dannymack Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 (edited) After Bobby Moncur resigned and then failed attempts to get Jim McLean or Jock Wallace to take the managers role at Tynecastle, Wallace Mercer appointed Tony Ford as the new Gaffer. He was only 36 !!! 😳 6 months later, the start of our famous clubs rise and journey away from The Brink began. Edited June 30, 2022 by dannymack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 I would say our rise started a year later given, after Ford was sacked, we got knocked out of the cup by Forfar and then failed to get promotion after losing 5-2 to Dumbarton at home then drawing at Killie and getting beat at home by Well. That was a crap season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reaths17 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Just now, davemclaren said: I would say our rise started a year later given, after Ford was sacked, we got knocked out of the cup by Forfar and then failed to get promotion after losing 5-2 to Dumbarton at home then drawing at Killie and getting beat at home by Well. That was a crap season. indeed, that team was minging, the remnants of the 70's miss management of the club Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 3 minutes ago, reaths17 said: indeed, that team was minging, the remnants of the 70's miss management of the club Indeed, probably the lowest of the low for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Findlay Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 10 minutes ago, davemclaren said: Indeed, probably the lowest of the low for us. Agreed, I was glad to be at sea, somewhere in the Baltic, this day in 1981. I was definitely having more fun as a Sailor, than as a Hearts supporter back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballitojambo Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Went to every game home and away those days, picked up the Tollcross bus at haymarket, we were so bad even the die hards started to drift away, i remember only a couple of busses at Ayr at a midweek game and Airdrie for an end of season game, but we stuck it out, stood on those crappy terraces singing Hearts Hearts glorious Hearts with no sense of irony, and look at us now, season tickets sold out, European trips ahead, its been a roller coaster, but worth it, we are a special club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j1964m Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamboAl1965 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Not successful but something was stirring that season Wasn’t all bad either Aberdeen league cup game at home with Chris Robertson scoring. crowd just over 10k and the atmosphere was incredible. Anyone remember the Gerry McCoy goal that Season a windy midweek night, near the edge of the box at the school end main stand side if I recall, think it was a lobbed cross but caught in the wind and looped past the keeper. anyway that’s how I remember it. Felt like a wonder goal at the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 15 minutes ago, JamboAl1965 said: Not successful but something was stirring that season Wasn’t all bad either Aberdeen league cup game at home with Chris Robertson scoring. crowd just over 10k and the atmosphere was incredible. Anyone remember the Gerry McCoy goal that Season a windy midweek night, near the edge of the box at the school end main stand side if I recall, think it was a lobbed cross but caught in the wind and looped past the keeper. anyway that’s how I remember it. Felt like a wonder goal at the time The Aberdeen win in the LC sections was very much a false dawn for Tony Ford. Defeat at home by East Stirling and a home draw with Queens Park were more typical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Percival King Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 2 hours ago, davemclaren said: I would say our rise started a year later given, after Ford was sacked, we got knocked out of the cup by Forfar and then failed to get promotion after losing 5-2 to Dumbarton at home then drawing at Killie and getting beat at home by Well. That was a crap season. It was indeed a low point but I'm sure Mercer said (possibly in that Back from the Brink video) that in retrospect our failure to get promoted that season was a blessing as it gave us another season to rebuild in the First Division, enabled us to get promoted as a stronger team and club and, most importantly, break the yo-yo cycle. And he was absolutely right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamboAl1965 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 5 minutes ago, davemclaren said: The Aberdeen win in the LC sections was very much a false dawn for Tony Ford. Defeat at home by East Stirling and a home draw with Queens Park were more typical. I was looking for the good bits 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martoon Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Best game of the 1981/82 was in the East of Scotland Shield. A surprising, and in the absence of competitive derbies, gloatworthy 2-1 win at Easter Road. 10k plus We lost 0-1 at home to East Stirling three days later. 😞 😪 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannymack Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 4 hours ago, davemclaren said: I would say our rise started a year later given, after Ford was sacked, we got knocked out of the cup by Forfar and then failed to get promotion after losing 5-2 to Dumbarton at home then drawing at Killie and getting beat at home by Well. That was a crap season. I know what your saying but I was meaning 6 months later Alex MacDonald was appointed when the journey began, well maybe the roller coaster ride began. