The Benchman: Bonkers? Or a bit of Dutch courage?

Bonkers games and best ten matches all feature in The Benchman’s look at Falkirk and Scottish football this week.
Mystery Picture: What's the Falkirk connection in this team?Mystery Picture: What's the Falkirk connection in this team?
Mystery Picture: What's the Falkirk connection in this team?

READING MATTER: Hopefully, by the time you are reading this, the new Falkirk book will be available as an e-book. Thanks to the club for helping with the arrangements. For those fans who prefer a “real” book, we will be printing a limited edition once we get back to normal again. The e-book is free to download, but I am hopeful that you will make a donation to Motor Neurone Disease Scotland of whatever amount you can afford. This a very worthwhile cause and we really want to give all the profits from Volume Five of The Falkirk Bairns book to MND Scotland.

DESERT ISLAND GAMES: Those of you who were keen radio fans will remember the format. Celebrities were asked which ten pieces of music they would take with them if they were marooned on a desert island and had nothing else to listen to. In these difficult times, it might be interested to choose a football equivalent. Which ten Falkirk games would you never tire of watching or listening to? My list would definitely include these:- a. Falkirk 2 Kilmarnock 1 1957 Scottish Cup Final. b. Falkirk 5 Rangers 5 1959.c. Falkirk 6 Celtic 2 1965. d. Falkirk 3 Rangers 1 1971.e.Airdrie 1 Falkirk 3 1990.f. Falkirk 7 Raith Rovers 1 1991. g. Falkirk 2 Celtic 0 1993 SC h. Falkirk 6 Hearts 0 1993. i. Falkirk 1 Celtic 0 1997 SC. j. Falkirk 4 Hearts 0 2003 SC.

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MYSTERY PICTURE: Spot the Falkirk connection in the picture above.

ANSWERS: Last week’s mystery team was Hearts. Tom White, brother of John, was centre in the front row. Alan Anderson who started out at Brockville, is second from the right in the back row. Older ‘Shire fans might have spotted Frank Sandeman second from right in the front row.

TIED HANDS: It wisnae me- a big boy made me do it and ran away. The traditional playground excuse would not have been out of place with all the SPFL hesitation and procrastination, while they waited for their own “big boy” in the shape of UEFA or FIFA to make the ultimate decision on season 2019/20. Just asking this. What if the leading two teams in the top flight had been say Motherwell and Aberdeen?

DUTCH COURAGE: What about the Dutch decision to make their top- flight void rather than make decisions based on games played? Would the ESPL follow suit and so rescue Hearts, Partick, Stranraer and Brechin?

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BONKERS MOMENTS: Match of the Day featured Bonkers Moments from their back catalogue. Is there a Falkirk equivalent? I can think of a few. What about The Boxing Match- Albert Craig v Gareth Evans? The Joe Tortolano farewell gesture? The three red- carded Bairns in a League Cup tie against Hearts? Tony Finnegan’s Brother? The Floodlight Failure v Motherwell? The John White Penalty v Raith? Any more come to mind?

CLASSIC BENCHMARKS

Airdrie 1 Falkirk 3

Saturday October 27, 1990

Match rating: 10

Team rating: 10

Opposition: 6

Referee: B.McGinlay

Best Bairn: Sammy McGivern