Hearts v Clydebank 26th April 1986

[Mars plastic]

35 years ago today. McKay’s goal should have opened the flood gates rendering the Dundee game redundant. What a season though. 
 

 

[Kiwidoug]

Having experienced the kilmarnock horror of 63/64, I had grave forebodings that we didn't put it to bed that day.

 

Two titles thrown away.

[Francis Albert]

The  games we lost the league were Clydebank  in 86 and Dundee in 65.

 

At least as much as Dundee in 86 and  Killie in 65.

[DH1986]

It was a nervy performance......we struggled v Clydebank on a few occasions that season iirc.

 

Two memories from that footage.......

 

I miss the old Tynecastle.

 

I hated Gerry McCabe.

[XB52]

Absolutely loved 86, apart from 7 minutes. Would love to do it all again. 

[Debut 4]

Gut wrenching but wonderful times too.  Talk about mixed emotions!

 

It was a tense day from what I remember. We went along expecting a 4 or 5 nil job but wasn’t to be. The 2  points was what we needed though and we got them. It was still in our paws. 
 

Robbo, Black, Berry, Mackay, Levein, Colquhoun etc... were all around 22,23 years old. Men in maroon shirts.  You look at some young players now who come nowhere near taking the same responsibility in their game that those guys did.  

Edited April 27, 2021 by Debut 4

[davemclaren]

8 hours ago, Francis Albert said:

The  games we lost the league were Clydebank  in 86 and Dundee in 65.

 

At least as much as Dundee in 86 and  Killie in 65.

Not really. Any game we dropped points Those seasons could arguably be put forward. In 85/86 we lost heavily to St Mirren very early in the season but a season is determined on the outcome of every game in it.   

[clanmac]

I just came back from Germany and this was only my 2nd game of the season.I remember I was in the enclosure under the mainstand  and after we scored it was going mental and everyone started singing .And an old boy in a bunnet put his hand on my shoulder and said " calm down son it's not won till the league's over.I think I laughed at him and carried on singing.Wise old boy right enough. And Gerry McCabe ran us ragged that afternoon.

[Bazzas right boot]

4 minutes ago, davemclaren said:

Not really. Any game we dropped points Rhodes seasons could be arguably be put forward. In 85/86 we lost heavily to St Mirren very early in the season but a season is determined on the outcome of every game in it.   

 

 

Mcstay equaliser in the last minute at Tynecastle also stands out. 

 

No one would have thought at the time that could cost us the title. 

 

 

 

[TexasAndy]

Yeah apart from the goal this is a day I try to forget as we should have put the whole thing to bed.  Even 3-0 would have taken a lot of the pressure off at Dundee.  

[qferryjam]

8 hours ago, Francis Albert said:

The  games we lost the league were Clydebank  in 86 and Dundee in 65.

 

At least as much as Dundee in 86 and  Killie in 65.

I always thought the draw with Aberdeen was pivotal if we’d won that ?? 
 the decision not to send off Mcleish for cloths lining I think Robbo on the halfway line when beating the off side always rankles 

All ifs and buts 

[NLTFTh]

What a season, the last time I was ever in a football special, returning from scumdee... 

Some really poor results @ the start really cost the team, all ifs buys and maybees though.

HHGH

FTh

[Harry Potter]

6 minutes ago, NLTFTh said:

What a season, the last time I was ever in a football special, returning from scumdee... 

Some really poor results @ the start really cost the team, all ifs buys and maybees though.

HHGH

FTh

Aye lost 6-2 to st midden 2nd game in😦.

[davemclaren]

4 minutes ago, Harry Potter said:

Aye lost 6-2 to st midden 2nd game in😦.

Yip, no internet then thankfully. 

[The Old Tolbooth]

In 1965, the league was decided on goal average, and we lost out by a baw hair, had it been decided on goal difference then we wold have won the league.

 

In 1986, the rules had changed because of the way we lost the league in 1965, and we lost out on goal difference, had it been the old way of goal averages, we would have won the league in 1986, is there a team anywhere that's been as unlucky with league titles? 

 

In 1986, had we been awarded the stonewall penalty in Dundee instead of the refs in both games being told not to award any pens, then I still think we'd have won that (the ref of the Hearts game that day Bill Crombie who was a big Jambo, admitted this years afterwards at a function, he should never have been put in charge of that game). 

