Latest news with #Arfield
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Scott Arfield has Falkirk contract extension on the table as chief admits 'we'd be crazy not to keep him'
Jamie Swinney has made it clear he wants to keep Arfield around for the Premiership Scott Arfield will get a crack at the Premiership with Falkirk if he wants to, with CEO Jamie Swinney admitting the club would be crazy not to keep him. It was one of the stories of the Scottish football season when Arfield returned to the club where he launched his career and helped guide them back to the top flight after a 15-year absence. He was part of the team that took them down in 2009 and left to embark on a storied career that saw him make headlines in the English Premier League and play in a European final with Rangers. When top scorer Callumn Morrison was sold in January, John McGlynn teased that he could do something 'interesting.' And there was a social media eruption when it emerged that Arfield was coming back from Bolton Wanderers on an initial six-month deal. It helped galvanise their promotion charge right from the off. Arfield scored nine goals in 13 appearances on their way to sealing the title, including a hattrick against Partick Thistle on his debut – one with his very first touch of the ball. The club hold the option to extend his contract for next season and Swinney admits they won't be waiting about to make it happen. Reflecting on the deadline day turning point, Swinney told The Herald: 'The top goalscorer wanted to leave, we were out the cup and our recent league results had been a little bit uninspiring. 'Fast forward a week, Scott Arfield is in the door and brings a wave of euphoria. 'He was 38 seconds into his second debut and he hadn't touched the ball and when the ball rolls to him in the 18-yard box he did what he has done his whole career. 'Composure, quality and his first goal before he goes on to score a hat-trick. It was Roy of the Rovers stuff. 'He is a hero to fans, what he has brought in terms of goals speaks for itself. 'And what he added off the park is probably more valuable still. 'We have an option on Scott and I think we would be absolutely crazy to not do everything we can to keep him here next season. 'We have a ton of work to do for the Premiership. We have just spent five years in League One and our infrastructure is closer to League One than it is to the Premiership. 'There is so much that needs done. But, listen, it's a brilliant problem to have.' The Bairns also have no plans to part company with John McGlynn – even if Hearts come calling for his signature. Hearts can expect the phone to ring out if they go to Falkirk to enquire about John McGlynn. McGlynn was named manager of the year in Scotland for the second season running after leading the Bairns back to the Premiership in a thrilling final day. The 63-year-old is back in the big time for the first time since he last managed Hearts in 2013. But Swinney told The Herald he's not even ready to consider a future without him. "If they pick up the phone, I just won't answer," he joked. "Listen, I would be very surprised if people didn't speculate over the future of John. "If anybody gets an opportunity to go to a considerably bigger club on a lot more money in football, then I think the vast majority of people can understand it. But I hope it doesn't happen. And I am hopeful now we are in the Premiership. "In the Premiership, we hope John can achieve his ambitions with us and we can hopefully do what we wanted to do for a long time by being competitive in the top flight. "We extended John and his assistant Paul Smith by another three years, so they got four seasons at the club and that was way before we had confirmed the league. So we have already rewarded the management team with a longer-term contract and they love it here. "The squad love John, the fans love him. While he has had bits of success in his career what he has."
