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Falkirk FC 1933

June 9, 2013, 4:28 am
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Here is another obscure photo of Falkirk FC that I have feretted?? [really don't know how to spell that] out of the archives.

This is "Falkirk FC in pre-season training, 1933"


I recognise several players, like Ned Weir, top left [looking older than he should], Jimmy Dougal with William Anderson's hands on his shoulders, next to William Anderson is Geordie Mason [right], to his left, from our perspective I believe it is Jimmy "Battering Ram" Bartram [blog post is coming] and again Jimmy Dougal has his right hand on Hugh Hamill, and his left on and [I do not know how anyone could not recognise that haircut] Jonny Richardson.

The photo is not of the best quality, but I like it more than those where the players are all stiff and in formation.
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Forgotten Heroes - James Bartram

June 10, 2013, 5:22 am
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Jimmy Bartram was a classic 1930s Centre-Forward [big, burly, great sholders] who earned the apt soubriquet "Battering Ram" in his short time at the club. Top scorer in each season he spent at the club, I am clueless as to why he never went on to bigger and better things [either up here or down south], but I suspect it may have something to do with our wingers. He was well served by the Falkirk wingers. No reason was ever given as to why he left the club, perhaps he just wanted to go home, I do not know.


I do know that he had a scoring record not matched since Clyde Skene, Evelyn Morrison or Jimmy Dyet [in my opininion high praise indeed]. [I need to write about the sad case of Jimmy Dyet who was reserve Centre-Forward to Evelyn Morrison [only sad because such a good Centre-Forward was playing at the same time as Evelyn], I will do soon].

I was speaking to an older gentleman in the Library a year or two ago, and he said his Dad was in awe of Jimmy Bartram. It would not be allowed now, but he just took out the goalie. He was not given his nickname just because it is close to his surname. It is a travesty that there was no footage [that I know of] taken of him in play for Falkirk, as I would love to see someone score six goals in a match for Falkirk.

Both the Falkirk Herald and Falkirk Mail showered him with praise. Given a season or two more he would easily be amongst the players who scored 100+ goals for the club, but he did not. However I think a player who scored 76 goals in 81 matches [strangely he never played in a friendly or a benefit] is worth a lot of respect.

James “Battering Ram” Bartram

b 8th March 1911, South Shields, Durham
d c1987

Debut – Saturday December 31st 1932 v St Mirren (A) Scottish League Division 1

Position – Centre-Forward

Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup W 1934/35, RU 1932/33, Falkirk Infirmary Shield W 1932/33, 1933/34

Falkirk FC Leading League Goalscorer 1932/33 [17], 1933/34 [25], 1934/35 [20]

Scottish League Division 1 Matches/Goals [68/62]
Scottish Cup Matches /Goals [5/6]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [8/8]
Total Matches/Goals [81/76]

Scored [2] on his Debut

Hat-Tricks – 7 [Division 1 [6] Falkirk Infirmary Shield [1]]

Known Career – Portsmouth [1932/33], North Shields [1932/33], Falkirk [1932/33-1934/35], Northampton Town [1935/36], Queen of the South [1935/36], Morton [1941/42]

Scored six goals in the Scottish League Division 1 v Ayr United (H) October 20th 1934
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Unsung Players - Jimmy Fiddes

June 10, 2013, 5:42 am
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I was driven to write this by the fact somebody misspelt his name on a forum recently, and although I normally never cover players from the post-war period Jimmy Fiddes played for Falkirk FC during the war so I can count him.

Jimmy Fiddes played in nearly every position [except Goalkeeper] in the post war period, little was written about him, but I would say the same was true about Scott MacKenzie when I was growing up, players who do the job never get the publicity.


Jimmy had been with Rangers in the period up to World War II, but came to the fore when he moved to Falkirk during the war, originally a winger, with the march of time he progressively became a Right-Half, then Right-Back. He played well over 200 matches for the club, he sadly he is not in the Falkirk FC Hall of Fame due to the club's bizarre concept that 200 League appearances is the qualification [so are you telling me Alex Stark [Falkirk 1885/86-1894/95] was not one of our greatest players just because he played before we joined the League?].

Jimmy Fiddes was [like Scott MacKenzie] the most reliable player we had in the late 1940s, often playing out of position for the team, a true professional.

James Fiddes

b 3rd October 1916

Debut – Saturday August 17th 1940 v Heart of Midlothian (A) Southern League

Positions – Right-Half, Outside-Right, Inside-Right

Scottish League Division A Matches/Goals [134/15]
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [9/4]
Scottish League Cup Matches/Goals [27/4]
Southern League Matches/Goals [31/1]
Victory Cup Matches/Goals [4/-]
Southern League Cup Matches/Goals [6/1]
Summer Cup Matches/Goals [1/-]
Dewar Shield Matches/Goals [9/2]
Stirlingshire Cup Matches/Goals [9/1]
Stirling & District Charity Cup Matches/Goals [1/-]
Other Matches/Goals [8/1]
Total Matches/Goals [239/29]

Known Career - Rangers [1934/35-1940/41], Dunfermline Athletic [1939/40], Blackpool [1940/41], Falkirk [1940/41-1951/52], Ross County [1951/52], Stenhousemuir [1951/52-1952/53]
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Will the Real Mr Shankly Please Stand Up

June 11, 2013, 5:08 am
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I am tired of hearing how great his brother was, I am tired of his brother, before Bill Shankly began that thoughtless nonsense at Liverpool, his brother Bob was playing at Falkirk. Moving from Alloa he had previously tried his hand at Endlish Non-League football with Tunbridge Wells. A big player,

he was equally as good at Centre-Forward as at Centre-Half [but mainly at Centre-Half]. He played more matches for the club during WWII than anyone else.

I am really not interested in his brother, this chap played more than 400 matches for my club, end of.

Later he went on to manage the club, only him & John Hughes have both played and managed the club 200 times.


Robert Shankly

b 25th February 1910, Glenbuck, Ayrshire
d 1982, Glasgow

Debut – Saturday August 12th 1933 v Third Lanark (H) Scottish League Division 1

b 25th February 1910, Glenbuck, Ayrshire
d 1982, Glasgow

Positions – Centre-Half, Right-Half, Inside-Left, Centre-Forward
Club Honours – Scottish League Division 2 W 1935/36, Dewar Shield W 1938/39, RU 1935/36, Stirlingshire Cup W
1934/35, 1938/39, Falkirk Infirmary Shield W 1933/34, 1934/35, 1935/36, 1936/37, 1937/38, 1938/39

Scottish League Division 1 Matches/Goals [181/4]
Scottish League Division 2 Matches/Goals [34/-]
Scottish League North-East Matches/Goals [30/-]
Southern League Matches/Goals [82/5]
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [18/-]
War Emergency Cup Matches/Goals [4/-]
Southern League Cup Matches/Goals [26/4]
Summer Cup Matches/Goals [9/-]
Victory Cup Matches/Goals [1/-]
Dewar Shield Matches/Goals [8/-]
Stirlingshire Cup Matches/Goals [12/1]
Falkirk Infirmary Shield Matches/Goals [9/-]
Other Matches/Goals [14/1]
Total Matches/Goals [428/15]


Known Career – Glenbuck Cherrypickers, Tunbridge Wells, Alloa Athletic [1930/31-1932/33], Falkirk [1933/34-1945/46]

Falkirk Manager [1950/51-1956/57]

Height - 5 ft 9½ in: Weight 12 st 3 lbs [1935]
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Falkirk FC Graves - Robert Fearns

June 17, 2013, 3:08 am
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Another of the many players who seem to have slipped through the cracks in the history of the club, Robert "Bobby" Fearns was Falkirk FC's regular Left-Half from 1892 until 1895. However he was often used across the half-back line when circumstances need it. Again will not pretend he was great, but he spent along time with the club for the time, and his 150+ matches for the team was a lot back then [it is quite a lot today].

Towards the end of his time with Falkirk he was being tempted by offers to sign for Stenhousemuir, and although he did play one game as a guest for them he may have signed after his time with Falkirk FC, I just don't know.


He is interred in Camelon Cemetery. Like many of the Falkirk players of the time were.

Again I do not have a photograph of him, but am always looking for one.

Robert Fearns

b c1871, Polmont, Stirlingshire
d 22nd October 1962, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Debut – Saturday August 30th 1890 v Laurieston (A) Friendly

Positions – Left-Half, Right-Half

Representative Honours – Stirlingshire v Fife 1894/95

Club Honours – Midland League W 1894/95 RU 1895/96, Stirlingshire Cup W 1894/95, 1895/96, Falkirk District Charity Cup W 1893/94, RU 1894/95, Falkirk Infirmary Shield W 1892/93, 1893/94, RU 1895/96

Scottish Cup Matches /Goals [7/1]
Scottish Qualifying Cup Matches /Goals [1/-]
Minor League Matches/Goals [58/6]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [29/6]
Other Matches [69/11]
Total Matches [164/24]

Known Career – Burnhouse, Falkirk [1890/91-1895/96]
Played for Stenhousemuir v Bo'ness, Friendly at Ochilview Pk, Stenhousemuir, 26th August 1893
Variable spellings - Ferns, Fernes, Fearnes

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Charlie Stirling - Prisoner of War

June 19, 2013, 11:40 am
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I do not always blog about Falkirk FC and this is the case for this post. Over the last couple of weeks in my spare time I have been reading quite a bit about "The Great War", and sometimes trying to research the role of some Falkirk players in that struggle.

In doing so I remembered from somewhere in the back of my mind reading about an East stirlingshire footballer's travails in a German POW Camp, so I had a rake through a big box of pages and pages of football-related stuff that I just can't throw away [for which I seriously need to take a week off to put in some kind of logical order]. Anyway I found the article, and since it was published in a now defunct paper which is not available online yet, I have decided [lazily as it means I do not have to write anything original] to reproduce it here.

