Heart of Midlothian Football Club (Hearts) today announces a ground-breaking partnership with ex-Service men and women charity Erskine.

Erskine will become the Edinburgh club's Official Charity Partner for season 2009-10.

Both organisations will also work together to deliver a range of initiatives to support Erskine fundraising and generate significant public awareness of the war veteran charity.

Hearts has a remarkable and long-standing relationship with the armed services.

Eleven players from the Tynecastle side became the first professional footballers in the United Kingdom to conscript for the 16th Royal Scots on Wednesday 25th November 1914. They inspired both Hearts supporters and those from other teams to join 1,347 officers and men of McCrae's Sporting Battalion.

Four of those players died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916. In total seven players never came home.

Hearts remembers those players, supporters and all personnel affected by War at the club's Annual Remembrance Service at the Heart of Midlothian War Memorial at Haymarket.

Speaking ahead of this afternoon's formal launch Hearts managing director Campbell Ogilvie said: "This is a very special partnership, which recognises Hearts long-standing association with the Armed Forces.

"We were very specific in wanting to work with Erskine, as a long-lasting tribute to not only the Hearts players and supporters who gave their lives, but all service men and service women who have and continue to fight for our country's freedom.

"Hearts made a very clear strategic decision in forming this charitable partnership with Erskine having spent the last five months developing the details. As a highly innovative football club, we wanted to use the power that sport gives us to proactively promote something we know will be very special for our supporters."

Erskine chief executive Colonel Martin Gibson commented: "Having served for 30 years in The Royal Scots I am delighted that we will work in partnership with Hearts.

"Our much needed Erskine Edinburgh expansion will be completed in August and we look forward to working with Hearts to promote, raise awareness and fundraise towards a vital part of our long terms for our base in the capital."

Click to download a brand new fundraising leaflet for Hearts supporters from Erskine and help raise money for a Hearts MOTOmed Exercise Bike - which costs £4,000