Home comforts the order of the day for Stirling Albion as Hilson signs up for League One tilt

Stirling Albion have kept things close to home as they made their first new addition ahead of their crack at League One.

Local lad Dale Hilson signed on the dotted line last week on a two-year-deal at Forthbank and joins after a three-and-a-half year stint at Arbroath in their surge into the Championship.

The 30-year-old striker is an experienced face across the Scottish leagues and netted 12 times across 106 appearances for the Red Lichties.

He was offered a new deal at Arbroath, but turned that down to move to Forthbank.

The former Dundee United youngster has also turned out for St Mirren, Queen of the South and Forfar Athletic and is believed to have made the move in an effort to seek out more first-team football and a club closer to home.

Hilson made 38 appearances for Arbroath during their Championship campaign last term, scoring five times in the process and becoming a regular starter in their side from the middle of March onwards as the Gayfield side secured their survival in the second tier.

Stirling boss Darren Young will be hoping Hilson can round off his forward line and act as an effective foil for talisman Dale Carrick as the Binos aim to secure their spot as a third-tier club in their first campaign at that level since 2015 - with a squad of 18 players now signed up.

There are hopes for more fresh faces coming into the club in the coming weeks as pre-season plans get underway ahead of the opening fixture of the Viaplay Cup group stage scheduled for the weekend of July 15 and 16.

The League One season will then kick off on August 5 - with the Binos fans set to find out their opening opponents when the fixtures are released on June 30.

Meanwhile, the only one of the Stirling squad not to be retained from last