Falkingham: Joshua (Josh)

2009-2010 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Midfield

Born: Leeds: 25-08-1990

Debut v Nil

5’3” 9st 0lb (2008)

South Leeds-born Falkingham had a long association with the Leeds Academy, starting as an eight year old while with Rothwell Town Juniors. He quickly progressed through the Academy spending eight years at Thorpe Arch before signing a two year scholarship. He was handed the number thirty-three jersey in the first team squad by Gary McAllister at the start of the 2008-09 season as he approached his eighteenth birthday. He missed the early months of the 2008/09 season through injury, but was rewarded for his perseverance when he returned to reserve football during the final months, playing an integral part in the Reserves' League title triumph, scoring some vital goals from midfield. McAllister showed his faith in the young midfielder by including him the first-team squad for a couple of games but he did not make the bench in either. McAllister left soon afterwards but new Manager Simon Grayson gave him a further six month contract on 18th May 2009, and he was conspicuous as he helped the Reserves win their League title. He was allocated a first team squad number by Manager Simon Grayson after continually impressing in both the academy and reserves in the 2008-09 season. He continued to impress throughout the pre-season games but figured mainly in the Reserves in the 2009-10 season. However, ultimately he was released by Leeds in January 2010. He joined Scottish Premier League club St Johnstone on 19th March 2010 on a contract to the end of the season. The slightly built central midfielder was recommended to St Johnstone's Manager, Derek McInnes, by former Elland Road Manager Gary McAllister. The Saints boss gave him a trial and said that Falkingham had been training with the club for a few weeks and that all had been impressed by his determination and attitude. He said he would have liked to have see him in match action but had seen enough of him in training to feel he deserves the chance to impress the club in the remainder of the season. After being an unused substitute at Celtic, at home to Dundee United and at Kilmarnock, he made his debut against Falkirk on 5th May 2010 as a sixty-second minute substitute and was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when brought down in the box, and it was generally agreed he had an impressive debut. Due to financial constraints the club were no able to extend his contract. In the summer of 2010, Paul Sherrin, who had been newly appointed as Player/Manager of Arbroath, had became aware of Falkingham's talents when they were at St Johnstone together, and, despite competition from Ayr United, he quickly snapped up the diminutive midfielder on a one year contract, on 15th July 2010. It proved to be a master-stroke as Falkingham was the main driving force behind Arbroath's winning of the Scottish Divion Three Championship in 2010-11. He scored nine goals in thirty-three starts and two games from the bench in the League and one start in the F.A. Cup. He was given a further contract to 31st May 2012. His good form continued and as an ever-present he is again leading the Arbroath charge towards a second consecutive promotion and another Championship, with three goals in sixteen starts.