A popular method of reaching Tynecastle

Hearts Move Across Gorgie Road

The club required time to regroup after suspension and both the Shield and the Charity Cup went to Easter Road in season 1884-85. Of greater concern was the loss of players to England. Indeed, the SFA list of fifty-seven men who were banned after going south to play for money contained ten ex-Hearts' players. This impacted on season 1885-86, when the Hibernians defeated Hearts in both the Scottish Cup and the Shield.

However, the club's overall progress could not be stopped and Hearts even entered the FA Cup, but decided not to play against the Lancashire side, Padiham FC. In February 1886, Hearts also played their last game at the first Tynecastle, defeating Sunderland 2-1 in a Challenge Match. The club moved across the road and opened the current stadium on 10 April 1886 with a 4-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers. The ground boasted two pitches running east to west and a crowd of 5,500 saw Tom Jenkinson score the first goal at our new home.

The season ended on a high note with a rare victory over the Hibs in the Rosebery Charity Cup Final. The first game was abandoned after a crowd disturbance when James McGhee of Hibs, broke Peter Bell's leg in a tackle. The replay ended in similar fashion when Hibs supporters protested at a second goal for Hearts. The third game was at Powderhall on 24 June 1886 and this time 2,500 fans witnessed a 1-0 victory.

Hearts Eclipse Hibs

1886-87 was a season to forget as Hearts suffered a heavy reverse in the club's only appearance in the FA Cup. The team was routed 7-1 by the Lancashire professionals, Darwen FC, and the SFA quickly banned its members from taking part in the English competition. In addition, Hibs dominated the local scene and even beat Hearts 5-1 on their way to winning the Scottish Cup.

On a brighter note, on 19 February 1887, Tom Jenkinson became the first Heart of Midlothian player to represent his country when he appeared and scored for Scotland in a 4-1 victory over Ireland at Hampden Park. With such quality players, season 1887-88 was significantly better and Hearts ended the long period of Hibernian supremacy by knocking the holders out of the Scottish Cup. Hibs were claiming to be "World Champions" following a victory over Preston North End, but after meeting Hearts, they would never again be regarded as the leading club in the capital. The formation of Celtic also drained their traditional source of players and Hibs eventually stopped playing in 1891.

That big Scottish Cup-tie started on 15 October 1887, and a Tynecastle record attendance of 7,500 witnessed a hard fought 1-1 draw. The Replay attracted 8,500 to Easter Road where Hearts gained a 3-1 victory amid wild excitement. Hopes of winning the Cup were then dashed in the Fourth Round when the maroons went down 4-2 after a third replay against St.Mirren.

But that victory over the Hibs was much more significant even though they beat Hearts in both the local competitions. But to keep our feet firmly on the ground, Preston North End won 7-1 at Tynecastle, although they were the real "World Champions" and won the English double the following year. It should also be noted that on 17 September 1887 in a Shield match, Hearts defeated Vale of Midlothian by 18-0 with Tom Brackenridge scoring seven goals. This remains the club's biggest win on our current ground.

Hearts Regain the Championship of the East

There was a new look to Tynecastle Park in the summer of 1888, with the two pitches being reduced to one, running in a north-south direction. Two open stands and a pavilion were erected on the east side (McLeod Street) and the capacity was now 10,000. The new season also saw the introduction of several men who would make Hearts famous: Johnny Hill; Isaac Begbie; Davie Baird; and John Macpherson. This did not stop a shock defeat in the Scottish Cup at Alum Works Park in Lennoxtown, where in November 1888, Campsie won 3-1 before 800 fans.

However, in March 1889, for the first time since 1878, Hearts won the "Championship of the East" when they defeated Leith Athletic 5-2 in the Shield Final at Easter Road. Around this time the team also made regular trips to England and many fine sides came to play in Edinburgh. This included the first foreign team in the Canadian FA Touring XI who managed to beat Hearts 3-0.

Season 1889-90 was the last year when the fixture list would comprise mainly of friendly matches. However, it was probably the best campaign since the club's formation with Hearts reaching the Fifth Round of the Scottish Cup before losing to the eventual finalists, Vale of Leven. The team also dominated local soccer and won both the Shield and the Charity Cup with Leith Athletic beaten in the Final of both competitions.

The skillful playmaker Johnny Hill

Founder Members of the League

In 1890, as the leading club in the east of Scotland, Hearts became one of the eleven founder members of the Scottish Football League. The club's first match in the competition came on Saturday 16 August at the original Ibrox Park, but resulted in a 5-2 defeat from Rangers. Isaac Begbie scored Hearts' first goal in the Championship.

The initial home game was played the following Saturday when Celtic beat the maroons 5-0. Hearts first League win eventually came against Cowlairs at Tynecastle on 13 September 1890 and in the 4-0 victory, Willie Taylor scored the first Championship goal for the club at home. Hearts also beat Cowlairs at Springvale Park in Glasgow to record the club's first League double.

The joint Champions, Rangers and Dumbarton, both beat Hearts home and away and the team finished sixth in the League. However, they had to play the last nine games without four important players, skipper Isaac Begbie, John Macpherson, Johnny Hill and Davie Baird. These men had taken part in an International Trial against the wishes of the Scottish League and as a result, they were suspended from the competition. At least all four had the satisfaction of playing against England.

First Cup Winners - 1891

Success in the Scottish Cup

The team reserved its best form for the Scottish Cup and Hearts gained national fame for the first time. The successful run started with a 7-2 home win over Raith Rovers and then after Burntisland Thistle scratched, the Tynecastle side eliminated Methlan Park, Ayr FC, Greenock Morton and East Stirlingshire. That 3-1 victory over the 'Shire at Bainsford was controversial with Hearts' defender, Jimmy Adams, punching a goal bound shot off the line. This was one of several high profile incidents that led to the introduction of the penalty kick in June 1891.

