2021–22 Falkirk F.C. season

Falkirk
2021–22 season
Chairman	Gary Deans
Manager	Paul Sheerin; (until 5 December); Martin Rennie; (Until 14 April); Kenny Miller; (Interim)
Stadium	Falkirk Stadium
League One	6th
Scottish Cup	Third round
League Cup	Group stage
Challenge Cup	Second round
Top goalscorer	League: Anton Dowds (8); All: Callumn Morrison (10)
Highest home attendance	4,043 vs. Queen's Park, League One, 28 August 2021
Lowest home attendance	400 vs. Clyde, League One, 26 December 2021 (Behind Closed Doors)
Average home league attendance	3,500
Home colours	Away colours
	← 2020–21 2022–23 →

The 2021–22 season was Falkirk's third 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.

Summary

On 28 May 2021, former Aberdeen assistant coach Paul Sheerin was appointed as the club's new head coach ahead of the new season.^[1] On 5 December 2021, Paul Sheerin was relieved of his duties as head coach.^[2] On 10 December, Martin Rennie was appointed as the new head coach of Falkirk.^[3] Former Scotland striker Kenny Miller, who joined the club as an assistant coach, would take over on an interim basis for the final three matches of the season following Rennie's departure.^[4]^[5]

Results and fixtures

Win Draw Loss Postponed

Pre Season

26 June 2021	Falkirk	5 – 0	Irvine Meadow XI	Falkirk Stadium
15:00	Trialist 14', 29', 36' Morrison Dowds	Report

3 July 2021	Heart of Midlothian	4 – 0	Falkirk	National Sports Training Centre, Largs
15:00	Henderson 2' Gnanduillet 31', 69' Kingsley 89'	Report

Scottish League One

31 July 2021 1	Cove Rangers	1 – 1	Falkirk	Balmoral Stadium
15:00	MacAllister 78'	Report	Nesbitt 65'	Attendance: 672 Referee: Alan Newlands

7 August 2021 2	Falkirk	2 – 1	Peterhead	Falkirk Stadium
15:00	McGuffie 14' Dixon 54'	Report	Brown 90+4'	Attendance: 2,806 Referee: Matthew MacDermid

14 August 2021 3	Airdrieonians	1 – 2	Falkirk	Excelsior Stadium
15:00	McGill 50'	Report	Morrison 28' Keena 30' Hetherington 45'	Referee: Greg Aitken

21 August 2021 4	Falkirk	3 – 0	Clyde	Falkirk Stadium
15:00	Dixon 57' Morrison 67 pen.', 90+3'	Report		Attendance: 3,545 Referee: Colin Steven

28 August 2021 5	Falkirk	0 – 1	Queen's Park	Falkirk Stadium
15:00		Report	Murray 36'	Attendance: 4,043 Referee: Colin Steven

11 September 2021 6	Alloa Athletic	2 – 0	Falkirk	Recreation Park
15:00	Henderson 30' Sammon 64'	Report		Referee: David Dickinson

18 September 2021 7	Falkirk	1 – 2	Dumbarton	Falkirk Stadium
15:00	Telfer 90+8'	Report	Orsi 60' Wilson 68'	Attendance: 3,518 Referee: Dan McFarlane

25 September 2021 8	Montrose	2 – 2	Falkirk	Links Park
15:00	Webster 60', 76'	Report	Keena 79' Ruth 90+1'	Attendance: 918 Referee: Dan McFarlane

2 October 2021 9	Falkirk	2 – 1	East Fife	Falkirk Stadium
15:00	Ruth 60' Keena 74'	Report	Millar 21'	Attendance: 3,250 Referee: Alan Newlands

16 October 2021 10	Falkirk	0 – 3	Airdrieonians	Falkirk Stadium
15:00		Report	Easton 35' Smith 67' Kerr 81'	Attendance: 3,525 Referee: Steven Reid

