for-accies/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/hibs-youngster-ben-stirling-departs-easter-road-hamilton-accies-2985992|title=Hibs youngster Ben Stirling departs Easter Road for Hamilton Accies|website=www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com}} On 14 January 2022, Stirling joined Scottish League Two side Edinburgh City on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.{{Cite web |url=https://hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk/stirling-departs-on-loan/ |title=Stirling departs on loan |publisher=Hamilton Academical FC |date=14 January 2022 |accessdate=15 January 2022 |archive-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115011227/https://hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk/stirling-departs-on-loan/ |url-status=dead }}

He was released by Hamilton at the end of his contract in May 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk/squad-update/|title=Squad Update|date=24 May 2022}} Stirling then signed with Edinburgh City again, this time permanently. However, he missed a big part of the 2022–23 season due to injuries.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/sport/23452702.football-fc-edinburghs-ben-stirling-back-injury-hell/|title=Ben Stirling ready to train all summer after a year of injury hell|date=16 April 2023|website=East Lothian Courier}} In January 2024 he signed for Stenhousemuir.{{Cite web|url=https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/football/stenhousemuir-confirm-signing-of-ex-hibs-hamilton-accies-and-edinburgh-city-midfielder-ben-stirling-4490218|title=Stenhousemuir confirm signing of ex-Hibs, Hamilton Accies and Edinburgh City midfielder Ben Stirling}}