Willy Allan

July 20, 2013, 2:02 pm

≫ Next: Falkirk FC Graves - Robert Gibson

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What with all these 'undisclosed fees' which are often involveved in modern transfers, the kids on the street just don't know what is going on, so I decided to start from first principles. The first player Falkirk FC ever paid any money for.

I dissemble, the turn of the 19th/20th Century was a much different place from today, East Stirlingshire were the local 'big boys' they were in the Scottish League, Falkirk FC meanwhile were foundering about in the Central Combination. Falkirk had in goal the East Stirlingshire third choice keeper. At the end of the 1901/02 season, Falkirk FC applied, successfully, for membership of the Scottish League, but ES still had our Goalie's registration.

So we came to an agreement and Falkirk paid up the princely sum of £10 for the transfer of William Allan. Willy Allan though was just what Falkirk needed, a good young keeper, a local boy, somebody to build the team around.

He came out of the local junior scene, East Stirlingshire picking him up from Vale of Carron, but he never really got a chance at the 'shire, so he became a Falkirk Legend.

There is not much to say about goalies, I can't say he was fast, can't say he jinked about. I can say he was there.

Soon the scouts came and he moved to Rangers, but he couldn't oust their GK and came back, then Hibs came a-sniffing and he moved to Hibs then he came back, later on he moved for a whole season to Clackmannan then came back. As far as I know he is the only person to play for Falkirk FC in four different spells.

PS - If you can tell me of any games he played whilst with East Stirlingshire, Rangers, Albion Rovers, Hibernian & Clackmannan I would be greatful.

William Allan

Debut – Saturday May 18th 1901 v Vale of Leven (H) Benefit Match
Positions – Goalkeeper
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Consolation Cup W 1901/02, Falkirk Infirmary Shield W 1901/02

Matches for Falkirk
Scottish League Division 1 Matches/Goals [105/-]
Scottish League Division 2 Matches/Goals [38/-]
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [7/-]
Scottish Qualifying Cup Matches /Goals [4/-]
Minor League Matches/Goals [26/-]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [39/-]
Other Matches/Goals [23/-] [one game played at LH]
Total Goals/Matches [242/-]

Matches for Hibernian
Scottish League Division 1 Matches/Goals [239/-]
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [25/-]
Total Matches/Goals [264/-]

Known Career

Scottish League Division 1 Matches/Goals [344/-]
Scottish League Division 2 Matches/Goals [38/-]
Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [32/-]
Scottish Qualifying Cup Matches /Goals [4/-]
Minor League Matches/Goals [26/-]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [39/-]
Other Matches/Goals [23/-] [one game played at LH]
Total Goals/Matches [506/-]

Note - sorry I don't like the games/goals when I am blogging about goalkeepers but it is my system.

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]

Played in Falkirk's first ever Scottish League Match v Clyde (A) Scottish League Division 2, 16th August 1902
Played for Town v County, Benefit Match at Merchiston Pk, Merchiston Pk, Bainsford, 15th April 1902

I would love if Historians of East Stirlingshire, Rangers, Albion Rovers, Hibs, Clackmannan & Stenhousemuir could help me have his whole career.

Thanks to the people at fitbastats for the info on his time in Leith

↧

Falkirk FC Graves - Robert Gibson

July 29, 2013, 12:15 pm

≫ Next: Internet Research

≪ Previous: Willy Allan

I recently wrote a blog post about the earliest grave I have found yet of a Falkirk FC player, [Thomas Smith], then I come across an earlier one [I will find James 'Jamie' Neil eventually, he was the first to die as far as I know, 1888], hey that is the way it goes [until I get my way and there is a special Falkirk FC players section, I will always be hunting].

Robert Gibson played centre-forward for Falkirk for much of the early part of the 1880s, sadly, no matter how much I look, many of the matches in this period were poorly reported, therefore my spreadsheets have lots of blank cells. Which means in a career of over five years with the club I only know of thirty games in which he played. Doubtless he played more games, but I have no evidence.

Camelon Cemetery

He was a bricklayer by trade, and died in Glebe Street [just round the corner from where I am writing this now]. On the following Saturday Falkirk FC played Burnbank Swifts. The team wore black armbands and the flag was flown at half-mast [the first time it is noted of this happening with Falkirk FC]

In some places his birth is listed as taking place in Eastwood, Renfrewshire, however in the 'Births, Deaths and Marriages' part of the Falkirk Herald it said he was born in Pollockshaws, Renfrewshire.

