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

 

 

Thanks For the Memories, Big Man

 

                                                Image: The Scottish Football Museum

On a recent visit to my daughter’s house in darkest Dalkeith recently, I was heartened to see my 16-year-old granddaughter Hannah enjoying the sun in the back garden. She wasn’t lying incommunicado with a set of headphones stuck in her lugholes – rather she was engrossed in a good book. And not on one of these technically fangled Kindle things – it was an actual hardback book, leather bound with actual pages that required turning.

I was delighted to see Hannah has her ageing grandfather’s aptitude for reading. I had rather wished I had taken the book I’m presently engaged in – Alex Brown’s excellent Niddrie Boys, an autobiographical tale of a lad of similar age to me growing up in Edinburgh’s Niddrie/Craigmillar area and the trials and tribulations he went through.

It was whilst reading Niddrie Boys that I heard the recent sad news of the passing of one of Scotland’s finest defenders – Gordon McQueen.

There’s a chapter in Niddrie Boys where Alex Brown detailed his adventure to Wembley in 1977 to watch Scotland play England in the bi-annual pilgrimage to old London town. In what were less technically operated times, Brown sneaked on a London bound train without paying at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station and joined the thronging masses for the journey south. Brown regales us with the story that the train was so ‘rammed’ as he puts it that there was next to no chance of any ticket inspector even attempting to check tickets of passengers, the number of whom far exceeded the capacity of the train. The Niddrie Boy then fell off the train at London King’s Cross and staggered his way to Wembley Stadium where he – and doubtless countless others – managed to climb into the stadium without paying.

Brown said he had a great view of Gordon McQueen heading home Scotland’s first goal. It was one of those goals you never forget and never tire of seeing. The towering figure of a Scots warrior, leaping above a hapless English defender, his mop of blonde hair straddled over his head which bulleted the ball past England goalkeeper Ray Clemence. McQueen then ran to soak up the acclaim of an adoring Scottish support, given another shot of adrenalin just as the effects of copious amounts of alcohol was beginning to wear off.

That Scotland team of 1977 had the fans daring to believe. McQueen was a tower of strength at the back while the genius that was Kenny Dalglish, wing wizardry of Willie Johnston and the power of striker Joe Jordan were huge contributions to a team that was genuinely considered by some to be among the best nations in Europe. After all, hadn’t Scotland eliminated reigning European Champions Czechoslovakia from the qualifying group for the World Cup finals in Argentina the following year?

Dalglish scored a second Scotland goal in the second half before England pulled back a late goal. The Scots won 2-1 and thousands of them – including Alex Brown – poured on to the hallowed Wembley turf before demolishing the old stadium. Bits of Wembley turf and goalposts are still to be found all over Scotland to this day.

My favourite tale from that afternoon was from manager Ally MacLeod. Before Wembley, the ebullient Ally wasn’t quite as well known down south as he was in his homeland. MacLeod struggled to get back to the dressing rooms after the game and with panic setting in amongst what little security there was – the 1970s were different times, dear reader – MacLeod had difficulty persuading one of the security staff that he was indeed the Scotland manager. As MacLeod himself put it – “eventually I made it to the sanctuary of the dressing room and found goalkeeper Alan Rough in the bath – with two Scotland supporters…”

The tragic passing of McQueen brought memories of that day flooding back for me and, unquestionably, thousands of others. In later years, the great man became a summariser for Sky Sports and his reaction in the studio whilst watching James McFadden score an absolute screamer for Scotland against France in Paris in 2007 became iconic. McQueen did well not to lapse into a sweary rejoice when he shouted ‘Goaaaaaaallll!’ although the presenter’s subsequent question of ‘who for, Gordon?’ was the definition of the term pointless.

There was sadly something symmetrical about reading author Alex Brown’s account of that day whilst hearing about McQueen’s death, attributed to the effects of dementia, aged just 70. The footage of McQueen during his spells at Leeds United, Manchester United and, of course, Scotland mean the big fella will never be forgotten.

