Striker Barney Stewart is now thriving in the Falkirk "fairytale" after the 21-year-old's incredible rise from university football.
"It's a fairytale, it's incredible."
Hat-trick hero Barney Stewart was describing Falkirk's stunning season after the thumping 4-1 win over Hibernian that cemented their top-six place.
It's a quote that could aptly describe the 21-year-old's own rapid rise as he became the latest Falkirk player to come from Scotland's lower leagues and make a massive impact in the Scottish Premiership.
In his case, the ascent is from university football all the way to the top flight in quick-smart fashion.
Recalled from a successful loan with Championship side Dunfermline, Stewart expertly converted three goals and demonstrated he and the club more than belong at the top table.
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Student passing early tests in Premiership
Stewart was signed by Falkirk, who were in then in the Championship, in October 2024 from Heriot-Watt University where he was playing while undertaking an honours degree in sport and exercise science.
This season, he impressed during a three-month loan spell at Neil Lennon's Dunfermline and was recalled earlier this month to great effect.
"It's a fabulous story," former Falkirk player and manager Ian McCall told BBC Scotland.
"It is a great example of a loan for younger players of how important it can be. He scored seven in 11 games [at Dunfermline] and has come back full of confidence.
"Rocky Bushiri is an international. Grant Hanley is an international. He gave them a torrid time with running power and strength.
"All three of his goals were striker's goals. He was in and around the six-yard box, all one touch finishes.
"Hugely encouraging and a great example for younger players playing in the Lowland league or university football that you can progress."
McGlynn has 'reinvented the whole club'
Stewart's rapid rise is far from a one-off as, under McGlynn, Falkirk continue to punch well above their weight and just keep rising.
The former Hearts and Raith Rovers manager has hit on a methodology and taken a core of lower-league players on an incredible journey from League One to Scotland's top six, playing genuinely entertaining football along the way.
"It's one thing to win titles," McCall added. "He has reinvented the whole club. It's remarkable.
"Nobody underestimates the job John McGlynn has done. There is a core of players that have been there all the way on the journey.
"Brad Spencer, Dylan Tait, Calvin Miller - they've all really looked at home in the Premiership. Huge credit to John McGlynn.
"Maybe if he had a foreign name he'd be getting linked with far bigger jobs than he is."
Confidence and commitment to attack key to success
A standout element of Falkirk's success over the past few seasons has been their attacking, entertaining style of play. Exactly what allowed them to dominate Hibs for the majority of their deserved victory as they followed up their Scottish Cup win over Premiership leaders Hearts.
Their second goal was a thing of beauty as they progressed up the pitch and executed it superbly.
"That's been our DNA for the last three-and-a-half years," McGlynn explained.
"We're not a team that's going to sit back. We're going to go for it all the time. We got our rewards today.
"Back-to-back wins against the Edinburgh teams for a club like Falkirk, that's outstanding.
"We've got a lot of variation in our play. It's not just one way. We play with width. We can play to feet but we can go in behind as we've got pace. We've got a lot of tools."
Stewart backed up the notion of belief being central post-match.
"It's confidence but not arrogance," the striker said.
"We know we have to go out there and work our socks off. The team spirit and work ethic in that changing room is unbelievable.
"There's absolutely no reason that we can't finish top six, but I don't want to get ahead of myself."
Category: General Sports