Robert Gibson

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

Debut – Saturday September 18th 1880 v Queen's Park (Hampden XI) (H) Friendly

Positions – Centre-Forward
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup W 1883/84

Scottish Cup Matches /Goals [5/1]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [3/-]
Other Matches/Goals [22/5]
Other Matches/Goals [30/6]

Known Career – Falkirk [1880/81-1885/86]

Notes-
Played for East Stirlingshire v Vale of Teith, Friendly at Merchiston Pk, Bainsford, 10th March 1883
Played for Alloa Athletic XI v Queen's Park, Friendly at West End Pk, Alloa, 28th April 1883
Brother of Walter Gibson [Falkirk 1880/81-1885/86]

↧

Internet Research

July 31, 2013, 3:26 pm

≫ Next: Obscure Falkirk Matches - FFC Veterans v ESFC Veterans

≪ Previous: Falkirk FC Graves - Robert Gibson

I just found this on the web, it is an account of John Gillespie being sent off in a pre-season Tournament in Alloa, for attacking the referee [he got a six month ban for it.]

He soon joined Queen's Park, and got capped for Scotland.

The great thing is I had never seen this before because it was not in the Falkirk Herald.

It was reported in "The Manaro Mercury and Cooma & Bombala Advertiser" Queensland, Australia on the 14th of July 1891.

John Gillespie.

John Gillespie was one of five brothers that turned out for Falkirk FC back in the days before we joined the League. A fairly well-to-do family living in Campfield House on Wellside Place, the family ran a 'carrier' business between Falkirk & Glasgow.

Making his debut in goal in an emergency v Queen's Park Strollers in 1889, John was soon to appear in his 'proper' position in the centre of the half-back line [though like many centre-halves of the time it seems he could 'function' adequately as a centre-forward], where he soon came to the attention of the Glasgow clubs.

He had been on the fringes of the club for a while playing, like his other brothers with minor club Comely Park, and was active with the local harriers. So was not a completely unknown figure.

All in all, John did not stay long with the club before leaving for the heady climes of Glasgow, and national fame with the 'Spiders'

John spent nearly a decade with Queen's Park before signing up and shipping out to serve the Queen in protecting some diamonds from the descendants of Dutch farmers somewhere irrelevant. When he came back he had almost completely retired from full time football, drifting about guesting for teams, until he played out his final games with Falkirk Amateurs.

John Gillespie [with Queen's Park]

b 15th November 1870, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d 4th September 1933, Edinburgh

Debut – Saturday January 19th 1889 v Queen's Park Strollers (H) Friendly
Positions – Centre-Half
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup W 1889/90, Falkirk District Charity Cup W 1889/90, RU 1890/91, Falkirk Infirmary Shield RU 1889/90, 1890/91

Falkirk FC known career
Scottish Cup Matches /Goals [4/-]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [17/-]
Other Matches/Goals [45/3]
Total Matches/Goals [66/3]

Known Career – Comely Park, Falkirk [1888/89-1891/92], Queen’s Park [1891/92-1900/01, 1903/04], Camelon [1893/94], Partick Thistle [1904/05], Falkirk Amateurs

Note-
Played for Clydesdale Harriers v Falkirk, Friendly at Brockville Pk, Falkirk, 5th January 1889

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Obscure Falkirk Matches - FFC Veterans v ESFC Veterans

August 1, 2013, 11:11 pm

≫ Next: Falkirk FC Players - Alex Ferguson

≪ Previous: Internet Research

Falkirk Veterans 2 East Stirlingshire Veterans 2

Played at Brockville Park, Falkirk on 17th March 1894

This match was played to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first Stirlingshire Cup Final between these two teams. It was endeavoured to regather the actual players who played in that match, but inevitably several players were unavailable so substitutes of the time filled their places.

Falkirk Veterans

Alex Turnbull - Goalkeeper
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup W 1883/84

James Liddell - Right-Back
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup W 1889/90, RU 1887/88, Falkirk District Charity Cup W 1889/90, RU 1890/91, Falkirk Infirmary Shield RU 1889/90, 1890/91

James Murphy - Left-Back
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup W 1883/84, Falkirk District Charity Cup RU 1885/86

James Balloch - Right-Half
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup W 1883/84, RU 1886/87, Falkirk District Charity Cup RU 1885/86

Robert Bishop - Centre-Half
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup W 1883/84, RU 1886/87, Falkirk District Charity Cup RU 1885/86

Henry Hendry - Left-Half
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup W 1883/84

William Ferguson - Outside-Right
Club Honours - None

Thomas Bellingham - Inside-Right
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup RU 1887/88

David Fleming - Centre-Forward
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup RU 1886/87, Falkirk District Charity Cup RU 1885/56

John McIntosh - Inside-Left
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup RU 1886/87, Falkirk District Charity Cup W 1889/90

William Hamilton.
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup W 1883/84, RU 1886/87, 1887/88, Falkirk District Charity Cup RU 1885/86

East Stirlingshire Veterans

J??? Shirra - Goalkeeper
Club Honours - None

Peter Mitchell - Right-Back
Club Honours - Stirlingshire Cup W 1885/86, 1886/87, RU 1883/84, Falkirk Charity CupW 1884/85, 1885/86, 1886/87

Thomas Williamson - Left-Back
Club Honours - Stirlingshire Cup - RU 1883/84

Andrew Inches - Right-Half
Club Honours - Stirlingshire Cup W 1885/86, 1886/87, 1887/88, 1888/89, RU 1883/84, Falkirk Charity Cup W 1884/85, 1885/86, 1886/87, RU 1888/89, 1889/90.