 

That and the fact that St Mirren were never 5 goals worse than Celtic that season was as corrupt as it gets, Campbell Money, the Saints keeper, refused to play in that game as he was having no part of what was about to unfold, and the celebrations by St Liedown players in the Celtic dressing room afterwards was sickening. That said, we should never have lost in Dundee and only have ourselves to blame really, but St Liedown definitely played their part and made sure they had done by half time, I don't blame Dundee one bit for it because they could still qualify for Europe had results went their way and Rangers had dropped points, so they had something to play for as well. 

[Fort Vallance]

1 hour ago, TexasAndy said:

Yeah apart from the goal this is a day I try to forget as we should have put the whole thing to bed.  Even 3-0 would have taken a lot of the pressure off at Dundee.  

Yeah, St Mirren would have struggled to Chuck 8 or 9 in without it looking suspicious. I wouldn't have bet against it though.

[Forever Hearts]

25 minutes ago, The Old Tolbooth said:

In 1965, the league was decided on goal average, and we lost out by a baw hair, had it been decided on goal difference then we wold have won the league.

 

In 1986, the rules had changed because of the way we lost the league in 1965, and we lost out on goal difference, had it been the old way of goal averages, we would have won the league in 1986, is there a team anywhere that's been as unlucky with league titles? 

 

In 1986, had we been awarded the stonewall penalty in Dundee instead of the refs in both games being told not to award any pens, then I still think we'd have won that (the ref of the Hearts game that day Bill Crombie who was a big Jambo, admitted this years afterwards at a function, he should never have been put in charge of that game). 

 

That and the fact that St Mirren were never 5 goals worse than Celtic that season was as corrupt as it gets, Campbell Money, the Saints keeper, refused to play in that game as he was having no part of what was about to unfold, and the celebrations by St Liedown players in the Celtic dressing room afterwards was sickening. That said, we should never have lost in Dundee and only have ourselves to blame really, but St Liedown definitely played their part and made sure they had done by half time, I don't blame Dundee one bit for it because they could still qualify for Europe had results went their way and Rangers had dropped points, so they had something to play for as well. 

Rumour has it Alex Miller phoned Doddie and told him to make sure he won at Dens Park because St Mirren's team had a few Celtic fans in it who wouldn't be trying a leg. 

[The Old Tolbooth]

30 minutes ago, Forever Hearts said:

Rumour has it Alex Miller phoned Doddie and told him to make sure he won at Dens Park because St Mirren's team had a few Celtic fans in it who wouldn't be trying a leg. 

 

And by god he was right! Nothing has ever changed either between those two horrible clubs! 

[Mars plastic]

The Boys in Maroon by John Fairgrieve is by far and away the best Hearts book I have. Must have read it at least ten times and it never gets boring. 

 

He talks about Alex Ferguson leaving Dens before the goals after seeing all he had to in advance of the cup final. 

[martoon]

On the day, a great one.

 

Almost 18 at the time and, naively, thought it was our title. Simply a case of dotting i's and crossing t's. 

 

Silly bugger.

 

Very bittersweet looking back at it now.

 

Still, I'll know better next time.

 

Iirc, 26/4/86 was Chernobyl reactor day.

[Mars plastic]

Just now, martoon said:

On the day, a great one.

 

Almost 18 at the time and, naively, thought it was our title. Simply a case of dotting i's and crossing t's. 

 

Silly bugger.

 

Very bittersweet looking back at it now.

 

Still, I'll know better next time.

 

Iirc, 26/4/86 was Chernobyl reactor day.

Good spot Marto. I knew it was April that year but didn't know it was the 26th.

[Mikey1874]

10 hours ago, Francis Albert said:

The  games we lost the league were Clydebank  in 86 and Dundee in 65.

 

At least as much as Dundee in 86 and  Killie in 65.

 

Draw with Aberdeen much more important than Clydebank.

 

If Celtic had needed to score 10 St Mirren would have let them. 

[martoon]

3 minutes ago, Mars plastic said:

Good spot Marto. I knew it was April that year but didn't know it was the 26th.

