2017–18 Falkirk F.C. season
The 2017–18 season was Falkirk’s fifth season in the Scottish Championship and their seventh consecutive season in the second-tier of Scottish football following their relegation from the Scottish Premier League at the end of the 2009–10 season. Falkirk also competed in the League Cup, Challenge Cup and the Scottish Cup.
2017–18 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Margaret Lang | ||
Manager | Peter Houston (until 24 September) Paul Hartley (from 4 October) | ||
Stadium | Falkirk Stadium | ||
Championship | Eighth Place | ||
League Cup | Second Round | ||
Challenge Cup | Quarter-Final | ||
Scottish Cup | Quarter-Final | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Louis Longridge (7) All: Longridge, Muirhead, McKee & Jakubiak (7) | ||
Highest home attendance | 6,094 vs. Dumbarton, Championship, 24 February 2018 | ||
Lowest home attendance | 2,044 vs. Stirling Albion, League Cup, 15 July 2017 | ||
Average home league attendance | 4,676 | ||
| |||
Summary
Management
Falkirk began the 2017–18 season under the management of Peter Houston who had guided the club to a Premiership play-off place in his previous two seasons. On 24 September, Houston left his position as manager following a poor start to the season.[1] Paul Hartley was appointed as his replacement on 4 October and guided the club to safety with an eighth place finish at the end of the season.[2]
Results and fixtures
Win Draw Loss Postponed
Scottish Championship
5 August 2017 1 | St Mirren | 3 – 1 | Falkirk | St Mirren Park, Paisley |
15:00 | Reilly Demetriou Smith |
Report | Austin Muirhead |
Attendance: 4,639 Referee: Don Robertson |
12 August 2017 2 | Falkirk | 1 – 1 | Dumbarton | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Hippolyte |
Report | Roy |
Attendance: 3,864 Referee: Alan Muir |
19 August 2017 3 | Dunfermline Athletic | 3 – 1 | Falkirk | East End Park, Dunfermline |
15:00 | McManus Cardle |
Report | Sibbald Miller Taiwo |
Attendance: 5,751 Referee: John Beaton |
26 August 2017 4 | Falkirk | 1 – 4 | Queen of the South | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Gasparotto |
Report | Kerr Dobbie |
Attendance: 4,108 Referee: Colin Steven |
9 September 2017 5 | Brechin City | 1 – 1 | Falkirk | Glebe Park, Brechin |
15:00 | Graham |
Report | Harris |
Attendance: 748 Referee: Barry Cook |
16 September 2017 6 | Falkirk | 0 – 0 | Dundee United | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Report | Attendance: 4,874 Referee: John Beaton |
23 September 2017 7 | Falkirk | 0 – 2 | Livingston | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Report | Mullen Mullin Gallagher |
Attendance: 4,091 Referee: Greg Aitken |
30 September 2017 8 | Greenock Morton | 0 – 1 | Falkirk | Cappielow, Greenock |
15:00 | Report | Mckee |
Attendance: 1,992 Referee: John McKendrick |
14 October 2017 9 | Falkirk | 0 – 0 | Inverness CT | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Report | Attendance: 4,107 Referee: Nick Walsh |
21 October 2017 10 | Falkirk | 0 – 0 | St Mirren | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Report | Attendance: 5,080 Referee: Don Robertson |
28 October 2017 11 | Queen of the South | 4 – 2 | Falkirk | Palmerston Park, Dumfries |
15:00 | Dobbie Dykes Brownlie Lyle |
Report | Mckee McGhee |
Attendance: 1,716 Referee: Steven Kirkland |
4 November 2017 12 | Falkirk | 1 – 1 | Dunfermline Athletic | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | McGhee |
Report | Higginbotham McManus |
Attendance: 5,465 Referee: Craig Thomson |
19 November 2017 13 | Dundee United | 3 – 0 | Falkirk | Tannadice Park, Dundee |
15:00 | McDonald Robson Flood |
Report | Attendance: 5,915 Referee: Alan Muir |
25 November 2017 14 | Falkirk | 0 – 3 | Greenock Morton | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Report | Harkins Thomson |
Attendance: 4,361 Referee: Greg Aitken |
19 December 2017 15 | Livingston | 0 – 0 | Falkirk | Almondvale Stadium, Livingston |
19:45 | Report | Attendance: 1,287 Referee: Gavin Duncan |
23 December 2017 16 | Dumbarton | 0 – 0 | Falkirk | Dumbarton Football Stadium, Dumbarton |
15:00 | Report | Attendance: 874 Referee: John McKendrick |
30 December 2017 17 | Falkirk | 3 – 2 | Queen of the South | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Grant Hippolyte Longridge |
Report | Dobbie Kerr |
Attendance: 4,285 Referee: Alan Newlands |
2 January 2018 18 | Dunfermline Athletic | 2 – 0 | Falkirk | East End Park, Dunfermline |
15:00 | Clark McManus |
Report | Attendance: 7,140 Referee: Willie Collum |
