2019–20 Falkirk F.C. season

The 2019–20 season was Falkirk's first season in League One following their relegation from the Championship at the end of the 2018–19 season. Falkirk also competed in the League Cup, Challenge Cup and the Scottish Cup. On 13 March 2020 all SPFL competitions were indefinitely suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.[1]

Falkirk
2019–20 season
ChairmanGary Deans
ManagerRay McKinnon
(until 16 November)
David McCracken & Lee Miller
(from 19 November)
StadiumFalkirk Stadium
League OneSecond Place
(As of 15 April 2020)
League CupGroup stage
Challenge CupThird round
Scottish CupFifth round
Top goalscorerLeague: Declan McManus (19)
All: Declan McManus (24)
Highest home attendance5,976 vs. Heart of Midlothian, Scottish Cup, 8 February 2020
Lowest home attendance1,706 vs. Celtic U21s, Challenge Cup, 13 August 2019
Average home league attendance3,713

Summary

Falkirk began the season on 3 August 2019 and was scheduled to end on 2 May 2020.[2] On 8 April 2020, the SPFL proposed to end the 2019–20 season by utilising a points per game ratio to determine the final standings.[3] The plan was approved on 15 April 2020, declaring that the season was over, with Raith Rovers being named as title winners and relegating Stranraer to League Two.[4]

Management

Falkirk began the 2019–20 season under the management of Ray McKinnon who had been appointed midway through the previous season. On 16 November, McKinnon left his position as manager with the club in fourth place.[5] Former Falkirk player David McCracken and striker Lee Miller were appointed as replacement co-managers on 19 November on an interim basis before being installed permanently on 13 December.[6][7]

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre Season
2 July 2019 Falkirk 0 – 2 Hamilton Academical University of Stirling
15:00 Report
6 July 2019 Falkirk 2 – 2 Partick Thistle University of Stirling
15:00 Connolly
Trialist 		Report Bannigan
Mansell
10 July 2019 Brechin City 0 – 3 Falkirk Glebe Park, Brechin
19:45 Report Johnstone 10'
Sammon 59 pen.'
Trialist 61'

