Hearts on Tour

Hearts OnTour

The The 50s/60s Tours

Throughout the most successful decade in the Club’s history, manager Tommy Walker forged close bonds between his talented players by taking them on six post-season tours to destinations as far apart as the USA, South Africa and Australia. This season, I’m going to take a look at the memorabilia associated with Hearts’ tours of the 1950’s.

After the successes of 1958 and 1960, Tommy Walker didn’t take much persuasion to return to the United States just four years later in 1964. This time, however, Hearts were to take part in the prestigious International Soccer League (“ISL”) based in New York. There would be no easy friendlies against enthusiastic local players on this tour. Indeed, there wouldn’t really be a tour with Hearts and the other competitors being based in New York and playing most of their matches there with only the occasional foray to other cities.

The ISL was the brainchild of William D Cox, an American businessman and sports lover who used his wealth accumulated from his lumber company to invest in sports teams. In the late 1950’s he had the idea of bringing foreign teams to the United States to compete for an unofficial world club championship. The tournament started in 1960 and Hearts were the third Scottish side to take part following in the footsteps of Kilmarnock who played in the tournament four times including the first tournament in 1960 and Dundee who played in 1962. The competitors were split into two groups of five but each team would play six matches; two against two of the teams in their group but only once against the other two. Hearts’ group contained Blackburn Rovers, Lanerossi Vicenza, Werder Bremen and Bahia of Brazil. The other group featured Zagelbie Sosnowiec of Poland, Schwechater of Austria, Red Star Belgrade, Vitoria Guimaraes of Portugal and AEK Athens. We’d play Blackburn and Lanerossi twice and Werder and Bahia just once with the group winners meeting the group winners of the second section over two legs to earn the right to meet last year’s champions in the grand final. Confused yet ? Once again, the club issued an itinerary booklet to the players and officials who were due to travel. Similar in size and style to the itineraries produced for the earlier tours, it was printed by William McDonald & Co who also printed the Hearts programme at the time. The old Hearts crest provides a splash of vivid colour to the cover which refers to the trip as “The International Soccer League” rather than as a tour.

The third page listed the

members of the travelling party. Both Johnny Harvey and Donald McLeod were included at the outset on this occasion. The list of players is notable not just for the inclusion of Frank Sandeman, signed only a couple of weeks earlier from East Stirling and who would play only 8 times for the club without scoring, but also for the numbering. Jim Cruickshank is the only keeper listed and is listed as No. 1. Thereafter, the list is strictly alphabetical with Left Back David Holt listed as No. 9 and Alan Gordon listed at No. 6. Ordinarily, of course, this wouldn’t matter but the note at the foot of the page records that these were and would remain the players’ shirt numbers for the entire competition. There was then a list of room sharers – although, as we’ll see, the situation changed once the management saw the accommodation which had been reserved. A fixture list follows and then there’s the itinerary itself. The players were to assemble at Tynecastle at 6pm on Thursday 28 May ready to be bussed through to Prestwick Airport where, after a meal at the airport, Hearts would board a midnight flight to JFK Airport in New York. The return flight was scheduled for 26 June.

As usual, the most interesting part of the itinerary are the Notes at the rear. Players were told to travel light. They would have a maximum baggage allowance of 44lbs which equates to 20kg, less than half of the allowance you’d be allowed today. Players were reminded that if they agreed to send reports of the tour back to the Scottish press – and quite a few would do so – they should submit any material to the club officials before it was published and should not, in any event, discuss the matches themselves. When preparing for matches or training sessions, players must wear track suits over their strips and at no point should players be seen entering or leaving the hotel only wearing their strip. Tommy Walker was almost certainly responsible for writing the final paragraph. He wrote that “The object of our visit to America is, if we can possibly do so, to win the American Soccer League Tournament, but should we fail in this quest ten we trust that we will be remembered for play that was good, behaviour that was exemplary and endeavor that was honest”.