Robert Johnston - Centre-Half
Club Honours - Stirlingshire Cup W 1885/86, 1886/87, 1887/88, Falkirk Charity Cup W 1884/85, 18885/86, 1886/87, 1887/88

???? Law - Left-Half
Club Honours - None

Peter McGregor - Outside-Right
Club Honours - Stirlingshire Cup RU 1883/84

Harry Simpson - Inside-Right
Club Honours - Stirlingshire Cup W 1887/88, 1888/89, Falkirk Charity Cup W 1887/88

Lawrence McLachlan - Centre-Forward
Club Honours - Stirlingshire Cup W 1885/86, 1886/87, 1887/88, 1888/89, RU 1883/84 Falkirk Charity Cup - 1884/85, 1886/87, 1887/88, RU 1888/89, 1889/90

J??? Taylor - Inside-Left
Club Honours - None

Alex Cockburn - Outside-Left
Club Honours - Stirlingshire Cup RU 1883/84

Referee - J.Burns [Camelon FC]

Scorers - Falkirk Veterans [W.Hamilton [20], J.McIntosh [67]] - East Stirlingshire Veterans [L.McLachlan [65], ?.Law [8?]]

Notes -
Attendance - 250+ [£6+ was taken at the gate [3d entry]]

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Falkirk FC Players - Alex Ferguson

August 2, 2013, 7:29 am

≫ Next: Falkirk Excelsior & the Falkirk Junior Cup 1889

≪ Previous: Obscure Falkirk Matches - FFC Veterans v ESFC Veterans

Way back in the dim and distant past Falkirk FC had a centre-forward by the name of Alex Ferguson, as centre-forward his job was to put the ball in the goal.

Those of you who have read this blog before will know that I could never write about the anybody from so modern an era as the 1970 - no, this is about the original Alex 'Sandy' Ferguson of the 1870s-1880s.

Like nearly everyone in the very early teams, Sandy was a Bairn and lived in Meeks Road, which must have been handy on a match day at Brockville. He was among the first scorers for the club I have ever found, scoring v Bathgate (A) on the 14th of June 1879 [along with Thomas Hamilton & Thomas Taylor] in a 3-1 victory.

His career is blighted by the same problem as everyone who played in this era, newspaper coverage was just so poor in comparison with today. But he scored more than any other in his period at Falkirk [then again he was CF]

After he retired he became the groundsman at Brockville Pk [again Meeks Rd would have helped], but then it gets a bit murky. The Falkirk Herald reported that he had moved to Colorado to live with his sister due to an 'ailment' then about a year later it reported he had died, in Falkirk. I don't know maybe both are true, maybe he went then came back. I just don't know.

Sandy Ferguson 1880

Alexander Ferguson

b 8th May 1859, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d 1st December 1892, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Debut – Saturday June 14th 1879 v Bathgate (A) Friendly

Positions – Centre-Forward, Inside-Left, Outside-Left

Representative Honours – Stirlingshire v Lanarkshire 1883/84
Club Honours – Stirlingshire Cup W 1883/84, Falkirk District Charity Cup RU 1885/86

Scottish Cup Matches /Goals [11/2]
Minor Cup Matches/Goals [11/7]
Other Matches/Goals [62/19]
Total Matches/Goals [84/28]

Hat-Tricks – 1 [Falkirk District Charity Cup [1]]

Known Career – Falkirk [1878/79-1885/86]

Notes-
Played for Falkirk District XI v Rangers, Benefit Match at Brockville Pk, Falkirk, 30th May 1885
Brother of William Ferguson [Falkirk 1879/80-1882/83, 1885/86]

Oh, and there was another Alex Ferguson who played in 1938/39.

↧

Falkirk Excelsior & the Falkirk Junior Cup 1889

August 5, 2013, 6:37 am

≫ Next: bettermeddle.org.uk

≪ Previous: Falkirk FC Players - Alex Ferguson

In 1889 a junior football club appeared in Falkirk and were instantly quite successful at the their level, then suddenly dissappeared. The club was called Falkirk Excelsior and there is very little solid information about them to go on, however I have a theory. But first I need to ramble on with a little bit of background info.