Scottish League One
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish League One
3 August 2019 1 Peterhead 0 – 0 Falkirk Balmoor Stadium, Peterhead
15:00 Report
Attendance: 1,513
Referee: Colin Steven
10 August 2019 2 Falkirk 6 – 0 Dumbarton Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00
Report
Attendance: 4,060
Referee: Graham Beaton
17 August 2019 3 Falkirk 2 – 1 Montrose Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00
Report
Attendance: 3,736
Referee: Steven Reid
24 August 2019 4 Clyde 1 – 0 Falkirk Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
15:00
  • Mark Lamont 34'
  • Grant Yellow card 51'
 Report
Attendance: 2,048
Referee: David Lowe
31 August 2019 5 Airdrieonians 0 – 0 Falkirk Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
15:00 Report
Attendance: 1,888
Referee: David Dickinson
14 September 2019 6 Falkirk 3 – 0 Forfar Athletic Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00
Report
Attendance: 3,663
Referee: Barry Cook
21 September 2019 7 Stranraer 0 – 3 Falkirk Stair Park, Stranraer
15:00 Report
Attendance: 549
Referee: Grant Irvine
28 September 2019 8 Falkirk 0 – 0 East Fife Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00
Report
Attendance: 3,933
Referee: David Dickinson
5 October 2019 9 Raith Rovers 2 – 2 Falkirk Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy
15:00
Report
Attendance: 2,756
Referee: Scott Lambie
19 October 2019 10 Falkirk 4 – 0 Peterhead Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00
Report
Attendance: 3,289
Referee: Grant Irvine
26 October 2019 11 Falkirk 0 – 1 Clyde Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00
Report
Attendance: 4,021
Referee: Mike Roncone
2 November 2019 12 Forfar Athletic 0 – 2 Falkirk Station Park, Forfar
15:00
Report
Attendance: 998
Referee: Kevin Graham
9 November 2019 13 Falkirk 1 – 2 Airdrieonians Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00
Report
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Steven Kirkland
16 November 2019 14 Dumbarton 1 – 1 Falkirk Dumbarton Football Stadium, Dumbarton
15:00
Report
Attendance: 982
Referee: Barry Cook
30 November 2019 15 Falkirk 3 – 0 Stranraer Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00
Report Attendance: 3,488
Referee: Steven Reid
7 December 2019 16 East Fife 0 – 0 Falkirk Bayview Stadium, Methil
15:00
  • Patrick Slattery Yellow card 31'
 Report
Attendance: 1,182
Referee: Craig Napier
14 December 2019 17 Falkirk 1 – 1 Raith Rovers Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00
Report
Attendance: 4,024
Referee: Gavin Ross
21 December 2019 18 Montrose 2 – 3 Falkirk Links Park, Montrose
15:00
Report
Attendance: 1,095
Referee: Gavin Duncan
28 December 2019 19 Airdrieonians 1 – 1 Falkirk Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie
15:00
Report
Attendance: 2,530
Referee: David Dickinson
4 January 2020 20 Falkirk 3 – 0 Dumbarton Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00
Report
Attendance: 3,807
Referee: Euan Anderson
11 January 2020 21 Peterhead 1 – 3 Falkirk Balmoor Stadium, Peterhead
15:00
Report
Attendance: 886
Referee: Steven Reid
25 January 2020 22 Falkirk 6 – 0 Forfar Athletic Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00
Report
Attendance: 3,522
Referee: Craig Napier
1 February 2020 23 Stranraer 1 – 1 Falkirk Stair Park, Stranraer
15:00 Thomson 52' Report Connolly 31' Attendance: 546
Referee: John McKendrick
18 February 2020 24 Falkirk 2 – 0 East Fife Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
19:45 Doyle 72'
McManus 77'		 Report Attendance: 3,376
Referee: Steven Reid
22 February 2020 25 Falkirk 1 – 0 Montrose Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 McManus 40 pen.' Red card 70' Report Attendance: 3,561
Referee: Grant Irvine
29 February 2020 26 Clyde 3 – 2 Falkirk Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
15:00 Lamont 3'
Goodwillie 43 pen.', 53'		 Report Telfer 45+1 pen.'
Longridge 90'		 Attendance: 1,784
Referee: David Dickinson
3 March 2020 27 Raith Rovers 1 – 1 Falkirk Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy
15:00 MacLean 47' Report McManus 69' Attendance: 3,235
Referee: Peter Stuart
7 March 2020 28 Falkirk 3 – 0 Peterhead Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00 Miller 9'
McManus 25 pen.', 61'		 Report Attendance: 3,507
Referee: Craig Napier

Scottish League Cup
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish League Cup § Group G

Group stage

Results

13 July 2019 1 Falkirk 1 – 1
(3 – 4 p)		 Livingston Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15:00
Report
Attendance: 2,121
Referee: Alan Muir
16 July 2019 2 Falkirk 1 – 0 Stranraer Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
19:45
Report
Attendance: 1,838
Referee: Chris Fordyce
20 July 2019 3 Ayr United 2 – 1 Falkirk Somerset Park, Ayr
15:00
Report
Attendance: 1,605
Referee: Barry Cook
23 July 2019 4 Berwick Rangers 0 – 3 Falkirk Shielfield Park, Berwick-upon-Tweed
19:45
  • Lewis Barr Yellow card 30'
  • Jack Cook Yellow card 65'
 Report
Attendance: 509
Referee: Steven Kirkland

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification LIV AYR FAL STR BER
1 Livingston 4 3 1 0 0 10 3 +7 11 Qualification for the Second Round — 2–1 — — 5–0
2 Ayr United 4 2 0 1 1 12 5 +7 7 — — 2–1 2–2p —
3 Falkirk 4 2 0 1 1 6 3 +3 7 1–1p — — 1–0 —
4 Stranraer 4 1 1 0 2 9 5 +4 5 1–2 — — — 6–0
5 Berwick Rangers 4 0 0 0 4 0 21 −21 0 — 0–7 0–3 — —
Source: [8]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[9]

