bridge of allan bairn

FYI for those that haven't seen it this week's episode of a view from the terrace opens with a good review of Falkirk

Like this and thanks for sharing @Bainsfordbairn Out of interest, how do you define the assist on a penalty? Is it the player that won the penalty? Or is it no assist in that case?

In a way this is good news for QoS. Clubs like Stirling, Alloa and Hamilton (all Central belt) will lose far more away fan revenue/budget from Falkirk next season than yourselves. Montrose was a one off given the significance of the match itself, however, the other 3 teams we would always take a healthy away support.

Yes, with a paying adult

Really interesting, thanks for sharing @Bairn in Exile. With Arbroath likely to be replacing Falkirk in League 1 its going to mean a big drop in away fans/revenue for clubs in this League. Stenhousemuir coming up in place of Edinburgh will be slightly better at that end but not a significant uplift. If you assume we take an average of 1,000 fans to an away game (sometimes significantly more), twice a season, at say £20 per head that's £40,000 not allowing for add on's like hospitality, sponsorship, food and drink etc. Montrose probably banked more than £50K extra on Saturday alone, which will go a long way to helping their player budget for next season. Will also be interesting to see how much our home attendances increase next season with more home fans and more away fans. Stadium could be pretty full most weeks, especially if we are challenging at the top end. Thinking about next season, I'd really like to see us extend the already excellent free tickets for schools initiative to many more kids at games where we know it won't sell out, especially at that half of the North Stand where smaller away crowds are expected. If we gave away 18,000 free tickets a season (1K on average per home game where space permits) and just 1% of these kids became a fan then that's 180 extra fans every season, potentially for life, not counting if they convince their parents to take them. Also keeps local kids away from the old firm. Worst case scenario we have given local kids a day out and promoted the club in a positive light in the community. Given the massive success of the ultras, would be great to see the group double for next season (and sit in the middle of the south stand behind the goals). I know its early days but are there any plans for growing the ultras/flags/drums etc? Final thing, would be great to see the brilliant and much appreciated Falkirk TV move to the other east side to take highlights so they show the crowds/atmosphere rather than the vast emptiness. With viewing figures going up, the team doing well, in a bigger and better league, this would surely help promote the club to even more sponsors and fans? A semi-permanent platform with toilet and decent broadband connection etc surely should be doable for the guys if that's the issue? In the Championship we might feature on mainstream TV more too so no having to build these things ad hoc. I'm guessing there's probably a logical reason I haven't thought of why the Main Stand is always used? Either way, new signings aside, I'm looking forward to all the off field positive ideas that will come out between now and next season (that, per above, don't necessarily cost any or much money).

Mackie had another 2 assists on Saturday. Not bad for someone playing in central defence. That's 4 league assists for him this season when he's been on the bench most of it.

A mixture of joy for a brilliant season, relief to be out of this league after five years of pain and gratitude to a management team and set of players who have delivered a superb brand of football and thoroughly deserved promotion. Champions! And whisper it... possible invincibles....

No Henderson. Thought Mackie played well last week so hopefully plays as well on Saturday again.

Did they all join the Mo from an Oor Wullie annual?

Know what you mean. I think this is our toughest fixture left and I include Hamilton away in that. Montrose have only lost 1 of their last 6 at home and are fighting for a promotion play off. I really rate Petrie as an astute manager. I'm not sure if Hamilton dropping points before we kick off would help our performance next week or not, obviously delighted if we tie up the league before we kick a ball but would be brilliant to win the league and keep the invincible record. Our motivation will be higher if we need a result. Really looking forward to it either way.

I see Edinburgh have still to play all 4 sides in this thread fighting to get out of the relegation play offs. Having watched them yesterday I think they may surprise some teams between now and the end of the season and possibly take points. They were a wee bit naive at times but retained possession well, played some pretty good football and had a go (appreciate they have nothing to lose now). They had a few decent chances in the first half in particular. 6 shots on target, which is more than most at TFS. They have 2 or 3 really big guys in the side that will cause problems at set pieces. By all accounts in recent weeks they've been a bit unlucky, but they'll learn quickly. Some good loan players in that side. Wouldn't bank on this fixture meaning 3 points.