It is a bit awkward reading the last paragraph, as it shows a definite level of ignorance in Britain of how football had been an international success since the late 19th Century; The Home Nations being amongst the least 'international' the Countries where football was established.

Falkirk Mail - Edition - 18th January 1919

“Pte. Charles Stirling , of the A. and S.H., who for a season or two played left half-back for the East Stirlingshire F.C., has just returned, after four years captivity in Germany, to his home in West Main Street, Stenhousemuir.
Interviewed by a 'Mail' reporter regarding his experiences in the enemy's hands, Pte. Stirling had much to tell of Hun brutality and coarseness.
Captured on 21st October 1914, he was first taken to Göttingen Camp, where he spent eight long months of torture and privations. The food, of course, was very poor, being merely black coffee, a little bread, and turnip water, or, as the Germans liked to term it, “soup”.
About the beginning of 1915 Pte. Stirling was an eye-witness of many horrible cruelties. A Glasgow man, the name of McEwan, who was in the Scots Guards, was one day going to see the doctor about an injured ankle at the same time as a party of 300 Englishmen were marching out of the camp to work. A sentry seeing McEwan thought he was a member of the work party, and had slipped out of the ranks in an attempt to evade the toil. He accordingly challenged the Glasgow man, who explained that he was on his way to see the doctor, at the same time showing his injured ankle.
The sentry refused to believe the explanation and lifting his rifle shot the man through the heart. It was deliberate murder, and when the rest of the Scots in the camp heard of it their rage knew no bounds, and many threatened to “do in” that sentry.
For three hours on end during three successive days Pte. Stirling was forced to stand at attention for attempting to evade work one day.
In the cook-house, where many stores were kept, only Belgians and French were allowed to work. The Germans were afraid that the Britishers would thieve too much foodstuffs, and so prevented them from coming near. Pte. Stirling, along with some others, donned a Belgian's cap and other uniform, and watching their chance, slipped in, grabbed as many potatoes and as much bread as they could safely stow away on their persons, and when an opportunity presented itself dodged out and away.
Many times prisoners were caught in the act by the Germans in charge, and were unmercifully beaten with large sticks before being sent to the cells to stay for five days on bread and water.
While at Beinrode Camp, near Brunswick, Pte. Stirling was forced to work in a salt mine about half a mile deep. The heat was dreadful, and the prisoners had to work clad only in their trousers and boots.
In this particular mine one German scientist was experimenting with the minerals and attempting to form poison gas for bombs out of the salt.
While at Celle Camp, where he was taken for refusing to work, Pte. Stirling organised a football team among the Scots, and on one memorable occasion defeated the English team by 4 goals to 3. The Belgians and the French took to the game like young ducks to water, and even the German soldiery evinced a keen interest, and played the game amongst themselves.
Pte. Stirling considers that when conditions have begun to settle the Belgians and French will run international matches on much the same lines as we do in this country.”
Note - The first Belgium v France International Football Match was played in Brussels on the 1st of May 1904, the two Countries played each other on an annual basis until the outbreak of the war....
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Falkirk FC Graves - Samuel Roper

June 19, 2013, 3:33 pm
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To write about Sammy Roper is difficult, he was never a first team regular, but was with the club for nearly a decade.

Sammy Roper was one of Falkirk FC's most loyal fringe/squad players, playing mostly in the reserves for his local team [he lived in the Cow Wynd], but he was always at the beck and call of the first eleven.

Obviously I never saw him play so can not make any proper judgements, but whenever one of the first team was injured he was there, perhaps Falkirk & football in general need more players like him.

Only 28 games over nearly a decade [about three games a year] means Sammy either just accepted his place in Football, or the absolute opposite, maybe he never gave up trying. I don't know, I like to think the latter.

Here is to all fringe players, clubs could not exist without them.

There is no chance in hell of me having a contemporary picture him, but I did notice his grave on my travels.


Camelon Cemetery

Samuel Roper

b c1874, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d 25th January 1937, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Falkirk Debut – Saturday December 24th 1892 v Laurieston (H) Friendly

Positions – Outside-Right, Outside-Left

Minor League Matches/Goals [11/1]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [3/1]
Other Matches/Goals [14/6]
Total Matches/Goals [28/8]

Known Career – Falkirk [1892/93-1900/01],
Played for Queen's Park Strollers v Falkirk 1st May 1897 (H) Scottish Combination.
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Mistakes get Expanded

June 20, 2013, 2:50 am
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I was reminded by my fellow historian/researcher Drummond Calder the other day what we are often up against. We take books written by other people as sources for our research, but from knowledge, even those who get published make huge mistakes, and these get spread.

Now I am not asking for a system of references [by s**t, I hardly ever reference where I 'borrow' information from, but Drummond is better at that than me.] I have, on my own file [which I shared with Drummond] that Hugh McKinnon played for ESFC. For this assertation I was reliant upon George Park's "St Bernard's Football Club: or when the well ran dry".

Drummond disputes there was such a player for ESFC in this era, and thinks it might be getting mixed up with a back called McKinnie. All I can say is I have already spread the myth that Hugh McKinnon played for ESFC, and now I have to check things more, because I don't know. These mistakes grow, and are repeated by people who do something similar for other clubs. Douglas Lamming's book is a great source of information, but it wasn't until I came across Jock McTavish's Obituaries in the Falkirk Herald and Falkirk Mail that anyone pointed out that the date he supplied was ridiculous. I was not the first to find an error, and I am sure I will not be the last. This does not decry the importance of Douglas Lamming's book. It is hugely important. If I were to claim never to have made a mistake, then I would properly be ridiculed. I have made many [I once mixed up the brothers Gibson [1880s] with a whole different family], it happens. What I am saying is that, we who trawl archives, are in a trusted position, and we trust each other, but we are simply human, we make mistakes. But these mistakes have repercussions which are hard to fix [especially when they get on wikipedia].

It seems when we do this stuff without proper research we are only spreading misinformation. Myself, I like to be corrected, but that is because it allows me to change my spreadsheets [there is always a first name of a reserve player to be altered, always a newly discovered middle name [I hate to use the word discover as it was obviously known before, yet do not feel "find" is good enough]].

In the way that neither Amerigo di Vespucci, not Cristoforro di Colombo 'discovered' South America [the fact being given away by the fact that there were people living there [who had presumably 'discovered' it earlier]] I do not discover biographical details of Falkirk players: it is just new to me. I suppose in thinking "find" is about the best the English language can offer. In Spanish there is a word more like 'uncover' = to make clear something which has been obscured. But I do not wish to write this blog in Spanish quite yet ¡ojala!.
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Not the First Ever Falkirk FC Match

June 29, 2013, 10:46 am
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Yes, that is what I meant, this is not about the first ever match played by Falkirk Football Club. Sadly, it would seem that match has been completely lost to the ravages of history. This is, however about the first match by the club when there was a report published in the Falkirk Herald.

The date of publication was Saturday March 30th 1878, and it leaves a lot to be desired, but then again football was nowhere near the established game it is these days.


First of all it was clearly written by a 'reporter' and not submitted by one the club secretaries as was usually the case before the Herald got a permanent football writer.

What is more the reporter was not, yet, a devotee of football in Falkirk District. This is evidenced by the fact that Falkirk were playing 'Bonnybridge' and not Grasshoppers who were the only club from the village. It is clearly not Falkirk's first match, since it is described as a 'return match' [I have looked everywhere I can think for evidence of the first match, Stirling papers, Kilsyth papers, Airdrie papers, but no joy].

The match was played at 'Campfield'. There are only two possibilities for a 'Campfield' in Falkirk, one is in the middle of Grahamston [as seen by the modern Campfield Street. But Grahamston was then seen as distinct from Falkirk [certainly by the Falkirk Herald]. The other Campfield was the traditional location of the Government Army encampment prior to the second Battle of Falkirk in 1746, which was land West of Today's Hope street [as seen by the modern Campfield House on Wellside Place]. The second of these is most likely as not only is it in Falkirk, but also the Falkirk Summer Sports events had often been held on the field at the foot of Hope Street [NB - this does noke make it the same as Brockville, but it is very close, and most of that area was built up by then, except where Brockville was to be].

"As this is the first football match that has been played in Falkirk". This statement is just wrong. The Falkirk Herald itself on Saturday December 15th 1877 had published a report of the 'first football match in Falkirk', this match, played on the grounds of Mayfield House [near the modern Bantaskine Housing Estate] was between Kelvinbank and a "team composed of Falkirk 'Bairns' presently located in Glasgow ... were drafted from various clubs in Glasgow, they had never previously played together".

The report of the actual game is perfunctory at best, "Grasshoppers had the best of the first half, scoring twice: Falkirk rallied in the second half also scoring twice" is a good way to boil it down

For some reason the line-ups were listed backward, it was already the norm in the mid 1870s to list teams as - GK: RB & LB: RH & LH: OR & IR, CR & CL, IL & OL [note the 2-2-6 formation so strange looking to modern eyes]. In the team line-up also it has the Falkirk goalkeeper as 'A.McQueen', this is obviously the error of a scribe writing down the details by ear from a club source and mishearing, as for the rest of the season the Falkirk goalkeeper was Angus McEwan. There are also two J.Taylors which helps no-one.

This is just an interesting bit of history, but it shows how many daft little complexities can be introduced by one little match report, filed by a journalist covering something he probably thought was of little, but passing local interest. As I said at the start, this was before football had become so ingrained in Scottish culture. No one knew if Falkirk FC [or even Football] would still be going nearly 150 years later on, in fact Grasshoppers were the more established club [formed in 1875] they had already played several Scottish Cup matches.

