Departing Bairn Buchanan: ‘Not the way I wanted, or expected Falkirk career to end’

Gregor Buchanan’s exit from Falkirk has left the defender disappointed, but proud of his time at the club – and amazed by the voluntary force behind the scenes backing the club.
Gregor Buchanan captained Falkirk in 35 games last season. Picture: Michael Gillen.Gregor Buchanan captained Falkirk in 35 games last season. Picture: Michael Gillen.
Gregor Buchanan captained Falkirk in 35 games last season. Picture: Michael Gillen.

He lived out his football dream – and that of his fellow Falkirk fans – in turning out for his hometown team.

A second bite at a career in navy blue after a release as a teenager, he grapsed the opportunity to play for the Bairns with both hands when the opportunity arose last summer, leaving Morton in the Championship for a crack at the League One title, locally.

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But though bitterly disappointed by his exit from the Bairns, the defender is still immensely proud of his time captaining the club to what could have, and should have, been a successful campaign in League One.

“The fans were great with me and I know I’ve lived out their dreams, and my own, in playing for the club,” he told The Falkirk Herald. “A lot of people would give a lot to be in my position and I’m proud to have done so and of my time with the club.

“I look at it as I played a massive part in taking the club to the position it was in when everything ended. Three quarters of a season played we were still on course to do what we had set out to.

“We had one of the best defensive records in Britain. When I look at my own stats, I played 90 per cent of the games and I’m pleased with how it went – we’d have liked some more points on the board but we were in position to achieve our aims.

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“Nothing can take away the chance I had to go and play. It was a no-brainer for me but the disappointment for me is that I made a big sacrifice coming from a Championship team where I had a contract option of a year and I committed to the club in League One, and I bought into what was being worked towards here.

Captain Gregor Buchanan with Falkirk fans at the end of the game.  Picture: Michael Gillen.Captain Gregor Buchanan with Falkirk fans at the end of the game.  Picture: Michael Gillen.
Captain Gregor Buchanan with Falkirk fans at the end of the game. Picture: Michael Gillen.

“The armband thing was to put smiles on faces. I’d have loved that as a 10-year-old fan. I gave a lot of my time off the park to help the club in every way possible and the way it’s ended, it just leaves a bit of a sour taste. I’m bitterly disappointed.”

The shock of the season ending abruptly, then promotion and a potential league title being taken away was compounded when Buchanan was told he was being taken off furlough and released at the end of June – weeks after representing the players in talks with the club.

That experience casts a shadow on his time, but still his pride at being a Falkirk player remains, and his admiration for the people behind the scenes, and the fans who supported him, continues.

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He added: “When you go to clubs you meet volunteers and helpers behind the scenes but I have never met so many as I did at Falkirk just working to help out the club, it’s quite incredible how many good people are volunteering there, and they deserve a bit more credit. The fans were fantastic with me too.

Gregor Buchanan. Picture: Michael Gillen.Gregor Buchanan. Picture: Michael Gillen.
Gregor Buchanan. Picture: Michael Gillen.

“The photographer Gordon Whyte has been posting older match pictures online, and it takes me back to games I was at – nice memories.

“If you’d have told me then as a supporter I’d have had a chance to do as they were doing and play there, I’d have jumped at the chance, and I did.

“The way it ended has soured things a bit but when I got the call there was only one place for me, no-one can take that away from me, and it’ll stay with me forever.”

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