Willie Falconer Player Profile

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Personal

  • Full Name: William Henry Falconer
  • Born: April 5th, 1966 (Aberdeen)
  • Height: 6' 1

Career



Dundee Career Summary

Competitive Friendlies
1998-99 33 (2) 4 4 (1) 1
1999-00 36 16 5 (1) 2
2000-01 9 (8) 1 3 (2) 3
TOTAL 78 (10) 21 12 (4) 6

NOTES:
Other Cups may include: Anglo-Scottish Cup, Challenge Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Drybrough Cup, International Soccer League, League Cup, Summer Cup, Texaco Cup.


Biography

Willie Falconer was a popular player at Dens, winning the player of the year trophy in 1999/2000. He not only finished as the Dark Blues’ top goal scorer that season but was also part of the side to record Dundee’s highest ever Premier League finish, had the privilege to partner Claudio Caniggia up front and had the handy knack of turning it on in the derby!

William Henry Falconer was born on April 5th 1966 in Aberdeen and started his professional career in 1982 with his home town team after a year in Junior football with Lewis United. Falconer joined Alex Ferguson’s Dons when they were at their peak and after six years of competing with their trophy winning stars for a starting place, he moved to Watford for £300,000 after thirteen goals in 77 league outings and a Skol Cup runners-up medal in his final season.

Six years in England saw Willie play for Middlesbrough (where he won promotion from the old Second Division) and Sheffield United after his three seasons at Vicarage Road and he returned to Scotland to become a cult hero with Celtic and win the Scottish Cup in 1995

After two years at Parkhead, he joined Motherwell in 1996 and it was from The Steelmen that he moved to Dens in 1998 as part of the ‘Motherwell Four’ to join newly promoted Dundee. Alongside former Fir Park team mates Shaun McSkimming, Tommy Coyne and Eric Garcin, Willie lined up for The Dee on the inaugural day of the new Scottish Premier League and would make thirty-five appearances that season.

Competition for the striking roles was tough as Willie had to compete with Tommy Coyne, James Grady and Eddie Annand for a starting slot and he often played in a more withdrawn role, meaning he scored just four times in his debut season. Falconer’s first goal came in a crucial 1-0 home win over Dunfermline in October and his other three strikes all came in equally crucial wins against Hearts, Motherwell and The Pars again as Dundee looked to stay up in their first year back in the top tier.

By the end of the season however, they did that comfortably winning five of their last seven games after switching from a 4-4-2 to a 4-4-3 formation and their eventual fifth place finish equalled Dundee’s highest league placing since being Scottish Champions in 1962 and is The Dark Blues’ highest ever finish in either the Scottish Premier Division, Scottish Premier League or SPFL Premiership.

That season would also see Dundee finish above Dundee United for the first time in 25 years and this was secured in a memorable 2-0 win at Tannadice on May 1st. It was Falconer’s third derby of the season and his first was almost as memorable in September when The Dee came back from 2-0 down to snatch a draw in the dying seconds.

In the first game of 1999/2000, Falconer started his campaign with a goal against United on the opening day at Tannadice and ended it with a double over The Arabs at Dens in May and in between times he scored a further thirteen times to finish as top scorer with sixteen goals.

Willie started the season in fine form with ten goals in his first twelve games including a brilliantly headed double at Pittodrie against his old club Aberdeen. He beat his previous year’s appearances by one but his goal scoring record by twelve and like the previous campaign, many of them came in crucial games such as the injury time winner away to Hibs in March.

At the end of the season, Falconer won a number of the supporters’ clubs’ player of the year trophies as well as the Andrew De Vries Memorial Trophy for Dundee Player of the Year and their votes may well have been swayed by his magical end of season derby double which helped Dundee to a 3-0 victory; their biggest Dens derby win over their rivals since 1973.

In the summer it was all change when Ivano Bonetti was brought in to replace Jocky Scott as manager but the veteran 6ft 1in forward survived the Italian’s cull of many of Scott’s heroes. The signing of new strikers Fabian Caballero and Juan Sara however meant that Falconer would start the new season on the bench and in his third year he would make only nine starts and eight substitute appearances.