There was also an American itinerary published and although I’ve not got one in my collection, I’ve seen a couple of pictures which I can share with you. The cover shows a drawing of two players together with

the lists of competing teams. The winners of the first and second sections would meet on 29 July and 2 August to see who would have the right to meet last year’s winners Dukla Prague on 5 August and 9 August. And yes, that would mean Hearts travelling back to New York if they were lucky enough to win their section. The second page has a full itinerary of matches and the third has details of ticket outlets and an advert for the competition’s main sponsors, the Dutch airline KLM.

Next time, Hearts get their schedule up and running. Gary Cowen is a member of Hearts heritage group and is currently writing a book about the Hearts post-season tours

OVER THE COURSE OF THE 21/22 SEASON, CLUB HISTORIAN DAVID SPEED WILL COVER THE ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY OF OUR HOME.

PART FOUR: GEARING UP FOR PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

After its major reconstruction in 1888, Tynecastle

Park was one of the finest grounds in Scotland and with private rooms in the Pavilion, hospitality could be provided at minimal cost. For example, on 31 August 1889, after Hearts defeated Mossend Swifts by 6-0, fifteen members of the visiting party were invited to take tea.

There were also three dozen waters, a half-bottle of whisky, and a half-bottle of wine, these being purchased from Mr. Clark’s public house, now the Tynecastle

Arms. In addition, private rooms allowed Committee Meetings to be held at the ground.

On a more basic level, in October 1889, the first toilet block was built at the back of the Pavilion by R. Smith & Company (Plumbers) of 15 Lothian Road. Gas pipes were also laid into the private area and two stoves were installed to provide the players with warmth and copious hot water. Routine maintenance was the responsibility of the club’s Trainer, Joe Newton, who in addition to looking after the fitness of the players, had to undertake tasks such as depositing ash on the public standing areas.

In February 1890, security was improved when a wooden fence was erected around the track. This was just-in-time, because on 8 February 1890, Celtic were visitors for the first time and during Hearts’ 1-0 victory, a very excited crowd watched Jimmy Adams and Willie Groves (Celtic) come to blows. Police had to assist the Hearts officials to break-up the fight and calm down the crowd, which was reported in the newspapers as 7,000. This represented a new record attendance, although on this occasion, club records did not give details of the receipts to confirm that fact. complained to the Committee of personal harassment in the Tynecastle Stands.

Regarding attendances, on Monday, 21 April 1890, it appeared as if a new record had been established at Tynecastle Park when the FA Cup winners, Blackburn Rovers, were demolished by 7-0 before a reported crowd of between 8,000 and 10,000. However, the gate receipts of just over £87 (with basic admission at 2.5 pence) indicate a more realistic figure of around 5,000. John Bell, on loan from Dumbarton, scored four goals against a jaded Blackburn team that was missing two of its best players. The Englishmen were taken to dinner at Kay’s Hotel in Lothian Road and a much revived group left on the 9.20pm train from Waverley Station.

A similar situation happened on 3 May 1890, when Celtic returned to Tynecastle and won 2-1 before a reported crowd of 8,000. The receipts on that occasion were just over £104 which indicates that only 5,500 were actually in the ground. Nevertheless, crowds were definitely on the increase and the sport took another huge step forward with the formation of the Scottish Football League in season 1890-91. It was hoped that this would help stem the migration of leading players to England.

Heart of Midlothian was, of course, a founder member of the League and in preparation for the new competition the club revised its Rules and Regulations. The membership fee was set at 5/- (25p) with juveniles 2/6 (12.5p). There was also a newmembers joining fee of 5/- and 1,000 copies of the Rules were printed in order to cover the anticipated demand.

Hearts’ first home game in the League Championship came on Saturday, 23 August 1890 against Celtic. Unfortunately, the “Maroons” lost 5-0 and John Madden, after eleven minutes, recorded the first League goal at Tynecastle. A healthy sum of £94 was drawn at the gate and this represented an attendance of 5,000 which included a noticeable number of visiting supporters. This compared favourably with the club’s opening fixture at Ibrox Park when 3,400 saw the game against Rangers.

It was the Scottish International winger, Willie Taylor, who scored the club’s first League goal at home, when Hearts defeated Cowlairs by 4-0 on Saturday, 13 September 1890. In the initial season of the Scottish League, Hearts biggest home crowd was 5,500. This was recorded against Dumbarton who eventually shared the Championship title with Rangers.

