This is my Football

Memory book. It tells the

story of a life-long interest
in the game-and one club
in particular.
How it all began.
My grandfather, Tom
Robertson, took me with
him to the Centre Stand at
Brockville Park, Falkirk.He
had a season ticket there and
he used to get me in with him
for free.I can still remember
the smells that greeted you as
you came round the corner to
the main entrance.We always
rushed back to hear the
results on the wireless and my
granny would have a great tea
ready for us.
him to the Centre Stand at
H it all began.
Robertson, took me with
My grandfather
How it all began.
Stand at
me with
om TTom , r
gan.
This is my Football
in the game-and one club
story of a life-long interest
Memory book. It tells the
his is my Football
. in particular
e game-and one club
of a life-long interest
mory book. It tells the
sults on the wireless and my
rushed back to hear the
e main entrance.W
ou came round the corner to
e smells that greeted you as
or free.I can still remember
e used to get me in with him
ad a season ticket there and
Brockville Park, Falkirk.He
him to the Centre Stand at
ess and my
hear the
e always W
e corner to
eted you as
remember
in with him
t there and
Falkirk.He
Stand at
ready for us.
anny would have a great tea
sults on the wireless and my
us.
a great tea
ess and my
A Fans Story
Angus Plumb was one of my
grandpas heroes. He was a great
goal-scorer.
This was another of my grandpas
favourites-Alex.McCrae. I was to
meet him later in life.
This is one of the early teams I can remember. I had all
their autographs at one time.
A
grandpa
Angus Plumb was one of my
. goal-scorer
s heroes. He was a great ndpa
of my
s a great
This is one of the early teams I can remember
their autographs at one time.
f the early teams I can remember
ne time.
. I had all n remember
favourites-Alex.McCrae. I was to
This was another of my grandpa
meet him later in life.
ourites-Alex.McCrae. I was to
s was another of my grandpa
fe.
I was to
s randpa
Early Football Memories
I remember being allowed to go on to the pitch at
Brockville.The Club Secretary was a friend of my
grandfather- that certainly helped.
The old ground didnt change much over the years. I
started off in the Centre Stand, but then moved to the
Hope Street End.
I r
B
remember being allowed to go on to the pitch at
grandfather- that certainly helped.
rockville.The Club Secretary was a friend of my
wed to go on to the pitch at
at certainly helped.
cretary was a friend of my
ch at
started of
The old ground didnt change much over the years. I
of my
Hope Street End.
f in the Centre Stand, but then moved to the ed of ff in the Centre Stand, but then moved to the
old ground didnt change much over the years. I
treet End.
tand, but then moved to the
ange much over the years. I
to the
ears. I
Early Football Memories
This is Brockville Park as I remember it as a young boy.
The ground was packed and the steam trains used to pass
at the Railway End.
This is Brockville Park as I remember it as a young boy
The ground was packed and the steam trains used to pass
e Park as I remember it as a young boy
at the Railway End.
packed and the steam trains used to pass
. r it as a young boy
.
m trains used to pass
My Early Years
This was the badge on the shirts when Falkirk won the
Cup in 1957.Little did I realise that I would eventually
meet many of the team years later.
A big day out.I was taken to Tynecastle Park to see
Falkirk in the Scottish Cup Semi Final. Falkirk played in
hooped shirts that day.
Falkirk in the Scottish Cup Semi Final. Falkirk played in
AA
hooped shirts that day
kirk in the Scottish Cup Semi Final. Falkirk played in
big day out.I was taken to
. shirts that day
p Semi Final. Falkirk played in
ynecastle Park to see TTynecastle Park to see en to
played in
to see
Cup in 1957.Little did I realise that I would eventually
s as the badge on the shirts when Falkirk won the
meet many of the team years later
up in 1957.Little did I realise that I would eventually
e s s e a
. the team years later
realise that I would eventually
o e
ventually
My Early Years
I have followed Falkirk for almost 60 years and have seen
some great teams- and not so great teams. I have got to
know many of the former players in recent years.
