Latest news with #Bairns
Daily Record
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Brad Spencer reveals the Falkirk title message from Brian Graham moments after Patrick Thistle heartbreak
The then-Thistle striker had dealt a hammerblow to the Bairns title hopes - before joining them in the Premiership for the new season Brad Spencer trudged off the pitch with his head spinning and Brian Graham's consoling arm draped round him – but kind words were the last thing on his mind in Maryhill. A stoppage-time sickener from Partick Thistle substitute Terry Ablade had sealed a 2-1 defeat – Falkirk 's third winless clash – putting the title party on ice and giving Livingston a shot at reeling them back in. The Bairns had looked nailed on for the crown at the outset of April but as the whistle blew at Firhill, Spencer could only stew. Then came Graham, Thistle's co-boss and the man who had opened the scoring, offering a few words of solace. Spencer's first instinct may have been to tell him where to go – little did he know that place was Falkirk in a summer double deal along with former Celtic keeper Scott Bain. John McGlynn's men held their nerve a week later for title glory and a long-awaited return to the top flight as Spencer, now 29, capped it all by being named PFA Scotland Championship Player of the Year. Looking back, that chat with Graham didn't sting for long – in fact, he's grateful for it now. The vice-skipper said: 'Brian came up to me after the game at Firhill. I was speaking to him before about the Player of the Year and stuff like that. 'He said something about it being a great year for myself and then 'just go on and win it', he's 'desperate for us to win it', we deserve to win it and 'you'll go get the job done next week'. In the end we did. 'I definitely had different words in my head than those that came out at the time to tell Brian just because I was annoyed at how the game went! 'He was being professional, it was lovely words and in the end there were people who were rooting for us to go out and do the job because we consistently were the best team in the league. It was nice from Brian. 'Looking back now, it was the best way we could've done it – at home in front of our fans and enjoying the night like that was magic. 'Taking it into the last game obviously wasn't good at times for people's nerves but we always had strong belief in the squadwe would get it done.' Now Spencer reckons the old guard – 37-year-old Graham, 36-year-old Scott Arfield and 33-year-old Bain – can form a solid spine for a young squad stepping into the big time. He added: 'I've known Brian for a while. Playing against him, you get to chat. 'Scott seems a lovely lad also, another good character the gaffer has picked. He's got a knack of picking good players to have around the dressing room. It would be daft not to lean on their experience. 'They've both been around the game for a long time, along with Scotty. It's an experienced group, compared to last year when we were a wee bit younger. 'We've got a wee bit of a mixture – we've got pace, we've got experience. It's exciting. 'We had success last year against a couple of Premiership teams and still played our way in those games. At times wehad to sit in, soak up a wee bit more pressure and rely on a wee bit of luck or Nicky (Hogarth) to make saves. 'So it's going to be different. We just need to add different strings to our bow and try to find the best way to win games. 'The gaffer has always stressed about keeping the continuity and feelgood factor around the place. If you start ripping everything apart, you're starting from the bare bones. 'Whereas we're two, three years into our journey. We know what to expect from the gaffer and Smudger (assistant Paul Smith) which suits a lot of us. 'It has worked. That's how we get the best out of people like myself, Dylan (Tait), the wingers and everybody else. 'There's no point in coming up and being spooked. It's just about trying to continue what we've done that's got us success.' No one can say Spencer's had it easy as he gets set for his Premiership debut seven years after exiting Kilmarnock without a top-team appearance. The midfielder, who spent his youth career in the States withPortland Timbers and Houston Dynamo, said: 'I've certainly taken longer to get to the Premiership than I'd have liked. 'But everybody's got a different path, there are late developers. I came back from America and I was wet behind the ears, didn't know enough about professional football and playing the men's game. 'It shows there are people out there who just need a chance and they can do well.'
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Premiership fixtures announced - how do you think Falkirk will start?
Falkirk's first Scottish Premiership game in 15 years will be at home to Dundee match will take place on Sunday, 3 August at 14:00 BST, with the Bairns' first away fixture against fellow newly-promoted side Livingston on Saturday, 9 August at 15: Falkirk's Scottish Premiership fixtures in full do you think John McGlynn's side will be after 10 games and what do you make of how the fixtures have fallen? Share your views here.
STV News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- STV News
McGlynn excited to take on top teams as Falkirk prepare for Premiership
John McGlynn is looking forward to pitting his wits against the top teams and managers in the country as Falkirk return to the Premiership during an 'exciting time' for Scottish football. The Bairns boss has masterminded back-to-back promotions to take the club into the top-flight for the first time in 15 years. And McGlynn is relishing the prospect of testing his wits against a higher calibre of opposition, despite the amount of money being spent by other top flight teams to bolster their squads. Speaking to STV Sport, he said: 'It's a great time, when you look at it, the 49ers are coming into Rangers and the anticipation is for them to sign top players, and spend a lot of money. 'Tony Bloom is going into Hearts, and a lot of millions will be spent there. The Black Knights are already in at Hibs putting a lot of money in there, and obviously Celtic are going 'we will put in double on what you guys are doing'. 'Then you have Aberdeen, who have just won a cup, and they will have new enthusiasm and ambitions. 'Then you have your St Mirrens, Motherwells and Kilmarnocks, who are all really good teams and Livingston have obviously come up with ourselves, so it is a really exciting time. 'So we know that we won't win as many games as we have the last couple of years, and we will need to be strong and we will need to be realistic. 'It will be good to pit our wits against these teams and a lot of top managers.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
03-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish Premiership side agree deal to sign Scott Bain
Read more: After sliding to third in the pecking order behind Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo the former Scotland stopper was given the green light to seek first team football elsewhere. And Bairns boss John McGlynn has moved quickly to tie up a 12-month agreement with the former Scotland stopper as he gears up for the Bairns' return to the Premiership after a 15 year absence. Signed in 2018 Bain made 69 appearances for the Celtic first team. And the Parkhead club have already agreed a deal to snap up Aberdeen free agent Ross Doohan.
The National
03-06-2025
- Sport
- The National
Scottish Premiership side agree deal to sign Scott Bain
Despite having 12 months to run on his Parkhead contract Bain, 33, left the Scottish champions immediately after the Scottish Cup Final. Read more: After sliding to third in the pecking order behind Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo the former Scotland stopper was given the green light to seek first team football elsewhere. And Bairns boss John McGlynn has moved quickly to tie up a 12-month agreement with the former Scotland stopper as he gears up for the Bairns' return to the Premiership after a 15 year absence. Signed in 2018 Bain made 69 appearances for the Celtic first team. And the Parkhead club have already agreed a deal to snap up Aberdeen free agent Ross Doohan.