Daily Record
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Scott Arfield is just one Falkirk hero but there's too many of them to thank for saving my club
15 years outside the top flight came to an end at last and this fan still doesn't know how to process what he felt on Friday night It wasn't so long ago that a young Scott Arfield was at his own goalkeeper's throat in front of the south stand at the Falkirk Stadium. This was years ago but the man's passion hasn't dimmed in his second spell as a Bairn. On Friday night, with a 3-1 victory over Hamilton Accies, he achieved the thing he's been waiting for ever since. But while you can be forgiven for thinking the homecoming hero is the main character of an epic story that's spanned 15 years and taken fans through every emotion on the spectrum, it isn't all about him. It's about Brad Spencer, the vice captain and midfield general who played every single minute of the Championship-winning season. It's about Tom Lang, who came out the other side of 10 months of injury torture just in time to help push it over the line. It's about Paul Smith, John McGlynn 's long serving number two who suffered a heart attack in January but was out on the pitch after a win in Kirkcaldy to celebrate that very weekend. It's about Aidan Nesbitt, the tireless midfielder who went from being a nailed-on starter to the fringes of the team when Arfield returned to the club on deadline day, but kept his head up and did his bit with his usual fervour every time it was asked of him. I could go on. You're not hard pushed to find a hero in the town of Falkirk these days. And Arfield is just one of them. It's not all about him, but it is a little bit about him. He jumped at the chance to get up the road when the opportunity presented itself and any questions over whether he still has it were answered within seconds of him pulling on a Falkirk shirt again. He scored a hat-trick in his very first game back, and in the celebrations, he looked to the fans in the south and pointed upwards towards the Premiership. A smiling, swaggering message that said 'I'm not here to mess about; we're going up.' It was in front of that very stand that it all started for him. A formative Falkirk memory for this particular fan was of Arfield and his goalkeeper at each other's throats right there. The keeper had had a go about Arfield's role in defending a set piece against Aberdeen. It escalated quickly; Darren Barr then had to pry them apart as it threatened to come to blows. No-one knew it then but this was Falkirk at the very beginning of a decline that would take them a decade and a half to fully recover from. It's not all been bad, with a couple of famous Scottish Cup journeys and a promotion close call or two along the way. But, until John McGlynn stepped in to fight the fire, the trend was only pointing downwards. 'The club was broken, we fixed it,' was the honest and accurate message from the 63-year-old on the night the Bairns sealed a second successive promotion and ensured they will be in the Premiership when they celebrate their 150th anniversary next year – an ambitious goal CEO Jamie Swinney set his sights on right at the beginning of the McGlynn era. They've gone from five years in League One, and the brink of part-time football, back to the top table. And their startling rise from the deep has come about so quickly that fans are struggling to process it. Being a football writer means I've had to give up my usual seat in that very stand behind the goals; you can't get into it without a season ticket these days. I was sitting in the north stand, the one normally home only to the away fans but open to home supporters on days of high demand, when the final whistle blew on Falkirk's 15 years in the wilderness on Friday night. When Calvin Miller's goal hit the back of the net, the decisive third which virtually made sure of the trophy, I didn't celebrate. I froze, teared up, and gave my dad, losing his fight against a few tears of his own, a big cuddle. The only three things my body would let me do in that state of disbelief. It's been a rough few years being a Falkirk fan. For this writer, it's been a football-supporting lifetime filled with tears caused by every imaginable emotion that might make a grown man cry. But we're back. And Scott Arfield is just one of the people we have to thank for it.
The National
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Rangers favourite Arfield left stunned by Whigfield video
The Rangers hero, who returned to his boyhood club in February, was left stunned when none other than 90s pop icon Whigfield sent him a personalised video message – singing the very tune that's become his unofficial anthem. To the famous beat of her 1994 dance hit Saturday Night, Bairns fans regularly belt out 'Saturday night, and I like the way you move… Scotty Arfield!' – a chant that has echoed around stadiums from Ibrox to the Falkirk Stadium. And on the night Falkirk sealed back-to-back promotions to secure a return to Scotland's top flight for the first time in 15 years, Arfield was treated to a one-of-a-kind message from the Danish star. Watching the clip back, a visibly shocked Arfield exclaimed: 'Oh my god. You can't be serious!' Read more: Whigfield then delivered her congratulations, saying: 'I just want to congratulate Falkirk on getting promoted back into the William Hill Premiership. I hope Scott and everybody else at the club are going to have an amazing night. Big kiss and good luck. Bye.' (Image: Sky Sports) Arfield, grinning ear to ear, responded: 'That is one of the best things I have ever seen. That is amazing. Thank you to you, Whigfield. Thank you so much.' The emotional scenes capped a dream return for Arfield, who has made a massive impact since rejoining the Bairns in the winter window. The veteran midfielder scored nine goals in just 13 league appearances, playing a pivotal role in Falkirk's charge to the title under manager John McGlynn. Their final fixture, a dramatic Friday night showdown under the lights, saw the Bairns come from behind to defeat relegated Hamilton Academical 3–1 – thanks to an Ethan Ross brace and a stunning solo effort from Calvin Miller. With title rivals Livingston slipping up at home to Partick Thistle, Falkirk finished three points clear at the summit and will now gear up for Premiership football against the likes of Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts next season. From Ibrox glory nights to Whigfield shout-outs – it's been quite the ride for 36-year-old Arfield. And with Falkirk back among Scotland's elite, the Saturday night party is only just getting started.