But if it was simple there would little space on the internet for obsessive compulsive little historians like me.
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John Pray

June 29, 2013, 1:48 pm
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My little life was brightened, yet saddened at the same time when I found a picture of Bury FC from 1894/95 on t'web the other night. Brightened because it had a picture of John Pray in it, and a picture taken only a couple of years after he had left the club. Saddened because the article mentioned signing him from Rangers [he spent a derisory time at Rangers, most of his time in Scotland being spent with Falkirk].

Born in the greatest town in Stirlingshire on the 17th of March 1872, it would seem Jock Pray was brought up by his Grandparents [according to the 1881 census, I know nothing the parents], living in George Street [the street in Grahamsmuir running East from the North end of the old Brockville Park] he was definitely a local.

The first time he is noted in the local press was as part of the Falkirk & District Junior Cup winning side, Falkirk Excelsior, of 1889/90 [nearly everybody in that team went on to play for Falkirk FC, making me think it was just a Falkirk FC youth side, but there is no proof to back up my suspicions].

By September of the 1890/91 season John had made his debut in the Falkirk first XI. Playing mainly at his famous position of Centre-Half [though occasionally filling in at Right-Half or Right-Back] he quickly became a regular.

He did not score in his first season, so in his remaining three seasons at Falkirk he must have been developing into an attacking midfielder of a Centre-Half when he left the club [probably why he left the club, the lure of Full-Time League football must have been great].

He was also the first Falkirk player I know to have been sent off in a Scottish Cup match [v Bathgate Rovers (H) 3rd Rd Replay, 24th October 1891]

After his football career was over John emigrated to Canada, where he died about 1948, it saddens me that for a player who went on to great things from the Falkirk youth ranks, his nearly 150 matches for the club are often overlooked.


Representative Honours – Stirlingshire v Fife 1893/94
Club Honours – Falkirk District Charity Cup W 1891/92, 1893/94, RU 1890/91, Falkirk Infirmary Shield W 1891/92, 1892/93, 1893/94, RU 1890/91

Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [9/1]
Scottish Federation Matches/Goals [25/3]
Midland League Matches/Goals [13/1]
Stirlingshire Cup Matches/Goals [12/4]
Falkirk District Charity Cup Matches/Goals [10/2]
Falkirk Infirmary Shield Matches/Goals [9/4]
Other Matches/Goals [60/4]
Total Matches/Goals [138/19]

Known Career – Falkirk Excelsior, Falkirk [1890/91-1893/94], Rangers [1893/94-1894/95], Bury [1894/95-1901/02], St Bernards [1903/04]

Other matches played while at Falkirk FC
Played for East Stirlingshire v Gairdoch, Friendly at Gairdoch Pk, Carronshore 5th August 1891
Played for Grangemouth v Glasgow Wanderers, Friendly at Caledonian Pk, Grangemouth, 4th April 1892
Played for East Stirlingshire v Airdrieonians, Scottish Alliance at Broomfield Pk, Airdrie, 9th April 1892
Played for Grangemouth v Falkirk District XI, Benefit Match at Caledonian Pk, Grangemouth, 28th April 1892
Played for Port Glasgow Athletic v East Stirlingshire, Friendly at Merchiston Pk, Bainsford, 5th January 1893
Played for Camelon v Laurieston, Friendly at Zetland Pk, Laurieston, 11th February 1893
Played for Stirlingshire XI v Grangemouth, Benefit Match at Caledonian Pk, Grangemouth, 9th May 1893
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Falkirk FC in 1930

July 3, 2013, 7:59 am
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Found yet another old picture of Falkirk FC from the archives, this time a rather poor quality picture of the team in pre season training before the 1930/31 season, among the players is a nearly 40 year old Patsy Gallacher still commanding at either Inside-Right or Inside-Left.


Also in this picture is Jimmy Dyet who on 2nd January that year, while a King's Park player, had scored eight goals on his senior debut [still a record by a mile].
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Most Stirlingshire Cup Matches 1883/84 to 2012/13

July 5, 2013, 8:09 am
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Not many people in the world of football rate the Stirlingshire Cup very highly, but do you know what? I could not give the slightest what they think: this is a local cup for local teams. It is one of the oldest actual trophies still played for on an annual basis [excepting wartime, it has only never been played in 2008/09 when a dispute over referees' match fees caused its cancellation].

Of the original founding members - Falkirk, East Stirlingshire, Tayavalla, Dunipace, King's Park, Campsie & Stenhousemuir [different club from the current Stenhousemuir] only Falkirk & East Stirlingshire survive, and only Falkirk has entered every competition [East Stirlingshire missed out because of the ES/Clydebank season].

Through time the number of teams in Stirlingshire dwindled, so the cup incorporated clubs from Clackmannanshire, Linlithgowshire [West Lothian] then Dunbartonshire, but never lost the name.

These are the ten teams to have played most matches in this hallowed competition [with provisos below]

Thanks to - Brian McColl, Gordon Hunter, Steven McAneney, Thomas McGouran, Bobby Hutchison, Sandy Reid & Paul Doherty [I could not have done all the Cup on my own]

http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.com/stirlingcup.htm

Notes –
Missing result from Alloa v ESFC Semi-fin 1956/57
No ESFC in 1957/58?
Missing 2012/13 final [to be played 26th July 2013]


Club
M
W
D
L
F
A
Debut
Final
W
RU
Falkirk
281
155
52
74
731
416
1883/84
2012/13
33
16
East Stirlingshire
262
124
50
88
607
431
1883/84
2012/13
21
16
Stenhousemuir
233
84
45
104
415
455
1887/88
2012/13
10
20
Alloa Athletic
214
83
48
83
392
371
1899/00
2012/13
14
20
King's Park
142
63
29
50
375
282
1883/84
1939/40
4
5
Dumbarton
139
59
36
44
258
228
1939/40
2012/13
15
6
Stirling Albion
140
58
36
46
244
202
1945/46
2012/13
14
11
Camelon
60
28
10
22
169
144
1884/85
1904/05
2
4
Clydebank
53
22
8
23
102
98
1970/71
1998/99
2
8
Kilsyth Wanderers
39
17
5
17
113
104
1885/86
1899/00
-
2
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Falkirk FC players before World War II

July 5, 2013, 11:37 pm
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For a while I have been trying to track down every player who played for Falkirk FC up to the Second World War. It is not easy, there was no central registration system before the Scottish League [and that was not very good until recently [just a lot of names...]], but I have made some headway. However I got to the point where I thought I would do some number crunching with what I had, these are some of my findings so far. There are a lot of gaps, but I am working on it.

The main thing to know is that football was a much younger man's match back then, and it would seem it was more so the further back you go [apart from James McPhie all of the youngest players played in the 19th Century, whilst all but four of the oldest played after WWI], this is not altogether unsurprising, before professionalism the club could only pick from those who were not working on a Saturday afternoon, also fitness & life expectancy levels have risen since those years. [Current professional players often continue playing well into their forties].

Another thing [not apparent by these tables] is that although some were born away from this area, the youngest players were mainly locals: except Albert Dixon [born in Dublin, brought up in Grangemouth], David Malcolm [born and brought up in Bathgate] and David Ross [born in Coldingham, Berwickshire, brought up in Falkirk].

In fact before joining the league Falkirk only had seven players born outside of Scotland [Thomas Bellingham born Culmore, Albert Dixon born Dublin, James Conlin born Consett, the brothers Richard & William Peddie born in Sunderland, James Richardson born in Chimbote, Peru and Harry Smith born in Farnham] all except Harry Smith were brought up in Central Scotland.

Of the oldest players the only players born locally were Thomas Townsley [born and brought up in California] & John Drummond [born in Alva, brought up in Falkirk].

Although I have limited this to League & Scottish Cup matches Falkirk played many other matches: I know of two players who challenge Alex Gillespie for the place as youngest, one is definite the other a maybe, James McPhie played in a benefit match v East Stirlingshire on the 27th August 1936 when he was 16 years 2 days, but also a William Lees from Blackbraes seems to have been 15 [he was born in Carnwath, Lanarkshire c1877] when he played in a Stirlingshire Cup match v Grangemouth on October 29th 1892.

Therefore it can be seen that a large demographic shift had taken place from the late 1870s to the 1930s within football [from local talent to talent for hire?]. This is again understandable as the club had to be competitive within the Scottish League. With school etc. it is difficult to see so many players playing below the age of 17 in the future, but there seems nothing to stop players to keep playing as long as they can [records are there to be broken].

All in all this proves nothing, as both the youngest & oldest records have since been broken, Gary Gillespie [16 years 46 days] is now the youngest, John Burridge [44 years 0 days] the oldest.

In the future I hope to find out more information about the rest of the players which may change the tables below, until then …..

NB – It is the same John Drummond in the Youngest & Oldest senior matches lists, but sadly he spent most of the time in between with Rangers.