The junior Football scene in the district was up until 1889 thriving, but unorganised. There were plenty of clubs with their usual plethora of obscure names [why was there a Barracks Rovers from Camelon?, why Rising Star from Skinflats?, why Bullet Rangers of Grahamston? why Heather Bell of Bainsford? why Royal Oak of Grangemouth?] they played regularly between one another, and against the 2nd XIs of the senior clubs, but the limited coverage they recieved in the papers was usually just a score.

It was out of this that a letter was published in the Falkirk Herald of 16th February 1889, adressed to 'Scrutator' the sports columnist of the paper back then.

"Dear Sir, - I take the liberty of writing to you to see if you could assist in getting a Junior Cup for Falkirk and District, as I am sure it would greatly encourage junior football in this district. I don't see how Falkirk should be behind other towns as it is at present. For instance, in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and also in Paisley, Greenock and Dumbarton, they have more cups than they know what to do with; and, in fact, all the large towns in Scotland have a Junior Cup, with the exception of Falkirk. I am sure there is some gentlemen in the district would present a cup for competition if the matter brought to their notice - the cup to be named after the gentleman presenting it. I am sure it is time something was done, as who is to fill the places of the senior teams? Is it not the present juniors?

James Graham, 11 Graham's Road"

I am not sure whether Mr Graham was involved with a junior club, or just an interested spectator, but he seems to have started something. A couple of weeks later a meeting was announced to be held in Ross's Restaurant, Newmarket Street, Falkirk on Wednesday 6th March between 'represtentatives' from the various villages of the district, however nothing was reported in the following Saturday's paper. It seemed almost as if the whole thing had been forgotten until the end of the month when fixtures were announced for a new Falkirk District Junior Cup with fourteen teams entering. The draw for the first round was - Larbert v Carron Rangers, Our Boys v Falkirk Excelsior, Royal Albert v Carronshore Pates, Slamannan Rovers v Burnhouse, Falkirk Central v Zetland Star, Royal Oak v Falkirk Athletic, Vale of Grange & Falkirk Emmet - byes.

I have already published the details of the competition on the Scottish Football Historical Archive Website so I won't repeat it here, but will say that it was a slightly messy affair, the clubs being new to competition seemed to protest the most trivial of matters, but, in the end the Cup was completed [for its one and only season] with Falkirk Excelsior coming out the eventual victors.

This brings me back to my original point - Excelsior. There was no mention of Falkirk Excelsior until that Falkirk and District Junior Cup draw, and nothing much written after the final. I never noticed this when first reading the reports but later on it started to dawn on me that something was not quite right.

It seems to me quite likely that Excelsior were Falkirk Reserves in disguise, all the players mentioned in the few reports went on to play for Falkirk: James Callander, Daniel Daye, John Devlin, Thomas McFarlane, John Pray, David Ross.

Falkirk Excelsior Matches

30th Mar 1889 v Bainsford Our Boys (H) 7-2 Falkirk District Junior Cup 1st Rd [Protested]
6th Apr 1889 v Bainsford Our Boys (H) 7-0 Falkirk District Junior Cup 1st Rd
13th Apr 1889 v Falkirk Emmett (H) 5-5 Falkirk District Junior Cup 2nd Rd
20th Apr 1889 v Falkirk Emmet (A) 2-1 Falkirk District Junior Cup 2nd Rd Replay
11th May 1889 v Slamannan Rovers (N) 9-2 Falkirk District Junior Cup Semi-Final [protested] played at Brockville Pk, Falkirk.
25th May 1889 v Slamannan Rovers (N) 7-2 Falkirk District Junior Cup Semi-Final played at Crichton Pk, Falkirk.
7th Jun 1889 v Falkirk Athletic (N) 7-3 Falkirk District Junior Cup Final played at Brockville Pk, Falkirk

Note - Another Falkirk Excelsior who played in the mid-1890s were a completely different club.

↧

bettermeddle.org.uk

August 6, 2013, 12:10 pm

≫ Next: Falkirk Juniors v Stirling Juniors 1896

≪ Previous: Falkirk Excelsior & the Falkirk Junior Cup 1889

I have recently decided to give Andrew Hulett all my pre-WWII spreadsheets so hopefully soon there will be as complete a record of Falkirk FC matches/players on http://bettermeddle.org.uk, as is possible.

I will keep blogging about the obscurantia of Falkirk FC anyway, but check out the Andrew's site.

http://bettermeddle.org.uk/

↧

Falkirk Juniors v Stirling Juniors 1896

August 7, 2013, 11:41 am

≫ Next: To Falkirk FC's Eternal Shame

≪ Previous: bettermeddle.org.uk

From the Falkirk Herald - Saturday March the 21st 1896

Just admit it Stirling, you are rubbish at football at every level.

↧

To Falkirk FC's Eternal Shame

August 16, 2013, 7:12 am

≫ Next: Falkirk FC & Northern Ireland

≪ Previous: Falkirk Juniors v Stirling Juniors 1896

On the 9th of March 1935 Falkirk played a League Match against Ayr United. You will not find this match in the records.

