East Stirlingshire F.C.–Falkirk F.C. rivalry explained

East Stirlingshire vs Falkirk
City Or Region:Falkirk, Scotland
Teams Involved:East Stirlingshire and Falkirk
Mostrecent:31 July 2015;[1]
Falkirk 5–0 East Stirlingshire
Largestvictory:East Stirlingshire 9–0 Falkirk (31 March 1888);
Falkirk 9–0 East Stirlingshire (7 May 1938)
Team1:East Stirlingshire
Team2:Falkirk

The East Stirlingshire F.C.–Falkirk F.C. rivalry refers to football matches between East Stirlingshire and Falkirk football clubs,[2] the two senior Scottish Football League teams associated with the town of Falkirk in Scotland. The derby was first contested in 1881 and the last major competitive fixture was in 2015.[3]

East Stirlingshire was originally based in Bainsford, a small industrial village to north of Falkirk that is now a suburb of the town. The club moved south to the town centre in 1921 whilst Falkirk has been based in and around the town for its entire existence. The former home grounds of the two clubs, Brockville Park and Firs Park, were separated by less than half a mile and games between the teams sometimes attracted larger crowds than their usual average attendances. The last time the clubs competed in the same league was in 1981–82 and encounters since then have been rare; the last competitive match was in 2015 in a Scottish League Cup first round match which Falkirk won 5–0 at Broadwood Stadium.

The largest margin of victory in the fixture was when East Stirlingshire won 9–0 in the Stirlingshire Cup Final in 1888;[4] Falkirk won by the same scoreline in a Falkirk and District Infirmary Shield semi-final match in 1938. The largest victory in a major competition was 6–0 for Falkirk in the old Second Division in 1961.

History

Origins

Falkirk F.C. was founded in 1876 whilst East Stirlingshire F.C. officially formed five years later in 1881. The first match between the first teams of East Stirlingshire and Falkirk was a friendly on 27 August 1881 at Randyford Park, with Falkirk winning 5–0.[5]

The first major competitive encounter between the two clubs came in October 1889 when they were drawn against each other in the third round of the Scottish Cup. East Stirlingshire won the match 6–1.[6] Two players in the East Stirlingshire squad, brothers Michael and Thomas Harley, had both played for Falkirk the previous season, with Thomas scoring against his former club.

Last five competitive meetings

DateHome teamScoreAway teamVenueCompetitionAttendanceNotes
31 July 2015Falkirkalign=center style="color:white;background:navy"5–0East StirlingshireBroadwood StadiumScottish League Cup881
26 July 2014East Stirlingshirealign=center style="color:white;background:navy"1–7FalkirkOchilview ParkScottish Challenge Cup933[7]
18 August 1999East Stirlingshirealign=center style="color:white;background:navy"0–2 (a.e.t.)FalkirkOchilview Park (neutral)Scottish League Cup1,201[8]
20 August 1991Falkirkalign=center style="color:white;background:navy"3–0East StirlingshireBrockville ParkScottish League Cup2,590[9]
7 April 1982Falkirkalign=center style="color:black;background:white"0–3East StirlingshireBrockville ParkFirst Division1,308[10]

Head-to-head record

Major competitions

Competition Played E. Stirlingshire
wins
Draws Falkirk wins E. Stirlingshire
goals
Falkirk goals
35 8 8 19 37 75
Scottish Cup 2 1 0 1 7 3
Scottish League Cup 3 0 0 3 0 10
1 0 0 1 1 7
Totals 41 9 8 24 45 95
Sources: soccerbase.com; statto.com ; bettermeddle.org.uk

Minor competitions

Competition Played E. Stirlingshire
wins
Draws Falkirk wins E. Stirlingshire
goals
Falkirk goals
Midland Football League 6 2 2 2 14 16
4 4 0 0 15 5
2 0 1 1 4 6
2 0 1 1 1 2
Falkirk and District League 6 5 0 1 24 11
Scottish Qualifying Cup 7 2 2 3 11 12
Stirlingshire Cup 52 18 8 26 73 100
Penman Cup 4 1 1 2 11 18
Stirlingshire Consolation Cup 5 0 1 4 1 10
Falkirk and District Infirmary Shield 36 9 5 22 50 92
Falkirk and District Charity Cup 9 5 1 3 21 17
Totals 133 46 22 65 225 289
Sources: bettermeddle.org.uk

Notes and References

  1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33647193 Falkirk 5–0 East Stirlingshire
  2. http://www.falkirk-football-history.co.uk/p/the-falkirk-derby.html East Stirlingshire v Falkirk match by match details
  3. http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=955&team2_id=928&teamTabs=h2h Falkirk's Head To Head v East Stirlingshire
  4. http://www.falkirk-football-history.co.uk/2014/02/east-stirlingshire-v-falkirk.html East Stirlingshire v Falkirk – Stirlingshire Cup Final 1888
  5. http://www.oocities.org/br1anmccoll/falkirkfc18771891.pdf Falkirk FC Matches 1877–91
  6. http://www.soccerbase.com/matches/results.sd?date=1889-10-19 Results & Matches on: Sat, 19 Oct 1889 – Scottish FA Cup
  7. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28382018 East Stirlingshire 1–7 Falkirk
  8. http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/a2000/eaststirlingshire2000.htm Results for East Stirlingshire for 1999-00
  9. http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/a1990/falkirk1992.htm Results for Falkirk for 1991–92
  10. http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/a1980/falkirk1982.htm Results for Falkirk for 1981–82