Youngest Players for Falkirk FC to 1938/39
[Scottish Cup, Scottish Qualifying Cup & Scottish League]

Alex Gillespie1    16 Years 294 Days v Partick (A) Scottish Cup 3rd Rd, 25th October 1884
John Drummond      17 Years 143 Days v Kilsyth Wanderers (H) Scottish Cup 1st Rd, 3rd September 1887
Alex Stark        17 Years 174 Days v Laurieston (A) Scottish Cup 2nd Rd, 2nd October 1886
James McPhie      17 Years 248 Days v St Mirren (A) Scottish League Division 1, 30th April 1938
Albert Dixon       17 Years 268 Days v Partick (A) Scottish Cup 3rd Rd, 25th October 1884
Thomas Harley      17 Years 338 Days v Dunipace (H) Scottish Cup 1st Rd, 1st September 1888
David Malcolm      18 Years 41 Days  v Queen of the South Wanderers (A) Scottish Cup 4th Rd, 3rd November 1888
David Ross        18 Years 128 Days v Tillicoultry (H) Scottish Cup 1st Rd, 7th September 1889
William Gillespie1 18 Years 139 Days v Kilsyth Wanderers (H) Scottish Cup 1st Rd, 3rd September 1887
William Murphy     18 Years 141 Days v Campsie (H) Scottish Cup 2nd Rd, 24th October 1887

1Alex & William Gillespie were brothers [Another three brothers: David, John & George also played for Falkirk FC].
George Campbell would have been about 16 on his debut v Stenhousemuir in the Qualifying Cup 2nd Rd 1900/01

Oldest Players for Falkirk FC to 1938/39
[Scottish Cup, Scottish Qualifying Cup & Scottish League]

Patrick Gallacher   40 Years 334 Days v Dundee (A) Scottish League Division 1, 13th February 1932
John Ballantyne     36 Years 189 Days v Celtic (A) Scottish League Division 1, 17th April 1935
Thomas Townsley     34 Years 317 Days v Queen's Park (H) Scottish League Division 1, 11th March 1933
John Drummond       34 Years 283 Days v Raith Rovers (H) Scottish League Division 2, 23rd January 1905
Isaac Begbie        34 Years 235 Days v Ayr (H) Scottish League Division 2, 31st January 1903
John Stevenson      34 Years 35 Days  v Kilmarnock (H) Scottish League Division 1, 2nd April 1932
James Croal         33 Years 196 Days v St Mirren (A) Scottish League, 8th February 1919
John McTavish       32 Years 317 Days v Dumbarton (H) Scottish League, 20th April 1918
Peter Bell          32 Years 127 Days v Raith Rovers (A) Scottish League Division 1, 30th March 1929
William Lennie      32 Years 87 Days  v Partick Thistle (A) Scottish League Division 1, 18th April 1914

The above lists should be taken with a pinch of salt, as not all of the biographical details of all the players are available and the full set of match line-ups is incomplete, some of the other players may have been younger/older and some of these players may have played in other matches.



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Falkirk FC Players 1927

July 7, 2013, 5:08 pm
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A little article appeared in the Falkirk Herald of 6th August 1927 detailing the Falkirk FC players for the coming season

It basically just gave their Height an Weight

The players were listed thus

Player
 Height
 Weight
T.Ferguson (Goal)
 5 10
 12 7
J.Whitton (Goal)
 5 11
 11 0
T.Scott (Back)
 5 7½
 12 2
G.Scobbie (Back)
 5 10
 11 4
J.Gowdy (Back)
 5 9
 10 6
T.Gilroy (Back)
 5 7
 10 9
J.Kennedy (Half-Back)
 5 8½
 11 0
J.McIlwaine (Half-Back)
 5 9
 13 0
G.Ritchie (Half-Back)
 5 8
 11 0
J.Douglas (Half-Back)
 5 9
 12 0
H.McGinnigle (Half-Back)
 5 9
 11 10
J.Cowie (Half-Back)
 5 9
 11 5
H.Martin (Outside-Right)
 5 8
 11 0
W.Cox (Outside-Right)
 5 6
 10 9
P.Gallagher [sic] (Inside-Right)
 5 5½
 9 0
R.Kennedy (Centre-Forward)
 5 7
 10 7
J.Cox (Centre-Forward)
 5 8
 12 0
J,McNeil (Centre-Forward)
 5 6½
 10 0
A.Heeps (Centre-Forward)
 5 6½
 11 0
J.Hunter (Inside-Left)
 5 7
 10 2
D.Paterson (Outside-Left)
 5 6
 10 7
W.Gall (Outside-Left)
 5 8
 10 6

The reason I find this article fascinating is that only J.Whitton [who never played a single game for the club] is the only player in the above list who is taller than me.

I am 5 10, yet I do not think of myself as a big strapping athletic type bloke, I am lazy, play on computers, etc.

In the last 70 [even 50] years, the people in Scotland have changed out of all recognition! Patsy Gallacher had a lot of skill, but 5 foot 5½inches, it is almost unimaginable these days.

Football has changed a lot, players are taller, bigger, fitter than ever, it is always nice to remind ourselves of this when we try to compare eras/players.

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East Stirlingshire & Falkirk players to 1946/47

July 8, 2013, 1:15 pm
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This is my attempt to put together a list of all the players who have played for the two League Clubs in Falkirk up the the Second World War [though it must be noted that neither club plays within the confines of Falkirk anymore, ESFC sharing with Stenhousemuir, whereas the Falkirk Stadium is about 150 meters over the border into Grangemouth]. The two clubs have had a strained relationship over the years, from the period c1880-c1885 when ESFC were newcomers and Falkirk treated them with a certain level of disdain, from c1885-c1900 when East Stirling under the leadership of Lawrie McLachlan and backed up with Thomas Dunn, Andrew Inches et al, became the dominant force in football in Stirlingshire. This was reverted when Falkirk joined Division 1 in 1905 and had held a slightly dominant position since [though this claim is tenuous, because Falkirk FC have had some very lean spells]. For example the first game I ever remember was a 3-0 from East Stirlingshire in 1980, just after both clubs had been promoted from the Second Division.

I personally have a bit of a soft spot for the 'Shirey-Pirey', and wished that they still played in their spiritual home of Bainsford, but economics rule, right?

We generally get a derby in the Stirlingshire Cup, but I look forward to all East Stirlingshire/Falkirk matches.

The following list is probably incomplete, several players with the same name played for both clubs, but I am unsure if they were the same person, also I might have mistaken players to be the same person who may have been different people] I have tried my best to resolve any issues, but I am fallible. There are probably many mistakes in the following list, please forgive me.


Players who played for both East Stirlingshire FC & Falkirk FC 1877/78-1946/47


James Adam

b Unknown
d Unknown

Position – Goalkeeper
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1904/05-1905/06], Queen's Park [1905/06-1911/12], Falkirk [1912/13]


William Adams

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Right-Half
Known Career – Grange Rovers, Falkirk [1914/15], East Stirlingshire [1921/22-1922/23]


James Allan

b c1888
d 12th November 1980, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Positions – Left-Half, Left-Back
Known Career – Petershill, Leith Athletic [1902/03-1906/07, 1909/10], East Stirlingshire [1909/10-1912/13], Falkirk [1910/11-1913/14]


William Allan

b Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d Unknown

Positions – Goalkeeper
Known Career – Woodbine Rovers, Vale of Carron, East Stirlingshire [1900/01-1900/01], Falkirk [1900/01-1903/04 ],
Rangers [1903/04-1904/05], Albion Rovers [1904/05-1905/06], Falkirk [1906/07-1907/08 ], Hibernian [1907/08-1916/17], Falkirk [1915/16-
1917/18], Clackmannan [1918/19], Falkirk [1919/20-1920/21], Stenhousemuir [1921/22]


Thomas Baird

b c1883
d Unknown

Positions – Inside-Right, Outside-Right, Outside-Left
Known Career – Dunipace, Denny Athletic, Falkirk [1899/00], Stenhousemuir [1900/01-1901/02], East Stirlingshire [1901/02-1909/10]


Robert Bernard

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Goalkeeper
Known Career – Linlithgow Rose, Bo'ness [1906/07], Falkirk [1906/07], East Fife [1906/07],
Dundee [1907/08-1919/10], East Stirlingshire [1909/10-1911/12], Reading [1912/13], East Fife [1913/14]


John Boyne

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Right
Known Career – Johnstone [1902/03], Falkirk [1902/03-1903/04], Alloa Athletic?, Morton [1908/09-1909/10], Johnstone [1908/09], East Stirlingshire
[1909/10-1912/13], Johnstone [1912/13]


William 'Choco' Brown

b 1913
d 24th April 1986

Positions – Right-Half, Right-Back
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1933/34-1937/38], Falkirk [1937/38-1941/42], Dunfermline Athletic [1939/40, 1942/43], East Fife [1941/42]


Robert Bryce

b 17th November 1904, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire
d c1970

Positions – Outside-Right
Known Career – Grange Rovers, Falkirk [1923/24-1924/25], East Stirlingshire [1925/26], Stenhousemuir [1925/26], Bournemouth [1928/29-1929/30], Luton Town [1930/31-1931/32], King's Park [1932/33-1935/36], Raith Rovers [1936/37]


James Caldwell

b 9th January 1884, Carronshore, Stirlingshire
d 8th April 1955, Alva, Clackmannanshire

Positions – Goalkeeper
Known Career – Carron Thistle, Dunipace, Falkirk [1905/06], East Stirlingshire [1907/08], Tottenham Hotspur [1908/09], Reading [1911/12], Everton
[1912/13], Arsenal [1913/14], Alloa Athletic [1921/22-1922/23], East Stirlingshire [1922/23]


Malcolm Campbell

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Right-Half, Inside-Right, Inside-Left
Known Career – Stenhousemuir [1921/22-1923/24], Falkirk [1923/24-1924/25], Dundee United [1925/26-1927/28], East
Stirlingshire [1928/29]


Robert Corrance

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Right-Half
Known Career – Margate, East Stirlingshire [1935/36], Falkirk [1936/37], Albion Rovers [1937/38]


Robert Davis

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Centre-Forward
Known Career – Falkirk [1924/25-1925/26], East Stirlingshire [1926/27], Broxburn United [1926/27]


Ebenezer Docherty

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Centre-Forward
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1921/22-1929/30], Vale of Leven [1923/24], Falkirk [1926/27], Stenhousemuir [1929/30]


Robert Duff

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Goalkeeper
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1914/15], Falkirk [1915/16]


William Fleming

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Inside-Left
Known Career – Scottish Dyes, Falkirk [1936/37-1938/39], East Fife [1939/40-1947/48], Stenhousemuir [1939/40, 1946/47], East Stirlingshire [1948/49]


