Kitted Out

Ask any Hearts fan their favourite home game during season 1989/90 and I am pretty sure they would immediately reply the 4-0 win against Motherwell in the Scottish Cup on the 24th of February 1990. It was the day it felt like the Terrible Trio from the Fifties of Conn, Bauld and Wardhaugh were back gracing the turf of Tynecastle only this time it was the more modern version comprising of Crabbe, Colquhoun and Robertson.

This was a typical February Scottish Cup tie, torrential rain, a pitch like porridge and two committed teams. In their three previous meetings four players were ordered off and there were 17 bookings so this game was always likely to be played at a blood and thunder pace. On this occasion the game was light on bookings but heavy on goals, the tackles may have been tempered with the persistent heavy downpours from above. The sticky pitch didn’t prevent Hearts from going all out in attack. Season 1989/90 saw manager Alex MacDonald make the bold decision to buck a trend in the Premier Division and play with three forwards. This meant at times the midfield of MacKay, McCreery and

Bannon could be overrun but when you had the goal hungry trio of Crabbe, Colquhoun and Robertson working in harmony, when it clicked it produced glorious football and some wonderful goals. This was going to be one of those occasions.

A buoyant John Robertson was keen to catch the eye of the Scotland manager and gain selection for the Italia 90 squad. Before the Motherwell game his goal tally sat at an impressive 15 for the season. He would quickly add to that total in the Cup tie bagging a goal in the 9th minute. Starting from a clever back heel from Scott Crabbe, Robertson drilled a low right-hand shot past the Motherwell keeper Maxwell. The second goal in the 32nd minute was a contender for goal of the season. A superb individual effort from fans favourite John Colquhoun. Craig Levein sprayed a pass to the winger who took the ball just on the halfway line, out-paced his good friend John Philliben then side stepped the keeper before casually rolling the ball into the net.

Hearts would go three up before half time as Colquhoun then turned provider as he passed to Robertson who rammed home his second goal of the game and moved onto 16 for the season.

getting in on the act. Man of the match Robertson supplied the pass from the left and Crabbo smashed home from 20 yards. A stunning goal to end the day’s goalscoring exploits, the exciting trio had struck again. The home shirt for season 1989/90 was a classic maroon with a rollover v neck collar with treble white stripes and white piping running down from the neck to the armpit. The long-sleeved version would have the treble white stripes on the cuffs. Player worn shirts would have both an embroidered club badge and Bukta logo on the front of the shirt. Thorn Security would make their one and only season long appearance as the shirt sponsor. The version made available to the fans via the shop would be a heat pressed flock logo and a heat pressed plastic badge. The numbers on the back used that season were simple but stylish with a block effect. On the numbers was a separate maroon heat pressed flock Bukta Logo. The logo mirrored the logo featured on the front of the shirt. The shirt featured is a number 15 substitute shirt that would have been worn by several players throughout the season including Husref Musemic, Jimmy Sandison and Davie Kirkwood.

Grant Young is a Hearts shirt collector and is currently writing a book. He can be contacted at jambojim190512@yahoo. com or via twitter @ heartsshirts

BOBBY WALKER— THE ACE OF HEARTS

At twenty-one years of age, on 7 April 1900, a footballer from the Southside of Edinburgh, born in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat, became a national hero. Bobby Walker, with his colleagues in the Scotland team, had humbled England by 4-1 at Celtic Park and were entitled to be called, “the best team in the world.”

Bobby became the first player to earn 21 caps for Scotland, including a record eleven appearances against England, and on his retirement in 1913, he had set a new bench-mark of 29 games for his country. He captivated the crowds and regularly drew superlatives in the newspapers such as, “Walker even at outsideright was an artist, the most accomplished player engaged, and one without which no Scottish team can be complete.” The adulation he received at Tynecastle was tangible, and his fame spread throughout the football world: indeed, King Haakon of Norway wanted to see him play during Hearts first overseas tour in 1912. And yet, in 1909, this modest and retiring young man, a star of the Hearts, described himself in his marriage certificate as a tinsmith!

Bobby played in the last few games that secured the League Championship for Hearts in 1896-97, and he was the inspiration behind the club’s Scottish Cup Final victories in 1901 and 1906. Indeed, He stamped his authority in the success of 1901 which became known as the “Walker Final” after he captained Hearts to a monumental 4-3 victory over Celtic. Although now lost in the mist of time, this was surely one of the greatestever Cup Finals. He pulled Hearts out of difficult situations time and time again, and therefore the supporters and players had no objection to his increased wage demands or sometimes wayward lifestyle. When Bobby finally retired in May 1913 a national testimonial was set in motion by Sir Harry Lauder and for a brief period he had a full life, being a publican and director of Hearts. However, his business was not a success and health issues prevented him from joining the Army during the Great War. In particular, after many years in football, his legs were in poor condition and eventually, Bobby was not able to work. As a result, he encountered the rough side of life. Bobby Walker passed away on 28 August 1930 and thousands lined the route of his funeral cortege from the Royal Infirmary to North Merchiston Cemetery. This brilliant footballer, modest gentleman, and wonderful ambassador for Edinburgh, had raised the fame of the Heart of Midlothian Football Club to its highest ever level. Hearts supporters will want to learn more about his life and times from this immaculately researched book.

BOOK LAUNCH

We are pleased to announce the launch of the new book ‘Bobby Walker - This is his Story’ by Colin Robertson and Andrew Hoggan. Now available to purchase from Hearts Direct and the Hearts Club Store, this is the first book to ever tell the story of Bobby Walker, considered by many to be the finest player in Europe at his peak from 1896 to 1913, reveals the highs and lows of his career with Hearts and his outstanding international record. The extensively researched publication also contains numerous images that cannot be sourced in modern day publications. All profits from book sales are being kindly donated to Hearts Heritage & Museum.