I have selected this 'best' Falkirk FC
XI because of all the nonsense about modern players. Don't get me
wrong, not slagging the current folk, I just prefer to research
Falkirk FC pre-WWII.
Obviously I never saw any of these
players play, so I am going somewhat on [lies, damned lies &]
statistics, but it is much more than that. Match reports &
commentary tell you more than just numbers. So partly this will be my
perceived knowledge of the warmth felt for players.
This was difficult, I may have got some
bits wrong, but since the picture of Falkirk is still incomplete, I
too make errors.
Chosen in the 2-3-5 formation which was
ever present until the early sixties, I give you.
Goalkeeper – Thomas Ferguson – From Dennyloanhead – still the club's most played
player, there is a reason for this
Right-Back – Thomas Scott – From Denny – Second most games for the club; he was
solid.
Left-Back
– William Leishman – From Camelon – He played 197 games yet
never scored, stuck to his job.
Right-Half
– Jock Drummond – From Alva – Capped when we were still
non-league, sadly spent most of his career with the orange Glaswegian
bigots.
Left-Half
– William Dougal – From Bonnybridge – Solid, did everything
you need from a Left-Half until the money lured him South.
Centre-Half
- Thomas Townsley – From California – This was my first problem
[John Anderson or Thomas Townsley] but Tom Townsley was more
attacking [he played more Central Midfield when Anderson was more a
defender].
Inside-Right
– Alex Stark – From Falkirk – I chose Alex because he made the
club: from 1885 to 1895 he was there, he scored our goals, he is
forgotten because professionals were more important.
Inside-Left
– Robert Keyes – From Bellshill – 188 goals for the club,
nothing extra is needed.
Outside-Right
– John Simpson – Born in Pendleton, Lancs, but brought up in
Laurieston from the age of two - From 1908 till 1912 he was the best
Outside-Right in the World, for half of that he played for God's only
club.
Outside-Left
– Kenny Dawson – From Forres – He is GOD
Centre-Forward
– Evelyn Morrison – From Wishaw – Holds the record for scoring
in the most matches consecutively in the Scottish League [14], still
holds the FFC record for most goals in a season [47].