James Gardiner

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Left
Known Career – Grahamston, Grangemouth [1887/88], Falkirk [1887/88], East Stirlingshire [1888/89], Grangemouth [1891/92-1893/94]


Charles Garland

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Left
Known Career – Montrose [1931/32-1932/33], Falkirk [1932/33], Dunfermline Athletic [1933/34-1935/36], Cowdenbeath [1934/35], East Stirlingshire [1935/36], King's Park [1936/37]


Robert Gibson

b 18th July 1855, Eastwood, Renfrewshire
d 16th April 1892, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Positions – Centre-Forward
Known Career – Falkirk [1880/81-1885/86]
Played for East Stirlingshire v Vale of Teith, Friendly at Merchiston Pk, Bainsford, 10th March 1883
Brother of Walter Gibson


Robert Gibson

b c1884, Alva, Clackmannanshire
d Unknown

Positions – Left-Back
Known Career – Alva Albion Rangers, Alloa Athletic [1905/06-1906/07], East Stirlingshire [1907/08], Falkirk [1907/08-1910/11], Morton [1909/10],
Reading [1911/12], Dunfermline Athletic [1911/12], King's Park [1912/13]


Walter Gibson

b 13th July 1857, Eastwood, Renfrewshire
d 9th October 1932, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Positions – Outside-Left, Inside-Left
Known Career – Falkirk [1880/81-1885/86]
Played for East Stirlingshire v King's Park, Friendly at Merchiston Pk, Bainsford, 24th November 1883
Brother of Robert Gibson


Alexander 'Ballangeich' Gillespie

b 5th January 1868, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d 17th March 1945, Rosyth, Fife

Positions – Outside-Right, Inside-Right
Known Career – Falkirk [1884/85-1889/90, 1891/92]
Played for East Stirlingshire v Port Glasgow Athletic, Friendly at Clune Pk, Port Glasgow, 6th November 1886
Brother of David Gillespie


David Gillespie

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Left
Known Career – Camelon [1893/94-1894/95], Leeds?, Falkirk [1895/96-1896/97], East Stirlingshire [1900/01-1903/04]
Brother of Alexander Gillespie


Robert Godfrey

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Centre-Half, Right-Half, Goalkeeper
Known Career – Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, Banknock Juniors, Falkirk [1912/13-1914/15], Stenhousemuir, Falkirk [1918/19], East Stirlingshire [1919/20-1920/21],
Bathgate [1920/21], Ayr United [1920/21], Alloa Athletic, Dumbarton [1921/22], St Bernards [1921/22], Vale of Leven [1922/23], Clackmannan [1922/23], East
Stirlingshire [1922/23]


Andrew Graham

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Half-Back
Known Career – Grangemouth [1888/89-1893/94], East Stirlingshire [1892/93], Falkirk [1892/93]


Robert Graham

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Inside-Right
Known Career – Camelon Juveniles, Laurieston Juniors, Falkirk Juniors, Falkirk [1904/05-1905/06], Cowdenbeath [1907/08], East Stirlingshire
[1910/11]


George Hannah

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Centre-Forward, Inside-Right, Outside-Right
Known Career – Falkirk [1921/22], East Stirlingshire [1922/23]


Michael Harley

b 8th May 1866, Larbert, Stirlingshire
d 15th April 1953, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Positions – Left-Back, Right-Back
Representative Honours – Stirlingshire v Forfarshire 1886/87, v Fife 1887/88
Known Career – Carron, Falkirk [1885/86-1888/89], East Stirlingshire [1889/90-1892/93]
Brother of Thomas Harley


Thomas Harley

b 29th September 1870, Larbert, Stirlingshire
d 28th May 1897, Carron, Stirlingshire

Positions – Outside-Left, Inside-Left
Known Career – Gairdoch, Falkirk [1887/88-1888/89], East Stirlingshire [1889/90-1892/93], Carron Athletic
Brother of Michael Harley


Alexander Heeps

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Inside-Right, Centre-Forward
Known Career – Falkirk [1925/26-1928/29], Bo'ness [1927/28], Stenhousemuir [1928/29-1929/30], Bo'ness [1930/31-1932/33], Dumbarton [1932/33-1933/34], East Stirlingshire [1933/34]


Alexander Henderson

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Left-Back, Left-Half, Centre-Half
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1909/10-1913/14], Falkirk [1913/14-1919/20], Alloa Athletic [1919/20-1920/21]

John Honeyman

b 24th January 1866, Larbert, Stirlingshire
d 13th June 1943, Larbert, Stirlingshire

Positions – Forward
Known Career – Carron [1884/85], Larbert [1885/86], Gairdoch, East Stirlingshire [1885/86], Falkirk [1887/88-1888/89], Gairdoch [1891/92-
1894/95]


John Hotchkiss

b Carronshore, Stirlingshire
d Unknown

Positions – Right-Back
Known Career – Falkirk Juniors, Falkirk [1903/04], East Stirlingshire [1904/05-1906/07], Falkirk [1906/07], Cowdenbeath [1906/07], Leith
Athletic [1907/08-1908/09], Alloa Athletic [1909/10]


Alexander Hunter

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Left-back
Known Career – Falkirk [1921/22], East Stirlingshire [1922/23-1923/24], Armadale [1923/24]


Henry Hutchison

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Centre-Forward
Known Career – Rangers [1914/15-1919/20], Falkirk [1915/16], Hibernian [1915/16], East Stirlingshire [1916/17], Alloa Athletic [1919/20]


William Japp

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Inside-Right
Known Career – Airth Castle Rovers, Falkirk [1945/46-1946/47], East Stirlingshire [1947/48-1950/51], Ayr United [1950/51-1956/57], East Stirlingshire [1957/58], Berwick Rangers [1958/59]


James Johnston

b 25th March 1874, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d 2nd May 1935, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
Positions – Right-Back
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1898/99-1905/06], Falkirk [1905/06]


Alexander Kennedy

b 7th June 1870, Whitburn, West Lothian
d Unknown

Positions – Goalkeeper
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1892/93-1894/95], Falkirk [1892/93]


James Leishman

b c1856
d 7th November 1935, Camelon, Stirlingshire

Positions – Outside-Left, Centre-Forward, Right-Back
Known Career – Falkirk [1877/78-1885/86], East Stirlingshire [1884/85]


Henry 'Cecil' Lyon

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Right
Known Career – Lochgelly United [1903/04], Falkirk [1903/04-1904/05], East Stirlingshire [1905/06], East Fife [1906/07]


David Malcolm

b 23rd September 1870, Bathgate, Linlithgowshire
d Unknown

Positions – Left-Back
Known Career – Falkirk [1888/89-1889/90], East Stirlingshire [1888/89]


Alexander Marshall

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Right-Back, Right-Half, Centre-Half
Known Career – Stenhousemuir Juniors, Falkirk [1911/12-1915/16], East Stirlingshire [1915/16]


Angus Martin

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Left
Known Career – Greenock Howitzer, Falkirk [1919/20-1920/21], East Stirlingshire [1921/22]


James 'McKenzie' Martin

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Centre-Half
Known Career – Falkirk [1920/21], East Stirlingshire [1921/22-1922-23], Clackmannan [1923/24-1925/26]


George Mason

b c1904, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire
d 3rd January 1941, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Positions – Inside Right
CKnown Career – Banknock Juniors, Falkirk [1925/26-1926/27], Dundee United [1927/28], Stranraer, Montrose, Alloa Athletic, East Stirlingshire [1931/32-1932/33], St Johnstone [1932/33-1940/41], Falkirk [1939/40-1940/41]


John Meechan

b c1910, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Left, Centre-Forward
Known Career – Grangemouth Sacred Heart, Maryhill Hibernian, St Mirren [1928/29-1932/33] Burnley [1933/34], Falkirk [1933/34-1934/35], Kilmarnock [1934-35], East Stirlingshire [1935/36-1936/37], St Johnstone [1937/38], Alloa Athletic [1937/38], East Stirlingshire [1937/38], Morton [1938/39], Bo'ness [1939/40], Forth Juniors, Polkemmet Juniors,
East Stirlingshire [1945/46]


George Meldrum

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Inside-Right, Inside-Left
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup RU 1920/21
Known Career – Forth Rangers, Falkirk [1919/20-1920/21], East Stirlingshire [1921/22-1922/23]


John Mercer

b 12th December 1868, Larbert, Stirlingshire
d 3rd January 1933, Larbert, Stirlingshire

Positions – Goalkeeper
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1885/86-1887/88], Carron [1885/86], Falkirk [1887/88-1888/89], East Stirlingshire [1892/93] Gairdoch


William Millar

c Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Right-Half
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup RU 1913/14, Stirlingshire Consolation Cup W 1912/13
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1908/09], Rangers [1908/09-1909/10], Morton [1909/10-1910/11], Liverpool [1910/11-1911/12], East Stirlingshire [1911/12-1912/13], Stenhousemuir [1912/13], Falkirk [1913/14], Dunfermline Athletic [1914/15-1918/19], Alloa Athletic [1919/20]


David Miller

b Unknown
d September 1992, Paisley, Renfrewshire

Positions – Centre-Forward, Inside-left, Inside-Right
Known Career – Paisley YMCA, Yoker Athletic, Falkirk [1931/32-1932/33], Albion Rovers [1933/34], East Stirlingshire [1933/34], King's Park [1935/1936-1936/37], East Fife [1937/38-1938/39]


???? Miller

b Unknown
d unknown

Positions – Outside-Left, Outside-Right
Known Career – Falkirk Hawthorn, East Stirlingshire [1898/99], Falkirk [1899/00]


Adam Mitchell

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Right-Back
Known Career – Forth Rangers, East Stirlingshire [1915/16-1922/23], Falkirk [1917/18]