In the Semi Final, Hearts beat Third Lanark by 4-1 in Glasgow and as a result, on 7 February 1891, the club made its first appearance in the Scottish Cup Final. Isaac Begbie then captained the team to victory over Dumbarton at Hampden Park with Willie Mason scoring the only goal of the game after fifteen minutes. There were 5,000 Hearts supporters in the crowd, which numbered around 12,000.

The historic winning team was: Jock Fairbairn; Jimmy Adams; George Goodfellow; Isaac Begbie; John Macpherson; Johnny Hill; Willie Taylor; Willie Mason; Davie Russell; George Scott; and Davie Baird. They received a heroic welcome at Edinburgh's Caledonian Station where supporters uncoupled the horses from the waiting carriage and pulled the vehicle up Lothian Road for a celebration at the Union Hotel.

That season, Hearts also won the Shield with a 3-0 victory over Armadale FC and the club subsequently invested in a handsome new pavilion and club house, and also built a press box. At this time the committee picked the team and the senior players had input, especially the captain. Another important contributor was the trainer, Joe Newton, who looked after the players at the Scottish Cup Final.

Hearts New Squad

Hearts made a strong challenge in the 12-club League in season 1891-92 being unbeaten at home with ten wins from eleven games. This included a 3-1 victory over the eventual Champions, Dumbarton, although the western club won 5-1 in the return match at Boghead. This proved decisive with Hearts finishing third, three points behind the title winners. During that campaign, Davie Russell became the first Hearts' man to score a League hat trick when he hit a treble against Renton and the team also won by a remarkable 10-3 against Clyde at Barrowfield Park.

Hearts hold on the Scottish Cup ended against Renton when a third game was lost 3-2 at neutral Hampden Park after two draws. Winning both the Shield and the Charity Cup brought some consolation and the status of the club was recognised by the SFA when Tynecastle was chosen to host the International match against Wales on 26 March 1892. Unfortunately, a snowstorm limited the crowd to 1,200 but they saw Scotland win 6-1 with a team that included Isaac Begbie; Jimmy Adams; Johnny Hill and Davie Baird. The club certainly needed to improve the spectator facilities and in the summer of 1892 the South Stand was given a roof.

Hearts also needed to expand the squad to make an impression in the League and in season 1892-93, several players were secured who would bring great success. Bob McLaren; John Walker; Harry Marshall; George Hogg; and Tom Chambers all came into the team, but initially the changes had an unsettling effect and Hearts fell to fifth in the League. The team also went out of the Scottish Cup in the Third Round against Queens Park. Before a Tynecastle record attendance of 13,500 the teams drew 1-1 but the Glasgow club was too strong and won the replay by 5-2 at Hampden Park.

In February 1893 a new Hibernian FC had emerged from the ashes of the old club but they were not strong enough to stop Hearts winning both the Shield and the Charity Cup with St.Bernards providing the opposition in both the Finals. The Charity Cup Final actually ended in a 3-3 draw but as Saints disputed a goal, they refused to replay and Hearts were awarded the trophy.

One of 800 season tickets issued in 1891

Hearts Adopt Professionalism

In May 1893, the shape of Scottish football changed forever when, in order to combat the drain of talent to England, the Scottish Football Association authorised its clubs to use professional players. The Heart of Midlothian Football Club immediately grasped the opportunity and began to pay its leading men the sum of £2 per week plus bonuses.
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Hearts were now able to further strengthen the squad and at the start of season 1893-94, Davie Russell, Tom Chambers and Willie Taylor all returned, and Willie Michael was recruited from Wishaw Thistle. As a result, Hearts made a late assault on the Championship and were unbeaten away from home. However, the maroons finished runners-up, being just unable to catch Celtic after losing the first two home matches against Leith Athletic and the Parkhead side.

That game against Celtic in September 1893 created a new attendance record of 14,000 but they saw Hearts go down 4-2. Shortly after the match, the club ordered a pair of proper goals nets (fixed to the posts) to replace the free standing pair that had been used for the best part of a year.

Even though Hearts lost to St.Mirren in the First Round of the Scottish Cup, the supporters had been comforted by a particularly resounding victory over the Second Division Champions, Hibernian. On 12 August 1893 the greens were destroyed 10-2 before 8,000 at Easter Road, the biggest result between the clubs.

During yet another eventful campaign, Hearts won the Shield for the sixth time in a row with a 4-2 victory over Leith Athletic but the Rosebery Charity Cup Final was lost to Hibs. In addition, in March 1894, Hearts Reserve Team won the Scottish Second XI Cup for the first time beating St.Mirren in the Final. Unfortunately the season ended with some animosity and Hearts, Hibs and St.Bernards all resigned from the East of Scotland FA after a dispute over match dates.

HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN HONOURS BOARD (1884-1894)
The Scottish FA Cup: 1890-91
The Rosebery Charity Cup: 1885-86; 1889-90; 1891-92; 1892-93
The East of Scotland Shield: 1888-89; 1889-90; 1890-91; 1891-92; 1892-93; 1893-94

DECADE HALL OF FAME
Tom Jenkinson; Davie Russell; Jimmy Adams; and Johnny Hill

INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS
Tom Jenkinson; Tom Brackenridge; Jimmy Adams; Isaac Begbie; Davie Baird; John Macpherson; Johnny Hill; Willie Taylor; and Tom Chambers

SCOTTISH LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS
Jimmy Adams; Isaac Begbie; John Fairbairn; and Davie Baird

Written by historian David Speed with archivist Alex Knight

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