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The Courier
4 days ago
- Health
- The Courier
Tributes as St Johnstone superfan Stewart Falconer dies after cancer fight
Tributes have been paid to St Johnstone superfan Stewart Falconer, who has died after years of battling cancer. The 72-year-old supported the club for over 60 years and was named Scottish Football Supporters' Association Fan of the Year. Stewart was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2020, which was initially treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, doctors told him there was nothing more they could do and he was given a six-month prognosis over a year ago. Stewart died at Cornhill Macmillan Centre in Perth on Saturday morning, surrounded by family. Stewart was crowned Scottish Football Supporters' Association Fan of the Year in February. The accolade aims to put a spotlight on fans who go above and beyond to support their team. St Johnstone paid tribute to Stewart in a post on social media on Saturday. It said: 'The club was saddened to learn of the passing of Stewart Falconer earlier today. 'A lifelong and passionate St Johnstone fan, Stewart was a huge supporter of Saints Fans Supporting Foodbanks. 'Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this sad time.' St Johnstone Fans Supporting Foodbanks also paid tribute, saying: 'It is with an extreme sense of sadness that we learned today of the death of lifelong Saints supporter Stewart Falconer. 'Stewart passed away peacefully at Cornhill Hospice in Perth early this morning, surrounded by his loving family, following a long battle against cancer. 'Stewart was an absolute gentleman and was liked and respected by all that knew him, and a kinder, more thoughtful man you could not meet. 'Stewart, who was an active supporter of, and regular donor to St Johnstone Fans Supporting Foodbanks, was, earlier this year, awarded with the Scottish Football Supporters Association Fan of the Year, an accolade that could not have gone to a more deserving person. 'Stewart also appeared on BBC Scotland's A View from the Terrace programme, together with his daughters Louise and Gill, who are also massive Saints fans. 'All of the volunteers from Saints Fans Supporting Foodbanks will miss seeing him at McDiarmid Park, approaching our stand with a smile on his face and bags full of provisions for Perth and Kinross Foodbank 'I am sure, like all our volunteers, you will want to extend your condolences to Stewart's daughters Louise and Gill, his son Martin and all of Stewart's family.' The St Johnstone fan had continued to visit McDiarmid Park with his daughters until recently, despite his terminal diagnosis. He told the BBC's A View From The Terrace in April: 'What do I do, sit about in the house on a Saturday afternoon while my team is playing? 'I can't imagine that.' Stewart was a lifelong St Johnstone fan and passed his love for the Perth club on to his children. Stewart told the BBC show: 'It was my dad's team, he lifted me over the turnstiles. 'My important thing is football, especially with my daughters.' His daughters Louise and Gillian said some of their favourite childhood memories are joining their dad at the McDiarmid Park. Stewart added: 'It has been such a part of my life I can't imagine not going, but that day may come. 'I might not be here next week, next month, but I am not dwelling on that, I can't do anything about it. 'I am probably a glass-half-full kind of guy my whole life.'