23 October 2021 11	Peterhead	0 – 0	Falkirk	Balmoor Stadium
15:00		Report		Attendance: 743 Referee: Peter Stuart

30 October 2021 12	Clyde	1 – 3	Falkirk	Broadwood Stadium
15:00	Goodwillie 74 pen.'	Report	Ruth 45+1' McGuffie 67' Hetherington 73' Telfer 90+4'	Attendance: 1,163 Referee: Euan Anderson

6 November 2021 13	Falkirk	1 – 1	Alloa Athletic	Falkirk Stadium
15:00	Morrison 88 pen.'	Report	Henderson 90'	Attendance: 3,514 Referee: Matthew MacDermid

13 November 2021 14	Dumbarton	0 – 3	Falkirk	Dumbarton Football Stadium
15:00		Report	Ruth 11' Nesbitt 54' Telfer 71'	Attendance: 886 Referee: Chris Graham

20 November 2021 15	Falkirk	0 – 1	Montrose	Falkirk Stadium
15:00		Report	Ballantyne 37'	Referee: Greg Aitken

4 December 2021 16	Queen's Park	6 – 0	Falkirk	Firhill Stadium
15:00	Longridge 4' Brown 35', 65' Connell 68' Fox 77' Longstaff 84'	Report		Attendance: 1,119 Referee: Euan Anderson

11 December 2021 17	Falkirk	0 – 3	Cove Rangers	Falkirk Stadium
15:00		Report	Neill 20' McAllister 39' McIntosh 90+1' Logan 90+4'	Attendance: 3,258 Referee: Calum Scott

26 December 2021 19	Falkirk	1 – 2	Clyde	Falkirk Stadium
15:00	Keena 50 pen.'	Report	Love 61 pen.' Splaine 75'	Attendance: 400 Referee: Alan Newlands

8 January 2022 21	Falkirk	6 – 2	Dumbarton	Falkirk Stadium
15:00	Dowds 8', 45', 88' Morrison 13' Taylor-Sinclair 54' Keena 72'	Report	Paton 56' Carswell 66 pen.'	Attendance: 500 Referee: Calum Scott

15 January 2022 22	Airdrieonians	3 – 2	Falkirk	Excelsior Stadium
15:00	Fordyce 35' McGill 43' Gallagher 86'	Report	McKay 47' Dowds 89'	Attendance: 500 Referee: Duncan Williams

22 January 2022 18	East Fife	0 – 2	Falkirk	Bayview Stadium
15:00		Report	Kabia 52', 90+1'	Attendance: 1,020 Referee: Barry Cook

29 January 2022 23	Montrose	2 – 1	Falkirk	Links Park
15:00	Lyons 40' Johnston 45+1'	Report	Fleming 34 o.g.'	Attendance: 1,036 Referee: Mike Roncone

5 February 2022 24	Falkirk	1 – 1	Queen's Park	Falkirk Stadium
15:00	Dowds 49' Nesbitt 90+5'	Report	Smith 15'	Attendance: 3,427 Referee: Stewart Luke

8 February 2022 20	Alloa Athletic	0 – 3	Falkirk	Recreation Park
15:00		Report	Kabia 50' McGuffie 58' Dowds 78'	Attendance: 1,504 Referee: Duncan Williams

19 February 2022 25	Cove Rangers	2 – 0	Falkirk	Balmoral Stadium
15:00	Megginson 25' Fyvie 64'	Report	McKay 77'	Attendance: 1,101 Referee: Colin Steven

22 February 2022 26	Falkirk	1 – 1	Peterhead	Falkirk Stadium
19:45	Duncan 9'	Report	Dowds 41'	Attendance: 3,187 Referee: Peter Stuart

26 February 2022 27	Falkirk	3 – 1	East Fife	Falkirk Stadium
15:00	McGuffie 16' Watson 89' Griffiths 90+4 pen.'	Report	Wallace 25'	Referee: Duncan Williams