Although Hibernian was not a member of the Scottish Football League in the first season, local rivalry remained intense

and when Hearts won 4-1 in a Challenge Match on 1 November 1890, there was an unsavoury incident at Tynecastle. With Hearts leading 2-1, a Hibs follower in the 2,000 crowd, upset at a disallowed goal, ran on to the field and assaulted Willie Gibson, the home keeper. Other spectators then tried to protect Gibson and order was restored after robust action from the police. After this frightening experience, the majority of the fans were happy to hear the final whistle.

The introduction of League football brought guaranteed fixtures and more income, and Hearts decided to invest in ground improvements in order to attract even more supporters to Tynecastle. Substantial funds were also generated from a memorable run in the Scottish Cup, at the end of which, on 7 February 1891, the club won its first major honour with a 1-0 victory over Dumbarton in the Final at Hampden.

The first significant improvement arrived in the spring of 1891, with the building of a handsome twostorey Pavilion at the Gorgie Road End, detached from the seating area. Built of wood, metal pillars and a corrugated iron roof, this fine clubhouse was erected by a local firm, James Duncan & Son of Grove Street and incorporated Committee facilities, a gymnasium and modern changing rooms. The upper deck also had a fine viewing area that was used by club officials. Unfortunately, the President, Dan Blackley, had to advise the members that the proposed covering of the two seated stands was postponed, because the Pavilion had received priority. Nevertheless, in recognition of the increasingly important role that newspapers had in promoting the game, Hearts built a covered reporters’ box, situated over the entrance tunnel between the two stands.

In August 1891, security was improved by the employment of stewards, known as commissionaires. This was certainly required, as Hearts’ popularity was still growing and even in those austere Victorian days, the “Scotsman” reported that the enthusiasm of the club’s supporters, “baffled description”. For example, on Saturday 29 August 1891, Hearts defeated the joint League Champions, Dumbarton, by 3-1 and it was reported that the team was vociferously cheered throughout the ninety minutes. This was despite drenching rain and Tynecastle having no covered accommodation for the general public. That day, the total receipts reached just over £154 and when season ticket holders are factored in, the crowd of 7,500 was a new ground record.

On 24 October 1891, a healthy home crowd of 4,000 watched the first local “derby” in the Scottish League. The match was not against Hibernian, however, but Leith Athletic, who were defeated 3-1. Attendances were definitely on the rise and on 2 January 1892, Hearts defeated Dumbarton by 7-1 in a Friendly, with David Ellis of Mossend Swifts scoring a sensational hat-trick. Newspaper reports suggested an attendance of 10,000 which would have been a new record for the ground, but receipts of £103 indicate a more realistic figure of, at best 7,000.

Another huge occasion followed on 30 January 1892, when Renton, then a power in the game, attracted a recordequaling crowd of 7,500 to Gorgie for a Scottish Cup Third Round Replay. The gates were closed long before the start and newspaper reporters reckoned that if those on the railway embankments, distillery bonds and other surrounding buildings, were added, then about 15,000 spectators must have witnessed the match. It proved to be a roughhouse and Hearts’ players lost their composure and also a 2-0 lead. After the 2-2 draw, the Second Replay was lost by 3-2 at Hampden Park.

Another less salubrious record was established on 23 April 1892, when Hearts beat Rangers by 3-2. That afternoon, George Goodfellow became the first man to be sent-off in a Scottish League game at Tynecastle, after he raised his boot in a dangerous way against the Rangers player, Hugh McCreadie. There was also some excitement off the field, although the bulk of the 5,000 spectators were totally unaware that a small fire in one of the stands had to be extinguished at half-time.

THE MEADOWS TO LOGIE GREEN

From the Meadows the Heritage Trail crosses the City to stop at Logie Green. On the way it passes along Chapel

Street the site of Tam McKenzie’s

Sport Shop (now the African

Wrap Place). Before newspapers started to publish late Saturday editions, match results were posted in McKenzie’s windows, drawing in the crowds and sparking lively debate. Early committee meetings and social gatherings were held just a few steps up Chapel Street at the Marshall Street Halls where the club regularly held their AGMs and Committee meetings from 1886 to 1902.