Andrew Mitchell

b Unknown
d Unknown

Debut – Saturday September 2nd 1905 v Partick Thistle (A) Scottish League Division 1
Positions – Inside-Left, Centre-Forward
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1900/01-1905/06], Falkirk [1905/06-1909/10], Vale of Teith [1906/07], East Stirlingshire [1910/11-1912/13]


David Mitchell

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Left-Half, Left-Back
Known Career – Falkirk Juniors, Falkirk [1903/04-1905/06], East Stirlingshire [1905/06-1912-13]


David Mitchell

b Longcroft, Stirlingshire
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Left, Outside-Right
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Consolation Cup W 1912/13
Known Career – Bainsford Amateurs, East Stirlingshire [1912/13-1913/14], Falkirk [1912/13-1913/14]


John Muir

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Inside-Left
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1912/13], St Johnstone [1913/14], Rangers [1913/14-1918/19] Cowdenbeath [1917/18] , Falkirk [1918/19]


John Muir

b 18th November 1903, Hamilton, Lanarkshire
d 29th April 1949, Hamilton, Lanarkshire

Positions – Left-Half, Centre-Half, Right-Half
Known Career – Queen of the South, Bo'ness, Broxburn United [1924/25-1925/26], Stockport County [1925/26], Queen of the South [1926/27], Dumbarton [1927/28], Armadale [1927/28-1928/29], Falkirk [1928/29-1929/30], Luton Town [1930/31], Raith Rovers [1930/31], Bristol Rovers [1930/31-1931/32], Bo'ness [1932/33], Arbroath [1932/33-1934/35], East Stirlingshire [1935/36]


James 'Pat' Murphy

b 4th October 1859, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d 28th May 1942, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Positions – Left-Back, Right-Back
Known Career – Falkirk [1879/80-1886/87], Tayavalla [1883/84], Grahamston [1885/86], Falkirk Harp [1886/87], East Stirlingshire [1887/88], Grahamston
Corinthians [1887/88].

Matthew Myles

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Centre-Half
Known Career – Wallacelea Athletic, Bo'ness?, East Stirlingshire [1896/97], Falkirk [1899/00]


Thomas McCall

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Half-back, Back, Inside-right, Outside-right, Outside-left
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1893/94-1898/99], Falkirk [1899/00]


Richard McCreadie

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Inside-Left
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1937/38], Raith Rovers [1938/39], Petershill, Falkirk [1940/41]


Thomas McDonald

b 28th December 1868, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d 28th December 1943, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Positions – Inside-Right, Outside-Right, Centre-Forward
Known Career – Black Watch [1885/86], Falkirk [1886/87-1892/93], Slamannan Rovers [1892/93], East Stirlingshire [1893/94], Falkirk [1895/96-
1896/97]


Hugh McDougall

b 10th September 1887, Kilmallie, Invernessshire
d Unknown

Positions – Inside-Right
Known Career – Glasgow Normal Athletic, Glasgow Fairfield, Bonnybridge Thistle, Falkirk [1906/07], King's Park,
Dunfermline Athletic [1907/08], Stenhousemuir [1911/12], East Stirlingshire [1912/13-1913/14]


Charles McGregor

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Centre-Half
Known Career – Broxburn United [1923/24-1924/25], Falkirk [1924/25], East Stirlingshire [1925/26]


Daniel McKerrel

b Blantyre, Lanarkshire
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Left
Known Career – Bedlay Juniors, Shawfield Juniors, Hamilton Academical [1936/37], Falkirk [1936/37-1938/39], East Fife [1938/39], Hamilton Academical [1939/40-1940/41], Newcastle United [WWII], Middlesbrough [WWII], Carlisle United [1945/46], East Stirlingshire [1947/48]


Lawrence 'Laurie' McLachlan

b 12th August 1862, Stane, Lanarkshire
d 26th December 1912, Edinburgh

Positions – Centre-Forward
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1883/84-1891/92], Falkirk [1883/84], Shotts [1892/93]


John McNaught

b 1892, Glasgow
d November 1972, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire

Positions – Outside-Right
Known Career – St Clement's, Cambuslang Rangers, Falkirk [1911/12-1915/16], Vale of Leven [1918/19], St Mirren [1918/19], Kilmarnock
[1919/20-1922/23], Johnstone [1923/24-1924/25], Clyde [1924/25], East Stirlingshire [1925/26]


Archibald McPherson

b 10th February 1910, Alva, Clackmannanshire
d c1969

Positions – Left-Half, Left-Back
Known Career – Alva Albion Rangers, Bathgate [1926/27], Rangers [1927/28-1929/30], East Stirlingshire [1928/29], Liverpool [1929/30-1934/35], Sheffield United [1934/35-1936/37], Falkirk [1937/38-1938/39], East Fife [1938/39], Dundee United [1939/40]


Joseph McQue

b February 1870, Glasgow
d Unknown

Positions – Centre-Half
Scottish Qualifying Cup Matches /Goals [1/-]
Known Career – Campsie [1891/92], East Stirlingshire [1891/92], Celtic, Liverpool [1892/93-1897/98], Falkirk [1898/99],
Third Lanark


John McTavish

b 7th June 1885, Govan, Glasgow
d 4th April 1944, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Positions – Inside-Right, Inside-Left
Known Career – Ibrox Roselea, Fairfield, Petershill, Falkirk [1905/06-1909/10], Oldham Athletic [1910/11], Tottenham Hotspur [1910/11-1911/12],
Newcastle United [1911/12-1912/13], Partick Thistle [1913/14-1916/17], York City [1914/15], Goole Town [1914/15], Falkirk [1917/18], Heart of
Midlothian [1917/18], Bo'ness, East Fife [1918/19-1919/20], Dumbarton [1920/21], East Stirlingshire [1921/22]


James Neil

b 26th October 1854, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire
d 21st October 1888, Carron, Stirlingshire

Positions – Outside-Right, Inside-Right
Known Career – Falkirk [1877/78-1881/82], East Stirlingshire [1882/83-1884/85]
The first player to cross the great Falkirk-East Stirlingshire divide


Robert Nisbet

b Carronshore, Stirlingshire
d Unknown

Positions – Right-Back
Known Career – Motherwell [1929/30-1930/31], Dolphin [1931/32], Preston North End [1932/33], East Stirlingshire [1932/33], Falkirk [1932/33-1938/39], Dumbarton [1939/40]


Robert Orrock

b 25th May 1885, Kinghorn, Fife
d Unknown

Positions – Left-Half, Right-Back, Left-Back
Representative Honours – Scotland v Wales 1912/13
Known Career – Grange Rovers, East Stirlingshire [1906/07-1907/08], Falkirk [1908/09-1916/17], St Mirren [1917/18-1919/20], Alloa Athletic
[1920/21-1923/24], Third Lanark [1923 Tour of South America], East Stirlingshire [1924/25]


William Peat

b c1915
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Right, Centre-Forward
Known Career – Bo'ness Cadora, Falkirk [1933/34-1934/35], East Stirlingshire [1934/35], Leith Athletic [1935/36-1937/38]


John Pray

b 17th March 1872, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d c1948, Canada

Positions – Right-Half, Centre-Half
Known Career – Falkirk Excelsior, Falkirk [1890/91-1893/94], Rangers [1893/94-1894/95], Bury [1895/96-1901/02], St Bernards [1903/04]
Played for East Stirlingshire v Gairdoch, Friendly at Gairdoch Pk, Carronshore 5th August 1891
Played for East Stirlingshire v Airdrieonians, Scottish Alliance at Broomfield Pk, Airdrie, 9th April 1892


Andrew Prentice

b c1875
d 10th Jun 1931, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Positions – Half-Back
Known Career – Vale of Carron, Falkirk [1896/97], East Stirlingshire [1896/97-1906/07]


Livingstone Rae

b 28th April 1877, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d 14th December 1953

Positions – Left-Half, Left-Back, Right-Back
Known Career – Falkirk [1894/95-1895/96], Falkirk Amateurs [1896/97], East Stirlingshire [1897/98], Falkirk [1897/98-1900/01]


Peter 'Stag' Rae

b 23rd November 1871, Carronshore, Stirlingshire
d 28th October 1952

Positions – Centre-Half, Right-Half
Known Career – Gairdoch [1891/92-1893/94], East Stirlingshire [1893/94], Falkirk [1894/95-1900/01]


Robert Rae

b 12th September 1867, Bothkennar, Stirlingshire
d Unknown

Positions – Goalkeeper
Known Career – Black Watch [1885/86], Falkirk [1886/87-1890/91], , East Stirlingshire [1889/90], East Stirlingshire [1891/92-1892/93]


Henry 'Harry' Reid

b 4th March 1870, Larbert, Stirlingshire
d Unknown

Positions – Inside-Left
Known Career – Stenhousemuir Victoria [1883/84], Stenhousemuir [1883/84-1890/91], Falkirk [1887/88, 1890/91], East Stirlingshire [1888/89,
1891/92], Stenhousemuir [1892/93-1894/95], King's Park [1892/93], Rangers [1892/93]


James 'Punky' Reid

b c1879, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
b 10th March 1954, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Positions – Right-Half, Inside-Right
Known Career – Vale of Carron, Falkirk [1899/00], Clackmannan [1899/00-1900/01], Camelon [1901/02], East Stirlingshire [1902/03-1905/06], Falkirk
[1905/06-1909/10], Cowdenbeath [1910/11-1911/12]


John Richardson

b c1909, Johannesburg, South Africa
d 23rd May 1977, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Positions – Centre-Half
Known Career – Wallacestone Wesleyans, Wallacestone Welfare, Bristol Rovers [1930/31], Falkirk [1930/31-1933/34], Alloa Athletic [1934/35-1935/36], Leith Athletic [1936/37-1938/39], East Stirlingshire [1938/39]


