Three years ago today, fan ownership came into force at Falkirk. It has been some journey and we want to start this message by thanking every single Bairn, be they a sponsor, player, coach, employee, volunteer, 50-50 or programme vendor, season-ticket holder or walk-up fan, shareholder or strip-buyer, Ultra, Auldtra, podcaster or pie seller, and everyone else for getting us this far.As John McGlynn has repeatedly said: we’re all in this together. From our lowest ebb to Scotland’s most exciting, fastest growing, and most united club.
John will also be the first to demand that we keep our feet firmly on the ground, to mend the roof while the sun is shining, and take one game at a time.
Bouncebackability
And that is what is exactly what everyone at the club is doing.
We could not have wished for a more electric start to the season. The quality of football is as good as many of us have seen Falkirk play in our lifetimes.
A run of injuries stretched a squad that prioritised quality over quantity, so hitting top spot so early in our first season back in the Championship is remarkable.
The stress of having begun the season on a break-even financial projection – that means not budgeting for a significant operating loss as we have in earlier seasons – was eased by the excellent League Cup campaign, that saw us run Celtic close for much of that memorable day at Parkhead. A professional performance at East Kilbride on Monday also took us to the next round of the Scottish Cup and a home tie against Raith Rovers.
This un-budgeted income meant John could recruit vital defensive cover in the shape of Luke Graham, as well as extending several of the current squad’s contracts, bringing continuity to this remarkable group. So many players showing their commitment to the club shows how much they are enjoying their time at Falkirk, allowing us to build for the future.
That continuity matters – we now have six centurions in our squad, with Callumn Morrison, Finn Yeats, Gary Oliver, Liam Henderson, Aidan Nesbitt and Leon McCann all having played over 100 games for the Bairns, with more approaching that milestone.
The wins over Dundee United and Hearts were early warning signs that this squad wasn’t here to make up the numbers. Setbacks at Raith and Livingston were followed by bounce-backs, putting to bed, for now at least, any talk of bubbles bursting. Again, though, nothing will be taken for granted.
A small but important note was the Stirlingshire Cup restarting. A beautiful trophy that has rested in Stenhousemuir’s trophy cabinet for a decade, the cup is a part of our footballing heritage as the country’s second oldest tournament. It is also a fantastic opportunity to test our loan, apprentice, and youth players against seasoned opposition, as we saw in the entertaining 5-3 victory at Ochilview.
Buzzing Bairns
More broadly, the club is buzzing. There is a palpable feeling of enthusiasm, determination, and ambition around the stadium.
That buzz is no more evident than in the stands, which have been rocking since the first game. The connection between players and fans is intense, helped by continuity and the passion of our squad, but equally by the energy our team gets from Falkirk fans’ noise. Visiting players and managers have let slip that this backing makes a difference.
Falkirk fans themselves have long criticised the atmosphere at the stadium since we left Brockville, but The Falkirk Stadium now enjoys one of the best atmospheres nationally week-after-week. We cannot overstate the difference you make not just to the team, but to everyone’s matchday experience.
It is always difficult to get accurate historical crowd data, but we have seen a home support exceeding 5000 in practically every game this season, which is probably up there with most seasons we played in the top tier in recent decades and maybe even unrivalled since the Cunningham era. We currently boast the seventh highest home support in the country.
We are also seeing an increasing number of new younger fans supporting Falkirk, attracted by excellent football, an electric atmosphere, as well as diverse groups like the Ultras and Junior Bairns. Season ticket sales are a whisker away from 4000 – the highest in the Championship – and will surely break that target when our half season tickets go on sale next week, which will include a special offer to include, free of charge, the Hamilton Accies game on the 21st of December.
Standing on our own two feet
As mentioned above, we’re trying to move towards standing on our own two feet financially. This season is the first in many where the club has felt able to provide a competitive playing budget without incurring a significant operating loss, filled either by a windfall like a cup run or transfer fee, relying on loans or share sales, or burning cash reserves.
Fan funding is a vital part of that. FSS numbers remain strong. FSS is vitally important to our club and a unique achievement for Falkirk fans. From a standing start three years ago, FSS is now the club’s largest shareholder with over 25%, handing fans a decisive say in the direction of the club.
FSS members have invested over £600,000 in their club since 2021 and are continuing to fund the squad to the tune of over £135,000 this season.
We cannot thank FSS members enough.
The past few years have been demanding on family finances everywhere and supporting a football club is expensive enough. Every penny of FSS money is put to good use, currently the first-team budget, which has paid real dividends.
All directors are FSS members and know that we are spending fans’ hard-earned cash. So, if you can afford to, please join the 1100+ Bairns already contributing and boost the manager’s budget.
The Patrons’ Group recently nominated Mark Whittet to replace Kenny Jamieson, who left the board at the recent AGM. Kenny was instrumental in creating the Patrons’ Group whose cash injection ensured the club made it to the end of 2021/22 season, so leaves with our eternal gratitude.
