The Hearts Youth Development Committee, which makes significant contributions to the future of Hearts through the wide range of fundraising activities that they organise and lead are eager that the importance of this organisation is stressed to all Hearts supporters through heartsfc.co.uk.

Consequently, for the first time, we have provided profiles of the various people who make up the committee. Where profiles are not available at this time, they will follow shortly...

George Nicolson chairman
George, a life long Hearts fan has been a corporate member for almost 20 years. He has been a committee member since 1994 before taking over as chairman last year. George, along with the other committee members are currently reorganising and rebranding the youth development draw to the Hearts Youth Development Club in the hope to increase revenues. This will allow us to further improve our funding to the youth teams meaning we can enjoy watching even more young players break through to the first team.

Alex Jones  treasurer
Alex is the longest serving member of the HYDC. As treasurer Alex reports back to the committee on its current financial position and works with John Murray to ensure all youth sides receive funds required.
An avid Hearts fan and former Hearts Federation Secretary, Alex is noted for his controversial views and opinions. He is also a shareholder, season ticket holder and follows the team home, away including trips abroad. Alex believes very much in the Hearts Youth Academy and the long term benefits it has for Hearts and its youth development policy.

John Murray
As academy director for Heart of Midlothian, based at the Football Academy at Heriot Watt Unversity John and his youth teams are in fact the principal beneficiaries of the efforts of the HYDC. As part of the committee, it is John who reports on developments at the Academy and also what the financial requirements are for each of the youth teams. This includes training kit, boots, trainers and trips away during the summer to places such as Belfast and London.

Fraser Kerr
Fraser is the vice chairman and membership co-ordinator for the committee and ensures that the monthly draw register is kept up to date. By profession he is a Chartered Accountant and is the senior partner in HWCA, a top twenty national firm of accountants. Fraser appreciates the need for football clubs such as Hearts to breed their own talent and is a significant contributor to HYDC fundraising events.

Clare Cowan
Currently based in the club's marketing & communications department, Clare has been with the club since 1998 and joined the committee in August 2008. Working closely with academy director John Murray on a number of projects for the academy, she has a wide ranging remit. From ensuring the latest committee information is available via the club website to the production of flyers and newsletters, her role is key in promoting the work of HYDC. She also provides the committee with fundraising support and assistance in organising the events calendar.

Derek Lambie
A season ticket holder for 20 years, Derek joined the committee in December 2004. He is editor of the Scottish Sunday Express and a keen amateur footballer. Excited by the influx of quality overseas players in recent years, Derek still believes in the importance of promoting youth talent at Tynecastle.

Russell Lawson
A shareholder, season ticket holder but most of all a Hearts supporter. Russell has been on the Youth Development Committee since 1997. He believes that the way forward for Hearts is to produce its own players through the Academy and is determind to support its continued success.

Derek Ormston
A life long Hearts supporter, season ticket holder, 500 club member and a member of Hearts Shareholders committee - representing their views on the Hearts Youth Development Committee. Derek believes the role of HYD cannot be overstated in the importance of giving youth a chance and delivering stars of the future both on and off the field in terms of revenue, performance and crowds which a successful Hearts will generate.  

Ronnie Bamberry
Born in the mid 50's, to parents that were Hearts supporters, Ronnie remembers hearing all about the great successes enjoyed by the Hearts during that period of time. Since then Ronnie has been a Hearts Supporter, shareholder, season ticket holder and Executive Club member on various occassions. Ronnie travelled back from Beirut and Malaysia for the Cup Finals in the 90's . He has always had a nagging feeling that Hearts need to promote youth players to understand the history of the club so that when they make it to the first team they are truely HEARTS through and through. By joining the HYDC Ronnie hopes that he can assist the committee raise it's profile and increase its fund raising to enhance the great work being undertaken by John Murray and his staff at the Youth Academy.

Derek O'Connor
Derek was born within 100 yards from the stadium and has always followed the Hearts. His life long ambition was achieved by playing for Hearts, from 1978 to 1984. These days he runs his own Electrical Company. Having a connection with the club, he appreciates the importance of the youth development within the club both for the club and for the youngsters to achieve their ambition.

Steve Hutchison
Supporters may not know Steve but they have certainly been watching his work, from filming and/or editing the U19's/reserve/1st team games to archive footage of classic Hearts games. Steve's full time job is IT, his knowledge is considered an asset to the committee which they hope to use to it's advantage over the next year. Attended his first game in 1978 against Partick Thistle, (where a certain committee member Derek O'Conner played), he is delighted to be on board helping the youth come through, especially seeing the work done close up by the coaches at the Academy developing players like Ryan McGowan, Gary Glen and Craig Thomson, and there are a lot more to come!