James Roughead

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Centre-Half, Right-Half
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1937/38-1944/45], Stenhousemuir [1939/40], Falkirk [1941/42], Stenhousemuir [1947/48]


Alexander Rule

b 13th March 1866, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d 24th October 1903, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Positions – Forward
Known Career – Grahamston [1883/84-1884/85], Carron [1885/86], Falkirk [1885/86], Falkirk Harp [1885/86], East Stirlingshire [1886/87]


James Russell

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Right-Half
Known Career – Falkirk [1901/02-1903/04], East Stirlingshire [1902/03], Bo'ness [1903/04]


George Scobbie

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Right-Back
Known Career – Falkirk [1924/25-1931/32], East Stirlingshire [1933/34-1935/36], Ayr United [1935/36]


Thomas Sime

b Laurieston, Stirlingshire
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Left
Known Career – Forth Rangers, Kilsyth Rangers, Falkirk [1917/18], East Stirlingshire [1919/20]


John Smith

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Right-Half, Right-Back
Known Career – Falkirk Amateurs?, East Stirlingshire?, Falkirk [1898/99-1901/02]


William Smith

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Left
Known Career – Falkirk [1923/24-1924/25], East Stirlingshire [1925/26]


James Sommerville

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Left
Known Career – Gairdoch Thistle, Falkirk [1917/18-1919/20], East Stirlingshire [1919/20]


Alexander Spence

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Outside-Left, Inside-Left, Centre-Forward
Scottish League Division 2 Matches/Goals [6/2]
Known Career – Laurieston Juniors, Falkirk [1903/04-1904/05], East Stirlingshire [1907/08]


Peter Steele

b 3rd June 1871, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d Unknown

Positions – Back
Known Career – Laurieston [1891/92], East Stirlingshire [1891/92-1894/95], Falkirk [1892/93], Laurieston [1893/94]


John Stirrat

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Back
Known Career – Grangemouth [1891/92-1893/94], East Stirlingshire [1893/94], Falkirk [1894/95], Morton [1895/96]


Robert Stoddart

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions - Outside-Left
Scottish League Division 1 Matches/Goals [2/-]
Known Career – East Stirlingshire [1923/24-1924/25], Falkirk [1925/26], East Stirlingshire [1925/26-1928/29], Alloa Athletic [1929/30], Stenhousemuir [1929/30-1930/31], Montrose [1932/33-1933/34], Morton [1933/34], East Stirlingshire [1934/35-1936/37],


Alexander Thomson

b Stirling, Stirlingshire
d Unknown

Positions – Centre-Forward, Outside-Left
Known Career – Liverpool [1912/13-1914/15], Falkirk [1913/14-1914/15], East Stirlingshire [1915/16]


James Turnbull

b 23rd May 1884, Bannockburn, Stirlingshire
d Unknown

Positions – Centre-Forward
Known Career – Stenhousemuir [1899/00] East Stirlingshire [1900/01], Dundee [1901/02-1903/04], Falkirk [1903/04], Rangers [1904/05], Preston
North End [1904/05-1905/06], Leyton [1906/07], Manchester United [1907/08-1909/10], Bradford Park Avenue [1910/11-1911/12], Chelsea
[1912/13-1913/14], Hyde United [1914/15], Bradford [1917/18]
Brother of Thomas Turnbull


Thomas Turnbull

b c1876, St Ninians, Stirlingshire
d 23rd February 1920, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Positions – Right-Back
Known Career – Whitefield Swifts, Falkirk [1893/94-1897/98], East Stirlingshire [1898/99], Leeds, Celtic [1899/00], Partick Thistle [1900/01],
Sheffield United [1900/01], Stenhousemuir [1902/03], Partick Thistle [1903/04]
Brother of James Turnbull


David Watson

b 2nd December ????, Cowie, Stirlingshire
d Unknown

Positions – Inside-Right, Centre-Forward
Known Career – Cowie Wanderers, East Stirlingshire [1915/16], Falkirk [1916/17-1917/18], Bo'ness [1920/21], Sunderland [1920/21], Portsmouth
[1920/21-1929/30]


William Watson

b Shotts, Lanarkshire
d Unknown

Positions – Goalkeeper
Known Career – Dykehead, East Stirlingshire [1895/96-1896/97], Falkirk [1897/98]


Patrick 'Wee' Wemyss

b 3rd October 1870, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d Unknown

Positions – Right-Half, Right-Back
Known Career – Rumford Rovers, Grahamston Corinthians, East Stirlingshire [1891/92], Falkirk [1892/93-1894/95]


Gibson White

b Unknown
d Unknown

Positions – Right-Half
Known Career – Forth Rangers, Falkirk [1936/37-1937/38], East Stirlingshire [1938/39]


Edwin Young

b c1919
d 2nd December 1940, HMS Forfar, Atlantic Ocean

Positions – Outside-Left
Known Career – Kincardine Juniors, Falkirk [1938/39-1939/40], East Stirlingshire [1939/40]

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Search

Falkirk FC - Goal on League Debut

July 9, 2013, 9:37 am
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I pretty much have the complete Falkirk FC record for League matches 1902/03-1938/39, I am missing some first names & three goals, so am pretty confident about this.

I would have compiled a list of players who scored on their senior debut for Falkirk, however the lack of coverage for the early Scottish Cup matches would have rendered it largely guesswork before the 1890s.

Falkirk players who scored on their League Debut 1902/03-1938/39

Player
Date
Comp
Opp
notes
James Bartram
31st Dec 1932
Div 1
St Mirren (A)
Scored 2
Isaac Begbie
22nd Nov 1902
Div 2
Arthurlie (A)


James Benson
8th Aug 1936
Div 1
Hamilton Academical (H)
Scored 2
John Brown
10th Oct 1908
Div 1
Hamilton Academical (H)


Peter Buchanan
16th Nov 1935
Div 2
Raith Rovers (A)


John Calder
13th Aug 1932
Div 1
Cowdenbeath


George Campbell
16th Aug 1902
Div 2
Clyde (A)
Falkirk FC's first League match
Peter Carmichael
21st Feb 1903
Div 2
Raith Rovers (H)
Scored 2
David Cowan
16th Mar 1935
Div 1
Dundee (H)
Penalty
James Cox
7th Nov 1925
Div 1
Morton (H)


William Cox
20th Aug 1927
Div 1
St Johnstone (H)


John Dora
25th Jan 1930
Div 1
Morton (A)
His only League match for Falkirk
David Duncan
24th Aug 1918
Div 1
Clyde (H)
Scottish League match, no Div 2
James Dyet
9th Aug 1930
Div 1
Leith Athletic (A)


William Gall
20th Aug 1927
Div 1
St Johnstone (H)


Peter Gardiner
13th Sep 1919
Div 1
Dundee (H)
Scottish League match, no Div 2
Charles Glegg
21st Feb 1903
Div 2
Raith Rovers (H)


Francis Graham
26th Sep 1903
Div 2
Leith Athletic (H)


George Grant
12th Aug 1933
Div 1
Third Lanark (H)


John Haddow
30th Nov 1935
Div 2
St Mirren (H)


George Hamilton
31st Jan 1903
Div 2
Ayr (H)
His only League match for Falkirk
John Hudson
21st Sep 1907
Div 1
Port Glasgow Athletic (H)


John Hunter
24th Sep 1921
Div 1
Hibernian (A)


Robert Kennedy
23rd Oct 1926
Div 1
Dundee (H)
Scored 2
Robert Keyes
5th Jan 1935
Div 1
Hamilton Academical (A)


Thomas Logan
20th Aug 1910
Div 1
Celtic (H)


Harry Lowe
16th Mar 1929
Div 1
Rangers (A)


Henry Lyon
27th Aug 1904
Div 2
St Bernards (H)


David Main
13th Feb 1909
Div 1
Morton (H)
Scored 2
George Meldrum
27th Mar 1920
Div 1
Celtic (H)
Scottish League match, no Div 2
David Miller
26th Aug 1931
Div 1
Hamilton Academical (H)


Evelyn Morrison
7th Jan 1928
Div 1
Celtic (H)


Alex McCaig
8th Mar 1919
Div 1
Queen's Park (H)
Scottish League match, no Div 2
Andrew McCrae
21st Dec 1912
Div 1
St Mirren (A)


John McInnes
16th Dec 1905
Div 1
Hibernian (A)


Daniel McKerrel
21st Aug 1937
Div 1
Aberdeen (H)


Ian McLachlan
20th Aug 1938
Div 1
Heart of Midlothian (A)


James McNair
26th Aug 1933
Div 1
Dundee (H)


John McTavish
19th Aug 1905
Div 1
Port Glasgow Athletic (A)


Adam Neilson
16th Aug 1924
Div 1
Aberdeen (H)


Hugh Patton
14th Apr 1923
Div 1
Third Lanark (H)


John Rattray
24th Dec 1910
Div 1
Raith Rovers (A)


James Rennie
27th Dec 1919
Div 1
Dumbarton (H)
Scottish League match, no Div 2
James Rice
28th Aug 1937
Div 1
Queen's Park (A)
Scored 2
James Robertson
18th Feb 1911
Div 1
Clyde (H)
Scored 2
William Scott
16th Aug 1902
Div 2
Clyde (A)
Falkirk FC's first League match
William Scott
8th Aug 1908
Div 1
Hamilton Academical (H)


James Sommerville
23rd Mar 1918
Div 1
Hibernian (A)
Scottish League match, no Div 2
Alex Spence
20th Aug 1904
Div 2
Aberdeen (A)


Robert Stalker
24th Dec 1904
Div 2
Abercorn (A)
Scored 2
Alex Stewart
26th Nov 1938
Div 1
Ayr United (H)


Alex Thomson
11th Oct 1913
Div 1
Morton (H)


Daniel Thomson
12th Nov 1921
Div 1
Clyde (A)


John Thomson
16th Oct 1920
Div 1
Clyde (A)
Scottish League match, no Div 2
James Tulips
1st Jan 1938
Div 1
Morton (H)
Penalty
James Turnbull
29th Aug 1903
Div 2
East Stirlingshire (H)


William Walker
21st Apr 1934
Div 1
Queen of the South (A)


David Watson
19th Aug 1916
Div 1
Kilmarnock (H)
Scottish League match, no Div 2
???? Welsh
7th Sep 1921
Div 1
Airdrieonians (H)


Notes

Patsy Gallacher scored on his official debut v Dunfermline Athletic (H) on the 9th Oct 1926, but had played as a trialist the previous week v Hearts (A).