6 January 2017 19 | Falkirk | 6 – 1 | Dundee United | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Grant Tumilty Longridge Robson Kidd |
Report | King |
Attendance: 5,326 Referee: Nick Walsh |
9 January 2018 20 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 4 – 1 | Falkirk | Caledonian Stadium, Inverness |
19:45 | Oakley Bell Mulraney Baird |
Report | Longridge |
Attendance: 2,014 Referee: John Beaton |
13 January 2018 21 | Greenock Morton | 0 – 1 | Falkirk | Cappielow, Greenock |
15:00 | Report | Sibbald |
Attendance: 2,084 Referee: Andrew Dallas |
27 January 2018 22 | Falkirk | 3 – 1 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Muirhead Nelson |
Report | Mulraney MacKay |
Attendance: 4,251 Referee: Euan Anderson |
3 February 2018 23 | Falkirk | 1 – 3 | Livingston | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Jakubiak |
Report | Lithgow Hardie De Vita |
Attendance: 4,123 Referee: John McKendrick |
6 February 2018 24 | Falkirk | 3 – 1 | Brechin City | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
19:45 | Jakubiak Loy Longridge |
Report | Mackin |
Attendance: 4,214 Referee: Matt Northcroft |
17 February 2018 25 | Brechin City | 0 – 1 | Falkirk | Glebe Park, Brechin |
15:00 | Lynas |
Report | Jakubiak |
Attendance: 805 Referee: Greg Aitken |
24 February 2018 26 | Falkirk | 0 – 0 | Dumbarton | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Report | Attendance: 6,094 Referee: Colin Steven |
10 March 2018 27 | Falkirk | 3 – 1 | Greenock Morton | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Muirhead Nelson Jakubiak |
Report | Harkins |
Attendance: 4,218 Referee: Euan Anderson |
17 March 2018 28 | Livingston | 0 – 0 | Falkirk | Almondvale, Livingston |
15:00 | Report | Attendance: 1,319 Referee: Gavin Duncan |
31 March 2018 29 | Falkirk | 3 – 0 | Brechin City | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
19:45 | Muirhead Sibbald Nelson |
Report | Crighton McLean |
Attendance: 4,422 Referee: Stephen Finnie |
3 April 2018 30 | Queen of the South | 2 – 2 | Falkirk | Palmerston Park, Dumfries |
19:45 | Thomson Brownlie |
Report | Nelson Longridge |
Attendance: 1,062 Referee: Steven Kirkland |
7 April 2018 31 | Falkirk | 1 – 2 | Dunfermline Athletic | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Muirhead |
Report | Higginbotham Aird |
Attendance: 5,784 Referee: Don Robertson |
10 April 2018 32 | Inverness CT | 1 – 0 | Falkirk | Caledonian Stadium, Inverness |
19:45 | Mulraney |
Report | Attendance: 2,053 Referee: Nick Walsh |
14 April 2018 33 | Dundee United | 1 – 0 | Falkirk | Tannadice Stadium, Dundee |
15:00 | Mikkelsen |
Report | Attendance: 5,170 Referee: Craig Thomson |
17 April 2018 34 | St Mirren | 1 – 2 | Falkirk | St Mirren Park, Paisley |
19:45 | Hippolyte |
Report | McKee Sibbald |
Attendance: 3,761 Referee: Alan Muir |
21 April 2018 35 | Dumbarton | 2 – 5 | Falkirk | Dumbarton Football Stadium, Dumbarton |
15:00 | Gallagher Burt |
Report | Jakubiak Longridge Robson Sibbald McKee |
Attendance: 942 Referee: Mike Roncone |
28 April 2018 36 | Falkirk | 1 – 0 | St Mirren | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Blair |
Report | Attendance: 5,508 Referee: Stephen Finnie |
Scottish League Cup
Group Stage
Results
15 July 2017 Group Stage | Falkirk | 4 – 1 | Stirling Albion | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Austin McKee Harris Muirhead |
Report | Smith |
Attendance: 2,044 Referee: David Lowe |
22 July 2017 Group Stage | Inverness CT | 0 – 2 | Falkirk | Caledonian Stadium, Inverness |
15:00 | Report | McKee Austin |
Attendance: 1,859 Referee: John Beaton |
25 July 2017 Group Stage | Falkirk | 4 – 0 | Forfar Athletic | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
19:45 | Hippolyte Austin |
Report | Attendance: 2,187 Referee: Kevin Graham |
29 July 2017 Group Stage | Brechin City | 0 – 3 | Falkirk | Glebe Park, Brechin |
15:00 | Report | Miller McKee Harris |
Attendance: 712 Referee: Euan Anderson |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | FAL | INV | STI | BRE | FOR | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Falkirk (Q) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | +12 | 12 | Qualification for the Second Round | — | — | 4–1 | — | 4–0 | |
2 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 8 | 0–2 | — | — | 3–0 | — | ||
3 | Stirling Albion | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 7 | — | 0–0p | — | 2–0 | — | ||
4 | Brechin City | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | −8 | 2 | 0–3 | — | — | — | p1–1 | ||