5 March 2022 28	Clyde	1 – 1	Falkirk	Broadwood Stadium
15:00	Jamieson 90'	Report	Watson 27'	Attendance: 1,331 Referee: Alan Muir

12 March 2022 29	Falkirk	1 – 4	Airdrieonians	Falkirk Stadium
15:00	Griffiths 76'	Report	Smith 6', 62' Gallagher 74' McGill 83'	Attendance: 3,646 Referee: Lloyd Wilson

19 March 2022 30	Dumbarton	0 – 2	Falkirk	Dumbarton Football Stadium
15:00		Report	Kabia 4' Telfer 27'	Referee: Steven Kirkland

26 March 2022 31	Peterhead	1 – 0	Falkirk	Balmoor Stadium
15:00	Brown 36'	Report	Wilson 90+3'	Attendance: 705 Referee: Alan Newlands

2 April 2022 32	Falkirk	0 – 3	Montrose	Falkirk Stadium
15:00		Report	Cameron 13' Gardyne 71 pen.' Campbell 89'	Attendance: 3,158 Referee: Stewart Luke

9 April 2022 33	Falkirk	0 – 2	Cove Rangers	Falkirk Stadium
15:00		Report	Milne 54', 60'	Attendance: 3,113 Referee: Chris Graham

16 April 2022 34	East Fife	1 – 3	Falkirk	Bayview Stadium
15:00	Semple 84 pen.'	Report	Morrison 34', 90+1' Telfer 56'	Referee: Steven Reid

23 April 2022 35	Falkirk	1 – 2	Alloa Athletic	Falkirk Stadium
15:00	Dowds 77'	Report	Cawley 8' Sammon 56'	Referee: David Dickinson

30 April 2022 36	Queen's Park	1 – 1	Falkirk	Firhill Stadium
15:00	Quitongo 30'	Report	Morrison 84'	Attendance: 922 Referee: Chris Fordyce

Scottish League Cup

Group stage

Results

13 July 2021 Group stage	Falkirk	5 – 1	Albion Rovers	Falkirk
19:45	Morrison 23', 29' Dixon 36' Telfer 85' Weekes 87'	Report	Wright 11'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Steven Kirkland

17 July 2021 Group stage	Falkirk	1 – 2	Hamilton Academical	Falkirk
15:00	Nesbitt 46' Miller 78'	Report	Hughes 79 pen.' Hamilton 87'	Stadium: Falkirk Stadium Attendance: 723 Referee: Steven McLean

21 July 2021 Group stage	Edinburgh City	3 – 0^[A]	Falkirk	Edinburgh
19:45				Stadium: Ainslie Park

24 July 2021 Group stage	Ayr United	3 – 0^[B]	Falkirk	Ayr
15:00				Stadium: Somerset Park

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification	AYR	HAM	ALB	EDI	FAL
1	Ayr United	4	3	0	1	0	7	0	+7	10	Qualification for the second round	—	—	—	3–0	3–0^[a]
2	Hamilton Academical	4	2	1	0	1	5	4	+1	8		0–1	—	p2–2	—	—
3	Albion Rovers	4	0	2	1	1	4	8	−4	5		p0–0	—	—	p1–1	—
4	Edinburgh City	4	1	0	1	2	4	5	−1	4		—	0–1	—	—	3–0^[b]
5	Falkirk	4	1	0	0	3	6	9	−3	3		—	1–2	5–1	—	—

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]
Notes:

^ Ayr United were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Falkirk, who were unable to raise a team after a COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff.^[6]
^ Edinburgh City were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Falkirk, who were unable to raise a team after a COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff.^[7]

Notes

^
A: Edinburgh City were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Falkirk, who were unable to raise a team after a COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff.^[10]
^
B: Ayr United were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Falkirk, who were unable to raise a team after a COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff.^[10]