David Cowan made his debut v Ayr Utd (A) in a league match which was subsequently expunged because Falkirk were found guilty of match rigging.

Hugh Murray scored in his League debut v Clyde (A) on the 12th Aug 1939, but the league was cancelled after five matches, due to war.

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When Falkirk FC broke the World Transfer Record

July 10, 2013, 6:44 am
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In December 1918, the West Ham Centre-Forward was posted North of the Border, the closest club to his station was Falkirk FC [he scored 14 goals in that half season], His name was Sydney Charles Puddefoot.

With the resumtion of footballing normality, the Falkirk faithfull demanded a great Centre-Forward, but they didn't demand any great Centre-Forward, they wanted Puddefoot back. Falkirk made the initial enquiries, to which West Ham put up the ridiculous asking price of £5,500, Falkirk FC did not have that kind of Money, but the fans put it upon themselves to go for a public conscription.

Needless to say the fans made up the difference and in Feb 1922 we broke the World Record for a transfer fee.

I give you Sydney Charles Puddefoot with Falkirk FC



League Matches/Goals [113/49]
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [6/5]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [22/12]
other Matches/Goals [6/8]
Total Matches/Goals [147/74]

He moved on to Blackburn Rovers, because the English FA was so pig-ignorant as to never select a player playing outside England which left him out of the National team, you can't really blame him for moving.
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Falkirk FC 100 Club - James Robertson

July 10, 2013, 10:08 am
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I have hugely overlooked what can only be described as the best signing Falkirk FC ever made, in 1910 Blackburn Rovers signed Jock Simpson from Falkirk for about £1850, this was a lot of money in 1910, but Blackburn Rovers also added the League papers of James Robertson.

Often overlooked, but for a free transfer he scored over 100 goals for the club in the next eight years, during a period in which he was often off fighting the Bosch with the Highland Light Infantry.

It was reported in the Falkirk Herald that he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Military Medal & the Croix de Guerre for his exploits on the Western Front, but I have no way to prove this yet.

Jimmy was a big lad, in an era when most Centre-Forwards were, pictures of him in the team line-up show how bulky he was compared to the other players.

When given a run in the team he scored lots of goals [this necessarily declined from 1914-1919], I reckon without the War he would have been up about Bobby Keyes' number of goals.

After Falkirk he returned to Dunbartonshire, but I don't know how he faired, I, honestly hope he did well



James Robertson

b Alexandria, Dunbartonshire
d Unknown

Debut – Saturday February 18th 1911 v Clyde (H) Scottish League Division 1
Positions – Centre-Forward
Club Honours – Scottish Cup W 1912/13, North-Eastern Cup W 1911/12, RU 1910/11, Dunedin Cup W 1913/14,
Dewar Shield W 1913/14, Falkirk District Charity Cup W 1913/14, Falkirk Infirmary Shield W 1912/13, 1913/14
Falkirk Leading League Goalscorer 1911/12 [12], 1912/13 [12], 1913/14 [21], 1914/15 [11]
Scottish League Division 1 Matches/Goals [160/75]
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [11/2]
Scottish Victory Cup Matches/Goals [2/-]
Minor League Matches/Goals [1/1]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [26/20]
Other Matches [10/8]
Total Matches/Goals [210/106]
Scored [2] on his League Debut
Hat-Tricks – 1 [Division 1 [1]]

Known Career – Vale of Leven [1904/05], Distillery, Blackburn Rovers [1905/06-1907/08], Brighton & Hove Albion [1908/09], Vale of Leven
[1909/10-1910/11], Falkirk [1910/11-1918/19], Dunfermline Athletic [1915/16], Vale of Leven [1918/19-1920/21], Dumbarton Harp

Played for Home-Scots v Anglo-Scots, Scottish International Trial at Glasgow, 18th March 1913
Height - 5 ft 8 in: Weight 13 st 0 lbs [1913]

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Grasshoppers of Bonnybridge

July 18, 2013, 8:20 am
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A couple of years before people got round to playing 'the Association Game' in the town of Falkirk, a couple of miles to the West football in the County of Stirlingshire began in the form of the Grasshoppers from the now unlikely location of Bonnybridge.

I say unlikely because Bonnybridge is little but a local identity these days. It has since the war been amalgamated into a sprawl of former villages between Falkirk and Cumbernauld [encompassing, Bankhead, Banknock, Bonnybridge, Denny, Dennyloanhead, Dunipace, Fankerton, Greenhill, Head of Muir, Longcroft & Milnquarter [the Metropolis of Greater Herbertshire as I have decided to call it]]. The borders are still signposted, but few other than the locals know where one place ends and the other begins.

But in 1875 the situation was far from this. Bonnybridge was the only one of these villages which straddled the Forth & Clyde Canal and it was for this reason that Smith & Wellstood's, the Glasgow Stovemakers, decided to build a foundry [the Columbian Works] just to the South of the Canal, soon to be followed by Singer's [the Sewing Machinists]. This had two main impacts on the village, it helped take the focus away from Falkirk in terms of trade, and more importantly, it brought workers from the city.

Tradition has it that in the Autumn a group of workers met in the library of the Columbian Works Halls and decided to form a football team, writing to their boss H.N.Smith of Queen's Park FC [Scotland's referee in the first ever international], to send them a ball and a copy of the association rules, and that was that. Within months they were playing a team from the firm's Glasgow Warehouse and football had begun in Stirlingshire.


'The Falkirk Herald' Edition - Thursday October 21st 1875.

NB - The only reason that I can think of as to why they chose the name 'Grasshoppers' is because sand for the moulds in foundries was moved about in big Hoppers, but that is just a guess on my part.

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Falkirk Cricketers v Falkirk Footballers

July 19, 2013, 8:24 am
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I don't want to sound all rose tinted & nostalgic for the amateur era [even tough I sort of am], but there was a lot to be said about sport back in the Victorian age. I understand that it was in many ways limited to 'gentlemen of leisure', and Muscular Christianity tends to annoy, but more often than not they were proper 'sportsmen'.

In July 1885 teams selected from the cricket clubs and the football clubs of Falkirk met on the Randyford Ground [East Stirlingshire CC] to play a two day match at cricket. Sadly I have never found a return match at football. Though East Stirlingshire FC played East Stirlingshire CC at football occasionally.

The problem with professional sport is that the employer hinders a sportsman's opportunity at another sport, whereas back then there were few limits. Jock Drummond was allegedly a fiend with the bowls, conversely Grahamston Bowling Club had a team in the Falkirk District Amateur League. Harry Smith played for Falkirk FC in winter, then for Stenhousemuir CC in Summer. Alex Gillespie earned the nickname 'Ballangeich' because of his exploits on the running track [named after a popular Greyhound of the time].

Yes, I know, now the players are fitter, better, more focussed, but we only ever play League & Cup matches, with a couple of pre-season friendlies thrown in, it gets samey at times. [Before I hoist myself by my own petard it must be said Falkirk FC played a Stenhousemuir Social XI in a game of cricket as part of their 125th anniversary celebrations [but they forgot to tell anyone, and I am yet to find out the score ….]

Wednesday 8th July 1885 – Thursday 9th July 1885 – Randyford Ground, Falkirk
Falkirk Footballers lost to Falkirk Cricketers by 52 runs.

Falkirk Footballers
 Falkirk Cricketers
H.Smith
 not out
 33
 ?.Lavington
 c Jackson b Smith
 0
J.Roberts
 c Stark b Lavington
 7
 W.Stark
 c & b Jackson
 11
W.Scott
 run out
 4
 J.Callander
 b Roberts
 22
J.Mackie
 b Callander
 0
 J.Brown
 run out
 1
+R.Cuthill
 c Brown b Lavington
 2
 J.Campbell
 lbw b Jackson
 2
W.Ferguson
 c Brown b Lavington
 0
 R.White
 b Ferguson
 22
J.Murphy jun
 c Stark b Callander
 7
 J.Johnston
 c Roberts b Smith
 4
R.Cullen
 b Callander
 1
 C.Melville
 b Scott
 8
G.Robb
 b Lavington
 0
 B.Harley
 c Smith b Mackie
 19
J.Murphy sen
 b Callander
 0
 J.Wilkie
 not out
 17
G.Jackson
 run out
 5
 J.McDonald
 b Roberts
 2
W.Hamilton
 b Wilkie
 1
 W.Gray
 st Cuthill b Smith
 0
Extras


 3
 Extras


 7
Total


 63
 Total


 115

Notes-
No bowling figures were reported.
Harry Smith could theoretically have played for either team [he was allegedly a fine leg-spinner].
William Stark [Cricketers] was the uncle of Falkirk FC legend Sandy Stark.

All in all it is the passing of a sad age, up until the 1950s Falkirk FC had Len Dudman on their books, he played for Forfarshire & Scotland at cricket during the Summer, for Falkirk FC in the Winter, to this day he is Falkirk's most capped player.

Never again I fear.

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