Credit to the folks that put the match programme together. Read it this morning and some really good detailed articles in it, Stephen McGinn, Morrison, FSS, The Board. Some stuff I wasn't aware of so thoroughly enjoyed it. Only thing missing for next seasons programme is more stats please! Crowds, who played in each game, yellow cards etc

Another good solid win. Pity Cove couldn't help us out today. Onwards to Montrose!

Edinburgh been pretty decent to be fair and have come to play, no pressure on them now they're relegated though. Hopefully few more goals second half, for us and cove

With Lang and Henderson out happy enough with that starting eleven. Bisland playing for yeats. Decent subs to come on too if needed.

For us, there's been surprisingly little in the way of crowd self gratification going on....so for those interested... ....with 2 hours till kick off we have only 320 tickets left to sell in the main stand and we have sold 125 tickets so far in the North Stand. if we assume 6,000 tickets available in the South and Main stands then that means we have sold (concessions etc aside) in total from all 3 stands approx 5,805 home seats, this doesn't include the next two hours sales, including PATG in the North Stand and any Edinburgh fans (say 50?). So long story short looking like a crowd of around 6,000. The Hamilton game was 5,756 so should beat that allowing for any seats not included (comps/school freebies etc?). Outside of Dundee United v Inverness that will comfortably be the highest attendance in Scotland today with no top league games on. Enjoy the game!

Thanks @StuartAthat short presentation is definitely worth a watch lots of very illuminating info and points in a 10 minute pitch.

It's been 11 seasons in the top flight for Falkirk since the mid to late 80's. I think outside the top 6 big clubs in Scotland every other club has spent a lot of seasons outside of the top flight, so in terms of the other 6 places, it's very much fair game for quite a lot of clubs. Even the likes of Hearts, Dundee Utd, Hibs etc have spent time outside the top flight. There's probably about 12-18 clubs with realistic ambitions to fill those 6 places in the top flight.

That's very true, however, we lost out more on these "new rules" than we gained. And don't get me started on the covid season... The recent debate on plastic pitches feels like another of these "new rules" could be on the cards.

Hardly delusional, it's not like we've never been there, we've spent a third of my adult life in the top league. It would have been far more if it hadn't been for self preserving stadium criteria, under soil heating and so on. In terms of the Championship, we are there, and with the squad we have built will likely do well next year. This whole thread is about ambition, to want to aspire to the top league when we've been there quite a bit historically is not a stretch. I'd argue we are in a much much better place now than we were then it's perfectly achievable and not in any way delusional. Delusional would be winning the top league.

Continuity and the camaraderie within the squad (and fans!) is very important. I'd rather we did this and added one or two quality additions (experienced keeper and CF) than were searching for half a team. I'm very happy with this and the way McGlynn has gone about his business with the contract extensions. I like every player in our squad and think they all deserve a shot at the league above, they've earned it. I think with the existing squad we will be comfortably safe next season and challenging for the promotion play off spots. We can always strengthen in January once we have a feel for the league and where we sit in it. The Tom Lang injury might throw a slight spanner in the works in terms of recruitment if he isn't fit for the new season. It's all very positive though looking forward to next season which is not something you can often say.

Not sure that's entirely fair Brummo. Falkirk's 3 loan players (in) are pretty much playing in every game - Long (Lincoln), Ross (Raith) and Tait (Hibs). Nowadays, with 5 subs, most players spend some time on the bench, whether it be at the start or end of a game. These 3 loan players are getting very regular game time at Falkirk.

Stats certainly back that up. Looks like a very one sided half, which is surprising given alloas decent form.

Agree with this, given Cove need the points for the play offs, Fyvie is fit again, Burrell hasnt scored recently and will want to finish above CM as top scorer, and they are at home, I think they'll likely take something from Hamilton. Failing that and Hamilton win (assuming we win at home to Edinburgh) it'll be next week against Montrose. Interesting that the stats from weeks ago predicted it would be Edinburgh at home or Montrose away, based on points per game averages to that point, and it looks like being that way.

Fair points, possibly also saddled with existing high paid players unless either side has an exit clause if relegated