Thanks for the memories, big man.

 

Mike Smith

Twitter @Mike1874

The Sack Race

 

Robbie Neilson and Mike Smith promoting Mike's book The Team For Me on BBC Radio Scotland's Off the Ball show, September 2018

It was, arguably, one of the greatest achievements in Scottish football history. Season 2019/20 would go down in history for reasons relating to what happened off the football field namely the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent curtailing of football seasons across the world. The following season was also affected, mostly by the absence of fans at games as the stay-at-home message was reinforced by government.

2021, however, was to prove memorable for supporters of St Johnstone Football Club. For this was the year their club lifted not one but two trophies – the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup. Manager Callum Davidson, with one of the smallest budgets in the top flight of Scottish football, and in charge of a club miniscule in size compared to the Glasgow giants of Celtic and Rangers, had pulled off a quite astonishing achievement. He was already a hero in Perth following his time as a player. Now he would secure legendary status, an icon of Scottish football.

Fast forward just two years and Davidson was unceremoniously shown the door at McDiarmid Park. A disappointing series of results saw the Perth Saints hurtling down the league table and perilously close to the relegation trapdoor. Despite Davidson previously performing miracles this wasn’t enough to prevent the great man being handed his P45. What a way to treat a hero. But Davidson wasn’t alone…

Since the beginning of 2023, several clubs in Scotland have pointed their managers to the exit door. Aberdeen’s humiliating defeat in the Scottish Cup to sixth tier side Darvel wasn’t deemed serious enough for the club’s board of directors to sack manager Jim Goodwin. But a 6-0 thrashing by Hibernian at Easter Road a few days later was – and the genial Irishman cut a sad figure as he left Leith in the back of a car.

Across the capital city, Robbie Neilson was seen as having probably the safest job in Scottish football. He had guided Hearts back to the top flight following their enforced demotion due to the aforementioned pandemic in 2020. He took them into the group stages of the Europa Conference and to two Scottish Cup finals, albeit Hearts lost both of them. At the start of 2023 Hearts appeared to have overcome their horrendous injury problems with a 5-0 thrashing of Jim Goodwin’s Aberdeen and knocking city rivals Hibernian out of the Scottish Cup with a convincing 3-0 triumph at Easter Road. But come Easter, Neilson suffered a Gorgie crucifixion and paid the price for Hearts dismal run of six defeats in a row. Neilson was fired, despite the fact he had signed an extension to his contract at the start of the season.

Motherwell also sacked their manager Steven Hammell after a woeful winless run but saw an immediate improvement in results with the appointment of Stuart Kettlewell.

The reasons for so many sackings are numerous but can mainly be traced to one underlying factor – money. St Johnstone’s unwanted flirtation with relegation saw the potential financial repercussions evolve into a recurring nightmare for the Saints board of directors. Callum Davidson may have brought unprecedented success to the club but his ‘Saintliness’ wasn’t enough to save his skin.

Similarly, Hearts apparent seamless cruise to third place in the cinch Premiership and the subsequent place in the group stages of next season’s Europa League and its £5m bounty began to sink following their dismal run of defeats in March and April. Aberdeen’s earlier decision to sack Jim Goodwin and replace him with reserve coach Barry Robson on an interim basis until the end of the season saw the Dons embark a resurgence that would see them race past Hearts and in pole position for that coveted third place. And, of course, the millions of pounds that comes with it. The Hearts board, with its supporters’ representatives, suddenly saw their yearned for riches – which they already had a taste for this season – begin to run away from them. So, Robbie Neilson had to go, with the Gorgie club emulating Aberdeen’s decision by putting Hearts B team coach Steven Naismith in charge of the first team until the end of the season. At the time of writing, Hearts had just thrashed Ross County 6-1 at Tynecastle whilst the following day Aberdeen had put the final nail in the coffin of Rangers title hopes by defeating the Ibrox team 2-0 at Pittodrie.

