HopeStreetWalker

Similar story ! 1970-1 game rained off due to waterlogged pitch - Went to Baikies for a game of snooker, no chance 30-40 people milling around in front of us. Star Inn for a pint jammed to the door and was not risking my health by going the slop emporium called the Empire Bar across the road. Bookies in Dalderse Avenue and not a clue. Me and my mate watched for a wee while and together put on a 1 pound bet which was big when you consider a pint was 2/6p ( 12.5p in pre decimal money ) Massive odds and we both got over 15 pound each each back when it won. Whooo Hooo pints at the Vicky bar and have never been in a bookies again.

Good points Shadwell. Look at it from a prospective signings point of view. FFC Board - Do they stay or do they go ? Management - Are they fixtures for the length of the offered contract ? What is their record on how they treat their signings ? What is the plan for the progression of the club ? The answers to all these question reflect badly on FFC. If you are a young player wanting a chance there are better options. You would want stable working environment and that does not exist at the club. Reflect on this - If we don't go up this season ( god forbid ) will M&M be at the club next season ? Doubt it !

Falkirk once had a reputation for giving young talent a second chance. Would Lyle Taylor and Will Vaulks consider Falkirk now when they were looking for a club ? Not a chance. Over a decade of dedication and hard work building an enviable name for the club destroyed. If we decide to go that way again it will take the same time to re establish that reputation. Journeyman and loan signings as you said are where we are shopping. End of season cast offs and second quality discounted products being moved on.

There is the rub 3 teams in 3 seasons. It is another new squad next season whether we stay down or go up. With the signing on fees and buy out of contracts must have cost the cost 200k+ if lucky. Who do we have for next season that make the grade ? Mutch. But I doubt he will be at the club. Dixon. Bear with me ! Think he will be better as part of the central defence. Gomis. As long as there are players around him to do the running. Longridge. Got the football but need to get his head in order during a game. McManus. Pay whatever signing on fee he wants but suspect he will get better offers. The rest of them not bothered one way or another but Laverty, Connolly, Leitch could be maybes.

You raise a valid point. The Stadium and most of the surrounding area are owned by the Falkirk Community Stadium Company Ltd. Falkirk Football Club are minority stakeholders in that company. There is a wrong perception that Falkirk own outright certain parts of the ground. Main stand seating - South Stand etc that is incorrect. From what I understand FFC lease the facilities and under the conditions of a lease can make certain alterations with the leaseholders permission. The artificial pitch and the undersoil heating fiasco is a good example. Refreshment kiosks and hospitality are leased for the game by FFC from the Stadium Company. So as you see a large % of every pound spent one way or the other goes to Falkirk Community Stadium Company Ltd. Like it or not they can charge what they want knowing FFC have nowhere else to go. As the Council are the majority stakeholder you can be sure FFC is getting well screwed for it. Good example of that attitude is that the Council own the parking at the stadium and not on coin goes to the club. Strange how such a basic thing as the parking at a stadium was not part of the package. Sooner or later there has to be a day of reckoning when the club has got itself sorted out and in a position to buy the Stadium Company outright. To do just that !

That's the problem. Some players and some of the supporters are turning up thinking just that. Having supported this club since the 60"s I have never witnessed a decline like this since that moment of madness when Willie Cunningham was sacked ! It took a visionary like Eddie Moffat and Alex T to drag us back from the brink 8 years later. But I don't see dyed in the wool Falkirk people like these two coming to the clubs rescue this time.

We are one point behind Raith this morning. Every reader of the forum would have settled for that outcome last Friday night. Am still convinced it will come down to a last day winner takes all game. Hopefully Goal difference giving Falkirk the draw.

Very true ! even better if you have got a core of young players on the up learning as they playing beside them. If you are lucky enough to have 2 or 3 players between the two groups you have hit the sweet spot. Very hard thing to do and there are only 2 maybe 3 seasons you have that. Think any supporter can think of eras like that and remember them fondly.

Shortcomings were exposed on Saturday and a reality check. Clyde were the better team and deserved the win - end of. We are still one point behind going into the Raith game that is a 9 pointer. For whoever wins will get a massive lift and kick on while the loser will be there for the taking. Suspect a draw will be the result.

Alex Scott was the best crosser of a ball I have ever seen in a Falkirk Jersey.

Add to the long list of local players that never signed for Falkirk. Frank Kopel - John Blackley - Arthur Duncan - Jim Pearson great players on our doorstep.

Alex Scott played in the Glasgow Rangers European Cup Winners defeat in 1962 against an Italian club. Can't remember the team.

Think you are confusing Geordie with somebody else.

The more game time he gets the better player he will become. Already a good all rounder he is the best young goalie we have had since Geordie Watson of mullet at mustache fame. Enjoy him playing for us while we can.

You never know they may terminate his contract, give him a payout and free him. They have done stupider things !

Agree but we are where. Miller I see as no more than a last 30 minute substitute. It is going to be interesting to see the striker line up against Clyde. Got a feeling we might see Longridge get a start.

You are right. But it comes down to who is available and at this time of the season because its limited. Out of favour players will not be game sharp and also why are they out of favour in the first place. Injury ! Fitness ! Attitude ! Also there are other clubs that are a better option than FFC. We have to face it we are not a go to employer if you are a football player as we once were. Would Will Vaulks knock on our door now as a 17 year old ? not a chance. How to improve the latter ? Ownership. Are the current lot staying or going ? Business plan. Would help if we had one rather than a few months or one year at the best. Team management. The individuals require certainty. These are issues that can be addressed, all that is needed is the will to do it.

It is most likely they went looking to add to the squad. But the style or quality of what they were looking for was not available. That folks is the most likely scenario !

That effects the future support. Parents not taking the kids to the game and there you go a generation not motivated or caring about FFC. No stories about the 1957 team, great goals , great players , the laugh and the banter, the joy of cheering on a win with your mates. Gone lost forever !

Agree it won't be overnight, but it happened before and it can happen again.

In 1970-1 we were getting home crowds against provincial clubs 0f 8-9000. 5 years later we were declining to the 500 level so the drop won't come overnight- but it will happen.

We got into that situation in the mid 70's. Squad of 16-17 5-6 full time player with the rest part time Signings made from Juniors and Free transfers Result ! Crowds of 500 on a good day Ambition not to get relegated To their credit Moffat and Johnstone put in a cash injection and Alex T worked his magic and the revival started. Without these 3 people it would have been over. Because if we don't go up this season then Deva Vu 1970's. Why ? The club cannot go on losing money at the rate it does at present.

Is the club still up for sale ? All I can get is that ' the Board are looking for investment ' Six words that can be interpreted into anything you want.

If it was a state of the art new concept. Then the manufacturer should have been paying us to try it as a test bed and if it works pay a token cost to cover raw materials after 5 years of trouble free use. They in turn get a proven product with a track record to be a market leader with a working example to show clients.