Scott Arfield will wear the number 37 at Falkirk in a poignant tribute to former team-mate Craig Gowans.
The former Rangers player joined the Championship club in an emotional return to the Falkirk Stadium on transfer deadline day.
Arfield has signed an initial six-month deal with a potential further year at Falkirk included in negotiations.
Now, club chiefs have revealed Arfield will wear the number 37 at Falkirk.
The squad number had been retired in memory of former player Gowans who was tragically killed aged just 17 in 2005 in a freak accident, being electrocuted when 20-foot poles he was carrying came into contact with overhead wires at the Little Kerse training ground in Grangemouth.
Arfield proudly wore the number 37 - which was Gowans' number at Falkirk - at Rangers, Burnley, Charlotte FC and Bolton.
It has now been revealed he will take the number out of retirement at Falkirk to pay tribute to Gowans by wearing during his return spell at the club.
The shirt number will be retired again whenever Arfield leaves the club.
A club statement confirmed: "We can confirm that Scott Arfield will wear number 37 shirt in memory of Craig Gowans.
"The shirt will be retired again after Scott leaves the club."
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Explaining the significance of the number to him, Arfield said in 2018: “I spoke to Craig’s family, his siblings and his mum and dad. They were ecstatic that I still want to take that on.
“It is something that means a lot to me and my family. If it gets rubber-stamped, I will be buzzing to wear it.
“I feel as if when I wear it there is a sentimental factor that kind of gives you a peace of mind. You feel as if your mate is looking down and you are carrying on things not just for you, but also Craig’s legacy as well as his family. Squad numbers mean a lot to certain players and some don’t to others. Certainly, that one means a lot to me.
“It was Craig’s squad number when we came through and broke into the first team. I was 31 and he was 37. At the time, that got retired by Falkirk. I couldn’t do it at Huddersfield but when I went to Burnley, I thought: ‘This is the time’.”
