Craig would have played.

Byline: Craig Swan 

JOHN HUGHES insists it is fitting John Gowans should lead Falkirk out for the Homecoming Scottish Cup Final - as late son Craig would have been in the team.

The Westfield manager's request for the father of former youth player Craig Gowans to lead the squad at Hampden has been accepted by the family.

Craig was just 17 when he was electrocuted at the club's old training ground almost four years ago when a pole for nets he was carrying touched power lines and the tragic accident has haunted the Bairns boss since.

Emotional Hughes is thrilled Gowans senior will undertake the task as he is convinced Craig would have been involved at Hampden.

Yogi said: "I'm delighted that John Gowans will lead my team out.

"I'm 100 per cent convinced young Craig would have been in the team or at least the squad and it's nice John will walk in his footsteps.

"It will be emotional for everyone but I think it's fitting and we need to keep remembering young Craig. The older boys like Jackie McNamara, Neil McCann and Lee Bullen have asked about Craig, about his family and what he was like.

"They are well aware of what kind of lad he was so we're looking forward to John and the family being part of it.

"It's fitting as it happened on my watch and it will stick with me for the rest of my days.

"It was fate that the two young boys who came through with him - Tam Scobbie and Scott Arfield - scored the goals in the semi-final."