Everyone at Falkirk Football Club was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of former player John Markie.
The club has started the process of contacting John’s family, and we will update supporters when an appropriate tribute has been arranged.
Historian Michael White paid tribute to a Falkirk Bairn, and a true legend of the club.
John Markie sadly passed away on Friday February 27th, and all Falkirk supporters were stunned at the news. Those who saw him play would bear testimony to a player who gave 100% in every match, read the game like no other, and who was Falkirk through and through. Fellow professionals valued his reliability, his advice and encouragement and his remarkable fitness.
Quite simply, John Markie was one of the best Falkirk players in the post-war era and deserved far more formal recognition than he ever received. The Bo’ness-born youngster had been an outstanding schoolboy footballer at St. Mary’s Bathgate and had captained his country against England Schoolboys at Wembley in 1960, as a member of a side which included players like George Graham, Bobby Moncur, Bobby Watson, Alex Willoughby, Jim Forrest, and Iain Mitchell.
He signed for Newcastle United in 1962, but despite playing two first team games, never really settled on Tyneside and jumped at the chance to return to Scotland and play for Falkirk. He made his league debut in a 5-1 defeat at East End Park, playing at full back. He then moved into central defence and for season after season he was a mainstay of the Falkirk rear-guard. He could play equally comfortably at full back or in the centre of the defence and formed a great partnership with George Gibson and Doug Baillie. After Baillie’s departure to Dunfermline, George Miller joined the central defensive team, and the Markie-Miller-Gibson axis formed the basis of the great Willie Cunningham side of the early Seventies.
John moved easily from the traditional 2-3-5 formation to the new 4-2-4 set-up and his reading of the game was impressive. He saw several changes at the club, playing for five different managers, but remained loyal throughout. His final game in a Falkirk shirt was against Hamilton Accies as a substitute in the 1975-76 season.
There was no mention of a Testimonial Match and that is something that should have been arranged. John Markie was almost without equal in terms of consistency and reliability and deserved much better. His later career took him to Clyde where he played twenty-two league games in 1976-77 and finished his playing career with Stenhousemuir.
John was a hero to many young spectators and was always prominent when Player of the Year awards were announced. He should have earned representative honours and was a far better player than several others who were rewarded with caps. The fact that he was chosen to captain that Scotland Schoolboys team at Wembley showed the potential of the player.
On a personal level, he was the most modest of men and attended the Senior Bairns along with several other ex-playing colleagues such as John McLaughlan, Alex Duchart and Jim Scott. All of them rated John as one of greatest-ever players in a navy-blue jersey and there is no greater accolade than being praised so highly by your peers.
JOHN MARKIE FALKIRK CAREER
Appearances Goals
League 347 (2) 13
Scottish Cup 18 0
League Cup 67 5
Other Games 19 2
Totals 451 (2) 20