The Patrons’ Group itself has evolved by launching the “Academy Patrons” scheme this year, where fans can contribute directly to rebuilding Falkirk’s youth system, which we have missed so badly since its hasty closure several years ago.
Paddy Hainey has led an initiative to work with our supporters’ clubs to bring our supporters’ groups together to listen to their views and improve communications and relationships. Supporters’ buses are vital in helping fans get to games around the country and build lifelong friendships, so we commend all the supporters’ clubs who help hundreds of Bairns get to games and will work with you to support your efforts.
The Third Leg
While we still seek a more active “third leg” of our fan ownership stool, recent success has seen an uptick in interest from potential investors. Much is speculative and necessary confidentiality means that we cannot brief shareholders and supporters until there’s a firm proposition that supports the best interests of our football club.
To be clear, this board’s mandate remains fan ownership under the balanced ownership or “three-legged stool” model and that is what we are pursuing.
That does not, however, mean we will automatically reject someone credible who wanted to invest more. They would obviously need to share our vision for a growing, sustainable football club playing in the top league and rooted in its community – and be prepared to back that vision.
But Falkirk fans have invested too much since 2021 – some £1 million between the FSS, Patrons Group and other fans and shareholders – to accept a low-ball offer for a short-term cash boost.
If we are to consider changing the DNA of Falkirk FC, then any new proposition will be taken to our shareholders who will have the final decision.
Commercial
The club continues to evolve off the pitch. Following the departures of Graeme Stewart and Graham Carbis, we have appointed a new commercial team.
Sean Skelly has joined the club as commercial manager having been General Manager at Caledonia Gladiators basketball club. He brings a wealth of experience in developing sports clubs in Scotland and ideas for taking Falkirk to the next level. Joining him as commercial executive will be Lewis Dickson, who carried out a similar role at Partick Thistle. Both will be introducing themselves to the wider Falkirk family soon.
We also launched our second heritage kit, which it’s fair to say has split opinion. Sales are thankfully moving briskly, but we will of course take fans’ feedback into account when developing future strips, including retro versions and our 150th anniversary.
The strip celebrates another aspect of our area’s heritage, focusing on the waterways that have shaped our district but also the importance of the towns they connect, which are home to many Bairns. There is limited player sponsorship availability for the heritage kit, so please contact Paddy Hainey to secure one of the final few.
Hospitality and match sponsorship is nearly sold out until the end of the season, which is again remarkable. Ladies’ Day has sold out in record time. Don’t miss out – remaining matchday sponsorship and hospitality can be found here.
Tickets are also on sale for our ever-popular Speakers’ Night on the 7th of March, which has been the primary fundraiser for developing our Academy. Peter Martin will be returning in 2025 as MC, joined by Paul Reid. Both speakers have excellent reputations in the after dinner speaking circuit, making for a great night of entertainment.
Edward Moffat, former chairman
As we were going to press, news came through of the passing of former Falkirk chairman, Edward Moffat. Mr Moffat contributed so much to our club as part of the board in the 1980s and as chairman from 1982 until 1990. His time in the chair saw Falkirk promoted back to the Premier Division in 1986 after over a decade in the wilderness. Founder of Bonnybridge based E&R Moffat, Mr Moffat brought employment to many people in the local area. Mr Moffat remained a Falkirk fan until the end of his days and remained a regular at Falkirk well into his 90s. His son William was also part of the group who brought Falkirk out of administration in 1998, and remains a large shareholder of our club.
Falkirk FC would like to pass our deepest condolences to Mr Moffat’s family, and our fondest memories.
Pitching high
All Bairns would have been incredulous at the SPFL’s Premiership clubs to ban artificial surfaces without consulting the clubs it affected most. That a material decision of this nature was deemed to affect only the current top 12 teams – thus enabling an exclusive, single division vote instead of the normal 42 club vote for an ordinary resolution – was simply wrong.
We were delighted to be able to step in and host international matches recently when Scotland’s all too predictably unpredictable weather meant that traditional surface pitches were unplayable due to frost.
That irony will not have been lost on Falkirk fans but illustrates a serious point: Scotland needs a mix of surfaces, not a one-size fits all approach. Common sense needs to prevail.
Scottish football also needs a more collegiate approach, considering what is best for the game as a whole and not just a select few. Our game is too precious to take such a narrow vision: we cannot regress to the awful SPL era.
That is why as you’ll have seen in the media that Falkirk are working with several other SPFL colleagues to address such an unjust and poorly implemented decision. Jamie has put in a power of work, initially producing an eminently sensible compromise proposal that was inexplicably disregarded by the SPFL, but now also patiently engaging the powers-that-be to discuss a fairer and more sensible solution that recognises the impact on clubs outside the top 12.
We will say more once progress is made, but we have been clear that we are serious. This will be a litmus test to see if the SPFL truly sees value in its broad membership.
Enjoy the holidays – you deserve it
It’s a wonderful time to be a Bairn, so let’s enjoy it. From all of us at Falkirk FC to all of you, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year when it comes.
