Spirit of old Brockville can see Bairns through
AS A rising teenage star, Lee Miller celebrated Falkirk’s First Division title win under Ian McCall in 2003 by dying his hair black and blue.
But being denied promotion to the SPL on account of Brockville Park not being up to top-flight standards remains a bruising experience for the striker.
Now in his second spell at the club, the veteran forward believes he detected echoes of Falkirk’s ramshackle but intimidating old ground in the atmosphere at Westfield 12 months ago when Hibs were beaten in the Premiership Play-offs.
That thrilling 5-4 aggregate semi-final triumph over Alan Stubbs’ side, courtesy of Bob McHugh’s late winner, is regarded by many supporters as the night The Falkirk Stadium finally came of age as a venue.
A 1-0 home win over Kilmarnock in the final followed before a 4-0 filleting at Rugby Park ensured another season in the second tier for Peter Houston’s men.
However, after spending this week watching re-runs of last season’s semi, Miller is hoping that Brockville can now help — rather than hinder — his dream of top-flight football with the Bairns.
‘It would be huge if I could go up with Falkirk,’ he nodded. ‘I won the league here once and we never got promoted. It was bittersweet and I had to move on, but it’d be one of the crowning moments of my career to go up with Falkirk, 100 per cent.
‘It was disappointing back then not to go up but to do it now would be up there with my best moments in football.
‘I was here in the Brockville days and it was like Brockville that night we beat Hibs. In the games last season, the atmosphere dragged us on to beat Hibs here and Kilmarnock, too. Hopefully that’s the case this season.
‘I watched a video the other night of the Hibs second leg and I had goosebumps throughout.
‘It came up on Facebook or Twitter and I had a wee look at it. I might watch it again before Friday.
‘I know a lot of people gave us stick for celebrating after we beat Hibs but the fans deserved it. It was a fantastic night and you need to enjoy those moments. Now I can’t wait until Friday.’
Since Houston was appointed Falkirk manager, he has steered the club to a Scottish Cup final against Inverness and that Play-off final against Killie.
All that’s been missing for Houston these last two seasons at the club where he was a cult hero as a player has been to provide a happy ending.
As far as Miller is concerned, success this season would more than make up for the lack of a proper summer break for the squad since 2014.
‘Let’s hope it’s third time lucky,’ grinned Miller. ‘I went to that Scottish Cup final in 2015 as a fan and we should have won it. We were so unlucky to lose.
‘I hope this is the season it all comes together for Falkirk. We have a tremendous squad with so much experience and so many game-changers.
‘We maybe lacked that strength in depth last season and injuries caught up with us at Kilmarnock in that second leg. But 12 months on, we are fresh and raring to go.
‘As a group, we’ve not really had a summer for three seasons. But if we go up it will all be worth it. If we can make that final push, it would be the icing on the cake.’
Miller also takes issue with those he has heard calling for United to go up because Scotland needs its big, traditional clubs in the Premiership.
‘A lot of people have been saying: “We want Dundee United back in the top flight” but we’ve got everything here at Falkirk. The stadium, the training facilities, a new gym — and we have the fanbase to back it up, too.
‘Falkirk are a big club. Dundee United have only been out of the top flight a year but we’ve been out for a while now and we are desperate to get back there.
‘If you had told us at the start of the season we would be second in the table and facing Dundee United in a Play-off semi-final, we would have taken it.
‘We have been dominant in the matches against United at home this season but play-offs are different. They won’t be worrying about (their recent record at Westfield) but if it is an advantage for Falkirk, then we will take it.’