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannymack Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 4 hours ago, John Findlay said: Agreed, I was glad to be at sea, somewhere in the Baltic, this day in 1981. I was definitely having more fun as a Sailor, than as a Hearts supporter back then. But I'd guess you never contemplated giving up on them and changing your colours... oh and never ever thought in a million years that 5 years later the club would have played Paris St Germain in the UEFA Cup, were Tennant Sixes winners and a whisker away of winning the Premier League Title and Scottish Cup. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannymack Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 3 hours ago, Ballitojambo said: Went to every game home and away those days, picked up the Tollcross bus at haymarket, we were so bad even the die hards started to drift away, i remember only a couple of busses at Ayr at a midweek game and Airdrie for an end of season game, but we stuck it out, stood on those crappy terraces singing Hearts Hearts glorious Hearts with no sense of irony, and look at us now, season tickets sold out, European trips ahead, its been a roller coaster, but worth it, we are a special club. Average attendance for Tynecastle Park seasons 1977/78: 10,100 * 1978/79: 11,200 1979/80: 5,700 1980/81: 7,700 1981/82: 5,200 1982/83: 6,054 1983/84: 12,000 1984/85: 11,300 1985/86: 16,200 Just shows you what a bit of success on the park does to the fan base. * First season outwith the top flight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 2 minutes ago, dannymack said: Average attendance for Tynecastle Park seasons 1977/78: 10,100 * 1978/79: 11,200 1979/80: 5,700 1980/81: 7,700 1981/82: 5,200 1982/83: 6,054 1983/84: 12,000 1984/85: 11,300 1985/86: 16,200 Just shows you what a bit of success on the park does to the fan base. * First season outwith the top flight. And what a bit of failure does as well. 😜 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannymack Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 2 hours ago, JamboAl1965 said: Not successful but something was stirring that season Wasn’t all bad either Aberdeen league cup game at home with Chris Robertson scoring. crowd just over 10k and the atmosphere was incredible. Anyone remember the Gerry McCoy goal that Season a windy midweek night, near the edge of the box at the school end main stand side if I recall, think it was a lobbed cross but caught in the wind and looped past the keeper. anyway that’s how I remember it. Felt like a wonder goal at the time " We're gonna win the cup " 🤣 I wasn't there that night but I do vaguely remember the shock in learning of that result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannymack Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 Just now, davemclaren said: And what a bit of failure does as well. 😜 I purposely left that phrase out to give us some happiness 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Percival King Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 9 minutes ago, dannymack said: Average attendance for Tynecastle Park seasons 1977/78: 10,100 * 1978/79: 11,200 1979/80: 5,700 1980/81: 7,700 1981/82: 5,200 1982/83: 6,054 1983/84: 12,000 1984/85: 11,300 1985/86: 16,200 Just shows you what a bit of success on the park does to the fan base. * First season outwith the top flight. That, and having games against Hibs, Celtic and Rangers instead of East Stirling, Queen's Park and Clydebank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Findlay Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 23 minutes ago, dannymack said: But I'd guess you never contemplated giving up on them and changing your colours... oh and never ever thought in a million years that 5 years later the club would have played Paris St Germain in the UEFA Cup, were Tennant Sixes winners and a whisker away of winning the Premier League Title and Scottish Cup. 👍 Give up on the Hearts! My late Faither would have disowned me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannymack Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 2 hours ago, martoon said: Best game of the 1981/82 was in the East of Scotland Shield. A surprising, and in the absence of competitive derbies, gloatworthy 2-1 win at Easter Road. 10k plus We lost 0-1 at home to East Stirling three days later. 😞 😪 Hibs v Hearts EOSS SF 1981 * Aberdeen v Hearts League Cup away 1981 Hearts v East Stirling 1982 Wallace Mercer, Police and a young yin, Motherwell 1982 *OG from Rae, last 10 minutes, Hearts end went ballistic 🤣🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannymack Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 (edited) Just now, John Findlay said: Give up on the Hearts! My late Faither would have disowned me. 👍🇱🇻⚽ Unfortunately some did, I know a handful of fans of various ages who did. Edited June 30, 2022 by dannymack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Findlay Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 3 minutes ago, dannymack said: 👍🇱🇻⚽ Unfortunately some did, I know a handful of fans of various ages who did. My father's mantra was simple. It's easy to support your team when they are winning, but it's more difficult to support them when they are losing, that's when they need your support the most. Those words will never leave me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamboAl1965 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 2 hours ago, dannymack said: " We're gonna win the cup " 🤣 I wasn't there that night but I do vaguely remember the shock in learning of that result. mid been to my first derby in the cup game at Easter road in 79. The Aberdeen game was the first where I experienced something a bit special. That Aberdeen ream we beat were