Heart of Midlothian F.C. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Heart of Midlothian

Full name	Heart of Midlothian Football Club
Nickname(s)	Hearts The Jam Tarts HMFC The Jambos The Gorgie Boys
Founded	1874; 151 years ago (1874)
Ground	Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh
Ground Capacity	17,480
Chairperson	Ann Budge
Head coach	Neil Critchley
League	Scottish Premiership
2015–16	Scottish Premiership, 3rd
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Heart of Midlothian Football Club, often called Hearts, is a professional football team. They are based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The team plays in the Scottish Premiership, which is the top football league in Scotland.

Hearts is the oldest football club in Scotland's capital city. It was started in 1874. The club's name comes from a famous book by Walter Scott called The Heart of Midlothian. The club's badge looks like the Heart of Midlothian mosaic on the city's Royal Mile. The team's colours are maroon and white.

Hearts have played their home games at Tynecastle Park since 1886. In 1990, the stadium was changed so that everyone had a seat. After a new main stand was built in 2017, it can now hold 17,480 fans. The team trains at the Oriam, which is Scotland's national sports centre. They also run their youth academy there.

Hearts have won the Scottish league championship four times. Their last win was in 1959–60. That year, they also won the Scottish League Cup. This meant they won both the league and the League Cup in the same season. Hearts are the only club outside of the Old Firm (Celtic and Rangers) to do this.

The club's most successful time was when former player Tommy Walker was manager. This was from the early 1950s to the mid-1960s. Between 1954 and 1962, they won two league titles, one Scottish Cup, and four Scottish League Cups. They also finished in the top four league positions for 11 years in a row. Famous players from this time included Jimmy Wardhaugh, Willie Bauld, and Alfie Conn Sr.. They were known as the "Terrible Trio."

Hearts have also won the Scottish Cup eight times. Their most recent win was in 2012. They beat their local rivals, Hibernian, 5–1 in that final. Hearts have been runners-up in the Scottish Cup three times since then. All four of Hearts' Scottish League Cup wins happened under manager Tommy Walker. Their last League Cup win was a 1–0 victory against Kilmarnock in 1962.

In 1958, Hearts became one of the first Scottish teams to play in European competitions. They reached the quarter-finals of the 1988–89 UEFA Cup. They lost to Bayern Munich by a score of 2–1 over two games.

Club History

How Hearts Began

The club was started by a group of friends from a dance club called the Heart of Midlothian Quadrille Assembly Club. They bought a football and started playing a mix of rugby and football rules. In 1874, they decided to play by the official "association rules" of football. This is why 1874 is seen as the year the club was formed.

The club got its name from the historic Midlothian area and a mosaic on the Royal Mile. This mosaic marks where an old jail used to be. The jail was also famous from Walter Scott's novel, The Heart of Midlothian.

The original Hearts team kit from 1875.

In 1875, Hearts joined the Scottish Football Association (SFA). This allowed them to play in the Scottish Cup for the first time. They played their first Scottish Cup game in October 1875.

In the 1884–85 season, Hearts were suspended by the SFA for two years. This was because they played two professional players, which was against the rules back then. They were allowed back after the club's committee changed.

Early Wins

Hearts had a lot of success in the early days of the Scottish Football League. They won the league championship in 1895 and 1896. They also won four Scottish Cups between 1891 and 1906. Hearts even won the World Championship title in 1902. They beat Tottenham Hotspur 3–1 at Tynecastle Park.

Hearts and World War I

The Hearts War Memorial in Edinburgh.

In November 1914, Hearts were leading the First Division league. They had won their first eight games of the 1914–15 season. This was at the start of World War I. People were debating if professional football should continue while soldiers were fighting.

Sixteen players from Hearts decided to join the army together. They enlisted on November 25, 1914. This group became known as the "footballer's battalion." About 500 Hearts fans and other footballers also joined them.

The Hearts players trained for the army while still playing football. They had a great 20-game unbeaten run. But the hard army training made them tired. They started to lose games, and Celtic eventually won the league title.

