Volumes 1 & 2 of Falkirk Football Clubs official minute books have now been published online.

Covering seasons 1917/18 though to 1927/28 the minutes give a unique insight into both the running of the club and, more generally, Scottish football in the early part of the 20th century.

Alan Brown from the Falkirk Football  Heritage Trust gave an update on the project.

‘The digitisation project is progressing at a much faster pace than we originally anticipated, thanks in no small part to the fantastic response to our appeal last year asking for help from Falkirk fans in transcribing the minutes. Since then a group of volunteers have been busily working away behind the scenes and have, to date, transcribed over 500 pages of minutes.

‘This has allowed us to not only bring forward the publication date of the first two volumes but also to make a start on volumes 3 and 4 which we expect to be ready for publication later this year. The transcribing has not been without its difficulties, trying to decipher the handwriting of the original minute takers has, in some instances, been problematic but the volunteers have stuck to their task and the published minutes are evidence of their hard work and perseverance.

‘The minutes have revealed a number of surprises such as an invitation received from Milan for the club to undertake a tour to Italy and also discussions on a proposed tour to Sweden. Proposals to move the club from Brockville to a new home at a purpose built stadium at Bells Meadow, transfer dealings with a host of English clubs including Liverpool, Manchester City, Everton and Arsenal, the world record transfer of Syd Puddefoot as well as the clubs efforts to raise funds for the families of victims of the Redding Pit Disaster are all covered in these minutes. Who knows what will be uncovered in volumes 3 and 4?’

Volumes 1 & 2 of the Clubs minutes can be accessed at:

https://falkirkfootballheritagetrust.wordpress.com

Anyone interested in helping with the transcribing of the minutes can get in touch with the Trust, either via the Contact form on their website or by e-mail at ffhtdigitisation@gmail.com