Falkirk's Journey From League 1 To Premiership In Two Seasons

Finally, 15 years of wounded person ended for Falkirk. The Bairns are backmost wherever they judge they beryllium - nan Scottish Premiership.

But, goodness, did they do it nan difficult measurement successful a melodramatic final-day decider aft a fewer wobbles successful caller weeks.

Following their 3-1 triumph complete Hamilton Academical, John McGlynn's broadside are, astatine agelong last, champions of nan Championship.

It is simply a 2nd successive title and promotion nether nan stewardship of nan man pinch nan headdress for nan broadside who dropped down into League 1 six years ago.

The "Champions 25" t-shirts person been ironed for a fewer weeks, while nan champagne has been connected crystal too, but it would not person been Falkirk if location had not been 1 last twist successful a communicative that seemed storied weeks ago.

It has been an extensive, and astatine times arduous, break from nan large time, but conscionable really person nan Bairns sewage backmost there?

From invincibles to near-bottlers, BBC Scotland takes a look astatine Falkirk's awesome mates of seasons pursuing 13 years of carrying nan unfortunate explanation of Scotland's sleeping giant.

When McGlynn was unveiled arsenic nan caller head of Falkirk successful May 2022 - conscionable 1 time aft leaving Raith Rovers - nan nine had conscionable slumped to a sixth-place decorativeness successful their 3rd play successful nan 3rd tier.

That was aft being relegated to League 1 - connected extremity quality - 9 years aft their demotion from nan apical flight.

John McInally, from nan Falkirk Daft podcast, told BBC Scotland: "I was conscionable truthful dumbfounded that Falkirk recovered themselves successful that position and past tumbled into League 1 pinch a whimper.

"It was conscionable a sad, sad time for nan club. That was nan existent debased moment.

"It was a downward spiral successful League 1 until we sewage McGlynn. He came successful and wholly revamped nan side."

As ever, nan erstwhile Hearts leader pulled nary punches connected his presence and admitted, though it was "a large job", he and his trusty assistant, Paul Smith, were "excited astatine nan imaginable of trying to get it backmost wherever we deliberation it should belong".

Their first effort fell flat.

While they vanished 2nd only to runaway convention winners - and section rivals - Dunfermline Athletic, they were demolished 7-2 by Airdrieonians complete nan two-legged play-off semi-final.

A furious 5th play successful League 1 was group to beryllium endured. But fury soon turned to thrill.

McGlynn worked his magic successful nan summer, scooping up free agents Brad Spencer, Calvin Miller, Ross MacIver and Nicky Hogarth, among others.

Along pinch shrewd acquisitions from nan play anterior - nan likes of Stephen McGinn, Liam Henderson, Coll Donaldson and Gary Oliver - nan Bairns stormed to nan title pinch 5 games to spare.

They secured it successful manner pinch a 7-1 mauling of Montrose, but they were not heading for nan sun loungers yet. The Championship was calling, but an invincible convention run was connected nan cards.

In nan 84th infinitesimal of their past crippled successful League 1 against Alloa Athletic, it appeared nan Bairns were going to autumn agonisingly short. Then Spencer put distant a punishment to etch nan team's sanction into nan history books.

"To yet get retired of League 1 and do it arsenic invincibles was 1 of my favourite moments arsenic a Falkirk supporter," McInally revealed.

"Sometimes you bespeak and go, was it worthy that moment? And sometimes you think, possibly it was."

After 5 years of rage and ridicule, nan Bairns could beryllium forgiven for making nan astir of their Championship opener connected a Friday nighttime backmost successful August.

From disco lights to fireworks, they pulled retired each nan stops - and did not extremity there.

Kicking disconnected nan run pinch a five-game winning tally - which included nan fist triumph astatine Dunfermline's East End Park successful 5 years - they made a seamless modulation backmost to nan 2nd tier.

Landmarks successful nan play - world breaks, first information of games, festive fixture - came and went pinch small fuss connected nan transportation but plentifulness excitement disconnected it arsenic nan squad remained astatine nan apical of nan character throughout.

That exhilaration was taken up yet different notch connected 3 February erstwhile homegrown leader Scott Arfield, nan erstwhile Rangers, Burnley and Canada midfielder, made a stunning return, 15 years aft his exit.

"It was complete and utter Roy of nan Rovers stuff," McInally said of nan academy product's re-signing.

"There had been murmurings, past I sewage a mates of messages from group who cognize Scott saying 'this is happening'.

"I was like, unopen up, nary way. Then it happened and it was specified a buzz."

With nan number 37 connected his backmost - a number that had been, and will beryllium again - retired since nan tragic passing of erstwhile team-mate Craig Gowans, Arfield marked his magical return pinch a hat-trick against Partick Thistle.

It proved to beryllium nan first of an eight-game unbeaten tally that had nan Bairns heading into nan last six games pinch an 11-point advantage.

Get nan fancy champagne looked retired and nan t-shirts sent to nan printer. Back-to-back titles started to look a matter of when, not if.

Such equipment nary uncertainty made nan travel down to Somerset Park, wherever a triumph complete Ayr United successful nan 4th past crippled of nan play would all-but unafraid nan title.

However, a 93rd-minute equaliser from Ethan Walker put nan champagne connected ice. No request to panic, though. Another chance would come.

It came and went successful akin style against Rovers, who stunned nan convention leaders pinch 3 goals from nan 88th-minute onwards. Veering towards nan panic station.

Almost unbelievably, it happened again against 10-man Thistle nan pursuing Friday astatine Firhill. Terry Ablade's unthinkable 97th-minute victor had nan panic fastener being good and genuinely battered.

A matter of weeks ago, a final-day decider appeared impossible. Now, nan Championship trophy was lingering midway Linlithgow, fresh to caput to Livingston, if necessary.

For a bit, that was nan destination punched into nan satnav. For nan first clip this season, Livingston topped nan pile.

They were soon displaced, though, erstwhile an Ethan Ross free-kick not only sent Falkirk Stadium into a frenzy but group nan Bairns connected their measurement to thing of a comfortable win.

McGlynn’s men did it nan difficult way, but for scenes specified arsenic those astatine full-time, they will show you it was worthy it.

The man pinch nan headdress delivered connected his promise. Now, he says, nan entity is nan limit.