Scottish Challenge Cup

11 August 2021 First round	Falkirk	3 – 0	East Kilbride	Falkirk Stadium
19:30	Old 31 o.g.' Ross 57' Keena 72'	Report

4 September 2021 Second round	Kilmarnock	3 – 1	Falkirk	Rugby Park
15:00	Murray 4', 78' Naismith 55'	Report	Nesbitt 8'	Attendance: 2,457 Referee: Alan Newlands

Scottish Cup

27 November 2021 Third round	Falkirk	1 – 2	Raith Rovers	Falkirk Stadium
15:00	Morrison 50'	Report	Tumilty 20' Matthews 27' Ross 84'	Attendance: 2,512 Referee: Nick Walsh

Player statistics

As of 30 April 2022^[11]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		League One		League Cup		Challenge Cup		Scottish Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	SCO	Robbie Mutch	25	0	23+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
2	DF	SCO	Ryan Williamson	22	0	19+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
3	DF	SCO	Paul Dixon	24	3	20+1	2	2+0	1	0+0	0	1+0	0
5	DF	ATG	Aaron Taylor-Sinclair	15	1	14+1	1	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
6	MF	SCO	Gary Miller	37	0	31+3	0	1+0	0	0+1	0	0+1	0
7	MF	SCO	Callumn Morrison	23	10	15+4	7	2+0	2	0+1	0	1+0	1
8	MF	ENG	Steven Hetherington	30	0	22+5	0	1+0	0	0+1	0	1+0	0
9	FW	SCO	Leigh Griffiths	13	2	11+2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
10	MF	SCO	Aidan Nesbitt	39	4	23+11	2	1+1	1	2+0	1	1+0	0
11	MF	SCO	Craig McGuffie	38	4	29+5	4	2+0	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
12	GK	SCO	Paddy Martin	16	0	13+0	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	1+0	0
13	GK	SCO	Luke Holt	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
14	FW	SCO	Jaimie Wilson	12	0	2+6	0	1+1	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
15	DF	SCO	Liam McCann	30	0	20+6	0	2+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
16	MF	SCO	Seb Ross	23	1	6+13	0	1+1	0	2+0	1	0+0	0
17	MF	RSA	Keaghan Jacobs	12	0	9+3	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
18	FW	ENG	Samuel Ompreon	11	0	1+8	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
19	FW	SCO	Anton Dowds	15	8	11+2	8	1+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
20	DF	SCO	Blair Sneddon	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
21	MF	SCO	Charlie Telfer	38	6	34+0	5	2+0	1	0+1	0	1+0	0
22	DF	SCO	Brad McKay	16	1	14+0	1	1+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
25	DF	SCO	Mackenzie Lemon	8	0	5+1	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
27	FW	IRL	Jaze Kabia	12	4	8+4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0
28	MF	SCO	Johnny Armstrong	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
29	FW	SCO	Finlay Malcolm	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
30	DF	IRL	Jevon Mills	6	0	6+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
44	DF	SCO	Paul Watson	9	2	9+0	2	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
Players who left the club during the 2021–22 season
4	DF	NIR	Ben Hall	21	0	17+1	0	0+1	0	1+0	0	1+0	0
5	MF	ALB	Ernaldo Krasniqi	6	0	0+3	0	0+0	0	2+0	0	0+1	0
9	FW	SCO	Michael Ruth	13	4	11+1	4	0+0	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
17	FW	IRL	Aidan Keena	20	6	8+9	5	0+1	0	0+1	1	0+1	0
23	FW	SCO	Ben Weekes	4	1	0+2	0	0+1	1	1+0	0	0+0	0
24	DF	SCO	Cammy Williamson	9	0	2+4	0	0+1	0	2+0	0	0+0	0
26	MF	SCO	Declan McDaid	9	0	8+1	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
31	GK	SCO	Scott Cowie	0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0

