Another Yorkie for Pars

First interview with Pars new 'Yorkshire Terrier' - Josh Falkingham.

Josh Falkingham is dying to get going in his football career at Dunfermline. He felt that his first day of training was tough but enjoyable to meet all his new team mates. Talking exclusively to the website the 21 year old described himself as "an out and out midfielder who likes to get box to box." At Arbroath he contributed with a few goals; nine in his first season and eight in his second and he is keen to continue that for the Pars.

Josh likes getting forward and prefers centre midfield although he can also play on the right. Coming from Leeds and a lifelong United fan, he is too young to remember a famous hard but diminutive Scottish Leeds midfielder from the 60's and 70s but Josh's small stature and self confessed nasty side suggests similarities:-

"I have come across bigger players all of my life, so I am used to it. I do believe I can put myself about even for the size that I am. I now use my size to my advantage, it helps me get away from opponents. My dad, all my dad's friends and my grandad obviously grew up with Billy Bremner and I'd like to be anything like Billy Bremner because he is a legend down there."

Josh signed for the Leeds United Academy at the age of 8 and he loved it there:-

"It is a great club, one that all my family support so it would have been great if I could have come through there but that's football. Sometimes it doesn't happen the way you would like. Unfortunately I had to leave."

Josh had a few coaches at Leeds including Dennis Wyse but the one he attributes most to his progress is former Scotland captain Gary McAllister:-

"He was great for me and under him I really thought I had a chance. He pushed me on and was really close but a few wee hiccups with injury set me back. By the time I got myself back fit, he had got the sack unfortunately. I had a year under Simon Grayson but not a really happy one.

"I thought I had got up the ladder but with the change of manager I just got shot right back down to the start again. He didn't want to push the younger ones through; he had a job to get them out of that division and to do that he thought the best way was to go with experienced boys. It never worked out for myself and I was gutted.

"It was a sad day when I left because I had been there for so long. I enjoyed my time at Leeds, I got close to breaking through but never quite succeeded."

Josh's contract at Elland Road ran out mid season and his agent got him in touch with Derek McInnes and after a few weeks he secured a deal to play at St Johnstone.

"Ever since then I never looked back and at the age I am now I just want to be playing games. I dropped a couple of leagues down to Arbroath because I did believe in myself. I had two great seasons there and have a lot of experience now that I didn't have even when I left St. Johnstone. I think it has done me the world of good."

When Paul Sheerin left St Johnstone he invited Josh to go to Gayfield with him. He had never been to Arbroath ever before but enjoyed the experience in winning the Third Division championship and the people at the club.

"On match day Stewart Petrie was on the line and Paul was on the pitch; they had a great thing going and even though I have left I wish them well. Stewart has a connection with Dunfermline which he had told me about when we played Dunfermline in the Challenge Cup and the League Cup two years ago. I knew what kind of club I was coming to, the stadium and obviously Stewart told me a little about it too."