Hearts and the Texaco Cup

 

Much has been made of the financial rewards for clubs participating in UEFA competitions. From the Champions League to the Europa League and the Europa Conference, there is a veritable pot of gold for those clubs who qualify and do well. Commercial sponsors are, of course, quick to the fore to attach their names to these competitions, their names plastered all over the stadia and ensuing television coverage.

It hasn’t always been the case but a little more than half a century ago the seeds of commercialism were being sown in football – and Hearts were among the prominent participants.

 In 1970 a new competition was devised – the International League Board Competition. As its name implies this was a cross-border tournament for clubs that had just missed out on gaining a place in European club competitions. Oil giants Texaco sponsored the tournament, and their name became synonymous with a competition which initially include six clubs from Scotland and England and four from Ireland. Hearts had finished fourth in the league at the end of season 1969/70 – not quite enough for what was then the European Fairs Cities Cup (now the Europa League) but sufficient for the Maroons to take part in the inaugural Texaco Cup.

Some people were sceptical about this new-fangled competition believing it was little more than an advertising gimmick for the benefit of Texaco. But for Hearts supporters, the opening tie against English First Division Burnley was something different and quite exciting for the time. Only a decade before, Burnley had been league champions of England although as the 1970s began, the Lancashire club were struggling in the top flight of English football.

 On Tuesday 15^th September 1970, Hearts took to the field at Turf Moor and after just 63 seconds were rather wishing they hadn’t bothered as Michael Docherty – son of future Scotland manager Tommy Docherty - gave Burnley the lead. Dave Merrington doubled the home side’s lead in the 17^th minute and it’s fair to say Hearts struggled. When Steve Kindon made it 3-0 to Burnley just before the hour mark there looked to be no way back for Hearts. However, George Fleming scored with just eight minutes remaining to give the Maroons a lifeline for the return leg at Tynecastle a fortnight later – a lifeline they grabbed with some relish.

 It was a different Hearts performance from the one which meekly surrendered the first leg in Lancashire. Backed by a vociferous support of nearly 16,000 fans, Hearts set about retrieving the two-goal deficit from the first leg with gusto. Inspired by Jim Townsend, Hearts went ahead in the 14^th minute with a tremendous 20-yard drive from Jim Brown following fine play from Townsend and Donald Ford.

 The Maroons sensed blood and while Burnley spurned two great chances to equalise on the night, the home side drew parity on aggregate on the stroke of half-time when a Townsend corner was turned across goal by Alan Anderson for Kevin Hegarty to head home from close range. 2-0 to Hearts and 3-3 on aggregate as the Gorgie fans celebrated at half-time. They were cheering again three minutes into the second half when an own goal from Waldron gave Hearts the lead on aggregate before Andy Lynch made it 4-0 with a brilliant goal, again set up by that man Townsend. Although Burnley pulled a goal back from Casper with 25 minutes left to set up a grandstand finish, Hearts secured a brilliant 4-1 win on the night to progress 5-4 on aggregate.

 Hearts were paired with fellow Scots Airdrieonians in the quarter finals and a majestic performance in the first leg at Broomfield saw John Harvey’s men thrash the Diamonds 5-0 with Donald Ford scoring four goals. It was typical of the Hearts team of the time that they lost the return leg at Tynecastle 3-2 but progressed to the semi-finals 7-3 on aggregate.

Hearts were drawn with Airdrie’s Lanarkshire rivals Motherwell in the semi-finals and were held to 1-1 draw in a tense first leg at Tynecastle, just before Christmas 1970, Donald Ford scoring for the home side. The winter weather resulted in the return leg at Fir Park being postponed in the New Year and it wasn’t until early March that the tie was concluded. In front of a crowd of more than 25,000, Hearts looked to heading out of the tournament when Heron gave the home side the lead. However, in the 90^th minute, Hearts won a corner which was hotly disputed by the home players. George Fleming didn’t argue and scored an equaliser to take the game to extra-time where, inevitably, Donald Ford scored the winning goal to take Hearts through to the final.

 On 14^th April 1971, Hearts took on English giants Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Texaco Cup Final first leg in front of over 25,000 expectant fans at Tynecastle. Donald Ford – who else? – had the home fans in a frenzy as he gave the maroon and white striped Hearts the lead in the seventh minute. But the frenzy cooled as Mike Bailey and Scottish internationalist Hugh Curran had the visitors 2-1 ahead after half an hour. Curran added a third goal two minutes from the end and Hearts faced a monumental task of heading to Molineux for the second leg with a 3-1 deficit.

 However, Hearts restored a lot of pride by producing a superb performance in that second leg with George Fleming scoring midway through the first half to reduce the arrears but, try as they might, they couldn’t score the second goal which would have resulted in extra-time. A very good Wolves team lifted the trophy wining the final 3-2 on aggregate.

Hearts again entered Texaco Cup for season 1971-72 and the visit of Newcastle United to Tynecastle on 15^th September 1971 excited the Maroon Army once more. The Geordies had striker Malcolm MacDonald in their side, labelled ‘SuperMac,’ and who cost Newcastle £180,000, a significant sum half a century ago. MacDonald, however, was kept quiet by a resolute Hearts defence and the Maroons stunned their illustrious visitors when Andy Lynch scored the only goal of the game in the 56^th minute.

 Hearts headed to St James Park a fortnight later and, backed by a huge travelling support, put on another magnificent display. With just five minutes to go, the game remained goalless, and Hearts looked set for a famous result. But the aforementioned ‘SuperMac’ struck to level the aggregate score and send the tie into extra-time. MacDonald scored again early in extra-time, and it looked like Hearts brave efforts would be for nothing. However, with just three minutes remaining, Alan Anderson headed home a Neil Murray cross to level the tie at 2-2. A penalty shoot-out was required but Hearts luck ran out when Jim Townsend and Donald Ford missed their spot kicks which enabled Newcastle United to progress 4-3 on penalties.

 Season 1972-73 saw Hearts in more Texaco Cup action with a memorable first round victory over Crystal Palace. A late Tommy Murray goal secured a 1-0 win in the first leg at Tynecastle before Andy Lynch scored another late goal in the return leg at Selhurst Park to secure a 2-0 aggregate victory over a big-spending Crystal Palace side. However, in the second round, Motherwell exacted revenge by knocking Hearts out of the competition, a 4-2 second leg victory at Fir Park following a goalless first leg at Tynecastle.

 Hearts last memorable Texaco Cup occasion came in season 1973-74 when they visited English giants Everton for their first round first leg clash. The legend that was Drew Busby scored the only goal of the game at a rain lashed Goodison to secure a famous victory and Bobby Seith’s men duly completed the job at Tynecastle with a goalless draw to progress 1-0 on aggregate. However, revenge was once more on the cards in the second round when old adversaries Burnley defeated Hearts 3-0 in the first leg at Tynecastle before thrashing the Maroons 5-0 in the return at Turf Moor.

Hearts love affair with the Texaco Cup ended the following season when they lost 2-1 on aggregate to Oldham Athletic in the first round. Texaco withdrew their sponsorship after this season and the competition was renamed the Anglo-Scottish Cup. Hearts lost to Fulham in 1975, Partick Thistle in 1978 and Airdrieonians in 1980 but the Anglo-Scottish Cup didn’t have the allure of its predecessor.

 The Texaco Cup Final of 1971 and the memorable victories over Burnley, Everton and Crystal Palace remain etched on the memories of my generation of Hearts supporters.

 

Mike Smith

Twitter @Mike1874