The simple fact is that the Falkirk Manager, William Orr, gave money to one of his underlings [he worked at Alexander's Bus factory in Camelon] to play below par. The player just happened to play for Ayr United at weekends.

*Hangs head in Shame*

This is the reason I always have "other matches" in my lists of matches players played and not 'friendlies', this match cannot count in the League record, but was clearly not a friendly. But I am sure the players tried their best [hoping they did not know what Mr Orr was up to].

The Falkirk Team on the day was

James Milton
Robert Nisbet
Hugh Hamill
Thomas Batchelor
Alex Lowe
Robert Shankly
Frank Wilson
John Ballantyne
Robert Keyes
David Cowan
William Walker

Subsequently William Orr was suspended 'sine die' from all involvement with football [rescinded in 1937]

↧

Falkirk FC & Northern Ireland

August 17, 2013, 7:51 am

≫ Next: Falkirk's Other Club

≪ Previous: To Falkirk FC's Eternal Shame

Falkirk & Northern Ireland have had a long & interesting history.

From one of the earliest players Tom Bellingham, to those capped in the later years, we like many clubs have relied on NI for players.

& I won't get into the politics of it [because I don't care enough] but our history goes before partition.

The first Irish [note the adjective] who played for Falkirk was Thomas Bellingham [click the link to read about him], but he was really from Falkirk having moved here by the time he was four.

The first 'Irish player' I have ever found was John Meaney [he scored 5 goals in his second match] ex of Hibernian, I know little of him.

The first proper 'professional' player we signed from NI was Joe Gowdy, I am not sure about Joe, he was either a HB or a CF, but within weeks he left Scotland to go play for Queen's Island in NI, negotiations went on & finally Falkirk relented & QI loaned Gowdy from Falkirk. during this time he played for Ireland twice, but since I claim schmeichel's U-2 matches when he was with FFC I must give them to QI.

Joe, eventually came back, and was a superb CH in his second Spell.

Third comes William Moore, about a month after Joe Gowdy, this was different, 'Pal' Moore slotted straight into the OL position, kids these days don't remember but 'Pal' Moore was a hero into the 50s.

Next came Alex 'Hugh' Patton, we signed him from Forfar, he had potential [he showed it in the Stirlingshire Cup Matches etc] but he failed in the League.

Patsy Gallacher

There is little I can write about this player that has not been written before, the scorer of the best goal EVER, Celtic thought he was past it, we got anotherfive seasons out of him.

Last but not least, Ned Weir.

Ned was born over there, but brought up in Bonnybridge, he never spent much time at the club, moving quickly to St Bernards, he played into the 1950s.

We also had players from Dublin, when Ireland was all UK but I don't want the opprobrium.

This could not be done without the help of http://nifootball.blogspot.co.uk/ I thank you

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Falkirk's Other Club

August 24, 2013, 4:07 pm

≫ Next: Falkirk v Sunderland AFC 1896

≪ Previous: Falkirk FC & Northern Ireland

A long, long time ago Falkirk had another, proper, second club. I don't mean East Stirlingshire who were from Bainsford. I am talking about Falkirk Amateurs Athletic Club.

Unlike other clubs with Athletic in their name Falkirk Amateurs were a true Athletic Club, they had no off-season, they played football through the winter and cricket through the summer, as well as anything else they wanted to put their hands to throughout the year [track & field, bowling, curling, quoits].

Being amateurs they had a somewhat nomadic existence, I know they played on Bell's Meadow, Tannery Park [the car park on Kemper Avenue], Castings Cricket Club, Sunnyside and when it was free Brockville Park.

The original Falkirk Amateurs were, of course, mainly manned by the well to do, the educated, professional classes, but they wanted to play for the love of the game.

Falkirk FC used them as a kind of feeder, not like the reserves, but a team to pick up unregistered players when a half-decent player was needed for the club.

I recently came across their first ever football match, I still have not pinned town a date of formation.

In this first XI they ever put on the sporting field of play, fully eight played for Falkirk FC at a later date -

Camelon FC 2nd XI 2 Falkirk Amateurs 4
Played at Victoria Pk, Camelon, Saturday 3rd April 1897

Falkirk Amateurs - Elliot; Auchinachie & Rae; G.Gillespie, Adam & Barr; Higgins & Henderson, R.Gillespie, Callander & Comrie

Scorers - Unknown

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Falkirk v Sunderland AFC 1896

August 25, 2013, 4:37 pm

≫ Next: Falkirk FC 1906/07

≪ Previous: Falkirk's Other Club

I don't know why, but it took Falkirk FC a long time to host an English Club side at Brockville, I mean, East Stirlingshire had played several [including the World famous Corinthians] at Merchiston Park; East Stirlingshire had gone on tours down South while we contented ourselves with tours to the Highlands. I just have no answers.

