Sporting Memories Book

8/3/2019 Sporting Memories Book

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This is my FootballMemory book. It tells the

story of a life-long interestin the game-and one club

in particular.

How it all began.

My grandfather, TomRobertson, took me with

him to the Centre Stand atBrockville Park, Falkirk.He

had a season ticket there andhe used to get me in with himfor free.I can still remember

the smells that greeted you asyou came round the corner tothe main entrance.We always

rushed back to hear theresults on the wireless and mygranny would have a great tea

ready for us.

Robertson, took

My grandfathe

How it all be

me with

m,r

an.

in thestoryMem

.in particulargame-and one clu

of a life-long interes

ory book. It tells th

rushed back toe main entrance.u came round thsmells that grer free.I can still rused to get me i

d a season tickerockville Park, F

ear thealways

corner toted you asememberin with himthere and

alkirk.He

ready for unny would haveu s on e w re

s.a great teass an my

A Fans Story


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Angus Plumb was one of mygrandpas heroes. He was a great

goal-scorer.

This was another of my grandpasfavourites-Alex.McCrae. I was to

meet him later in life.

This is one of the early teams I can remember. I had alltheir autographs at one time.

ranngus Plumb was one

.oal-scorers heroes. He wadpa

of mya great

his is one otheir autographs at o

f the early teams I cae time.

. I had allremember

favhis

eet him later in lifurites-Alex.McCrae.was another of my g

e.I was to

s

randpa

Early Football Memories


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I remember being allowed to go on to the pitch atBrockville.The Club Secretary was a friend of my

grandfather- that certainly helped.

The old ground didnt change much over the years. Istarted off in the Centre Stand, but then moved to the

Hope Street End.B

emem er e ng a o

grandfather- throckville.The Club Se

e o go on o e p

t certainly helped.cretary was a friend o

astartThe

f myHope St

in the Centre Sd ofold ground didnt cha

reet End.and, but then movednge much over the y

to thears. I

Early Football Memories


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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.

his is BrockvillThe ground was

Park as I remembe

t the Railway End.acked and the steam

it as a young boytrains used to pass

My Early Years


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This was the badge on the shirts when Falkirk won theCup 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 seeFalkirk in the Scottish Cup Semi Final. Falkirk played in

hooped shirts that day.Falk

A

hooped sirk in the Scottish Cubig day out.I was tak

.hirts that day

p Semi Final. Falkirknecastle Parkn to

layed into see

Cmeet many of

p in 1957.Little did I.the team years later

ealise that I would eventually

My Early Years


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I have followed Falkirk for almost 60 years and have seensome great teams- and not so great teams. I have got toknow many of the former players in recent years.

In the 1960s we set up our ownSupporters Club and ran buses to

away games.

Two of my friends are in this picture-Alex.Duchart and Jimmy McIntosh.

SupIn t

away games.

orters Club and rans we set up oe 1960

uses tour own

know manysome great tea

of the former playerss- and not so great t

in recent years.

eams. I have got to

lex.wo oT

Duchart and Jimmy Mf my friends are in thi

cIntosh.

s picture-

My Team(s)


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This is John White preparing for aScotland match. Also in the picture isBilly Hunter- another friend of mine.

It was a rare moment when a Falkirkplayer was selected to play for

Scotland. John White is in this picture.Scotlanplay

It was

. John White is in thier was selected to plrare moment when

s picture.y forFalkirk

Thi

BillyScotl

s is John White prepa

Hunter- another frienAlso in thand match.

ring for a

d of mine.picture is

My Team(s)


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Neil and Ian at the 1998 World Cup in St.Etienne.It was agreat trip until the match against Morocco started.great trip until the match against orocco started.

Friends and Family


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Pat and John at Brockville after another long carjourney from Castle Douglas.

John managed to keepsupporting Falkirk- even

when we lived up inStonehaven.

We spotted the Ipswichteam bus in Stamford.Neil was an Ipswich

Town fan and Iansupported their greatrivals -Norwich City.

Stonehavwhen we live

supporting FalkiJohn managed

n.up in

irk- evento keep

wn fan anTNeil was an I

team bus in Ste spotted theW

d Ianswichmford.Ipswich

journey from Castle Douglas. rivals -Norwic

supported thei.h City

ir great

Friends and Family


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On a European trip to the Czech Republic with Falkirk.What an amazing experience.

to the then Chairman David Holmes.

On a European trip to the Czech Republic with Falkirk..

to the then Chairman David Holmes.

Work and Play


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A Falkirk XI played a Supporters XI in a match at the newstadium.There are some well-known faces in our side.

I have been writing articles in the programme for over 25years and have edited the programme. It is a labour of

love!

We have developed a Former Players Association atFalkirk and have registered as a charity.

books about the club.

asta

r p aye a updium.There are some

or ers n a ma cwell-known faces in

e newur side. Falkirk and have r egistered as a charity

eI ha

rs and have edited the been writing article

love!e programme. It is a ls in the programme f

labour ofr over 25

books a

out the club.