good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briever Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 3 hours ago, dannymack said: Average attendance for Tynecastle Park seasons 1977/78: 10,100 * 1978/79: 11,200 1979/80: 5,700 1980/81: 7,700 1981/82: 5,200 1982/83: 6,054 1983/84: 12,000 1984/85: 11,300 1985/86: 16,200 Just shows you what a bit of success on the park does to the fan base. * First season outwith the top flight. I started going with my mates without my dad in 79/80 - gawd those were dark days. My old man was probably delighted not to watch that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Fredrickson Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Was the Aberdeen game the league cup group stage? If so, I was outside the players entrance before the game and was getting autographs of both teams. Wee Gordon Strachan (similar height to me and I was 11) took the book into the Aberdeen changing room to get the squad to autograph it. I was a bit cheeky to him after the game saying they were gubbed. I am sure he scored in the game at Pittodrie and ran up to a TV camera pointing at it. To this day I am sure he was pointing at me. Think we lost that game 4-0. Aberdeen went on to win the cup winners cup - I wish I still had that autograph book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy2 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, dannymack said: Average attendance for Tynecastle Park seasons 1977/78: 10,100 * 1978/79: 11,200 1979/80: 5,700 1980/81: 7,700 1981/82: 5,200 1982/83: 6,054 1983/84: 12,000 1984/85: 11,300 1985/86: 16,200 Just shows you what a bit of success on the park does to the fan base. * First season outwith the top flight. My first game was 1977/78 (14-01-78 v QoS) Like to think I played my part in our resurgence. By the end of 1978, I’d seen us win all 3 of a 3 game spell against Celtic at home and at Pittodrie and Easter Road! Think we beat Rangers as well that season before going through a slump similar to Hibs 2014. Edited June 30, 2022 by Shaggy2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Back to 2005 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Went to a few games with my dad that season. hearts 0 east Stirling 1 hearts 1 Clydebank 0 (late goal which we missed as we left early) Hearts 0 Forfar 1 and probably another couple where we didn’t score that I can’t remember. still loved every dismal second of it as a naive 11 year old! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merseyjambo Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Remember the Aberdeen game. Great goal at the School end from Chris Robertson. Fairly sure we played Motherwell at home about New Years Day and lost. Can’t remember if it was that season or following but think we gave Patrick Thistle a 3 or 4 goal doing that season and I’m sure Willie Gibson came back with Raith that season and we beat them 2-0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bungalow Bill Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 Who owned the club in 70’s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Back to 2005 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 5 minutes ago, merseyjambo said: Remember the Aberdeen game. Great goal at the School end from Chris Robertson. Fairly sure we played Motherwell at home about New Years Day and lost. Can’t remember if it was that season or following but think we gave Patrick Thistle a 3 or 4 goal doing that season and I’m sure Willie Gibson came back with Raith that season and we beat them 2-0 Patrick game was around April time 83. Think Robbo got a hat trick . things were starting to look up by then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginger jambo98 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 3 minutes ago, Apache Mal said: Who owned the club in 70’s? Think Bobby Parker held the reins of the club for a few years in the 70s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey1874 Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 I spoke to Bobby Moncur's sister a couple of years ago. She's still raging at Mercer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i wish jj was my dad Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 I think it was my first season going regularly. I remember the Motherwell games vividly. And Dumbarton and Kilmarnock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Percival King Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 1 hour ago, ginger jambo98 said: Think Bobby Parker held the reins of the club for a few years in the 70s. I remember Edinburgh bookie Kenny Waugh tried to buy Hearts, probably around 81-82 time, but was unsuccessful and Mercer took over instead. Waugh subsequently took over Hibs. Another of these "what if" moments like Robbo almost signing for Hibs when Tom Hart was there. And just like the Robbo one, Hearts were the winners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N Lincs Jambo Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 2 hours ago, Back to 2005 said: Patrick game was around April time 83. Think Robbo got a hat trick . things were starting to look up by then. Went to that game with my late uncle. It was the last game he ever went to.He was Hibs but was very impressed with a very young Robbo that day. He grew up watching the Hibs of the Famous Five and reckoned Robbo could be that good. Glad to say he was right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannymack Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 7 hours ago, John Findlay said: My father's mantra was simple. It's easy to support your team when they are winning, but it's more difficult to support them when they are losing, that's when they need your support the most. Those words will never leave me. Wise words and spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannymack Posted June 30, 2022 Author Share Posted June 30, 2022 1 hour ago, Percival King said: I remember Edinburgh bookie Kenny Waugh tried to buy Hearts, probably around 81-82 time, but was unsuccessful and Mercer took over instead. Waugh subsequently took over Hibs. Another of these "what if" moments like Robbo almost signing for Hibs when Tom Hart was there. And just like the Robbo one, Hearts were the winners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 21 hours ago, dannymack said: After Bobby Moncur resigned and then failed attempts to get Jim McLean or Jock Wallace to take the managers role at Tynecastle, Wallace Mercer appointed Tony Ford as the new Gaffer. He was only 36 !!! 