The first club proper English Club side to play at Brockville Pk was Sunderland AFC, on Thursday 23rd April 1896. Of course part of Sunderland's tour of Scotland, but hey. Falkirk got rightly thumped, the final score being 5-3 to the Black Cats. Of Falkirk's three goals Andrew Hamilton scored two of them, strangely Sunderland signed him at the end of the season [wonder how...]

Anyway three days later Falkirk played Bury [with John Pray] and we resolved our demons by beating them 6-2 [of course in a return match they beat us 9-0 the next season]

Falkirk 3 Sunderland 5

Falkirk - Parlane; Turnbull & McFarlane; McLaughlan, Rae & Fearns; Glegg & Tennant, McDonald, Burt & Hamilton.

Sunderland - Doig; McNeil & Gow; Wilson, Gibson & Johnston; Gillespie & Harvey, Miller, McKenzie & Scott.

H-T 1-0

Scorers - Tennant, Hamilton [2] : Miller [2], Scott, OG [McFarlane], Gillespie.

Attendance - c1800

Match report

↧

Falkirk FC 1906/07

August 25, 2013, 9:25 pm

≫ Next: Scottish Cup Final 1913

≪ Previous: Falkirk v Sunderland AFC 1896

Another old picture of Falkirk FC, this time from 1906/07 I believe [if not then from 1905/06]. This is a strange one as the team are not in proper formation, and there is no John Simpson. I will take time out tomorrow and go through the matches one by one to see which match this is [usual method excluding matches where the players I know were not playing, and excluding the matches where the players I know [but not here] were playing].

I will get it down to a reasonable number then see from then.

They are not in the right formation because it should be five in front and six at back, with the Captain [John Anderson] front and centre.

William Raisbeck, ????, William Allan, ????[not stripped], ????, Dan Gordon, Harry Collins [not stripped]

John McTavish, John Anderson, Alex Logan, ????, William Davidson, ????

↧

Scottish Cup Final 1913

August 28, 2013, 2:21 pm

≫ Next: Some Stuff from WWII

≪ Previous: Falkirk FC 1906/07

I rarely publish much about the great moments in the history of Falkirk FC, if you really want you can generally find it somewhere else, I like the slightly out of the ordinary to the outright obscure. But I was asked today which coloured shirts Falkirk & Raith Rovers wore in the 1913 Cup Final, and I simply did not know: so I found out.

Falkirk's attempt at this silly trophy [well admit it, it is hardly the Stirlingshire or the Falkirk Charity Cup] in 1913, it could be said, went very well smiting all and sundry along the way. The reason I am posting this is because I found this lovely picture of Jimmy Robertson in the act of scoring Falkirk's first goal in the final.

I love this, bit weird Falkirk FC wearing all white, but hey. James Robertson was one of our best Centre-Forwards ever, but now, more than a hundred years ago, is remembered by few.

Here is to Jimmy Robertson.

↧

Some Stuff from WWII

August 28, 2013, 7:06 pm

≫ Next: Jock Anderson - Captain

≪ Previous: Scottish Cup Final 1913

Some historians [not all I know] tend to think that football just stopped upon Germany invading Poland, now that is just a silly notion, but it is one that seems to have permeated into large sections of the population.

You now get [allegedly] serious historical books which give players' matches played with the except Wartime Football tag. Now what is that about? Yes football was reorganised, yes some cubs decided not to operate during the War, but football continued.

For the majority of WWII in Scotland the Scottish Southern League was in existence [southern because there were travel restrictions in place] and it was largely the same as the old First Division, a bit smaller [no Aberdeen or Dundee] and the Scottish Cup was replaced by the Southern League Cup [with group stages as it was limited to the sixteen Southern League Clubs].

The major change was in personnel, many players signed up and were sent to their regimental bases for training, this meant that they were no longer available for their clubs. But the converse was that many other players moved to other areas and were available [occasionally] for their new local clubs.

All in all, football in Scotland got very makeshift, but football continued no matter what. To prove something of the continuity here are some stats from Falkirk FC during WWI, most matches played and most goals scored.