Goodwin, Davidson, and Neilson had previously glowing reputations as football managers. Many would argue that all three men could have turned things around had they been given more time. But time is not something afforded to football managers these days – not when it means losing money.

Before this season ends, don’t be surprised if at least one more manager has fallen victim to the sack race….

 

Twitter @Mike1874

fitbason.blogspot.com

John Wick 4 Hearts? Yeaaaah...

 

A few weeks ago, I did something I haven’t done for more than three years. And before anyone makes a ‘smart Alec’ comment it wasn’t buying a round of drinks…

I accompanied the present Mrs Smith to the cinema. She has something of a crush on Keanu Reeves so we went to see the latest instalment in the John Wick series – John Wick 4. And so it was, we headed to the Odeon Cinema in Edinburgh’s Fort Kinnaird. For the princely sum of £12.50 you are offered debatable entertainment whereas at Tynecastle….

The film was exciting enough if you prefer your entertainment to be fantasy stuff with realism light years away. I prefer films which are realistic and with a storyline you can relate to. It’s fair to say that, with the greatest respect, Mr Reeves wasn’t exactly overworked with learning his dialogue for the film. He was more focussed on shooting, stabbing, strangling, and blowing up villains.

It got me thinking though. As this is reputed to be the last in the John Wick series (and the ending to John Wick 4 leads you to believe this is the case) it might be something of a signing coup if Hearts were to offer Mr Wick the opportunity to play in the SPFL Premiership. I envisage contract negotiations between John Wick and manager Robbie Neilson to be along the following lines…

RM: Welcome to Tynecastle, John. Would you like to sign for the famous Heart of Midlothian?

JW: (after a considerable pause) Yeaaaah.

RM: That’s great, John. We’re looking for a hitman, someone with great shooting ability who can fire accurately from either close or long range.

JW nods silently.

RM: Correct me if I’m wrong but, as I live and breathe, although you’re the man, the myth, the legend, you’re not very good at retiring. So how about coming to Edinburgh, John?

JW: (after a considerable pause) Yeaaaah. Although I’m a little rusty, I guess.

RM: Now, John, I realise there’s a $14m bounty on your head and every interested party in the city wants a piece of it. But I reckon we can negotiate.

JW: Not if you can’t spend it.

RM: Don’t worry, John. I think our benefactor has a few dollars lying under his bed. I’m sure we can come to a civilised arrangement.

JW: Do I look civilised to you?

RM: (after a considerable pause) Yeaaaah.

JW: You’re stealing my line.

RM: Sorry, John. Right, I’ll get a contract drawn up.

JW: There’s already a contract out on me.

RM: Erm, aye, but this is a different kind of contract. We want you to play for us next season and use your shooting ability to take us closer to Celtic and Rangers.

JW: I get it.

RM: Great!

JW: Do you want a war or do you just wanna give me a gun?

RM: Erm, no war and no gun. Just a 12-month contract, a Hearts strip, and a pair of football boots.

Non-Executive director James Anderson enters the room.

JW: Evening, Jimmy. Noise complaint?

JA: No, not a complaint. I’m getting a round of drinks in and wondered if you wanted something. Consider this a professional courtesy.

JW: You’re stealing my line.

JA: Sorry, Mr Wick. Bourbon?

JW: (after a considerable pause) Bourbon.

RM: Great! I’ll get the media team to issue a press release. John Wick signs a contract for Heart of Midlothian!

JW: Tell them all. Whoever comes, whoever it is, I’ll kill them. I’ll kill them all.

RM: No need for that, John. You might get hit by a suspension from the SPFL and we won’t want our hitman sitting in the stands, will we?

JW: (after a considerable pause) I guess not.

RM: Great! We’ll get you fixed up with temporary accommodation during your stay with us. You’ll be staying at The Continental.

JW: (after a considerable pause) Yeaaaah.

Coach Lee McCulloch bursts into the room.

LM: Boss, I’ve got some bad news. It’s about Lawrence Shankland.

RM: (sighs) What is it? Has he been injured in training?