One of those starts was across the road at Tannadice in the second derby of the season in November and by then Dundee had made the extraordinary signing of Argentinean World Cup star, Claudio Caniggia. Falconer had been brought in at the expense of Juan Sara the previous week at home to Hibs and despite his hat-trick heroics in the first derby in September, Sara surprisingly stayed on the bench meaning Falconer would partner ‘El Pajaro’ up front.

It was a move that was to pay off for The Dee however as on thirty-eight minutes, Falconer cleverly played in Caniggia who sped through to pick his spot in the net to put Dundee ahead. Immediately the superstar ran to his strike partner and the image of Caniggia celebrating with Falconer is as synonymous with that famous afternoon as Nemsadze’s audacious chip in the second half.

In the next derby in January, Willie was this time was on the scoresheet himself alongside his illustrious partner but at the end of the season, now thirty-five years of age, he was given a free transfer and played out the end of his successful career with Clydebank, St Johnstone, Grimsby and Clyde.

Falconer’s three years at Dens were a memorable period for the club and for Willie it was the most prolific period of his career. He scored more goals for The Dee than for any other side and his record against United of three wins, one draw and four goals went a long way cementing his popularity as a Dark Blue destroyer.

Debut

August 1st, 1998
Dundee 0 - 2 Aberdeen

League (Premier League)


Playing Statistics - First Team Competitive matches (All Seasons)


Competition NPS Win % Draw % Loss %
League 70 (8)179 13-
Scottish Cup 3 (2)-2 --
League Cup 541 --
Totals: 78 (10)2112 13-

 Recent Starting Appearances (First Team Competitive matches)
 21/02/01 Premier League vs. Dunfermline (H) 0 - 1
 31/01/01 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (H) 2 - 3
 25/11/00 Premier League vs. Hearts (A) 1 - 3
 18/11/00 Premier League vs. St Mirren (H) 5 - 0
 11/11/00 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (A) 2 - 0

 Recent Goals Scored (First Team Competitive matches)
 31/01/01 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (H) 2 - 3
 06/05/00 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (H) 3 - 0
 06/05/00 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (H) 3 - 0
 25/03/00 Premier League vs. St Johnstone (A) 1 - 2
 21/03/00 Premier League vs. Hibernian (A) 2 - 1