Seven first-team players from Hearts died in the war. There are two memorials to remember this brave group. One is in France, and the other is the Heart of Midlothian War Memorial in Edinburgh.

The Tommy Walker Era

Hearts didn't win any major trophies between the two World Wars. But in 1948, three young forwards started playing together: Willie Bauld, Jimmy Wardhaugh, and Alfie Conn Sr.. They were called the "Terrible Trio" and scored over 900 goals for Hearts.

In 1951, Tommy Walker became the manager. This was the most successful time in the club's history. Walker built on the strong team he inherited. Key players like Dave Mackay and John Cumming became the heart of the team. Cumming was known as the "Iron Man" and won medals for all seven trophies Hearts won under Walker.

Hearts started winning trophies in the 1954–55 season. They won the 1954 Scottish League Cup final, beating Motherwell 4–2. This was their first trophy in 48 years!

A chart showing Hearts' league positions each year.

They then won the 1955–56 Scottish Cup. In the final, they beat Celtic 3–1. John Cumming played with a head injury in that game, saying, "Blood doesn't show on a maroon jersey." This quote is now at the entrance to the players' tunnel at Tynecastle.

In 1957–58, Hearts won the League title in an amazing way. They set records for points, goals scored (132 goals!), and goal difference. This team is considered Hearts' greatest ever league side.

Hearts continued to win. They won the 1958 Scottish League Cup final and the league title again in 1959–60. This completed their famous "League and League Cup double."

In the 1964–65 season, Hearts almost won the league again. They were playing Kilmarnock in the last game, needing only a draw. But they lost 2–0 and missed out on the title by a tiny difference in goals. This led to a rule change in Scottish football about how ties are broken.

Tommy Walker left in 1966. Under his leadership, Hearts won 7 major trophies.

Later 20th Century Football

Hearts reached the 1968 Scottish Cup final but lost to Dunfermline Athletic. They also reached the 1976 Scottish Cup Final but lost to Rangers.

In 1977, Hearts were relegated from the top league for the first time. For several years, they moved between the top league and the second division.

In 1981, Wallace Mercer became chairman. He helped Hearts get back to the top league. The 1985–86 season was a very exciting one. Hearts went on a 27-game unbeaten run and were close to winning the league and Scottish Cup.

On the last day of the season, Hearts needed a draw against Dundee to win the league. But they lost 2–0, and Celtic won the title instead. Hearts also lost the Scottish Cup Final to Aberdeen.

Hearts finished second in the league again in 1988 and 1992. They reached the quarter-finals of the 1988–89 UEFA Cup.

In 1998, Hearts won the Scottish Cup by beating Rangers 2–1. This was their first major trophy since 1963.

The 21st Century and Beyond

Hearts played in the UEFA Cup group stages in 2004–05. In 2004, the club faced financial problems. The chairman, Chris Robinson, wanted to sell Tynecastle Park and have Hearts rent Murrayfield Stadium. Fans were very unhappy about this.

The Romanov Era

In 2004, a wealthy Lithuanian businessman named Vladimir Romanov started to take over Hearts. He promised to keep the club at Tynecastle. This made fans happy. Romanov slowly bought more shares and gained control of the club.

Romanov's time at Hearts was a bit rocky. The club's debt grew, and sometimes players' wages were paid late. Romanov changed managers very often, with nine different managers in seven years.

Romanov's big goal was for Hearts to win the UEFA Champions League. Hearts played in the Champions League in 2006–07 but didn't go far.

By 2011, Hearts had serious money problems. The club was put up for sale. In June 2013, Hearts officially went into administration. This means the club was managed by experts to try and sort out its debts, which were around £25 million.

Coming Out of Administration

Because they were in administration, Hearts couldn't sign new players. They also started the 2013–2014 season with a penalty of minus 15 points. Fans rallied to help the club survive. They bought many season tickets to raise money.