LM: Naw, boss. He’s just made off in John Wick’s car…

 

 

Twitter @Mike1874

fitbason.blogspot.com

Celebrate Good Times

 

                                                                    Photo: BBC Scotland

Last week was one of those ‘international break’ interludes which means the top flight of Scottish football had a break while the lesser mortals in the lower leagues carried on as usual. 

Scotland were involved in what is now euphemistically termed a ‘double header’ with games against Cyprus and Spain at the National Stadium. Against all odds, Stevie Clarke’s men bagged six points to start the European Championship qualifying campaign with a bang, following up a laboured 3-0 over Cyprus with a brilliant 2-0 win over European ‘heavyweights’ Spain at Hampden - a game sure to live long in the memory.

The fixtures against Cyprus and Spain evoke memories of previous Scotland victories over said opposition and, moreover, the celebrations which followed. Back in early February 1989, Scotland travelled to Cyprus for a World Cup qualifier. The Scots were favourites to win. I can just about remember Scotland hammering the Cypriots 8-0 at Hampden in another World Cup qualifier in 1969 - Colin Stein scoring four goals. Stein had also scored in the fixture in the Mediterranean island where the Scots won 5-0 four months earlier.

Fast forward twenty years and we looked forward to Scotland repeating these easy victories. However, the Scotland team in 1989 was a different composition to the one that ended the decade that was the swinging sixties. While the team that cruised to that 8-0 win included the likes of Billy Bremner, Billy McNeill, John Greig, Willie Henderson, Alan Gilzean, Eddie Gray and Charlie Cooke as well as the aforementioned Stein, the 1989 version wasn’t quite as endowed with such talent. Nevertheless, when Maurice Johnston gave the Scots the lead after just nine minutes in the heat of Limassol, we sat back and waited for the goals fest. But we Scots know it never pays to get overconfident where the national football team is concerned…

Cyprus equalised six minutes later, and the game was level at half-time before the metaphorical roof fell in for the Scots three minutes into the second half when Cyprus took the lead. Scotland manager Andy Roxburgh cut a sorry figure but, thankfully, not for long as Richard Gough equalised six minutes later. But surely even a draw against the group’s so-called minnows – a group that also contained Norway, France, and the former Yugoslavia, - would seriously damage Scotland’s hopes of reaching the World Cup finals in Italy the following year.

Step forward Richard Gough once more. With time added on at the end of the game standing at a remarkable six minutes, the Rangers defender headed home a dramatic and, some might say, scarcely deserved winner for the Scots. Cue the normally placid Roxburgh leaping on to the pitch dancing like a demented gazelle on heat.

Scotland did qualify for the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy – but then they brought on the Costa Ricans…

What Scotland 1989 could have done with was a player with the sublime ability of Kenny Dalglish. Five years earlier, ‘King Kenny’ scored one of the most memorable goals seen at Hampden when he dinked past two Spanish defenders in the penalty box before firing a brilliant left foot shot into the top corner of the net to seal a 3-1 win over Spain in another World Cup qualifier, this time for the 1986 finals in Mexico. A young Maurice Johnston had scored twice to put the Scots in control, but Dalglish’s superlative strike put the Scots in dreamland.

Scotland manager Jock Stein wasn’t the sort of character to dance jigs of joy on the touchline but the celebratory atmosphere amongst the ecstatic Tartan Army was palpable to say the least. It gave the Scots real belief that they could qualify for the finals two years later which, of course, they did. These were the days, younger readers, when Scotland regularly qualified for the final stages of World Cups.

Jim Bett, who had a pivotal role in the game, recalled the fans backing at Hampden and said they were like an extra man for the Scotland team. He believed with such a backing they could have beaten anyone at Hampden that evening. Certainly, the celebrations went on long into the night, even with it being a ‘school’ night.

Now, Scotland have been celebrating another win over Cyprus and a sensational triumph over Spain. We Scots know better than anyone not to count our chickens but we can genuinely believe we will be at the finals of the European Championships in Germany in 2024. Can't we? Can we celebrate good times?

