Joshua David Falkingham (born 25 August 1990) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Harrogate Town, where he is also director of youth football.
Falkingham started his career as a youth player with Leeds United, before having spells with St Johnstone and Arbroath. He spent four years with Dunfermline Athletic, where he won promotion to the Scottish Championship, as well as being club captain over two spells.
Club career Falkingham grew up in Rothwell just outside Leeds and played at youth level for Leeds United from the age of eight. He featured in their various youth teams for eleven years, however was unable to break through to the first team and was released from the club in 2010.
On 19 March 2010, Falkingham signed for Scottish Premier League side St Johnstone, on a short-term deal. On 5 May 2010, he made his debut for the club, coming on as a 28th-minute substitute replacing Murray Davidson in a 0–0 draw with Falkirk. After only one appearance, Falkingham was released by the club at the end of the season.
In June 2010, he signed for Scottish Third Division side Arbroath on a one-year deal. He made his debut on 24 July 2010, in a 1–0 defeat to Dunfermline Athletic in the Challenge Cup. On 7 August 2010, the opening day of the league season, he scored twice in a 5–3 win over Elgin City. He was a regular starter in his first season, scoring 9 goals and helping the team win the title and promotion to the Scottish Second Division.
Falkingham signed a contract extension to extend his stay at the club for another season. He held his place in the team and scored a further eight goals, with the team finishing second in the league, losing out on promotion in the play-offs. He was subsequently named in the PFA Scotland's Division Two Team of the Year. In all Falkingham made 70 league appearances, scoring 17 times for Arbroath.
On 8 June 2012, Falkingham signed for Scottish First Division side Dunfermline Athletic on a three-year deal. An undisclosed development fee was paid to Arbroath as compensation due to his age. He made his debut on 28 July 2012, in a 3–2 defeat to Forfar Athletic in the Challenge Cup. On 11 August 2012, he made his league debut in a 4–0 win over Cowdenbeath, scoring the last goal. In September 2013 he scored a stunning goal against Ayr United in which the game ended 5–1.
On 20 February 2014, Falkingham signed a contract extension until 31 May 2016. After achieving promotion to the second tier of Scottish football, Falkingham was released by Dunfermline at the end of the 2015–16 season.
After four months without a club, Falkingham signed for National League North side Darlington 1883 in September 2016, making his debut in a 0–1 defeat against Lancaster City in the Second qualifying round of the FA Cup.
In May 2017, Falkingham signed for Harrogate Town. He went on to win the National League play-offs in the 2019–20 season and the 2019–20 FA Trophy, scoring the winning goal in the club’s first-ever FA Trophy triumph. The final was played on 3 May 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Josh Falkingham signs Harrogate Town, 12 May 2017
In April 2025, Harrogate Town announced that Falkingham would not be remaining with the club as a player beyond the end of the 2024–25 season. Having remained with the club as Director of Youth Football, an injury crisis saw him return in a playing capacity in November 2025 on non-contract terms.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSt Johnstone2009–10Scottish Premier League100000—10Arbroath2010–11Scottish Division Three35900101Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup03792011–12Scottish Division Two35820103One appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup and two in Scottish First Division play-offs0418Total70172020407817Dunfermline Athletic2012–13Scottish Division One30320205One appearance in Scottish Challenge Cup and four in Scottish First Division play-offs03932013–14Scottish League One30540206Two appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup and four in Scottish Championship play-offs04252014–15Scottish League One3232020203832015–16Scottish League One283303010353Total120141109014015414Darlington 18832016–17National League North26100—00261Harrogate Town2017–18National League North42111—4Appearances in FA Trophy04722018–19National League42120—304712019–20National League34420—213852020–21League Two4302020004702021–22League Two34030006Appearances in EFL Trophy04302022–23League Two3502000203902023–24League Two2402010102802024–25League Two80100030120Total2626151302113018Career totals4793828114038155940
Honours Dunfermline Athletic Scottish League One: 2015–16
Harrogate Town National League play-offs: 2020 FA Trophy: 2019–20
References
External links