😳 6 months later, the start of our famous clubs rise and journey away from The Brink began. Nooooo! Not yet another Colin More picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konrad von Carstein Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 7 hours ago, John Findlay said: My father's mantra was simple. It's easy to support your team when they are winning, but it's more difficult to support them when they are losing, that's when they need your support the most. Those words will never leave me. Said something similar to my daughter, made her stay to the end of a few horrible losses when she was very young. She's now a rabid fan and doesn't take lack of effort from players lightly, have looked at my shoes many a time when she kicks off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 1 hour ago, Morgan said: Nooooo! Not yet another Colin More picture. Releasing More a few games before the end of the season was a huge mistake imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martoon Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 9 hours ago, dannymack said: Hibs v Hearts EOSS SF 1981 * Aberdeen v Hearts League Cup away 1981 Hearts v East Stirling 1982 Wallace Mercer, Police and a young yin, Motherwell 1982 *OG from Rae, last 10 minutes, Hearts end went ballistic 🤣🤣 Top picture: It might be the camera angle but the no man's land between us and them suggests we were in a different postcode. 😊 My first derby as a 13 year old. A fantastic Hibs 1 Hearts 2 that I've never forgotten. Bottom picture: Probably taken just after the iron bar whistled past Wallace's ear. I swear I was standing next to the bloke, a stranger, who threw it. Thanks for the memories, danny. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydug Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 9 hours ago, dannymack said: What a narrow escape that was. Thank god Mr Mercer was persuaded by Donald Ford and others to go along and meet the fans. I think he 'got' the Hearts that night at the Locarno ball room in Slateford and decided to start an adventure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherbet Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 7 hours ago, davemclaren said: Releasing More a few games before the end of the season was a huge mistake imo. Did we not have to recall him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemclaren Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 1 hour ago, Sherbet said: Did we not have to recall him? Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCFHearts Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 On 30/06/2022 at 09:46, davemclaren said: I would say our rise started a year later given, after Ford was sacked, we got knocked out of the cup by Forfar and then failed to get promotion after losing 5-2 to Dumbarton at home then drawing at Killie and getting beat at home by Well. That was a crap season. Was at both games, funny how its easy to forget those shite times Lifted at Killie as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pettigrewsstylist Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 On 30/06/2022 at 09:46, davemclaren said: I would say our rise started a year later given, after Ford was sacked, we got knocked out of the cup by Forfar and then failed to get promotion after losing 5-2 to Dumbarton at home then drawing at Killie and getting beat at home by Well. That was a crap season. What a season that was. Those last 2 games.....painful. Thought killie was going to be a full scale riot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pettigrewsstylist Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 (edited) On 30/06/2022 at 14:55, dannymack said: Hibs v Hearts EOSS SF 1981 * Aberdeen v Hearts League Cup away 1981 Hearts v East Stirling 1982 Wallace Mercer, Police and a young yin, Motherwell 1982 *OG from Rae, last 10 minutes, Hearts end went ballistic 🤣🤣 Aye Raes OG was a special night ! My first fester rd derby as an unnacommpanied 11 yr old. Mayhem when that diving header nearly burst the net ! Edited July 1, 2022 by pettigrewsstylist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reaths17 Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 On 30/06/2022 at 14:37, dannymack said: Average attendance for Tynecastle Park seasons 1977/78: 10,100 * 1978/79: 11,200 1979/80: 5,700 1980/81: 7,700 1981/82: 5,200 1982/83: 6,054 1983/84: 12,000 1984/85: 11,300 1985/86: 16,200 Just shows you what a bit of success on the park does to the fan base. * First season outwith the top flight. 70 to 76 were feckin awful as well, though i must say that the whole country was bleak/broke back then, strikes/demonstrations, lets hope we aren't at the start of another decade like that, high interest rates were the start of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannymack Posted July 1, 2022 Author Share Posted July 1, 2022 22 hours ago, Morgan said: Nooooo! Not yet another Colin More picture. 😏 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.