Percival King’s Sporting Emporium was found on Lothian Street and according to club records, is where our first ball was purchased. Turning right into Forrest Road, you can see McSorley’s Bar the site of Oddfellow Halls where we held our first annual Concert and Assembly on March 15th, 1879, and in August 1934 the inaugural meeting of the Heart of Midlothian Supporters Club was held here.

Down the Mound and through Edinburgh’s New Town to Logie Green Road and the site of another famous location where one of the most historic matches ever played in the capital took place. A match that would not be seen again for well over 100 years! It was here that the first and only Scottish Cup final out-with Glasgow was played. On the 14 March 1896 Hearts faced the Hibernians in the Scottish Cup Final. Hearts were

the favourites to win but that only added to the pressure. The game had caught the imagination of the public and with two capital teams contesting the final, it was decided that the match should take place at St. Bernard’s home ground seen as an appropriate neutral venue. The main fear on the day from the authorities was the issue of potential crushing. Eventually, 16,034 paid for admission and another 1,000 fans were admitted by ticket. This produced an attendance of over 17,000 and did not stretch the ground capacity of 23,000. On the day it cost 1/- (5p) for admission, with no concessions. An extra 2/- and 1/- respectively had to be paid to enter both the main and temporary stands. Kick-off was 4pm and there were 259 police with 9 horses in attendance.

Hibernian held out for only three minutes and then after a hand-ball incident, Davie Baird scored from the resulting penalty kick. Hibs played well either side of half-time, but Hearts weathered the storm and after 65 minutes, Alex King scored with a great shot from a tight angle. Five minutes later, Willie Michael headed Hearts into a 3-0 lead and just on time, John O’Neil scored a consolation goal for Hibs. The Scottish Cup was not presented to Hearts until two weeks later at the Royal Restaurant, West Nile Street in Glasgow. However, on the night of the match, the players and supporters enjoyed an evening of celebration at the Union Hotel in Edinburgh. Logie Green is also close to Powderhall, Hearts second home ground used from 1879-80.

FIRST TEAM RESULTS

SEASON 2021 -2022

DATE OPPONENT ATT F A LINE UP

Sat July 10 Peterhead (LC) 246 2-0 Gordon M Smith A Cochrane d Souttar Halkett Kingsley Haring Tues July 13 Cove Rangers (LC) 1983 3-0 Gordon M Smith A Cochrane Souttar Halkett Kingsley b Ginnelly c Tues July 20 Stirling Albion (LC) 211 2-0 Gordon M Smith A Cochrane e Souttar Halkett Kingsley Ginnelly b Sun July 25 Inverness CT (LC) 2989 1-0 Gordon M Smith A Cochrane Halkett Halliday a Kingsley Ginnelly Sat July 31 Celtic 5272 2-1 Gordon M Smith A Cochrane Souttar Halkett Kingsley Ginnelly b

Sat Aug 7 St Mirren 1039 2-1 Gordon M Smith Halliday Souttar Halkett A Cochrane Ginnelly a Sat July 31 Celtic (LC) 45000 2-3 Gordon M Smith A Cochrane c Souttar Halkett Kingsley Halliday a Sun Aug 22 Aberdeen 17449 1-1 Gordon M Smith Halliday a Souttar Halkett A Cochrane Ginnelly c Sat Aug 28 Dundee Utd 9324 2-0 Gordon M Smith Halliday c Souttar Halkett A Cochrane Woodburn a Sun Sep 12 Hibs Sat Sep 18 Ross County Sat Sep 25 Livingston

Sat Oct 2 Motherwell Sat Oct 16 Rangers Sat Oct 23 Dundee Wed Oct 27 St Johnstone Sat Oct 30 Aberdeen

Sat Nov 6 Dundee Utd Sat Nov 20 Motherwell Sat Nov 27 St Mirren Wed Dec 1 Celtic

Sat Dec 4 Livingston Sat Dec 11 Rangers Sat Dec 18 Dundee Sun Dec 26 Ross County Wed Dec 29 St Johnstone Sun Jan 2 Hibs Wed Jan 26 Celtic Sat Jan 29 Motherwell

