Easter Rising for Josh Falkingham
Friday, 25th Mar 2016"Winning a league is a special moment no matter where. It is a feeling that you really have to be on the park to experience it."
Josh Falkingham is desperately disappointed that suspension will rule him out of his team's potential title clincher against Albion Rovers on Saturday 2nd April. He talked about the caution that took him over the threshold and incurred suspension:-
"I thought last week's booking was probably not a booking but you can't get it back. That is how it is but I am looking forward to this Saturday now. Obviously it is a big game and there is a lot of talk of being able to do it but for us it is about focussing on winning the game and let everything after that look after itself."
Conscious of Brechin's run of four wins and the difficulty that Albion Rovers have proved in recent matches, Josh continued:-
"The games that we have played against them have all been tough, tough games. We have drawn twice against Albion in difficult games. Brechin are in great form and with having Lewis Spence there on loan you check their results after our result just to see how he is doing.
"Brechin have been flying in the last four games. They will be full of confidence having been down and out at one stage. It just shows you what a bit of confidence and momentum does. The league table makes it look like an easy victory for Dunfermline but it definitely won't be."
No opponent will want to be the team to watch Dunfermline celebrate winning the league due to a win over them. Josh predicted that would be a tool used by opposition managers trying to stop the Pars doing it. Josh continued:-
"We have been up against that all year, especially when teams come to Dunfermline. It is a great opportunity for them to play in a great stadium with the number of fans that we have been getting this year. Managers of teams playing against Dunfermline have been using that all season."
When Josh arrived at Dunfermline in June 2012 his ambition was to win promotion out of the First Division. His Pars career started well winning nine and drawing two of the first 13 league matches. Despite then taking just one point from the next four games the two wins over Raith Rovers and Dumbarton put the Pars back at the top of the league in early January. Then after financial problems including non payment of wages, administration and a fifteen points deduction the team won only three of their final 17 league matches and lost the play off final to Alloa.
Though only 22 years of age Josh, as the most experienced player left, was made captain when the club was forced to axe experienced players as administration was announced on 26th March 2013. So three years on how does Josh feel when it looks like promotion might eventually arrive?
"For the boys who have been through that period it is going to be a moment of joy. I have loved my time here, I am privileged to be here but when you have gone through bad times, it will be a great feeling for everybody who stuck in and grafted that extra bit.
"It has built up probably even more so because of the years we haven't done it. Play off failures and last year's blip has built up to a sense of relief that hopefully we will do it.
"We pulled together and we always knew that if we worked hard then times like this would come. Fingers crossed we can be on the up now and continue. It is only one step because when I joined the club I felt that it was a club that I felt should be in the Premier League.
"We were on a great run when I first got here and it looked as though we were going straight back up to the Premier League. It is a little step to get another big step and try to push on for next season as well."
As fans expectations grow and questions are asked about when you think promotion can be won, that is when it becomes more difficult. Just turning up and winning is not a foregone conclusion claimed Josh:-
"When you get on the park you have to make sure that you are totally prepared knowing how hard a battle it is going to be. These are the toughest games of the season just to get over that finishing line.
"When I was at Arbroath my first year I was really young in a team of experienced boys all I can remember from what they used to tell me - because I just walked into it - 'the ones towards the end are the real tough ones'. From my experience then getting over that line is the hardest push."
Cowdenbeath could do their neighbours a turn if they could stop Peterhead's impressive unbeaten run but Josh will be blanking out news from other games:-
"It really doesn't matter what happens elsewhere. If we don't win it is an opportunity missed. Cowdenbeath are in a huge relegation fight and it is definitely possible that they could do us a favour."
That could possibly save Josh from the gutted feeling he claims that he will have if the title is won at Cliftonhill and he is restricted to a seat in the stand.
"You want to be involved in that game, be on the park when you do it and go through all the emotions. It is a great feeling, I have had it once before and winning a league is a special moment no matter where. You can't take that off us and it is a feeling that you really have to be on the park to experience it."
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