Team statistics

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Cove Rangers (C, P)	36	23	10	3	73	32	+41	79	Promotion to the Championship
2	Airdrieonians	36	21	9	6	68	37	+31	72	Qualification for the Championship play-offs
3	Montrose	36	15	14	7	53	36	+17	59
4	Queen's Park (O, P)	36	11	18	7	51	36	+15	51
5	Alloa Athletic	36	12	9	15	49	57	−8	45
6	Falkirk	36	12	8	16	49	55	−6	44
7	Peterhead	36	11	9	16	46	51	−5	42
8	Clyde	36	9	12	15	39	62	−23	39
9	Dumbarton (R)	36	9	7	20	48	71	−23	34	Qualification for the League One play-offs
10	East Fife (R)	36	5	8	23	31	70	−39	23	Relegation to League Two

Source: ^[12]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).^[13]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Transfers

Players in

Player	From	Fee
Ryan Williamson	Partick Thistle	Free^[14]
Steven Hetherington	Alloa Athletic	Free^[15]
Brad McKay	Inverness CT	Free^[16]
Aidan Nesbitt	Greenock Morton	Free^[17]
Craig McGuffie	Greenock Morton	Free^[18]
Leon McCann	Hamilton Academical	Free^[19]
Seb Ross	Cove Rangers	Free^[20]
Jaimie Wilson	Dumbarton	Free^[21]
Paddy Martin	Hibernian	Free^[22]
MacKenzie Lemon	Dundee United	Free^[23]
Samuel Ompreon	Sheffield United	Free^[24]
Aaron Taylor-Sinclair	Unattached	Free^[25]
Paul Watson	Dunfermline Athletic	Free^[26]
Leigh Griffiths	Celtic	Free^[27]

Players out

Player	To	Fee
Jay Cantley	Airdrieonians	Free^[28]^[29]
Akeel Francis	Free Agent	Free^[28]
Morgaro Gomis	Clyde	Free^[28]^[30]
Aidan Laverty	Free Agent	Free^[28]
Robbie Leitch	Cove Rangers	Free^[28]^[31]
Scott Mercer	East Fife	Free^[28]^[32]
Conor Sammon	Alloa Athletic	Free^[28]^[33]
Josh Todd	Queen of the South	Free^[28]^[34]
Mark Durnan	Alloa Athletic	Free^[28]^[35]
Blair Alston	Kilmarnock	Free^[36]^[37]
Aidan Connolly	Raith Rovers	Free^[38]
Sean Kelly	Livingston	Free^[39]^[40]
Aidan Keena	Sligo Rovers	Free^[41]
Ben Hall	Linfield	Free^[42]^[43]

Loans in

Player	From	Fee
Ernaldo Krasniqi	Huddersfield Town	Loan^[44]
Michael Ruth	Aberdeen	Loan^[45]
Declan McDaid	Dundee	Loan^[46]
Scott Cowie	Rangers	Loan^[47]
Jaze Kabia	Livingston	Loan^[48]
Jevon Mills	Hull City	Loan^[49]
Keaghan Jacobs	Livingston	Loan^[50]

Loans out

Player	To	Fee
Luke Holt	Gretna F.C. 2008	Loan^[51]
Blair Sneddon	Gretna F.C. 2008	Loan^[52]
Anton Dowds	Arbroath	Loan^[53]
Blair Sneddon	East Stirlingshire	Loan^[54]
Ben Weekes	Penicuik Athletic	Loan^[55]
Cammy Williamson	Bo'ness Athletic	Loan^[56]
Samuel Ompreon	Cowdenbeath	Loan^[57]

References

[table_note_AYR_FAL0.84298889285093-7] Ayr United were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Falkirk, who were unable to raise a team after a COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff.^[6]

[table_note_EDI_FAL0.84298889285093-9] Edinburgh City were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Falkirk, who were unable to raise a team after a COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff.^[7]

[cnote_A] 
A: Edinburgh City were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Falkirk, who were unable to raise a team after a COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff.^[10]

[cnote_B] 
B: Ayr United were awarded a technical 3−0 win over Falkirk, who were unable to raise a team after a COVID-19 outbreak among players and staff.^[10]

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