A group of supporters called "The Foundation of Hearts" made a bid to buy the club. Their money came from monthly donations from fans. In December 2013, their plan was approved.

Hearts were relegated from the Scottish Premiership in April 2014. But on May 12, 2014, a group led by Ann Budge took control of the club. The Foundation of Hearts also played a big part, providing money and eventually taking ownership. Hearts officially came out of administration in June 2014.

Recent Years

Hearts quickly returned to the Scottish Premiership. They won the 2014–15 Scottish Championship title with seven games left. They had a fantastic season, winning 29 of 36 games and scoring 96 goals.

After this, Hearts had some mixed results. They finished mid-table for a few seasons. In 2019–20, they finished last in the Scottish Premiership and were relegated again. This happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, which cut the season short.

Robbie Neilson became manager for a second time in June 2020. In August 2021, Ann Budge officially handed over the club's shares to the Foundation of Hearts. This made Hearts the biggest fan-owned club in the United Kingdom!

Hearts won the 2020–21 Scottish Championship, returning to the Premiership. In their first season back, 2021–22, they finished third. This earned them a spot in European football, specifically the UEFA Conference League. They also played in European competitions in the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons.

Team Colours and Badge

The Heart of Midlothian mosaic, which inspired the club's badge.

Hearts' first football kit was all white shirts and trousers with maroon details. For one season, they wore red, white, and blue stripes. Since then, their main colours have been maroon and white. The home kit usually has a maroon top with a white collar. The shorts are usually white, and the socks are maroon with some white.

Hearts' current home kit is all maroon.

The club's badge is a heart shape. It is based on the Heart of Midlothian mosaic on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. There's a tradition to spit on this mosaic when you pass it. This tradition comes from when the city jail used to be there.

For the 2014–15 season, the club wore a special kit. It was to remember 100 years since McCrae's Battalion was formed during World War I. The kit was maroon, white, and black, and it had a special badge. The club chose not to have a sponsor on the home shirt as a sign of respect.

Kit Makers and Sponsors

Home Stadium

Hearts first played at places like The Meadows. In 1881, they moved to the Gorgie area. They have played at their current stadium, Tynecastle Park, since 1886. Tynecastle has hosted nine international matches for the Scottish national team.

For most of the 20th century, Tynecastle had standing areas for fans. A main seated stand was added in 1919. In the mid-1990s, the standing areas were replaced with seats. This made Tynecastle an all-seater stadium. In 2017, the main stand was rebuilt, making the stadium bigger. While this was happening, Hearts played some games at Murrayfield Stadium.

Local Rivalry

Hearts player Paul Hartley (No. 10) gets ready to take a free kick during an Edinburgh derby match in 2006.

Hearts have a big local rivalry with Hibs. Both teams are from Edinburgh. The matches between them are called the Edinburgh derby. It is one of the oldest football rivalries in the world. They first played each other on Christmas Day in 1875. Hearts won that first game 1–0.

The two clubs have met twice in a Scottish Cup Final. Hearts won both times, in 1896 and 2012. The 1896 final is special because it was the only Scottish Cup Final ever played outside of Glasgow.

Hearts have won more derby matches than Hibs. Hibs had the biggest derby win in a competitive game. They won 7–0 at Tynecastle on New Year's Day in 1973.

The rivalry is mostly friendly. It is mainly based on which part of Edinburgh fans come from. Hibs fans are often from Leith and the north/east of the city. Hearts fans tend to be from other parts of Edinburgh.

Supporters and Culture

Heart of Midlothian is one of two professional football clubs in Edinburgh. In the 2022–23 season, Hearts had an average of 18,525 fans at their home games. Big matches, especially the Edinburgh derby and European games, usually fill Tynecastle Park.

Songs and Chants

"The Hearts Song" is a well-known song for the club. It was written by Scottish comedian Hector Nicol. A newer version of the song is often played before matches at Tynecastle.