In the 1960s we set up our own
Supporters Club and ran buses to
away games.
Two of my friends are in this picture-
Alex.Duchart and Jimmy McIntosh.
Supporters Club and ran buses to
In the 1960
away games.
porters Club and ran buses to
s we set up our own he 1960
buses to
our own
I have followed Falkirk for almost 60 years and have seen
know many of the former players in recent years.
some great teams- and not so great teams. I have got to
Falkirk for almost 60 years and have seen
of the former players in recent years.
ms- and not so great teams. I have got to
years and have seen
in recent years.
eams. I have got to
Alex.Duchart and Jimmy McIntosh.
wo of my friends are in this picture- TTwo of my friends are in this picture-
Duchart and Jimmy McIntosh.
of my friends are in this picture-
McIntosh.
s picture-
My Team(s)
This is John White preparing for a
Scotland match. Also in the picture is
Billy Hunter- another friend of mine.
It was a rare moment when a Falkirk
player was selected to play for
Scotland. John White is in this picture. Scotland. John White is in this picture.
player was selected to play for
It was a rare moment when a Falkirk
d. John White is in this picture.
yer was selected to play for
a rare moment when a Falkirk
s picture.
ay for
a Falkirk
This is John White preparing for a
Billy Hunter- another friend of mine.
Scotland match.
s is John White preparing for a
Hunter- another friend of mine.
Also in the picture is land match.
aring for a
d of mine.
e picture is
My Team(s)
Neil and Ian at the 1998 World Cup in St.Etienne.It was a
great trip until the match against Morocco started. great trip until the match against Morocco started. til the match against Morocco started. Morocco started.
Friends and Family
Pat and John at Brockville after another long car
journey from Castle Douglas.
John managed to keep
supporting Falkirk- even
when we lived up in
Stonehaven.
We spotted the Ipswich
team bus in Stamford.
Neil was an Ipswich
Town fan and Ian
supported their great
rivals -Norwich City.
Stonehaven.
when we lived up in
supporting Falkirk- even
John managed to keep
en.
d up in
irk- even
to keep
own fan and Ian TTown fan and Ian
Neil was an Ipswich
team bus in Stamford.
e spotted the Ipswich W
d Ian
pswich
amford.
Ipswich
PPat and John at Brockville after another long car
journey from Castle Douglas.
kville after another long car
m Castle Douglas.
g car
rivals -Norwich City
supported their great
. h City
ir great
Friends and Family
On a European trip to the Czech Republic with Falkirk.
What an amazing experience.
Presenting the frst of the four volumes of Falkirk's history
to the then Chairman David Holmes.
On a European trip to the Czech Republic with Falkirk. a European trip to the Czech Republic with Falkirk.
What an amazing experience.
e Czech Republic with Falkirk.
azing experience.
Falkirk.
What an amazing experience. azing experience.
to the then Chairman David Holmes. man David Holmes.
Work and Play
A Falkirk XI played a Supporters XI in a match at the new
stadium.There are some well-known faces in our side.
I have been writing articles in the programme for over 25
years and have edited the programme. It is a labour of
love!
We have developed a Former Players Association at
Falkirk and have registered as a charity.
enjoy writing about Falkirk F.C. and have fnished eight
books about the club.
Falkirk XI played a Supporters XI in a match at the new AA
stadium.There are some well-known faces in our side.
alkirk XI played a Supporters XI in a match at the new
adium.There are some well-known faces in our side.
porters XI in a match at the new
e well-known faces in our side.
at the new e W
our side. Falkirk and have registered as a charity
e have developed a Former Players
egistered as a charity
Association at ormer Players
.
ation at
years and have edited the programme. It is a labour of
I have been writing articles in the programme for over 25
ars and have edited the programme. It is a labour of
ve been writing articles in the programme for over 25
love!
he programme. It is a labour of
es in the programme for over 25 enjo
labour of
or over 25
books about the club.
oy writing about Falkir
bout the club.
.C. and have fnish rk F hed eight
Work and Play
The 1957 Cup Final.It was the biggest crowd I had ever
seen.What a game it was.It was great to see it later on
Pathe News in the cinema.
