Third game of the week for Hearts at Tynecastle. Hopefully an improvement on the shambles against Dundee on Wednesday night. St Johnstone have now moved above Hearts in the SPL but a win will move Hearts ahead of them again. An unusual programme cover today which is a tribute to the fans on the annual Foundation day. The Foundation of Hearts is the vehicle for fans contributing, initially to save the club from administration, but now has contributing towards the cost of the new stand and also towards an agreed move to fan ownership in the next few year. Photograph below shows the Foundation ‘flag day’ display in the Whearfield Stand. My friend Archie is a St Johnstone fan and posted on social media in the morning that he was getting the train through to Edinburgh today and then walking to Tynecastle from Haymarket. When I responded that he could use his free bus pass and save walking he responded that that would mean "travelling with the great unwashed'. I suppose th

First SPFL match after the winter break. Only the SPFL would choose the coldest night of winter to restart the season ! Left the house around 19.00 for 19.45 kick-off and arrived at Tynecastle about 19.15. It was freezing cold and I went for a pie and a coffee to help warm me up. As I was walking away from the kiosk I again met Jim, the ex-newsagent, who I had last seem at Ainslie Park on Saturday. I had not seem him for at least six years but now twice in five days. We had a chat about Saturday's game and both agreed that Annan's David Wilson will never hit a better goal than the one he scored on Saturday. Hearts made two changes from Sunday’s side. Demetri Mitchell came in for Ben Garuccio at left back and Aidan Keena made his first full appearance (after returning from a loan spell at Dunfermline) replacing the suspended Steen Naismith. Dundee are currently struggling in the relegation zone and manager Jim McIntyre is trying to reshape his team during the transfer windo

At last the SPL winter break is over. The season restarts with the fourth round of the Scottish Cup and Hearts have a tough tie against SPL rivals Livingston. Hearts lost 5-0 at Livingston just before the break and will be looking for revenge today. The match is live on BBC and will kick-off at 14.30 having been switched to Sunday afternoon for the live coverage. Left home at 13.35 and walked down to Tynecastle arriving around 13.50. As i was early I had a wander round the Hearts shop in it’s new position underneath the main stand. The range of items is impressive and I was tempted by the 1998 Cup Final replica shirt but decided to keep my payment card in my pocket. Today's match programme was a tribute to Freddie Glidden, Hearts captain in the 1956 Cup Final, who died recently aged 92. A minutes silence was held in his memory prior to kick-off. Hearts made three changes from their last competitive match against Hibs. Calumn Morrison replaced the injured Marcus Godinho and n

Another one of these days where I was unsure which match to go to. I was originally going to going to Penicuik v Stirling University but that was called off early in the morning due to a frozen pitch. My choice was therefore between Edinburgh United v Broxburn or Edinburgh City v Annan Athletic. The result at United seemed a foregone conclusion with Broxburn second in EoS Conference C and United third from the bottom. I therefore decided to watch top of League Two, City at home to fourth placed Annan at Ainslie Park. Left the house at 1.45 and walked to the West End where I caught a 19 bus to Crewe Toll and then walked to Ainslie Park arriving around 14.35. As a Hearts season ticket holder I got half-price admission (£6) and then purchased the informative City programme for £2.50.  Bought a coffee and as I was standing at pitch barrier drinking it John and his friend, also John, came in. We had a chat for a while mainly about the City season. John asked me if I thought City wo

Was not sure again where to go today as there were a number of good games on despite the SPFL being on their winter break. In the Lowland League options were Spartans v BSC Glasgow, Civil Service Strollers v Whitehall Welfare or Edinburgh University v East Stirling. While in the East of Scotland League choices included Newtongrange v Penicuik, Bonnyrigg v Haddington, Musselburgh Athletic v Hill of Beath, Lothian Thistle v Dunipace or Tynecastle v Bo'ness. As I have a season ticket for Spartans I was originally going to go there but after drawing at Whitehall last week Spartans league championship hopes are all but dead. I there decided at around 12.30 to head out to Bonnyrigg and walked down to Haymarket to catch a 31 bus arriving at Bonnyrigg around 13.35  for the 14.00 kick-off. I had not been to Bonnyrigg for almost two years when the side were in the East Junior Super League. Bonnyrigg were one of the sides who moved up to the East of Scotland League and are now part of

Was not sure where to go today as SPFL clubs are now on their winter break. After taking Harper to see The Grinch at Cineworld decided to head out to Penicuik after lunch. Alternative matches I could have gone to where at Edinburgh City, Edinburgh United, Tynecastle or Whitehall Welfare. Walked to Lothian Road and caught a 37 bus  at 13.10 and arrived at the ground at 14.05. Admission was £6. There is normally a good programme available at Penicuik but their printers had been on holiday over the Christmas period and were unable to produce their usual issue. Penicuik however provided a folded over A4 team sheet free of charge which included an editorial and some club information in addition to the squad listings. Penicuik had new goalkeeper Liam Robertson between the posts. Liam is the son of former Hearts favourite and record goal scorer John Robertson. I remember Liam aged about 5/6 wanting to join in football training sessions with the Buckstone primary P7s. Liam has been with