 List of First Team Competitive matches played (click to expand)
 07/04/01 Premier League vs. Aberdeen (A)  2 - 0
 07/03/01 4th Round Replay vs. Hearts (H)  0 - 1
 03/03/01 Premier League vs. St Johnstone (A)  3 - 2
 24/02/01 Premier League vs. Rangers (H)  0 - 1
 21/02/01 Premier League vs. Dunfermline (H)  0 - 1
 17/02/01 4th Round vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 1
 12/02/01 3rd Round Replay vs. Falkirk (A)  2 - 0
 03/02/01 Premier League vs. St Mirren (A)  1 - 2
 31/01/01 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (H)  2 - 3
 27/01/01 3rd Round vs. Falkirk (H)  0 - 0
 02/01/01 Premier League vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 3
 26/12/00 Premier League vs. Motherwell (A)  3 - 0
 16/12/00 Premier League vs. Kilmarnock (A)  3 - 2
 25/11/00 Premier League vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 3
 18/11/00 Premier League vs. St Mirren (H)  5 - 0
 11/11/00 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (A)  2 - 0
 05/11/00 Premier League vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 2
 30/09/00 Premier League vs. Kilmarnock (H)  0 - 0
 23/09/00 Premier League vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 1
 20/09/00 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (H)  3 - 0
 09/09/00 Premier League vs. Rangers (H)  1 - 1
 05/09/00 3rd Round vs. St Mirren (A)  0 - 3
 27/08/00 Premier League vs. Hearts (H)  1 - 1
 23/08/00 2nd Round vs. Montrose (H)  3 - 0
 19/08/00 Premier League vs. St Mirren (A)  1 - 2
 12/08/00 Premier League vs. Hibernian (A)  1 - 5
 05/08/00 Premier League vs. Dunfermline (H)  3 - 0
 29/07/00 Premier League vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 0
 21/05/00 Premier League vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 2
 14/05/00 Premier League vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 0
 06/05/00 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (H)  3 - 0
 30/04/00 Premier League vs. Rangers (A)  0 - 3
 22/04/00 Premier League vs. Kilmarnock (H)  1 - 2
 18/04/00 Premier League vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 0
 01/04/00 Premier League vs. Hearts (H)  0 - 0
 25/03/00 Premier League vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 2
 21/03/00 Premier League vs. Hibernian (A)  2 - 1
 04/03/00 Premier League vs. Kilmarnock (A)  2 - 2
 01/03/00 Premier League vs. Celtic (A)  2 - 6
 27/02/00 Premier League vs. Rangers (H)  1 - 7
 23/02/00 Premier League vs. Aberdeen (H)  1 - 3
 15/02/00 3rd Round Replay vs. Ayr Utd (A)  1 - 1
 12/02/00 Premier League vs. Celtic (H)  0 - 3
 05/02/00 Premier League vs. Motherwell (A)  3 - 0
 29/01/00 3rd Round vs. Ayr Utd (H)  0 - 0
 26/01/00 Premier League vs. Kilmarnock (H)  0 - 0
 22/01/00 Premier League vs. Hearts (A)  0 - 2
 27/12/99 Premier League vs. St Johnstone (H)  1 - 1
 12/12/99 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (A)  0 - 1
 01/12/99 Quarter Final vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 1
 20/11/99 Premier League vs. Motherwell (H)  0 - 1
 06/11/99 Premier League vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 0
 30/10/99 Premier League vs. Hearts (H)  1 - 0
 23/10/99 Premier League vs. Hibernian (A)  2 - 5
 17/10/99 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (H)  0 - 2
 12/10/99 3rd Round vs. Alloa (A)  3 - 1
 02/10/99 Premier League vs. Rangers (H)  2 - 3
 25/09/99 Premier League vs. Kilmarnock (A)  2 - 0
 19/09/99 Premier League vs. St Johnstone (H)  1 - 2
 11/09/99 Premier League vs. Hearts (A)  0 - 4
 28/08/99 Premier League vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 0
 17/08/99 2nd Round vs. Dumbarton (H)  4 - 0
 14/08/99 Premier League vs. Aberdeen (A)  2 - 0
 08/08/99 Premier League vs. Hibernian (H)  3 - 4
 31/07/99 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (A)  1 - 2
 23/05/99 Premier League vs. St Johnstone (A)  0 - 1
 15/05/99 Premier League vs. Dunfermline (H)  3 - 1
 08/05/99 Premier League vs. Aberdeen (A)  2 - 1
 01/05/99 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (A)  2 - 0
 24/04/99 Premier League vs. Kilmarnock (H)  2 - 1
 18/04/99 Premier League vs. Rangers (N)  1 - 1
 10/04/99 Premier League vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 1
 20/03/99 Premier League vs. Hearts (H)  2 - 0
 13/03/99 Premier League vs. Dunfermline (A)  0 - 2
 27/02/99 Premier League vs. St Johnstone (H)  0 - 1
 20/02/99 Premier League vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 6
 30/01/99 Premier League vs. Kilmarnock (A)  0 - 0
 27/01/99 Premier League vs. Rangers (H)  0 - 4
 23/01/99 3rd Round vs. Morton (A)  1 - 2
 02/01/99 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (H)  1 - 3
 30/12/98 Premier League vs. Hearts (A)  2 - 1
 27/12/98 Premier League vs. Celtic (H)  0 - 3
 19/12/98 Premier League vs. Aberdeen (H)  1 - 2
 16/12/98 Premier League vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 2
 12/12/98 Premier League vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 1
 14/11/98 Premier League vs. Kilmarnock (H)  1 - 1
 07/11/98 Premier League vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 6
 31/10/98 Premier League vs. Hearts (H)  1 - 0
 28/10/98 Premier League vs. Dunfermline (H)  1 - 0
 17/10/98 Premier League vs. Aberdeen (A)  2 - 2
 04/10/98 Premier League vs. Rangers (A)  0 - 1
 26/09/98 Premier League vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 0
 23/09/98 Premier League vs. Kilmarnock (A)  1 - 2
 19/09/98 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (H)  2 - 2
 12/09/98 Premier League vs. Hearts (A)  2 - 0
 29/08/98 Premier League vs. Celtic (H)  1 - 1
 23/08/98 Premier League vs. St Johnstone (H)  0 - 1
 15/08/98 Premier League vs. Dunfermline (A)  0 - 2
 08/08/98 2nd Round vs. Alloa (H)  0 - 1
 01/08/98 Premier League vs. Aberdeen (H)  0 - 2