Scottish Challenge Cup
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish Challenge Cup
13 August 2019 Second round Falkirk 1 – 1
(6 – 5 p)		 Celtic U21 Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
19:45
Report
Attendance: 1,706
Referee: David Dickinson
7 September 2019 Third round Raith Rovers 2 – 0 Falkirk Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy
15:00
Report
Attendance: 1,771
Referee: Greg Aitken

Scottish Cup
Main article: 2019–20 Scottish Cup
22 November 2019 Third round Linlithgow Rose 1 – 4 Falkirk Prestonfield, Linlithgow
19:05
  • Tommy Coyne 20'
  • Sam Collumbine Yellow card 89'
 Report
Attendance: 1,720
Referee: Grant Irvine
18 January 2020 Fourth round Arbroath 0 – 0 Falkirk Gayfield Park, Arbroath
15:00
Summary
Attendance: 1,733
Referee: Greg Aitken
28 January 2020 Fourth Round Reply Falkirk 2 – 0 Arbroath Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
19:45
Report
Attendance: 2,704
Referee: Euan Anderson
8 February 2020 Fifth round Falkirk 0 – 1 Heart of Midlothian Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
19:20
Report
Attendance: 5,976
Referee: John Beaton

Player statistics
As of 4 May 2019 (UTC)[10]
No. Pos Nat Player TotalChampionshipLeague CupScottish CupOther
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2 DF Scotland SCO Michael Doyle 37328+034+004+001+00
3 DF Scotland SCO Paul Dixon 37228+014+004+011+00
4 DF Scotland SCO Gregor Buchanan 35025+004+004+002+00
5 DF Scotland SCO Mark Durnan 30221+123+004+001+00
6 MF Senegal SEN Morgaro Gomis 30220+213+004+011+00
7 MF Scotland SCO Aidan Connolly 34417+844+003+000+20
8 MF Scotland SCO Ian McShane 2109+503+101+002+00
9 FW Scotland SCO Declan McManus 342426+0193+034+020+10
10 FW Scotland SCO Denny Johnstone 1410+702+210+102+00
12 GK Scotland SCO Calum Ferrie 000+000+000+000+00
14 MF Scotland SCO Louis Longridge 28618+650+001+102+01
15 DF Northern Ireland NIR Ben Hall 626+020+000+000+00
16 DF Scotland SCO Gary Miller 21015+100+003+002+00
17 FW Scotland SCO Robbie Leitch 700+301+100+002+00
18 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Conor Sammon 351017+1061+114+030+20
19 MF England ENG Josh Todd 603+100+001+100+00
20 FW Scotland SCO Aidan Laverty 000+000+000+000+00
21 MF Scotland SCO Charlie Telfer 29415+543+102+101+10
23 MF Italy ITA Raffaele De Vita 903+400+000+200+00
29 FW Republic of Ireland IRL David McMillan 22412+740+000+300+00
31 GK Scotland SCO Robbie Mutch 26017+102+004+002+00
99 FW Scotland SCO Lee Miller 411+310+000+000+00
Players who left the club during the 2019–20 season
1 GK Scotland SCO Cammy Bell 13011+000+002+000+00
11 MF Scotland SCO Ross MacLean 1100+701+100+101+00
12 MF Scotland SCO Michael Tidser 1409+003+100+100+00
15 DF Scotland SCO Lewis Toshney 1207+101+201+000+00
19 MF Scotland SCO Lewis Moore 400+200+000+002+00

Team Statistics

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Promotion, qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
1 Raith Rovers (C) 28 15 8 5 49 33 +16 53 1.89 Promotion to the Championship
2 Falkirk 28 14 10 4 54 18 +36 52 1.86
3 Airdrieonians 28 14 6 8 38 27 +11 48 1.71
4 Montrose 28 15 2 11 48 38 +10 47 1.68
5 East Fife 28 12 9 7 44 36 +8 45 1.61
Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points per game.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. All play-off matches were cancelled, as clubs voted to curtail the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11]

