He played for the Hearts

COLIN SCOTT

Mike Buckle

From the moment I was taken to my first game at Tynecastle, I hoped one day to pull on the famous maroon shirt and I guess I’m not alone with that particular ambition. On the other hand it’s fair to say that not everyone that was lucky enough to actually put pen to paper for the club harboured that ambition quite like I did.

The dream stayed with me for many years, on reflection probably about 10 - 15 too many, but I put it down to being unlucky that my obvious exceptional ability just hadn’t been “spotted”. And how many of us have sat (or stood for older readers) at a game and said “he’s rubbish I could do better”. Well, the truth is that it was me that was rubbish and those guys fortunate enough to play for the club have talent and skill that only exist in our heads and sadly not our feet.

Reading Grant Young’s excellent “Kitted Out” articles I wondered just exactly what it must be like to get the opportunity to actually play for the club. We all know what it meant to the likes of Gary Locke, Jimmy Sandison and Scott Crabbe guys that bleed maroon but not everyone that used the Players Entrance are like these legends. Over the past few weeks I’ve managed to catch up with a few ex-players who can proudly say “I played for the jersey” to find out their thoughts about their time at Tynecastle. First up is Colin Scott who was only 15 and playing for Salvesen Boys Club when in 1981 Alex MacDonald told him “See you when you turn 16 for your first contract”. As he says being a Hibs fan it was a very strange feeling thinking about signing for their arch rivals. However, after meetings with Alex MacDonald and Sandy Jardine their passion to push the club forward and for him to be part of it sold the idea to him.

Colin duly signed schoolboy forms on his 16th birthday and admits walking into the changing room for the first time was overwhelming to say the least. But he says “the whole playing staff bought into the manager’s philosophy of passion, winning and team spirit”. It was a transitional period for the club, but young players like Robertson, Mackay and Bowman were all first team regulars. Exactly one year later on his 17th birthday,

he made his first team debut away to Clydebank replacing Alex MacDonald at half time an experience that remains fresh in his memory. “I knew beforehand I would come on at half time for the boss. Although I was still very young I thought I deserved the chance. The boss was very supportive and calm to me before the game and told me just to relax and do what I do. I think I had a decent half although I nearly got sent off for a tackle on Gerry McCabe.” After his debut he was in the first team squad on a number of occasions, but with only two substitutes allowed at the time he spent all of his time in the reserves until he suffered a serious injury against Aberdeen at Tynecastle when he broke 4 vertebrae. Then months later, after making his comeback he suffered yet another setback this time at Tannadice when he picked up a knee injury. In his own words “This made it very difficult for me from then onwards as Hearts were flying with their blend of youth and experience. Remember they had developed into a very good side by then just missing out on the league title and Scottish Cup and very few of the younger players had an opportunity to get into the side”. After 6 years at Tynecastle and over 130 appearances, Colin was eventually released but not before pulling on the jersey for the first team one final time, ironically against his boyhood favourites Hibs at Easter Road in the East of Scotland Shield. Not surprisingly, Hearts won 2-1 and although Colin didn’t feature on the score sheet, he had done so two or three times in previous reserve meetings. “I celebrate these goals just as much as any other and it was quite amusing to see when the opposition players saw my reaction as most of them knew of my allegiance, they just couldn’t get their heads around it”

He then went on to have spells at East Fife, Cowdenbeath, East Stirling and Stenhousemuir before finally retiring from the game. During his time Colin can say he was never on a losing side but strangely never played at Tynecastle. In another twist this was rectified later when, now an accomplished bagpiper, he had the honour of playing in front of a near capacity crowds in the Remembrance Day matches on 5 occasions. You may have also heard him play at a number of Remembrance Day services at Haymarket, plus he had the great honour of playing at Dave Mackay’s funeral. Of his days in Gorgie he says “If I had my chance again I wouldn’t change a thing apart for the injuries of course. Overall I had 6 great years at the club and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I made some great friends like Gary Mackay and Jimmy “Quiff” Sandison and I was fortunate enough to play alongside my total hero Willie “Bud” Johnston. What a man, total football legend in my book and a wonderful guy. He helped not just me but many other youngsters with his knowledge, drive and focus. I only took note of the “good bits” though !!” After finishing playing Colin went into the licensed trade as a stock taker and then as a financial adviser for 15 years before becoming a taxi driver as he is today. He says “I never considered coaching at professional level but I did coach youngsters at Leith Athletic alongside Jimmy Sandison for 15 years. However ,I do still hope to play for Hearts at some stage although this time it will be in full Highland dress and not the famous maroon jersey”