Hearts history goes under the hammer
ASELECTION of wrought-iron turnstiles that have served the club well for a full 103 years. They don’t make ’em like that any more.
A fake ‘bird-scaring’ owl that, to be honest, hasn’t been quite as effective or reliable as the most enduring original feature of the famous Archibald Leitch stand.
A couple of sunken baths, temporarily feared lost but now found, graced by some of the most gifted — and certainly most naked — footballers of the past four decades.
Fancy any of the above, Hearts fans? Well, who wouldn’t be interested in grabbing themselves a piece of Scottish football history.
That’s precisely what fans and collectors are being offered at Tynecastle on Sunday as 140 pieces of interest from the old main stand go under the hammer.
And, according to Hearts head of commercial Ann Park, there will be something for everyone to bid on, regardless of how deep your pockets may be.
‘We’ve just decided to add this,’ said Park, teasing your correspondent into wondering what marvels she might have hidden away.
‘When the demolition work was being done, they opened a cupboard and found some lovely tea cups and saucers from the old boardroom — dating back to the 1950s.
‘So we’re now holding a raffle with the top prize being afternoon tea for six with Ann Budge at the Hearts Museum — and you get to keep the tea set at the end of the day.’
That’s a nice little twist on the traditions surrounding this sort of event; it takes Sunday’s shindig at the Gorgie Suite away from being about the memorabilia.
But, of course, these sorts of occasions are generally popular for one reason. The stuff.
And people have memories tied up in everything from seats to signage, pillars to bricks.
A few things will definitely not be for sale — the original mosaic flooring, which will form the centre-piece of a grand new entrance hall, as well as the McCrae’s Battalion plaque and some original brickwork.
One turnstile will also be retained and placed in the reception area of the new stand; Hearts wouldn’t have received planning permission without promising that to Edinburgh Council.
But the rest? All up for grabs. All helping to contribute towards the £1million target set as the fans’ share of construction costs.
Standing amid the rubble and wiping a bit of stoor from the famous turnstiles, Park revealed that interest had already stretched far beyond Gorgie.
‘We’ve had contact from all over the world,’ she told Sportsmail. ‘There is a great Hearts diaspora all around the world and we’re seeing that in the interest expressed already.
‘The turnstiles are obviously a huge draw. They were installed in 1914 and they were in use right up until the last game at the old stand, before it was pulled down.
‘The last time something similar came up for auction, it went for £2,300. So the turnstiles, we have decided, are among the items that people can bid for in absentia.
‘They are a huge piece of club history and they’ve served the club for a century and more.
‘If I was to run my own private bar in my back garden, I’d love the gate to be a turnstile that had been in service since 1914.
‘But there are so many other interesting items. We’ve got a fantastic programme from the 1950s, signed by John Cumming, the most decorated player in club history.
‘It’s from the official club photographer, who ran on to the pitch to get the autograph, slipped and got mud on it. So, there you go, it’s even got some authentic ’50s Tynecastle soil on it.
‘We’ve also got equipment from the famous Brown’s gymnasium that used to be in the old stand.
‘We’ve a medicine ball that had been there for ever. When you feel how heavy it is, you can see why Dave Mackay was such a colossus.
‘That was one of the items we maybe didn’t expect to find. There are plenty like that.
‘And the really amazing thing has been how many fans have been just turning up to donate items — really wonderful mementos — to the auction.
‘There’s even something left over from the Vladimir Romanov era. He paid the highest price for a cow statue from the Cow Parade, remember? While we don’t think anyone will match the £10,000 he paid for it, we’re hoping the entire auction will raise many thousands.
‘The Hearts fans, through the Foundation of Hearts and individually, have been so supportive of so many fundraising efforts. With this, rather than just making another donation, hopefully they can get something back.’
Surprisingly, the fibreglass owl that once perched atop the main stand has already received significant interest.
‘For decades, it’s been up there supposedly to scare off birds,’ said Park. ‘If you’ve been to a game at Tynecastle, you can judge for yourself how good a job it did.
‘In fact, when they brought it down, it was covered in pigeon droppings. Yet we’ve had loads of people saying they’d like to get it to guard their garden pond from herons. No guarantees are offered in terms of its performance.’
Doors to the Gorgie Suite will open at 10am, with the auction from 11am until 3pm. Fans can get a sneak peek at all the auction lots a day early. The Gorgie Suite will be open from 10am until 4pm on Saturday, access is via Tynecastle Terrace. Bidders can book their tickets, £10 per person, for the auction early by calling 0131 200 7282/7244/7271.