Sat Feb 5 Rangers Wed Feb 9 Dundee Sat Feb 19 St Johnstone Sat Feb 26 St Mirren Wed Mar 2 Aberdeen

Sat Mar 5 Dundee Utd Sat Mar 19 Livingston

Sat Apr 2 Ross County

Sat Apr 9 Hibs

SUBSTITUTES

McEneff b Boyce e Ginnelly a M-Steven c Walker Pollock Roberts Halliday Henderson Halliday d Boyce Pollock a M-Steven e McEneff Haring Henderson C Smith Denholm

Halliday Boyce d Haring a M-Steven c Gnanduillet Pollock Walker McEneff C Smith

Pollock b Boyce Gnanduillet c M-Steven Haring Walker Henderson

Baningime Boyce Halliday M-Steven a Haring Gnanduillet -

Baningime Boyce c Haring M-Steven b Gnanduillet McEneff Henderson

Baningime Boyce pen Haring b M-Steven Ginnelly McEneff Walker

Baningime Boyce pen Haring b M-Steven b Walker McEneff Henderson

Baningime Boyce Haring M Steven b Ginnelly Gnanduillet T Moore

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES

13, 24, 28, 29 13, 20, 28, 29 13, 22, 28, 29 8, 27, 28, 34, 35,13 8, 22, 27, 38, 13 27, 34, 35, 13 22, 27, 35, 13 27, 35, 13 7, 8, 38, 13

46 WWW.HEARTSFC.CO.UK

FIRST TEAM

APPEARANCES 2021/22

PLAYER LEAGUE LEAGUE CUP SFA CUP TOTALS

STARTS SUBS GOALS STARTS SUBS GOALS STARTS SUBS GOALS STARTS SUBS GOALS

Craig GORDON 4 - 1* 5 - 4* - - - 9 - 5* Ross STEWART - - - - - - - - - - - Michael SMITH 4 - - 5 - - - - - 9 - Cammy LOGAN - - - - - - - - - - - Jamie BRANDON - - - - - - - - - - - Alex COCHRANE (L) 4 - - 5 - - - - - 9 - Stephen KINGSLEY 1 - - 5 - - - - - 6 - John SOUTTAR 4 - 1 4 - - - - - 8 - 1 Mihai POPESCU $ - - - - - - - - - - - Craig HALKETT 4 - - 5 - - - - - 9 - Taylor MOORE (L) 0 1 - - - - - - - 0 1 Peter HARING 3 1 - 3 2 - - - - 6 3 Cammy DEVLIN - - - - - - - - - - - Beni BANINGIME 4 - - 1 - - - - - 5 - Ben WOODBURN (L) 1 - - - - - - - - 1 - Scott McGILL $ - - - - - - - - - - - Aaron McENEFF 0 2 - 1 3 1 - - - 1 5 1 Gary MACKAY-STEVEN 4 - 1 5 - 2 - - - 9 - 3 Andy HALLIDAY 4 - 1 4 1 1 - - - 8 1 2 Jamie WALKER 0 1 - 0 4 1 - - - 0 5 1 Jordan ROBERTS $ - - - 0 1 - - - - 0 1 Josh GINNELLY 3 1 - 4 1 - - - - 7 2 Liam BOYCE 4 - 3(1 5 - 4(1 - - - 9 - 7(2 Armand GNANDUILLET 0 3 1 1 1 - - - - 1 4 1 Euan HENDERSON $ 0 2 - 0 3 - - - - 0 5 Connor SMITH $ - - - 0 2 - - - - 0 2 Finlay POLLOCK - - - 2 2 1 - - - 2 2 1 Aaron DARGE $ - - - - - - - - - - - -

Aidan DENHOLM - - - 0 1 - - - - 0 1 Leon WATSON - - - - - - - - - - - Chris HAMILTON $ - - - - - - - - - - - Loic DAMOUR $ - - - - - - - - - - - Totals 44 11 7 55 21 10 - - - 99 32 17

$ Player on loan * Now left Club *Denotes shut out in goals column # Retired as player, now on Development Staff

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