 

I'd forgotten myself until I watched a programme about it recently. 

 

I knew it had happened around that time but not the exact date.

 

A surreal, strange time. For the world and Hearts supporters.

[Marvin]

10 hours ago, Mars plastic said:

35 years ago today. McKay’s goal should have opened the flood gates rendering the Dundee game redundant. What a season though. 
 

 

 

Imho that was the game that cost us the title. Beaten them by 4 or 5 then the Dundee game wouldn't have mattered.

[Mars plastic]

What ever became of George Cowie?

[The Old Tolbooth]

Just now, Mars plastic said:

What ever became of George Cowie?

 

Did he not go on to host some soft porn channel on Sky telly or something?  

[CostaJambo]

14 minutes ago, martoon said:

On the day, a great one.

 

Almost 18 at the time and, naively, thought it was our title. Simply a case of dotting i's and crossing t's. 

 

Silly bugger.

 

Very bittersweet looking back at it now.

 

Still, I'll know better next time.

 

Iirc, 26/4/86 was Chernobyl reactor day.

Similar age to me. Was a great age to have a season like that. I remember a very nervous performance on the day but didn't imagine we wouldn't be able to manage even a point at Dens after so long undefeated. 

[Mars plastic]

1 minute ago, The Old Tolbooth said:

 

Did he not go on to host some soft porn channel on Sky telly or something?  

Was that no George Wright?!

[The Old Tolbooth]

Just now, Mars plastic said:

Was that no George Wright?!

 

Ah yes, it was, my old memory is playing tricks on me, sorry Mr Cowie haha! 

[martoon]

21 minutes ago, CostaJambo said:

Similar age to me. Was a great age to have a season like that. I remember a very nervous performance on the day but didn't imagine we wouldn't be able to manage even a point at Dens after so long undefeated. 

 

I think it was that naivety that made the events at Dens even more crushing.

 

It was though, as you suggest, a fantastic season. Roy of the Rovers stuff after our Hearts supporting childhoods. Didn't have the ending we all wanted but the thrill and excitement right up until the last 97 minutes was incredible.

 

Something the sneering, squawking Hibby will never experience or understand. All they have is the cheap thrill of "Sir Albert Kidd", finishing 8th and Hearts not winning it.

 

Tragic, both for and from them, really.

Edited April 27, 2021 by martoon

[Boab]

5 minutes ago, martoon said:

 

I think it was that naivety that made the events at Dens even more crushing.

 

It was though, as you suggest, a fantastic season. Roy of the Rovers stuff after our Hearts supporting childhoods. Didn't have the ending we all wanted but the thrill and excitement right up until the last 97 minutes was incredible.

 

Something the sneering, sqawking Hibby will never experience or understand. All they have is the cheap thrill of "Sir Albert Kidd", finishing 8th and Hearts not winning it.

 

Tragic, both for and from them, really.

Still chuckle at the pitiful individual at a Derby at ER. Down at the corner with a saltire with Albert Kidd scrawled on it with a black marker pen.

Tragic !

[Harry Potter]

1 hour ago, Fort Vallance said:

Yeah, St Mirren would have struggled to Chuck 8 or 9 in without it looking suspicious. I wouldn't have bet against it though.

They still would have managed it, no shame.

[martoon]

6 minutes ago, Boab said:

Still chuckle at the pitiful individual at a Derby at ER. Down at the corner with a saltire with Albert Kidd scrawled on it with a black marker pen.

Tragic !

 

It really is, Boab.

 

The dinner/dance they held for Kidd at a HSC in Australia is off the charts tragic.

 

I've thoroughly enjoyed all the Hibs'd its over the years but I'm not going to throw a party in honour of Kjell Olofsson or Terry Butcher or Alex Neil or...

[Harry Potter]

4 minutes ago, martoon said:

 

It really is, Boab.

 

The dinner/dance they held for Kidd at a HSC in Australia is off the charts tragic.

 

I've thoroughly enjoyed all the Hibs'd its over the years but I'm not going to throw a party in honour of Kjell Olofsson or Terry Butcher or Alex Neil or...

A dinner dance😂about 4 attended no doubt, the gift that keeps on giving.