On second thoughts, perhaps I should have waited until after the games against Norway and Georgia in June before posting this…

 

Twitter @Mike1874

fitbason.blogspot.com

Harry's Game

 

                                                                        Photo: BBC

Being someone with maroon leanings, not only am I glad of the respite from the cinch Premiership this weekend, but I am also looking forward to FC Edinburgh’s game this Friday evening against Queen of the South at the Meadowbank Maracanã. I’m particularly keen to be reacquainted with one player in the visiting team, who made a significant contribution to one of the best days of my football supporting life. Sadly, he didn’t fulfil the promise that was expected, perhaps unfairly on one so young. But in Gorgie he will forever be remembered for one game in particular…

T'was the week before Christmas 2017. I took my then 12-year-old grandson Jack to Tynecastle with, it has to be said, some trepidation. Hearts were playing Celtic in the Premiership. Now, I have seen some poor Hearts teams over the years and this one five years ago was in the distinctly average category. Although the Maroons were fifth in the league, their performances had hardly set the heather on fire and going into the game against the league leaders the home team had been hit by something of an injury crisis meaning there were to be first team debuts for a couple of untried 16-year-olds.

Celtic, on the other hand, were creating all sorts of records and generally blowing away the opposition on a weekly basis. Under manager Brendan Rodgers, the Hoops were on an incredible unbeaten run of 69 domestic games stretching back two seasons. They were two points ahead of second placed Aberdeen and had two games in hand. Surely, it would be a case of how many goals Celtic would score against a depleted Hearts team?

On our way to Tynecastle, I explained the situation to young Jack who nevertheless retained the admirable optimism of someone still to experience the bitterness of life and following Hearts in particular. I suggested that, when the scoreline reached 4-0, we would leave and head for the bus home. He agreed and we pondered at which point in the game this would be. Hopefully, we would still be there for the start of the second half…

One of those 16-year-olds making his debut was Harry Cochrane. He was slightly built and looked more like Jack’s age. I did wonder about the wisdom of Hearts manager Craig Levein thrusting such a young lad into the cauldron of a home game against Celtic.

With our expectations at zero as the game kicked off, we were pleasantly surprised when Hearts made a decent start. Celtic dominated possession, as you would expect but the game was still goalless halfway through the first half, much to our surprise. Surely it would only be a matter of time before we saw the first goal. In the 26^th minute we did – and the crowd of over 18,000 were stunned as it went to the home team. Not only that but it was fresh-faced Harry Cochrane who buried a low shot beyond Celtic keeper Craig Gordon – whatever happened to him? – from the edge of the penalty box.

As is my custom I turned to young Jack and opined ‘it won’t last’. But I didn’t expect the next goal to be from Kyle Lafferty to put Hearts 2-0 ahead. And this before half-time.

Having seen my optimism burst on far too many occasions in over fifty years, I still expected Celtic to turn things around in the second half. They began the second period with all guns blazing and a goal duly arrived just three minutes after the re-start. But it came for Hearts when David Milinkovic took advantage of poor Celtic defending to, incredibly, put Hearts three goals ahead. Jack asked if my pessimism was still intact. I replied I would accept a 3-3 draw…

Celtic threw everything, including the metaphorical kitchen sink at Hearts but the home defence stood firm. Young Cochrane looked dead on his feet and another goal did arrive with fifteen minutes left – astonishingly it was another for the home side when Milinkovic scored with a penalty kick. One of the most remarkable games in Premiership history ended Hearts 4 Celtic 0. But we didn’t leave at 4-0 – we stayed to milk the celebrations at the end.

Naturally, big things were expected of Harry Cochrane thereafter, but it didn’t quite work out for him at Tynecastle. After a couple of loan spells at Dunfermline Athletic and Montrose, Cochrane is now at Queen of the South.