Leading Competitive Scorers [Excl Falkirk 'A' matches]
Player                Lea    Cup    Oth    Tot
Kenneth Dawson        76     7      11     94
John Fitzsimmons      66     6      11     83
James Inglis          39     12     10     61
Charles Napier        38     3      2      43
Robert Keyes          30     4      7      41
Alex Carruthers       16     4      7      37
Thomas Brady          20     5      8      33
Robert Campbell       30     1      1      32
George Brookes        27     1      3      31
Alex Stewart          9      5      15     29

Most Competitive Appearances [Excl Falkirk 'A' matches]
Player                Lea    Cup    Oth    Tot
Robert Shankly        114    31     25     170
Hugh Murray           121    22     19     162
John Fitzsimmons      105    29     19     153
Kenneth Dawson        106    23     18     147
Duncan Ogilvie        94     27     21     142
Gilbert McKie         88     16     21     125
Charles Napier        87     10     10     107
James Stewart         81     15     8      104
James McPhie          58     13     24     95
Alex Peat             62     11     19     92

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Jock Anderson - Captain

August 29, 2013, 8:02 pm

≫ Next: Falkirk FC's first ground was probably not Brockville Park

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Whilst Falkirk were languishing in the lower leagues, then in the Second Division Captains seemed to be pretty arbitrary, Club Captains were sometimes recorded, but not always. Then in 1905 two important things happened to the club, we signed Jock Simpson as a terrific new Outside-Right, and we signed John Anderson at Centre-Half [our new Captain]

Every Falkirk fan should fall to his knees upon reading this, Jock Anderson was the guiding light on the field. Signed from Heart of Midlothian [I won't hold that against him] but originally from Perth, Jock fitted the bill for the spot as Captain.

Fans of other clubs will dismiss this as nonsense, but Anderson took us from 2nd Division Team to Cup Winners. A nasty knee injury forced him to retire just before the Cup Final, but by then he had already done his job.

John Anderson

b c1882, Wester Fowlis, Perthshire

d 11^thMay 1942, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Debut – Wednesday August 16^th1905 v Cowdenbeath (A) Friendly

League Debut – Saturday August 19^th1905 v Port Glasgow Athletic (A) Scottish League Division 1

Positions – Centre-Half

Representative Honours – Scottish League v Irish League 1911/12

Club Honours – Scottish League Division 1 RU 1907/08, 1909/10, North-Eastern Cup W 1911/12, RU 1910/11, Dunedin Cup RU 1910/11, Dewar Shield W 1905/06, Stirlingshire CupW 1905/06,

Stirlingshire Consolation Cup W 1906/07, Falkirk Infirmary Shield W 1905/06, 1906/07, 1907/08, 1908/09

Scottish League Division 1 Matches/Goals [211/6]

Scottish Cup Matches/Goals [12/1]

Minor League Matches/Goals [6/-]

Minor Cup Matches/Goals [43/2]

Other Matches/Goals [26/1]

Total Matches/Goals [298/10]

Known Career – Dunfermline Athletic Juniors, Dunfermline Athletic [1900/01], Heart of Midlothian [1901/02-1904/05], Falkirk [1905/06-1912/13]

Played for Team 'B' v Team 'A', League International Trial at Glasgow, 16^thFebruary 1910

Played for White v Blue, Stirlingshire FA Benefit Match at Brockville Pk, Falkirk, 27^thApril 1910

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Falkirk FC's first ground was probably not Brockville Park

September 9, 2013, 8:11 am

≫ Next: The first former Falkirk player to fall in combat - John Devlin

≪ Previous: Jock Anderson - Captain

There, I said it. Even though it says in nearly every history book about the Club beginning life at Brockville, moving around several local grounds, before finally returning to Brockville in the mid 1880s. In a previous post about Falkirk's first home game I brought up how the match report stated the match was played at 'Campfield' and this brought up some quesions, but felt it was probably the same piece of ground as Brockville.

Well I decided to look into it a bit further, so looking for references to Campfield in the Falkirk Herald in 1877 I came across several interesting bits & pieces which have caused me to question my previous thinking.

Firstly that regularly "Athetics" and other events were held at Campfield

for example these games in June 1877

and this Running Competition in December 1877

This running match puts sporting competitions in a vague geographical context, however as many of you will know Brockville Park was close to Grahamston Station, so I had to try to avoid sports and look for Campfield in the wider context of Falkirk/Grahamston and quickly came up with some more references.

In a report on the poor state of local drainage in September 1877 Campfield was mentioned again

This mentions the drain flowing into a burn behind the houses on Graham's Road, this is not so close to Brockville Park, but still there was open land behind the housing on both sides of Graham's Road, so it was not inconceivable that a very large area was known as Campfield.

However, a couple of weeks later [still in September 1877] in a report on the beginning of public works on these sewerages locates Campfield more firmly.

"... Campfield to the east of Graham's Road". This is pretty definitive, Brockville Park, by any definition was to the west of Grahams Road [the road has lost the apostrophe through time], the place referred to in the Falkirk Herald as 'Campfield' was not Brockville Park.

Whether or not there was a mistake in the contemporary report I cannot say, but I doubt it.

Soon after the land was bought and the Springfield Foundry was built along with a great number of railway sidings and associated facilities for the running of the foundry, so sports could no longer be held there. Falkirk FC moved to Randyford on Grangemouth Road.

