RISE AND SHINE
Boss puts kibosh on Josh’s Old Firm double eXclUsiVe
BY FRaseR wilson JOSH FALKINGHAM is gutted Harrogate Town rejected Celtic’s offer of a friendly – because it denied him the chance of an Old Firm double.
The midfielder never tires of talking about his goal against Rangers at Ibrox for Dunfermline seven years ago and was thrilled at the prospect of scoring against Celtic too.
But Harrogate boss Simon Weaver declined the closed-doors clash at Celts’ Loughborough training camp because his side have a crucial National League play-off semi-final in a fortnight.
Former Dunfermline, St Johnstone and Arbroath midfielder Falkingham, 29, said: “It’s fair to say the players are just a little bit disappointed even if we totally understand the club’s reasons.
“It would have been a fantastic opportunity to test ourselves against the champions of Scotland. “And it would have given me a chance to complete an Old Firm double after I scored against Rangers at Ibrox for Dunfermline in 2013. It remains one of the most special moments of my career and I always like to drop that goal into conversations! “I never got to play against Celtic so it would have been nice but as much as we’d have loved a glamour friendly against Celtic we just can’t afford to take any chances ahead of what is a massive match for us. “It would be a fantastic achievement if we can get Harrogate Town into the Football League.”
However, judging by the mood of the correspondence this time around, that sympathy is drying up. And fast.
The case for Hearts and Thistle is now in the hands of an independent panel appointed by the SFA but with the new fixture list out for the Premiership, some have had enough of the fighting.
Ryan Cameron, Mossend, said: “It wasn’t really fair what happened to them but Covid 19 was no one’s fault and something had to be done. There was always going to be losers in the situation.
“I wish they would just give it up now, especially Hearts. I’m sick of hearing how skint they are when they are handing out contracts to players such as Craig Gordon and appointing Robbie Neilson.”
Bill Saunderson, Kingskettle, said: “When are Hearts and the rest of the so-called big teams going to realise that because they have money and more supporters than others, it doesn’t mean they have a divine right to be in the top league?
“Don’t they understand this has to be earned from the first game of the season and that sitting at the bottom when this was called does not mean all they have to do is flash their money and they’ll be saved?
“Grow up Hearts and Partick. Accept it is all your own doing and let everyone else get on with planning for next season.”
Kenneth Houston emailed: “Just a thought, could Hearts and Partick be attempting to get Dundee United, Raith and Cove to all go out of business? That
‘I’m sick of hearing how skint Hearts are when they are handingoutdealstoCraigGordon and appointing Robbie Neilson’