I remember being taken up the
town to see the cup-winning team
returning with the Scottish Cup.
It seemed the whole town was
there. The bus took ages to move
through the packed crowds.
returning with the Scottish Cup.
town to see the cup-winning team
I remember being taken up the
urning with the Scottish Cup.
n to see the cup-winning team
emember being taken up the
sh Cup.
ng team
up the
The 1957 Cup Final.It was the biggest crowd I had ever
P
seen.What a game it was.It was great to see it later on
Final.It was the biggest crowd I had ever
Pathe News in the cinema.
ame it was.It was great to see it later on
st crowd I had ever
ema.
at to see it later on
through the packed crowds.
there.
It seemed the whole town was
hrough the packed crowds.
The bus took ages to move e.
seemed the whole town was
owds.
to move
wn was
Special Football Memories
It was lovely to meet Alex. Parker later in life and to get to
know him. He was a great bloke and a very modest guy.
Alex. was voted Scotlands Player of the Year in 1957.I
was at the presentation in the Regal Cinema.
Alex. Parker of Falkirk and Scotland. He was my Football
Hero and I thought he was the greatest player we ever
had.
It was lovely to meet
know him. He was a great bloke and a very modest guy
Alex. Parker later in life and to get to as lovely to meet
w him. He was a great bloke and a very modest guy
Parker later in life and to get to
at bloke and a very modest guy
d to get to
. odest guy
Hero and I thought he was the greatest player we ever
h
o and I thought he was the greatest player we ever
had.
s the greatest player we ever we ever
Alex. was voted Scotland
was at the presentation in the Regal Cinema.
ex. was voted Scotland
tion in the Regal Cinema.
ear in 1957.I YYear in 1957.I s Player of the d
ema.
in 1957.I
My Heroes
In Nice before the 1990 World Cup match against Costa
Rica in Genoa. Guess who that is in the background?
None other than Kylie Minogue who was there at the time. None other than Kylie Minogue who was there at the time.
Rica in Genoa. Guess who that is in the background?
Kylie Minogue who was there at the time.
a. Guess who that is in the background?
was there at the time.
n the background?
Special Days
The frst game in the new stadium.That's me climbing the
stairs.
Falkirk's frst ever game in the SPL. My family are all
there just above the tunnel.
With Ian and Pat at the last game at Brockville.Pete
Duncan is behind us.He bought one of the barriers.
It was a real privilege to meet Sir Tom Finney when we
visited Preston with the Senior Bairns.
The frst game in the new
s
s me cli stadium.That'
stairs.
mbing the
Duncan is behind us.He bought one of the barriers.
With Ian and Pat at the last game at Brockville.Pete
uncan is behind us.He bought one of the barriers.
ith Ian and Pat at the last game at Brockville.Pete
e bought one of the barriers.
last game at Brockville.Pete
arriers.
e.Pete
Fa
there just above the tunnel.
s frst ever game alkirk'
above the tunnel.
e in the SPL. My famil It was a real privilege to meet Sir y are all
visited Preston with the Senior Bairns.
as a real privilege to meet Sir
ith the Senior Bairns.
om Finney when we TTom Finney when we meet Sir when we
Special Days
Our favourite place-behind the goals at the Hope
Street End. You soon got to know everyone around
you.
It was always good to
take on and beat the
Old Firm- especially at
a big ground.
It was amazing to see
Falkirk playing in a Cup
Final. I managed this
three times-in 1957,
1997 and again in
2009.
a big ground.
Old Firm- especially at
take on and beat the
It was always good to
nd.
cially at
eat the
good to
three times-in 1957,
Final. I managed this
Falkirk playing in a Cup
It was amazing to see
1957,
ged this
in a Cup
g to see
O
St
Our favourite place-behind the goals at the Hope
ou soon got to know everyone around YYou soon got to know everyone around treet End.
ehind the goals at the Hope
you.
ot to know everyone around
Hope
around
2009.