The ground referred to above as Campfield was derelict wasteland when I was growing up, but now is largely taken up by the carpark of the Falkirk Central Retail Park.

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The first former Falkirk player to fall in combat - John Devlin

September 9, 2013, 3:49 pm

≫ Next: New Blog Name

≪ Previous: Falkirk FC's first ground was probably not Brockville Park

Yet another incredibly obscure Falkirk player from the dim and distant past, one nobody else but I has probably heard of, mainly because he did very little for the club. In fact I can only find him playing in one match for the first team, in an end of season Benefit Match for Stenhousemuir FC in 1886/87 [he scored]. But John Devlin was the first Falkirk FC player that I have found that fell in combat, in the Battle of Atbara, Sudan in 1898.

Very little is known of his football career, and it is blurred by there being other players by the name of Devlin playing in minor Falkirk clubs at the time, but it is known that John played for both Falkirk & Falkirk Excelsior, but he may also have played for Falkirk Harp, Black Watch and Erin Rovers [but he would have been very young].

It is known he played for Falkirk because luckily he is in a picture of the Second XI which somehow survived from 1886.

It was also noted in his obituary in the Falkirk Herald that he had won the Falkirk & District Junior Cup with Falkirk Excelsior in 1889 [though it was not mentioned at the time].

He is honored on the family gravestone in Camelon Cemetery although I do not know whether he is interred there, as he was also commemorated on the British War Memorial in Sudan and the Seaforth Highlanders Memorial in Malta.

John Devlin

b c1870, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
d 8th April 1898, Atbara, Sudan

Debut – Saturday May 7th 1887 v Stenhousemuir (A) Benefit Match

Positions – Forward

Other Matches/Goals [1/1]

Known Career – Falkirk [1886/87], Falkirk Excelsior [1888/89]

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New Blog Name

October 1, 2013, 7:57 am

≫ Next: Obscure Matches : Stirlingshire Juniors v Stirlingshire Seniors

≪ Previous: The first former Falkirk player to fall in combat - John Devlin

Hey people, been a while since I posted anything here, pure laziness on my part I'm afraid. I haven't been doing nothing though, I have largely been reading several years worth of match reports from really old newspapers and doing a bit of spreadsheet tidying [the glamorous bit], so I'll probably write something soonish.

On other news I also decided [eventually] to get me my own site, bought it this morning, took about five minutes to transfer and whala, it seems to work. If it doesn't give me a shout.

Well, I have nothing to say now, should write something randomly obscure & parochial by the weekend. I think it will be about junior football, because the juniors are always a bit mad.

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Obscure Matches : Stirlingshire Juniors v Stirlingshire Seniors

October 2, 2013, 5:33 am

≫ Next: Action Photo - Falkirk v Queen's Park 1914

≪ Previous: New Blog Name

Junior Football in Falkirk has always been a very haphazard affair, there is no really strong tradition in the town. There is a long tradition in some of the outlying areas, but never really strong unlike say in Glasgow, Ayrshire or East Lothian. In Falkirk it has always been overshadowed by the senior clubs [few other 'conurbations' in Scotland carry three League sides in such proximity].

But right back in 1890s there were plenty of junior sides in Falkirk alone. For the most part they played on Victoria Public Park, but some had their own grounds, Falkirk Hawthorn played at Firs Park when East Stirlingshire were still playing in Bainsford, and Falkirk Thistle played on Princes Park to the South of Town. This along with borrowing Brockville for the big games [and Saturdays when Falkirk were away] they struggled through.

But although there were plenty of clubs, not all were big enough to make the local leagues strong enough. Every year they were re-organised, and every year it would struggle to be completed, both through lack of interest. Some problems were obvious, four big local sides Denny Athletic, Dunipace, Heather Rangers [Stenhousemuir] & Broomage Albion [Larbert] played in the Stirling & District Junior League. These would have been better off playing with the Falkirk, Grangemouth & Bainsford sides, alas they did not.

On top of this even back then there were so many Cups that the end of seasons were just, well, like they are now, there were many moves towards a Stirlingshire League before the main one was eventually set up, but more often as an afterthought, often concocted by the teams left out. Sometimes, like the Midland Junior League it was run alongside the Stirling & Falkirk Junior Leagues with the best teams from both, of course this meant two sets of home & away matches over & above cups & replays, so inevitably led to chaos.

What this meant was that both the leagues & the clubs themselves struggled to survive and had to play even more 'benefit' games to keep going. The point of this post, played on Tuesday 26th April 1898 for the Falkirk & District Junior League for the first time a representative side of Stirlingshire Juniors met a Senior Stirlingshire side [though made up solely of amateur players in the seniors] and did pretty well all told drawing on the hallowed turf of Brockville Park.

Of interest, is that this was probably the only time in their careers that the juniors got to play against a full international [David Alexander of ESFC]

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