Willie Falconer
Personal information
Full name William Henry Falconer[1]
Date of birth (1966-04-05) 5 April 1966
Place of birth Aberdeen, Scotland
Position(s) Striker / Utility player
Youth career
Aberdeen Lads Club
1981–1983 Aberdeen
1981–1982 → Lewis United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1988 Aberdeen 78 (14)
1988–1991 Watford 71 (12)
1991–1993 Middlesbrough 53 (10)
1993–1994 Sheffield United 23 (4)
1994–1996 Celtic 42 (5)
1996–1998 Motherwell 58 (10)
1998–2001 Dundee 78 (17)
2001 Clydebank 1 (0)
2001–2002 St Johnstone 25 (3)
2002 Grimsby Town 2 (0)
2002–2003 Clyde 18 (4)
Total 449 (79)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William Henry Falconer (born 5 April 1966) is a Scottish former professional footballer and coach.

As a player he was a striker and utility player who notably played in the Premier League for Middlesbrough and Sheffield United and in the Scottish Premier League for Aberdeen, Celtic, Motherwell, Dundee and St Johnstone. He also had spells in the Football League with Watford and Grimsby Town, as well as in the Scottish Football League for Clydebank and Clyde.

Playing career

Falconer began his career playing for his home town club, Aberdeen, in 1982, and had an initial loan spell at Junior team Lewis United.[2] During his six years at Pittodrie Stadium, he made 77 league appearances and scored 13 goals. Never more than a squad member other than in his final season, he did play enough games to earn a 1984–85 Scottish Premier Division winner's medal, and also played and scored in the 1987 Scottish League Cup Final (lost on penalties).[3][4]

Falconer then moved south of the border to Watford for £300,000 in 1988. During his three years at Vicarage Road, he played 71 games, scoring 12 goals. He also gained a reputation as a no-nonsense, tough tackling midfielder, and was sent off the field on more than one occasion.

In 1991, Falconer transferred to Middlesbrough (then managed by Lennie Lawrence) in a swap deal involving Trevor Putney moving the other way. His first season at Boro was successful, with the team winning promotion from the old 2nd Division and entering the inaugural Premier League, and also reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup.[5] However, the next season wasn't as happy as an ill-equipped Middlesbrough side were relegated from the Premier League. The following summer Falconer was sold to Sheffield United for £400,000.

After less than a season at Bramall Lane, in early 1994 Falconer was transferred back north of the border to Celtic for £350,000. Although only at the club for two years, and behind others such as Pierre van Hooijdonk and Andreas Thom for a place in the side, he became something of a cult hero in Glasgow. He came on as a substitute in the club's 1995 Scottish Cup Final win. His transfer also spelt the end for the Celtic board at that time, as the bank refused to pay his transfer fee. A transfer to Motherwell in January 1996 was followed by a free transfer in summer 1998 to Dundee to strengthen their newly-promoted team, along with several other Motherwell players including Tommy Coyne.

After three successful years in the Scottish Premier League with Dundee, in which he played alongside Claudio Caniggia and was both top scorer and named their supporters' player of the year in 2000,[6] Falconer's career involved four clubs in two years, playing for Clydebank, St Johnstone and Clyde[7] in Scotland and Grimsby in England.

Coaching career

Falconer returned to Motherwell to become a coach of the under-19 side for several years.

Personal life

He has operated a property rental business in Scotland.[5]

Club statistics

[8][1][9][10][11]

Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aberdeen 1982-83 Scottish Premier Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
1983-84 9 2 0 0 5 0 1 0 15 2
1984-85 16 4 0 0 1 0 2 0 19 4
1985-86 8 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 10 1
1986-87 8 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 10 0
1987-88 36 8 5 1 2 1 4 1 47 11
Total 78 14 5 1 10 1 10 2 103 18
Watford 1988-89 Second Division - - - - - - - - - -
1989-90 - - - - - - - - - -
1990-91 - - - - - - - - - -
Total 71 12 - - - - - - 98 12
Middlesbrough 1991-92 Second Division 25 5 0 0 2 0 - - 27 5
1992-93 Premier League 28 5 3 2 1 0 0 0 32 7
Total 53 10 3 2 3 0 0 0 59 12
Sheffield United 1993-94 Premier League 23 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 25 4
Celtic 1993-94 Scottish Premier Division 14 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 1
1994-95 26 4 6 3 2 0 0 0 34 7
1995-96 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0
Total 42 5 6 3 2 0 1 0 51 8
Motherwell 1995-96 Scottish Premier Division 16 5 2 0 1 0 0 0 19 5
1996-97 20 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 21 2
1997-98 22 3 4 0 3 1 0 0 29 4
Total 58 10 7 0 4 1 0 0 69 11
Dundee 1998-99 SPL 33 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 35 4
1999-00 31 12 2 0 3 4 0 0 36 16
2000-01 14 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 17 1
Total 78 17 5 0 5 4 0 0 88 21
Clydebank 2001-02 Scottish Second Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 - - 1 0
St Johnstone 2001-02 SPL 25 3 1 0 2 0 0 0 28 3
Grimsby Town 2001-02 First Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 - - 2 0
Clyde 2002-03 Scottish First Division 18 4 2 0 0 0 - - 20 4
Career total 449 79 29+ 6+ 28+ 6+ 11 2 544 93

References

  1. 1 2 "Willie Falconer". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "Afc Former Players Interview with Willie Falconer". Aberdeen F.C. 1 May 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  3. ↑ Reynolds, Jim (26 October 1987). "Spot-on Rangers earn the cheers". The Glasgow Herald. p. 9. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  4. ↑ Willie Falconer – "I thought I had just scored the winner in a cup final", AllyBegg.com, 11 October 2020
  5. 1 2 "Player Q&A: Willie Falconer talks promotion, relegation and tough opposition". Boro Brick Road. 10 January 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  6. ↑ "Played for Dundee and Motherwell – Willie Falconer". Dundee F.C. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  7. ↑ "Willie Falconer Signs From Grimsby". Clyde F.C. 3 July 2002. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "Aberdeen Football Club Heritage Trust - Player Profile". afcheritage.org. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  9. ↑ "Willie Falconer". motherWELLnet. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  10. ↑ "Willie Falconer | Player Statistics | Dundee (Dee Archive)". deearchive.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "Willie Falconer | Player Statistics | Clydebank FC (Bankies Archive)". www.clydebankfc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
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