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
The Scottish football club back on the radar: 90-year wait, SPFL goal and closer ties desire
Cup final appearance means so much to chairman as rise continues Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... One of many illustrations of how football has changed can be traced in a match report from the last time Tranent won the Junior Cup final, a mere 90 years ago. According to the Sunday Post, 'only' 25,000 turned up at Ibrox to watch The Belters live up to their name when swatting favourites Petershill aside in a 6-1 win. It's not just football that's changed. Society has changed. Industry has changed. Mines have closed. The shop windows displaying scarves, hats and good luck messages as Tranent attempt to repeat their 1935 success against Johnstone Burgh this afternoon are as likely to be vape stores and tanning salons as butchers and bakeries. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Few, if anyone, in the town will have memories of Archie Roberts, the popular captain, being carried shoulder high down the high street on the triumphant return from Glasgow. As people gathered at Foresters Park to welcome the heroes, the East Lothian Courier noted that "an aeroplane pilot entered into the spirit of the occasion by swooping low over the crowd". Dapper Man barbers Muzzy Sezer and Eddie get behind Tranent Juniors ahead of their cup final. | Andy O'Brien Tranent are firmly back on the radar. As player, manager and now chairman, Brian Johnston, who turns 65 on his next birthday, has seen, if not quite everything, then certainly more than most. He's also laid a significant amount bare, having taken the brave decision to open up about his gambling addiction earlier this year in a short film broadcast on the BBC show A View from the Terrace. Veteran Tranent player Dean Brett, who was sacked by Cowdenbeath in 2017 for betting against his own team, did likewise. Johnston reasons that if it has convinced just one person who watched it to seek help, then it's been worth the discomfort of bearing all in front of the cameras. Remarkably, Johnston, who works for a firm selling office supplies in Edinburgh, estimates he lost as much as £1 million during what he calls his '40-year career in gambling', which ended 11 years ago. Even in his spell as Tranent manager, there were times, he recalls, when he would remove himself from the dugout during the game 'to get a better view' in the stand and sit and place bets on his phone. When he finally sought help and attended meetings, he found that half of those there with him he already knew from football. 'There were some right high-profile guys, people that had played in the English Premiership,' he says. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Town embraces Tranent Just off the plane after a short pre-cup final break in Tenerife, the engaging Johnston is in a happier place now as he contemplates a final showdown against Johnstone Burgh, for whom former Rangers and Hearts striker Kyle Lafferty leads the line. Tranent will be cheered on by about 1400 fans at Broadwood (around 2000 followed them to Ibrox in 1935, when the crowd was swollen by interested neutrals). 'The town has embraced the situation,' says Johnston. 'The shops have been given scarves to put in the window, and they've all done it. It's looking good. For mining towns like Tranent, football was everything. I mean, I signed for the club back in 1978 and I remember the crowds were between 1500-2000 every home game. It was a like a day out for the miners, the working people from all round about. It was not just Tranent, it was Macmerry, Ormiston… They were so well supported.' Johnston's debut for Tranent came in the Scottish against Johnstone Burgh, today's opponents. He came off the bench and scored the winner. He played for five seasons and returned as manager in 2009 for three seasons before stepping back, only to watch things unravel to an alarming extent. Dean Brett takes a penalty for Tranent. | Tranent Juniors 'About 11 years ago, it was near extinction to be honest,' he says. 'The ground was dilapidated, they had no players, they had no money, they were in debt. Local business guys Matthew Wright and Davie Innes decided to get involved and they transformed the place, with the help of a few other guys, Colin Dryburgh to name one.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tranent won the South Division in 2016 before joining the East of Scotland league in 2018 and leaving their Juniors background behind (they were invited into this season's Junior Cup). Another step up came in 2022 when they won a play-off against Darvel, who, Johnston says, 'were flying at the time', to reach the Lowland League – tier five of Scottish football. They have also dispensed with the Juniors part of their name and joined forces with the local youth teams' set-up. 'Tranent Colts and Tranent Juniors were a completely separate entities,' explains Johnston. 'When I came on board I thought, 'This is mad – we should be part of the same infrastructure'. We dropped the Juniors name and they dropped the Colts name and we became Tranent Football Club.' Tranent's big aim The maroon colour of Tranent Juniors was retained, which means all teams, from youths to over-35s, play in maroon – although not in today's cup final, when Tranent have been assigned away team status and will play in blue (one of the old colours of Tranent Colts). 'Our aims and ambitions are to take the club to the Scottish Professional Football League,' says Johnston. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As well as an inspiration, nearby Bonnyrigg Rose are also a cautionary tale – they have shown it's possible to come back down again too. This hasn't put Johnston off, although in order to get the SFA bronze license status required for the SPFL small improvements, such as widening the pitch by just over a metre, are required. 'We can have a pathway for all budding football players in and around Tranent who want to potentially play in the Scottish league to play for their local club,' he says. 'I'd say that's the long-term ambition.' Tranent chairman Brian Johnston. | Brian Johnston It's possible that we might see Hibs v Tranent on the fixture card in the future, which would be interesting seeing as the former's training base is just over two miles away from Tranent's trim HQ. The Easter Road club moved in 18 years ago. What's it been like having the big boys in the locale? 'That is a bit of a sore subject to be honest,' admits Johnston. 'There is no link there at all. Even reaching out for a friendly has become impossible. They've always got other stuff on. I think they could be a lot closer to us than what they currently are. But that's up to Hibs and the way they want to run their model. 'I am a Hibs fan and it disappoints me that they do not offer a wee bit more support. Even a pre-season friendly v Hibs would generate a big crowd at Foresters. Any big crowd generates decent income. That's the kind of thing we need to get the finance to secure the bronze license. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Desire for stronger ties 'I wish our ties with them are stronger than they currently are. Every season I reach out (for a friendly) - we had one organised last season and at the last minute they cancelled. I just think they could be a wee bit more accommodating to the local community club, I really do.'