1997 and again in ain in
Special Places
Brockville Park will always be a special place. The
memories are still there. Night matches were great.
The dark, damp evenings, the smell of pipe tobacco and
Bovril, the fashing lights of the matches and lighters- all
added to the special atmosphere.
Its hard to believe that it is no longer there. The players,
the goals, the incidents- all come fooding back.t's a
supermarket site now.
memories are still there. Night matches were great. e. Night matches were great. e great.
the
supermarket site now
goals, the incidents- a
. ket site now
all come fooding back s a k.t'
Bovr
added to the special atmosphere.
ril, the fashing lights o
, p g ,
pecial atmosphere.
of the matches and lig
, p p
ghters- all
Special Places
There arent too many times that Falkirk can celebrate
winning the Scottish Cup. Many of these players became
personal friends.
The greatest night of all.It was a real honour to arrange
the 50th. Anniversary Dinner of the cup win and meet
many of the players again.
There arent too many times that Falkirk can celebrate
winning the Scottish Cup. Many of these players became
ere arent too many times that Falkirk can celebrate
ing the Scottish Cup. Many of these players became
mes that Falkirk can celebrate
Many of these players became
elebrate
s became winning the Scottish Cup. Many of these players became
personal friends.
ing the Scottish Cup. Many of these players became
nal friends.
Many of these players became s became
the 50th.
many of the players again.
Anniversary Dinner of the cup win and meet 50th.
g g
e players again.
nner of the cup win and meet d meet
g
Special People
He told me about great players he
had seen and epic matches he had
watched. He seemed to have been
going to Brockville for ages and knew
just about everyone there.
I was about this age when my
Grandpa Robertson frst took me
to Brockville Park. It was a magical
place for a wee boy to be. I became a
life-long supporter.
place for a wee boy to be. I became a
to Brockville Park. It was a magical
Grand
I was about this age when my
. life-long supporter
or a wee boy to be. I became a
ckville Park. It was a magical
dpa Robertson frst to
as about this age when my
ecame a
magical
ook me
n my
g pporter
He told me about great players he
going to Brockville for ages and knew
watched. He seemed to have been
had seen and epic matches he had
told me about great players he
g to Brockville for ages and knew
ched. He seemed to have been
seen and epic matches he had
players he
s and knew
have been
es he had
going to Brockville for ages and knew
just about everyone there.
g to Brockville for ages and knew
there.
s and knew
Special People
And so we come full circle.
Now I have my own grandchildren and
I hope they too might support Falkirk.
Cameron went to Brockville when he
was a baby, but he wont remember it.
He was with me when they cut the frst
turf at the new stadium.
We were all at the frst game in the
new stadium.
He has realised that being a Falkirk
supporter isnt easy.
He supports Liverpool, but still looks for
Falkirks result.
If the pattern continues, he will come
back to supporting Falkirk one day.
He too might have happy memories
about going to games with his Pappy.
Now Ive got three other grandchildren
to persuade.
Another generation of Falkirk supporters?
A d And so we come full circle.
I hope they too might support Falkirk.
Now I have my own grandchildren and
f ll circle. so we come full circle.
ey too might support Falkirk.
e my own grandchildren and
e.
Falkirk.
en and
e were W
turf at the new stadium.
He was wi
was a baby
Cameron went to Brockville when he
new stadium.
e all at the frst game i
f at the new stadium.
th me when they cut t
, but he wont remember it. by
went to Brockville when he
n the
the frst
mber it.
hen he
back to supporting Falkirk one day
If the pattern continues, he will come
He supports Liverpool, but still looks for
s
He has realised that being a Falkirk
supporting Falkirk one day
tern continues, he will come
s result. Falkirk
ts Liverpool, but still looks for
. upporter isnt easy
ealised that being a Falkirk
. e day
come
ooks for
alkirk
Now Ive got three other grandchildren
about going to games with his Pappy
He too might have happy memories
to persuade.
got three other grandchildren
ng to games with his Pappy
might have happy memories
pporting Falkirk one day
hildren
. Pappy
mories
y
Football Crazy