It remains an anomaly that one of the poorest Hearts teams I have seen in over fifty years produced arguably the best league result in that time. Whatever else Harry Cochrane does in his career he will never forget that Sunday lunchtime in Gorgie in 2017 when he helped deliver a Christmas present Hearts fans could only have dreamt of!

 

Twitter @Mike1874

Get Yer Official Programme

 

Regular readers of this column – and I thank you both – may have a notion that I tend to look at the past through rose coloured spectacles. Those far-off days of decades ago long before football became the corporate beast it is now; when teams took to the field in plain shirts with not a sponsor’s name to be seen; when you didn’t need to buy a ticket in advance – just handed over your cash to the friendly old man at the turnstile - and when you had to buy a match programme in order to get the half-time scores from around the country. I still miss those half-time scoreboards…

I’m currently reading Cliff Hague’s excellent book ‘Programmes, Programmes!’ which not so much wallows in nostalgia but nearly drowns in it. A Manchester United fan who actually hails from Manchester, Hague writes affectionately about how he still treasures his ticket stub from the 1968 European Cup final (although he felt the need to add ‘Champions League’ in brackets) between United and Benfica played at Wembley Stadium. It cost the princely sum of £2 and the match programme set the author back one shilling – that’s five pence, young ‘uns. Of course, everything is relevant. The pay packets (in the days when we had such a thing) didn’t exactly bulge for the working class in this country more than half a century ago. But it’s a sobering thought that the price of a ticket for a European Cup final in 1968 wouldn’t even get you a pie at a domestic league game today.

Hague also writes about the programme for Manchester United’s first home game following the Munich air disaster in 1958. Twenty-three people died when the plane carrying Manchester United players and officials and members of the press back from the club’s European Cup quarter final in Belgrade crashed on take off from Munich airport where it had stopped to refuel. Atrocious weather conditions with snow and ice on the runway meant the pilots had tried three times to take off but the plane failed to clear the runway on the third attempt and more than half the forty-four passengers onboard perished, some immediately, some days and weeks later. The programme for United’s game against Sheffield Wednesday merely left the names blank on the team sheet, a poignant indication of the tragedy. The importance of the programme is forever a reminder of a tragedy that destroyed one of football’s greatest ever teams, the legendary Busby Babes – although manager Matt Busby survived the crash.

Programme collecting has always been popular among football fans so it’s disappointing to read of some clubs who have stopped producing them, in paper format at least. Some have gone digital in producing programmes which may reduce a club’s carbon footprint but takes away, in my view, from the matchday experience. In days of yore one would leave the pub after partaking of a half pint lager tops and push through the turnstile five minutes before kick off (after greeting the friendly auld fella at the gate – Ed) and stand on the often open terrace. The programme would make a good read at half-time along with a pie and a cup of Bovril (other beverages were available)

One could catch up with the manager’s thoughts on the previous game. Whenever I went to Tannadice, reading Dundee United manager Jim McLean’s thoughts were often enough to have one crying into one’s Bovril but usually a manager’s ‘notes’, as they were often described in the programme, contained the usual cliches about ‘treating today’s opponents with respect and how it will be a tough game but the boys are ready for the challenge’

Scrolling through the digital version on your mobile phone doesn’t quite have the same effect and, try as I might, I just can’t write the team changes or the half-time scores on my mobile phone screen…

Much to the dismay of many, some clubs – and I’m talking about you, Hibernian FC – have even stopped producing any programme, digital or paper, which is a real shame. 

Cliff Hague’s book is a wonderful recollection of times gone by and some programmes such as the aforementioned Manchester United one against Sheffield Wednesday are a moment in history.  Yes, everyone needs to keep a tab on their carbon footprint and paper is a commodity that is easy to cut back on now we’re in the digital age. But producing football programmes on recycled paper may be a way of offsetting that.

Much of what gave me huge enjoyment when I first began going to the football more than fifty years ago has disappeared. While I don’t miss some of it – open air toilets which amounted to little more than a brick wall with a drain – football programmes are an essential element of going to the game.

Please don’t let this disappear.

Twitter @Mike1874

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