The club's date of formation is a point of much contention, although most accounts point to the year 1876 as the probable starting point, and this is the date used by the club and its fans as the formation date. The club quickly developed the nickname The Bairns, a Scots word meaning child, son or daughter. This was in homage to an ancient Falkirk Burgh motto, Better meddle wi' the deil than the Bairns O' Falkirk. In the First World War, a tank adopted as a wartime mascot by the people of the town was also named The Bairn in honour of this. The club were admitted to the Scottish Football League in 1902 and were promoted to the old First Division in 1905. (*)