The Herald Scotland
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Rangers favourite Arfield left stunned by Whigfield video
To the famous beat of her 1994 dance hit Saturday Night, Bairns fans regularly belt out 'Saturday night, and I like the way you move… Scotty Arfield!' – a chant that has echoed around stadiums from Ibrox to the Falkirk Stadium. And on the night Falkirk sealed back-to-back promotions to secure a return to Scotland's top flight for the first time in 15 years, Arfield was treated to a one-of-a-kind message from the Danish star. Watching the clip back, a visibly shocked Arfield exclaimed: 'Oh my god. You can't be serious!' Read more: Whigfield then delivered her congratulations, saying: 'I just want to congratulate Falkirk on getting promoted back into the William Hill Premiership. I hope Scott and everybody else at the club are going to have an amazing night. Big kiss and good luck. Bye.' (Image: Sky Sports) Arfield, grinning ear to ear, responded: 'That is one of the best things I have ever seen. That is amazing. Thank you to you, Whigfield. Thank you so much.' The emotional scenes capped a dream return for Arfield, who has made a massive impact since rejoining the Bairns in the winter window. The veteran midfielder scored nine goals in just 13 league appearances, playing a pivotal role in Falkirk's charge to the title under manager John McGlynn. Their final fixture, a dramatic Friday night showdown under the lights, saw the Bairns come from behind to defeat relegated Hamilton Academica 3–1 – thanks to an Ethan Ross brace and a stunning solo effort from Calvin Miller. With title rivals Livingston slipping up at home to Partick Thistle, Falkirk finished three points clear at the summit and will now gear up for Premiership football against the likes of Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts next season. From Ibrox glory nights to Whigfield shout-outs – it's been quite the ride for 36-year-old Arfield. And with Falkirk back among Scotland's elite, the Saturday night party is only just getting started.
Scottish Sun
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Moment delighted SPFL cult hero receives bizarre special message from famous singer after latest heroics
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PLENTY of football players have pop songs turned into chants in their honour by fans. But not so many of those players then receive a message from the original singer of the pop song, singing the chant to them. 3 An SPFL side are celebrating and one of their players received a special message Credit: Facebook @Maniqui Falkirk 3 Scott Arfield and Falkirk have achieved promotion to the Premiership Credit: PA 3 The Canadian received a surprise message from a popstar Scott Arfield and Falkirk are celebrating re-promotion to the Premiership after 15 years away. And the former Rangers star had a special surprise lined up for him by the SPFL in the aftermath. Arfield was shown a recorded message of Whigfield, singer of 'Saturday Night', the 1994 hit which is the tune his famous chant is sung to. The clip shows the popstar reciting the chant, with the Canadian watching on in disbelief. She sings: "Saturday night and I like the way you move, Scotty Arfield!" Arfield says as he watches: "Oh my god, you can't be serious!" She continues: "Hi, this is Whigfield, and I just wanted to congratulate Falkirk on being promoted back to the William Hill Premiership. "I hope Scott and everybody else at the club are going to have an amazing night. "Big kiss, and good luck!" Arfield was unable to keep the grin off his face, saying: "Oh my god, that's one of the best things I've ever seen, it's amazing! Falkirk fans invade the pitch as promotion to the Premiership is confirmed "Well thank you to you Whigfield, thank you so much, that's incredible!" Meanwhile, Bairns boss John McGlynn says he WON'T be invited to the squad's post-promotion party. He's masterminded back-to-back promotions and Falkirk are back in the top flight for the first time since 2010. McGlynn said: "It's an amazing feeling - different class. "It was great to celebrate with the players in the dressing room because you never get these moments back. "We will have a little celebration but I won't get a pass to Ibiza with the players!" Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