[lou]

We always struggled against Clydebank, McCabe was a great player and they had a brilliant goalie in Gallagher, who I only found out recently was Paul Gallagher's dad 

[The White Cockade]

3 hours ago, qferryjam said:

I always thought the draw with Aberdeen was pivotal if we’d won that ?? 
 the decision not to send off Mcleish for cloths lining I think Robbo on the halfway line when beating the off side always rankles 

All ifs and buts 

JC I think 

[Rods]

This was my first Hearts game. 

[sadj]

11 hours ago, Francis Albert said:

The  games we lost the league were Clydebank  in 86 and Dundee in 65.

 

At least as much as Dundee in 86 and  Killie in 65.

St Mirren away and Clydebank at home aside from the Dundee game were the two that did for 86 imo ,  shows the fine margins. 

[Hectormasson]

11 hours ago, Francis Albert said:

The  games we lost the league were Clydebank  in 86 and Dundee in 65.

 

At least as much as Dundee in 86 and  Killie in 65.

2-6 at St midden certainly didn't help, 

[Forever Hearts]

2 minutes ago, Hectormasson said:

2-6 at St midden certainly didn't help, 

That game was in August, though, when we had no idea that we'd be in with a great chance of winning the league and there was no pressure on the players. The Clydebank and Aberdeen games we knew exactly what we needed to do. 

[munro9]

Often think about the last few games of that season and how it could have panned out differently. Clearly scoring 4 or 5 against Clydebank would have won us the league. I sometimes wondering if equalising against Aberdeen at Tynecastle worked against us. 2 points for a win in those days. Had we gone to Dens needing to win I think we would have blown them away in a similar way to Dundee Utd a few weeks earlier. Who knows?

[davemclaren]

8 minutes ago, munro9 said:

Often think about the last few games of that season and how it could have panned out differently. Clearly scoring 4 or 5 against Clydebank would have won us the league. I sometimes wondering if equalising against Aberdeen at Tynecastle worked against us. 2 points for a win in those days. Had we gone to Dens needing to win I think we would have blown them away in a similar way to Dundee Utd a few weeks earlier. Who knows?

You don my want overthink it. 😄

[Mikey1874]

22 minutes ago, sadj said:

St Mirren away and Clydebank at home aside from the Dundee game were the two that did for 86 imo ,  shows the fine margins. 

 

Last minute equaliser Celtic first game of season.

[wavydavy]

24 minutes ago, Hectormasson said:

2-6 at St midden certainly didn't help, 

 

St Mirren inexplicably don't play their player of the season goalkeeper Campbell Money on that day. I wonder why?

Edited April 27, 2021 by wavydavy

[Hectormasson]

2 minutes ago, wavydavy said:

 

St Mirren inexplicably don't play their player of the season goalkeeper Campbell Money on that day. I wonder why?

Don't think any of their players played that day m8, tbh....scumbags......

[Hectormasson]

23 minutes ago, Forever Hearts said:

That game was in August, though, when we had no idea that we'd be in with a great chance of winning the league and there was no pressure on the players. The Clydebank and Aberdeen games we knew exactly what we needed to do. 

True we never thought we'd go on such a run,

[wavydavy]

4 minutes ago, Hectormasson said:

Don't think any of their players played that day m8, tbh....scumbags......

 

 

True.

[Jeffros Furios]

Always remember the tannoy announcer at half time giving the score at Paisley .

Strangely enough also remember the same announcer breaking the news about Hillsborough .

I miss being excited at the football and travelling in big numbers and falling about terracing when we scored especially Tannadice .

[sadj]

46 minutes ago, Hectormasson said:

True we never thought we'd go on such a run,

Don’t get that thought process at all. Its ok to lose 6-2 as it might not affect anything later in the season. 

 

53 minutes ago, Mikey1874 said:

 

Last minute equaliser Celtic first game of season.

Forgot about that McStay I think. As i said earlier fine margins. The Aberdeen home game on TV was a tough one too , Aberdeen never deserved the pen for a start and we should have had 11 v 10. 

[logopolis]

I will always remember my mate jokingly saying that the late Celtic equaliser in the first game of that sea son 'costing us the league'.

Neil Berry in that game was winning everything .. we sorta lost our shape a bit when he was carried off.