Another popular song is "There Will Always Be Heart of Midlothian" by Neil Grant. This song has been played regularly at Tynecastle Park since 2018.

Player of the Year

• 2012–13 Marius Žaliūkas
• 2013–14 Jamie MacDonald
• 2014–15 Jamie Walker
• 2015–16 Arnaud Djoum
• 2016–17 Jamie Walker
• 2017–18 Christophe Berra
• 2018–19 Steven Naismith
• 2020–21 Craig Gordon
• 2021–22 Craig Gordon
• 2022–23 Lawrence Shankland
• 2023–24 Lawrence Shankland

Club Honours

Major Trophies

The Scottish Cup is the oldest national trophy in football. Here, it is decorated with maroon and white ribbons after Hearts won the 2012 final 5–1 against Hibernian.

• Scottish Premiership (Top League)
  • Champions (4): 1894–95, 1896–97, 1957–58, 1959–60
  • Runners–up (14 times)
• Scottish Cup
  • Winners (8): 1890–91, 1895–96, 1900–01, 1905–06, 1955–56, 1997–98, 2005–06, 2011–12
  • Runners–up (9 times)
• Scottish League Cup
  • Winners (4): 1954–55, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1962–63
  • Runners–up (3 times)

Other Trophies

• Scottish Championship (Second Tier League)
  • Winners (3): 1979–80, 2014–15, 2020–21
• Football World Championship
  • Winners: 1902

Club Records

• Highest Home Attendance: 53,396 fans against Rangers in the Scottish Cup, 1932.
• Biggest Win: 21–0 against Anchor in the EFA Cup, 1880.
• Most Games Played: Gary Mackay, 640 games between 1980 and 1997.
• Most Goals Scored in League: John Robertson, 214 goals.
• Most Goals in One Season: Barney Battles Jr., 44 goals in 1930–31.
• Highest Transfer Fee Paid: £850,000 for Mirsad Bešlija in 2006.
• Highest Transfer Fee Received: £9 million for Craig Gordon in 2007 (a record for a goalkeeper at the time).

Current Players

No. Position Player 1 GK Craig Gordon (vice-captain) 2 DF Frankie Kent 3 DF Stephen Kingsley 4 DF Craig Halkett 5 DF Daniel Oyegoke 6 MF Beni Baningime 7 MF Jorge Grant 8 MF Calem Nieuwenhof 9 FW Lawrence Shankland (captain) 10 MF Barrie McKay 11 FW Yutaro Oda 12 GK Ryan Fulton 14 MF Cameron Devlin 15 DF Kye Rowles

No. Position Player 16 MF Blair Spittal 17 MF Alan Forrest 18 MF Malachi Boateng 20 MF Yan Dhanda 21 FW James Wilson 25 MF Macaulay Tait 27 FW Liam Boyce 28 GK Zander Clark 29 DF James Penrice 35 DF Adam Forrester 37 FW Musa Drammeh 77 FW Kenneth Vargas 80 DF Andrés Salazar (on loan from Atlético Nacional) 82 DF Gerald Taylor (on loan from Deportivo Saprissa)

Players on Loan

No. Position Player GK Harry Stone (on loan at Ayr United) GK Liam McFarlane (on loan at East Fife) DF Bailey Dall (on loan at Stirling Albion)

No. Position Player DF Lewis Neilson (on loan at St Johnstone) MF Aidan Denholm (on loan at Ross County) MF Finlay Pollock (on loan at Raith Rovers)

Retired Shirt Numbers

No. Position Player 26 DF Marius Žaliūkas (honoured after his death)

Club Staff

Main Staff

Coaching Staff

Club Managers

Hearts Women's Team

In 2009, Hearts took over Musselburgh Windsor Ladies Football Club. They changed its name to Hearts Ladies FC. Now, they play in the Scottish Women's Premier League as Hearts Women.

The women's team plays their home games at The Oriam in Riccarton.

See also

In Spanish: Heart of Midlothian Football Club para niños