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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

Former Rangers star Scott Arfield scores just seconds into Falkirk return debut

Scott Arfield has scored just seconds into his return debut at Falkirk. 

The ex-Rangers midfielder completed a deadline-day move to rejoin his former side in the Scottish Championship.

He was named in the Falkirk line-up to face Partick Thistle this afternoon for his return debut after agreeing a short-term deal back with the club - with the option of a further year.

And it took Arfield less than a minute to make his mark back at Falkirk as he fired home an opening goal.

A club update read: "1 - The Bairns take the lead in under a minute, with Scott Arfield latching onto a ball rattling around the Partick Thistle box to score on his return to the club!"

Arfield is wearing the number 37 for Falkirk after the club took the number out of retirement.


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The squad number had been retired in honour of Craig Gowans who passed away in a tragic accident at the Little Kerse training ground in Grangemouth.

The youth player, just 17 when he died, passed away after being electrocuted when 20-foot poles he was carrying came into contact with overhead wires.

Arfield - who was a team-mate of Gowans' - has worn the number 37 as a mark of respect to his friend. The shirt number will be retired again after Arfield leaves Falkirk.

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’.”

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