Division summary
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728
GroundAHHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHHAAH
ResultDWWLDWWDDWLWLDWDDWDWWWDWWLDW
Position7313433333313433443322222222
Updated to match(es) played on 15 April 2020. Source: [12]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Transfers

See also

References
  1. "Coronavirus joint response group update". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  2. "Key dates for 2019/20". SPFL. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  3. "SPFL: Clubs to vote on lower leagues; Premiership decision on hold". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  4. "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles & reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. BBC. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. "Falkirk: Ray McKinnon sacked with club fourth place in League One". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 November 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  6. "Falkirk: Lee Miller and David McCracken appointed interim coaching team". BBC Sport. BBC. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  7. "Falkirk confirm Lee Miller and David McCracken until end of season". BBC Sport. BBC. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  8. "Summary - League Cup Group G". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  9. "Format". SPFL. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  10. "Falkirk 2018/2019 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  11. "Dundee Utd, Raith & Cove win titles and reconstruction talks start after Dundee vote". BBC Sport. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  12. "Scottish Championship 2019/20". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
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  14. "Michael Tidser Signs". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  15. "Aidan Connolly Signs". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  16. "Welcome to Falkirk Morgaro Gomis". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  17. "Charlie Telfer Signs!". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  18. "Cammy Bell Signs". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  19. "Doyle Becomes 8th Summer Signing". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
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  21. "Conor Sammon: League One Falkirk sign striker after Hearts release". BBC Sport. BBC. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  22. "BAIRNS SIGN TOSHNEY AND LEITCH". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  23. "BAIRNS SIGN TOSHNEY AND LEITCH". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
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  28. "David McMillan signs season-long loan". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  29. "Falkirk: Livingston's Raffaele De Vita joins on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
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  31. "Josh Todd Signs". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  32. "Calum Ferrie Signs". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  33. "Falkirk part ways with 14 first team players following relegation". footballscotland.co.uk. Football Scotland. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  34. "NEW SIGNING: David Mitchell". clydefc.co.uk. Clyde FC. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  35. "Ciaran McKenna: Hamilton sign former Falkirk defender". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  36. "Paton is a Par". dafc.co.uk. Dunfermline Athletic FC. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  37. "Dundee sign former Falkirk skipper Jordan McGhee on two-year deal". thecourier.co.uk. Dundee Courier. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  38. "Barrow AFC make Cumbrian defender Patrick Brough their fifth summer signing". nwemail.co.uk. The Mail. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  39. "Nikolay Todorov Signs for ICTFC". ictfc.com. Inverness CT FC. 19 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  40. "Thomas Robson is a Jag". ptfc.co.uk. Partick Thistle FC. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  41. "QoSFC: Kidd Back in Town". qosfc.com. QoS FC. 25 June 2019. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  42. "Деймантас Петравичус - игрок ФК Окжетпес". okzhetpes.kz (in Russian). FC okzhetpes. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  43. "Grant delighted with O'Hara Capture". alloaadvertiser.com. Alloa Advertiser. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  44. "Ex-Falkirk midfielder Cieran Dunne reveals why he wanted to join Elliot Dickman's under-23s". sunderlandecho.com. Sunderland Echo. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  45. "Osman Signs Up". qosfc.com. QoS FC. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  46. "Toshney Signs for ICTFC". ictfc.com. Inverness CT FC. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  47. "MacLean leaves Falkirk to join Queen's Park". falkirkherald.co.uk. Falkirk Herald. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  48. "ROBBIE LEITCH: CONTRACT EXTENSION AND LOAN DEAL CONFIRMED". falkirkfc.co.uk. Falkirk FC. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  49. "New Signing". twitter.com. Kelty Hearts FC. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  50. "Cammy Bell joins the Spiders". queensparkfc.co.uk. Queens Park FC. 7 February 2020. Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
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