Falkirk captain determined to seize chance of top-flight return

Falkirk skipper David McCracken has never stopped believing he should be playing in Scotland's top flight and is determined to return there three years after suddenly losing that status.

McCracken was confident a one-year contract extension was in place at St Johnstone in the summer of 2013, but no deal was forthcoming after he was told he needed a minor knee operation.

The central defender ended up at Falkirk and promotion is in sight after a 1-0 Ladbrokes Premiership play-off first-leg win over Kilmarnock.

The 34-year-old said: "I still see myself as a top-league player and I don't think you should ever not look like that. It's unfortunate for myself the way I left St Johnstone when I was playing in the Premier League, but that's all done with now.

"I've had a great time here at Falkirk and great opportunities to take the club back up again. And for me it would be a very proud moment as captain of the club to do that. But there is a lot to be done on Sunday.''

McCracken played more than 200 times in Scotland's top division with Dundee United and Saints, with a spell in England at the likes of MK Dons and Wycombe in between. And the thought of playing there again has driven him on during three years with the Bairns.

"It's always been a goal since I left there. Nothing to do with St Johnstone - just from a purely personal point of view that's where I feel I belong in a sense because of the standard of player I am,'' he said.

"I'm pretty sure there are lots of players out there that think like that but sometimes don't get the opportunity. I have been lucky enough that I'm at a club that's achieving very well and I'm getting that opportunity."

McCracken's motivation is far from purely personal. He is the leader of a squad that has shown tremendous spirit to finish above Hibernian in the Championship and knock the Leith club out of the play-offs.

When asked what makes the Falkirk dressing room special, he said: Just the sheer togetherness and the self-belief. At the outset of the season we set some targets, mainly to make the play-offs.

"We have outdone that and finished second, but those targets change and we have moved on. To get to the final is a massive achievement and we have given ourselves a chance.

"The result was perfect, getting the late goal, but overall the performance wasn't great. We didn't play our best and overall Kilmarnock were probably the better team.

"We know it's going to be tough on Sunday and we are going to need all our experience, and how well we have played this year, and take that into our last game."