Work and Play


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The 1957 Cup Final.It was the biggest crowd I had everseen.What a game it was.It was great to see it later onPathe News in the cinema.

I remember being taken up thetown to see the cup-winning team

returning with the Scottish Cup.

It seemed the whole town wasthere. The bus took ages to move

through the packed crowds.

ret

owr

rning with the Scottis

to see the cup-winnimember being taken

h Cup.

ng teamup the

e upseen.What a g na . was e gge

athe News in the cinme it was.It was gre crow a ever

ma.t to see it later on

tther

It

rough the packed crThe bus took ages.

eemed the whole to

wds.to moven was

Special Football Memories


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It was lovely to meet Alex. Parker later in life and to get toknow him. He was a great bloke and a very modest guy.

Alex. was voted Scotlands Player of the Year in 1957.Iwas at the presentation in the Regal Cinema.

Alex. Parker of Falkirk and Scotland. He was my FootballHero and I thought he was the greatest player we ever

had.

wakno

ex.s ove y o meehim. He was a grea

ar er a er n e ant bloke and a very m

o ge odest guy

Herh

and I thought he waad.the greatest player e ever

Alewas at the presenta

x. was voted Scotlantion in the Regal Cine

arYs Player of thema.in 1957.I

My Heroes


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In Nice before the 1990 World Cup match against CostaRica in Genoa. Guess who that is in the background?

None other than Kylie Minogue who was there at the time.None other thanRica in Genoa

Kylie Minogue who w. Guess who that is in

as there at the time.the background?

Special Days


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stairs.

there just above the tunnel.

With Ian and Pat at the last game at Brockville.PeteDuncan is behind us.He bought one of the barriers.

It was a real privilege to meet Sir Tom Finney when wevisited Preston with the Senior Bairns.

stairs.

D ncan is behind us.H bought one of the ba

rriers..

there just a

bove the tunnel.

It w visited Preston w

s a real privilege toith the Senior Bairns.

m FinneyTeet Sir hen we

Special Days


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Our favourite place-behind the goals at the HopeStreet End. You soon got to know everyone around

you.

It was always good totake on and beat the

Old Firm- especially ata big ground.

It was amazing to seeFalkirk playing in a CupFinal. I managed thisthree times-in 1957,1997 and again in

2009.

a big grouOld Firm- espetake on and bIt was always

nd.cially atat theood to

three times-inFinal. I manag

Falkirk playing iIt was amazing

1957,ed thisn a Cupto see

St

u soon gYreet End.you.t to know everyone around

2009.997 and ag in in

Special Places


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Brockville Park will always be a special place. Thememories are still there. Night matches were great.

The dark, damp evenings, the smell of pipe tobacco and

added to the special atmosphere.

Its hard to believe that it is no longer there. The players,

supermarket site now.

memories are still there. Ni ht matches were reat.

supermar

ket site now

dded to the s

pecial atmosphere.

Special Places

S i l P l


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There arent too many times that Falkirk can celebratewinning the Scottish Cup. Many of these players became

personal friends.

The greatest night of all.It was a real honour to arrangethe 50th. Anniversary Dinner of the cup win and meet

many of the players again.

perso.

al friends.

hemany of the

Anniversary Din50th.players again.ner of the cup win an meet

Special People

S i l P l


19/20

He told me about great players hehad seen and epic matches he hadwatched. He seemed to have been

going to Brockville for ages and knewjust about everyone there.

I was about this age when my

to Brockville Park. It was a magicalplace for a wee boy to be. I became a

life-long supporter.place fo

to Bro

I w

.life-lon su orter r a wee boy to be. I bckville Park. It was a

s about this age whe

ecame aagical

n my

He

watad

told me about great p

hed. He seemed to hseen and epic match

layers he

ave beenes he had

ust about everyone t

here.

Special People

F tb ll C


20/20

And so we come full circle.

Now I have my own grandchildren andI hope they too might support Falkirk.

Cameron went to Brockville when he

was a baby, but he wont remember it.

turf at the new stadium.

new stadium.

He has realised that being a Falkirksupporter isnt easy.

He supports Liverpool, but still looks forFalkirks result.

If the pattern continues, he will comeback to supporting Falkirk one day.

He too might have happy memoriesabout going to games with his Pappy.

Now Ive got three other grandchildrento persuade.

Another generation of Falkirk supporters?

n

I hope thNow I hav

so we come u c rc e

y too might support Fmy own grandchildr

.

alkirk.n and

ur

was a bab

Cameron

new stadium.

at the new stadium.

, but he wont remey

went to Brockville wh

ber it.

en he

back toIf the patt

He support

sHe has r

u ortin Falkirk oneern continues, he will

s result.Falkirks Liverpool, but still l

.upporter isnt easyalised that being a F

dacome

oks for

alkirk

Now Ive g

bout goiHe too m

to persuade.ot three other grandc

g to games with hisight have happy me

hildren

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