Edinburgh Reporter
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Martin Boyle named in the SPFL Team of the Week after goal and assist against Rangers
Hibs star Martin Boyle has been named in the SPFL Team of the Week. A goal and an assist from the speedy forward helped Hibs to a 2-2 draw with Rangers in what was a very entertaining way for the Easter Road side to finish off a terrific 2024/25 campaign. He is joined in the team by Hearts Stephen Kingsley who scored the only goal of the game against Kilmarnock. Former Hearts defender Danny Wilson who helped Livingston beat Partick Thistle in the William Hill Premiership play-off semi-final also made the team. The team was selected by Craig Fowler of BBC's A View from the Terrace. The full teams is as follows: Cade Melrose (Airdrieonians), Ryan Alebiosu (St Mirren), Danny Wilson (Livingston), Sam Cleall-Harding (Dundee United), Stephen Kingsley, James Forrest (Celtic), Lyall Cameron (Dundee), Lennon Miller (Motherwell), Adam Laaref (East Fife), Martin Boyle (Hibernian), Cyriel Dessers (Rangers) Rangers bound Cameron was named Star Man Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Jordan Smith and Lawrence Shankland named in SPFL Team of the Week
Hibs goalkeeper Jordan Smith and Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland have been named in the SPFL team of the week The team was selected by Craig Fowler from BBC's A View from the Terrace Smith made a key stop and put in another impressive showing as Hibs moved a step closer to securing third place, on the same day Aberdeen lost at St Mirren, by defeating Dundee United 3-1 at Easter Road. David Gray's men now have a three-point lead with three games to play and a much superior goal difference than the chasing two. 19th December 2024 Edinburgh – Images of Lawrence Shankland taking during the Hearts 2-2 draw with Petrocub at Tynecastle. Shankland may have endured a tough season but his double in the Highlands this past weekend was crucial for Hearts as they overturned an early deficit and dismissed any talk of relegation trouble with a 3-1 win over Ross County. Falkirk's Ethan Ross was named this week's Star Man comes from Friday evening as Falkirk were able to secure the William Hill Championship trophy despite suffering an early scare against Hamilton Accies. Thanks to two goals from Ross, John McGlynn's side were able to overturn an early deficit and ultimately run out 3-1 victors. The full team is Jordan Smith (Hibernian), Lee Ashcroft (Partick Thistle), Stuart Findlay (Kilmarnock), Dan Casey (Motherwell), Findlay Marshall (Cove Rangers), Oisin Smyth (St Mirren), Mikey Anderson (Stenhousemuir), Danny Denholm (Forfar Athletic), Robbie Cole (Kelty Hearts), Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian), Ethan Ross (Falkirk) (Star Man) Like this: Like Related
The Herald Scotland
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
BBC set to decide fate of cult Scottish football TV favourite
Known for its irreverent tone, passionate debates, and celebration of the sport's quirks and characters, it has built a loyal following since its debut. A mix of insightful analysis, fan-driven features, and comedy sketches has made it a staple in the weekly routines of supporters across the country. But could this be the final time it airs on the BBC Scotland channel in its current form? Host Craig Telfer summed up the feeling among cast and fans alike in a heartfelt message shared on social media ahead of Friday's season finale. 'Today marks the final episode of A View from the Terrace. Of the current season? Or of all time? In the words of Edinburgh City manager Michael McIndoe: 'we'll let the footballing Gods decide',' Telfer wrote. Read more: He continued: 'Either way: I've had the time of my life! And I'm very proud of the work we've done over the last six years. You simply cannot beat hanging out with your mates and talking about Scottish football. "Big up everyone who's watched on the BBC Scotland channel and the BBC iPlayer. Thank you for your support. I do hope you've enjoyed yourself.'