5 | Forfar Athletic | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 10 | −7 | 1 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | — | — |
Knockout Stage
Scottish Challenge Cup
2 September 2017 Second Round | Sligo Rovers | 1 – 2 | Falkirk | The Showgrounds, Sligo |
19:45 | Sharkey |
Report | Austin Craigen |
Attendance: 520 Referee: Keith Kennedy |
7 October 2017 Third Round | Falkirk | 2 – 0 | Dunfermline Athletic | Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk |
15:00 | Balatoni Hippolyte |
Report | Shiels |
Attendance: 4,082 Referee: Steven McLean |
11 November 2017 Quarter-final | Inverness CT | 1 – 0 | Falkirk | Caledonian Stadium, Inverness |
17:15 | Bell |
Report | Attendance: 1,078 Referee: Euan Anderson |
Scottish Cup
20 January 2018 Fourth Round | Livingston | 0 – 1 | Falkirk | Almondvale Stadium, Livingston |
19:45 | Report | Tumilty |
Attendance: 1,237 Referee: Alan Newlands |
10 February 2018 Fifth Round | Cove Rangers | 1 – 3 | Falkirk | Harlaw Park, Inverurie |
15:00 | Megginson |
Report | Jakubiak Sibbald |
Attendance: 1,687 Referee: Alan Muir |
Player statistics
- As of 28 April 2018 (UTC)[5]
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Championship | League Cup | Scottish Cup | Other | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
1 | GK | Robbie Thomson | 29 | 0 | 20+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | |
2 | DF | Lewis Kidd | 18 | 1 | 10+6 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
3 | DF | Jordan McGhee | 38 | 3 | 32+0 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 1 | 3+0 | 0 | |
4 | DF | Aaron Muirhead | 43 | 7 | 33+0 | 5 | 4+0 | 1 | 3+0 | 1 | 3+0 | 0 | |
5 | DF | Peter Grant | 34 | 1 | 24+3 | 1 | 4+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |
6 | MF | Joe McKee | 31 | 7 | 16+5 | 4 | 4+1 | 3 | 0+3 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | |
7 | MF | Tom Taiwo | 30 | 1 | 21+1 | 1 | 3+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | |
10 | MF | Craig Sibbald | 29 | 5 | 25+1 | 4 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | |
12 | GK | David Mitchell | 3 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |
14 | MF | Louis Longridge | 29 | 7 | 24+1 | 7 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |
16 | DF | Reghan Tumilty | 20 | 2 | 17+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | |
18 | GK | Conor Hazard | 12 | 0 | 10+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
20 | FW | Kevin O'Hara | 22 | 0 | 5+13 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |
21 | MF | Ryan Blair | 8 | 1 | 4+3 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
22 | FW | Alex Jakubiak | 18 | 7 | 13+2 | 5 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | |
23 | DF | Tony Gallagher | 17 | 0 | 11+0 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |
26 | MF | Reis Peggie | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
27 | DF | Jonathan Mitchell | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
29 | FW | Mark Stowe | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
33 | FW | Rory Loy | 26 | 1 | 9+9 | 1 | 4+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | |
35 | MF | Cieran Dunne | 6 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
42 | DF | Thomas Robson | 21 | 2 | 18+0 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
43 | FW | Andrew Nelson | 15 | 4 | 12+0 | 4 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
44 | DF | Paul Watson | 24 | 0 | 14+4 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |
45 | MF | Sean Welsh | 11 | 0 | 7+4 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
Players who left the club during the 2017–18 season | |||||||||||||
8 | MF | Mark Kerr | 22 | 0 | 15+0 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | |
9 | FW | Nathan Austin | 21 | 5 | 8+6 | 1 | 4+0 | 3 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 | |
11 | FW | Myles Hippolyte | 16 | 6 | 8+2 | 2 | 4+0 | 3 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 | |
15 | DF | Luca Gasparotto | 9 | 1 | 3+2 | 1 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
18 | FW | Lee Miller | 18 | 1 | 3+10 | 0 | 1+4 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |
19 | FW | Scott Shepherd | 7 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
21 | DF | Conrad Balatoni | 11 | 1 | 8+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 1 | |
24 | MF | Cameron Blues | 8 | 0 | 2+4 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | |
28 | MF | James Craigen | 17 | 2 | 5+5 | 0 | 3+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 | |
