Latest news with #Bairns
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish Premiership side agree deal to sign Scott Bain
Read more: After sliding to third in the pecking order behind Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo the former Scotland stopper was given the green light to seek first team football elsewhere. And Bairns boss John McGlynn has moved quickly to tie up a 12-month agreement with the former Scotland stopper as he gears up for the Bairns' return to the Premiership after a 15 year absence. Signed in 2018 Bain made 69 appearances for the Celtic first team. And the Parkhead club have already agreed a deal to snap up Aberdeen free agent Ross Doohan.
The National
3 days ago
- Sport
- The National
Scottish Premiership side agree deal to sign Scott Bain
Despite having 12 months to run on his Parkhead contract Bain, 33, left the Scottish champions immediately after the Scottish Cup Final. Read more: After sliding to third in the pecking order behind Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo the former Scotland stopper was given the green light to seek first team football elsewhere. And Bairns boss John McGlynn has moved quickly to tie up a 12-month agreement with the former Scotland stopper as he gears up for the Bairns' return to the Premiership after a 15 year absence. Signed in 2018 Bain made 69 appearances for the Celtic first team. And the Parkhead club have already agreed a deal to snap up Aberdeen free agent Ross Doohan.
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.
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Falkirk's journey from League 1 to Premiership in two seasons
Finally, 15 years of hurt have ended for Falkirk. The Bairns are back where they believe they belong - the Scottish goodness, did they do it the hard way in a dramatic final-day decider after a few wobbles in recent their 3-1 win over Hamilton Academical, John McGlynn's side are, at long last, champions of the is a second successive title and promotion under the stewardship of the man with the cap for the side who dropped down into League 1 six years "Champions 25" t-shirts have been ironed for a few weeks, while the champagne has been on ice too, but it would not have been Falkirk if there had not been one final twist in a tale that seemed storied weeks has been an extensive, and at times arduous, break from the big time, but just how have the Bairns got back there?From invincibles to near-bottlers, BBC Scotland takes a look at Falkirk's fantastic couple of seasons following 13 years of carrying the unfortunate label of Scotland's sleeping giant. 'Favourite moment as a Falkirk fan' When McGlynn was unveiled as the new manager of Falkirk in May 2022 - just one day after leaving Raith Rovers - the club had just slumped to a sixth-place finish in their third season in the third was after being relegated to League 1 - on goal difference - nine years after their demotion from the top McInally, from the Falkirk Daft podcast, told BBC Scotland: "I was just so dumbfounded that Falkirk found themselves in that position and then tumbled into League 1 with a whimper."It was just a sad, sad day for the club. That was the real low moment."It was a downward spiral in League 1 until we got McGlynn. He came in and completely revamped the side."As ever, the former Hearts boss pulled no punches on his arrival and admitted, although it was "a big job", he and his trusty assistant, Paul Smith, were "excited at the prospect of trying to get it back where we think it should belong".Their first attempt fell they finished second only to runaway league winners - and local rivals - Dunfermline Athletic, they were demolished 7-2 by Airdrieonians over the two-legged play-off semi-final. A furious fifth season in League 1 was set to be endured. But fury soon turned to worked his magic in the summer, scooping up free agents Brad Spencer, Calvin Miller, Ross MacIver and Nicky Hogarth, among with shrewd acquisitions from the season prior - the likes of Stephen McGinn, Liam Henderson, Coll Donaldson and Gary Oliver - the Bairns stormed to the title with five games to secured it in fashion with a 7-1 mauling of Montrose, but they were not heading for the sun loungers yet. The Championship was calling, but an invincible league campaign was on the the 84th minute of their last game in League 1 against Alloa Athletic, it appeared the Bairns were going to fall agonisingly short. Then Spencer put away a penalty to etch the team's name into the history books."To eventually get out of League 1 and do it as invincibles was one of my favourite moments as a Falkirk supporter," McInally revealed."Sometimes you reflect and go, was it worth that moment? And sometimes you think, maybe it was." 'Complete and utter Roy of the Rovers stuff' After five years of rage and ridicule, the Bairns could be forgiven for making the most of their Championship opener on a Friday night back in disco lights to fireworks, they pulled out all the stops - and did not stop off the campaign with a five-game winning run - which included the fist win at Dunfermline's East End Park in five years - they made a seamless transition back to the second in the season - international breaks, first round of games, festive fixture - came and went with little fuss on the pitch but plenty excitement off it as the team remained at the top of the tree exhilaration was taken up yet another notch on 3 February when homegrown hero Scott Arfield, the former Rangers, Burnley and Canada midfielder, made a stunning return, 15 years after his exit."It was complete and utter Roy of the Rovers stuff," McInally said of the academy product's re-signing."There had been murmurings, then I got a couple of messages from people who know Scott saying 'this is happening'. "I was like, shut up, no way. Then it happened and it was such a buzz."With the number 37 on his back - a number that had been, and will be again - retired since the tragic passing of former team-mate Craig Gowans, Arfield marked his magical return with a hat-trick against Partick proved to be the first of an eight-game unbeaten run that had the Bairns heading into the final six games with an 11-point advantage. Get the fancy champagne looked out and the t-shirts sent to the printer. Back-to-back titles started to seem a matter of when, not goods no doubt made the journey down to Somerset Park, where a win over Ayr United in the fourth last game of the season would all-but secure the a 93rd-minute equaliser from Ethan Walker put the champagne on ice. No need to panic, though. Another chance would came and went in similar style against Rovers, who stunned the league leaders with three goals from the 88th-minute onwards. Veering towards the panic unbelievably, it happened again against 10-man Thistle the following Friday at Firhill. Terry Ablade's incredible 97th-minute winner had the panic button being well and truly battered.A matter of weeks ago, a final-day decider appeared impossible. Now, the Championship trophy was lingering midway Linlithgow, ready to head to Livingston, if a bit, that was the destination punched into the satnav. For the first time this season, Livingston topped the were soon displaced, though, when an Ethan Ross free-kick not only sent Falkirk Stadium into a frenzy but set the Bairns on their way to something of a comfortable men did it the hard way, but for scenes such as those at full-time, they will tell you it was worth man with the cap delivered on his promise. Now, he says, the sky is the limit.