 List of First Team Competitive goals scored (click to expand)
 31/01/01 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (H)  2 - 3
 06/05/00 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (H)  3 - 0
 06/05/00 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (H)  3 - 0
 25/03/00 Premier League vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 2
 21/03/00 Premier League vs. Hibernian (A)  2 - 1
 21/03/00 Premier League vs. Hibernian (A)  2 - 1
 27/12/99 Premier League vs. St Johnstone (H)  1 - 1
 23/10/99 Premier League vs. Hibernian (A)  2 - 5
 12/10/99 3rd Round vs. Alloa (A)  3 - 1
 12/10/99 3rd Round vs. Alloa (A)  3 - 1
 02/10/99 Premier League vs. Rangers (H)  2 - 3
 28/08/99 Premier League vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 0
 17/08/99 2nd Round vs. Dumbarton (H)  4 - 0
 17/08/99 2nd Round vs. Dumbarton (H)  4 - 0
 14/08/99 Premier League vs. Aberdeen (A)  2 - 0
 14/08/99 Premier League vs. Aberdeen (A)  2 - 0
 31/07/99 Premier League vs. Dundee Utd (A)  1 - 2
 15/05/99 Premier League vs. Dunfermline (H)  3 - 1
 10/04/99 Premier League vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 1
 30/12/98 Premier League vs. Hearts (A)  2 - 1
 28/10/98 Premier League vs. Dunfermline (H)  1 - 0

  = Starting Appearances (Sub Appearances) | = Goals | NPS = Squad Appearances (as Non-Playing Sub) | GtGR = Goals to Games Ratio
 Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in


Timeline

  • Date of Birth


    Willie was born on this date in Aberdeen.

    Tuesday, April 5th, 1966

  • Signed For Dundee

    Wednesday, July 1st, 1998

  • First Non-Competitive Appearance (Friendly)

    Brechin City 0 - 1 Dundee
    Friendly

    A spirited Brechin side were sunk by a late goal in yesterday's friendly at Glebe Park.Steven Milne rose to head a Dariusz Adamczuk cross past Stuart Garden in 87 minutes.Until that po

    Saturday, July 18th, 1998

  • First Team Debut

    Dundee 0 - 2 Aberdeen
    League (Premier League)

    Dundee paraded the First Division Championship flag before their opening Premier League match against Aberdeen. But the Dons handed their hosts a harsh introduction to life in the big time with a com

    Saturday, August 1st, 1998

  • First Goal

    Dundee 1 - 0 Dunfermline
    League (Premier League)

    Dunfermline paid dearly for their lack of a killer touch at Dens Park last night as Willie Falconer's first goal for Dundee moved the Dark Blues into seventh spot in the Premier Division.Falco

    Wednesday, October 28th, 1998

  • 50th Appearance

    Dundee 0 - 1 Motherwell
    League (Premier League)

    Motherwell striker Lee McCulloch was surely in the mind of Scotland boss Craig Brown last week when he pointed to our younger. element as the way to success.McCulloch's undoubted talent at fin

    Saturday, November 20th, 1999

  • 50th League Appearance

    Dundee 0 - 0 Kilmarnock
    League (Premier League)

    Nicky Banger's second sending off in only two starts for Dundee saw an otherwise uneventful Dens Park encounter between the SPL's second and third bottom sides explode into controversy.Dismiss

    Wednesday, January 26th, 2000

  • Last Goal

    Dundee 2 - 3 Dundee Utd
    League (Premier League)

    Dundee United came out top on a night of firsts at Dens Park.Scotland under-21 cap Hugh Davidson grabbed his FIRST league goal, in the process becoming the FIRST home-bred player to net in the

    Wednesday, January 31st, 2001

  • Last Appearance

    Dundee 0 - 1 Dunfermline
    League (Premier League)

    Dunfermline, who were visitors. to Casablanca in the winter break, reinforced their reputation as a club going places in the domestic scene with a victory that saw them leapfrog Hearts into fifth plac

    Wednesday, February 21st, 2001

  • Left the Club

    Tuesday, May 1st, 2001