31 | GK | Robbie Mutch | 5 | 0 | 5+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
Club statistics
League Table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 | Queen of the South | 36 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 59 | 53 | +6 | 52 | |
7 | Greenock Morton | 36 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 47 | 40 | +7 | 50 | |
8 | Falkirk | 36 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 45 | 49 | −4 | 47 | |
9 | Dumbarton (R) | 36 | 7 | 9 | 20 | 27 | 63 | −36 | 30 | Qualification for the Championship play-offs |
10 | Brechin City (R) | 36 | 0 | 4 | 32 | 20 | 90 | −70 | 4 | Relegation to League One |
Division summary
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Transfers
See also
References
- "Falkirk: Peter Houston exits as manager after poor start to season". BBC Sport. BBC. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- "Paul Hartley: New Falkirk manager aims for top four and promotion". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- "Summary - League Cup Group A". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- "Format". SPFL. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
- "Falkirk 2017/2018 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- "Championship 2017/2018 - Season rules". Scoresway. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
- "Scottish Championship 2017/18". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- "Bairns confirm David Mitchell signing". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Alex Harris signs two-year deal". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Rory Returns!". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Bairns Recruit Robbie Mutch". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Falkirk sign defenders Jordan McGhee and Conrad Balatoni". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Falkirk sign defenders Jordan McGhee and Conrad Balatoni". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Hamilton Accies striker Louis Longridge joins Falkirk on emergency loan deal". heraldscotland.com. The Herald. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Falkirk bring in defender Tumilty from Ross County". falkirkherald.co.uk. Falkirk Herald. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Bairns sign Tommy Robson from Sunderland". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Falkirk:Andrew Nelson and Sean Welsh join as Conrad Balatoni leaves". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Falkirk:Andrew Nelson and Sean Welsh join as Conrad Balatoni leaves". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Alex Jakubiak joins from Watford". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Falkirk take Ryan Blair back on loan from Swansea City". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Conor Hazard joins Falkirk on loan". celticfc.net. Celtic FC. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Bob McHugh joins Morton on two year deal". gmfc.net. Greenock Morton FC. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "McCracken moves to Peterhead". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Luke Leahy: Walsall sign Falkirk left-back on a free transfer". BBC Sport. BBC Sport. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Baird is first summer signing for ICT". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Former Rangers and Falkirk midfielder signs for Dunfermline". heraldscotland.com. The Herald. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Signing News:Keeper arrives on loan". dumbartonfootballclub.com. Dumbarton FC. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Shepherd joins Edinburgh City on loan". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Luca Gasparotto joins Morton on loan". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 14 November 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Falkirk:Andrew Nelson and Sean Welsh join as Conrad Balatoni leaves". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "January transfer window signings". spfl.co.uk. SPFL. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Craigen signs". dafc.co.uk. Dunfermline Athletic FC. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Lee Miller signs on dotted line". livingstonfc.co.uk. Livingston FC. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "McCall adds auld acquaintance". ayrunitedfc.co.uk. Ayr United FC. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
- "Myles Hippolyte: St Mirren sign winger from Falkirk". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2020.