Alberto Spencer

I read in a book by Bob Crampsey (years ago) that the original invitation to the European Cup came to the SFA whose President was from Hibs (Harry Swan?). Swan pushed Hibs forward while Aberdeen (Champions) were either not too fussed or gazumped by the President! It was unclear if the competition would take off or fizzle out (per Crampsey) so many countries didn't bother entering. Once Real Madrid started showing their class it did take off and the Inter Cities Fairs Trophy started - Birmingham and London entered teams made up of players from various clubs in their cities (Birmingham reached a final I think). Eventually having only cities with Fairs was stopped to allow anyone to enter and European Football headed towards what we have today........

Before my time but two of the four "Champions of Scotland" titles Hearts have won, were won at Love Street - 1957-58 and 1959-60 with a 4-4 draw and a 3-2 win. Back then the Saints fans politely applauded the Champions........... Interestingly Rangers finish at Tynecastle this season with their much reduced number of tickets. Cue massive media "unrest" at how unfair it is that they get so few tickets lol. If it is a decider then things will get very interesting. As its the week before the Final, in the (probably unlikely) scenario we are in the final, we might play a weakened team to rest players for the final. Celtic fans who demur at this can look back at Martin O'Neill playing a weakened team v Killie last game once (resting players for the final as they'd won the league already) and losing to Killie thus letting Killie finish just ahead of Hearts for a European slot. O'Neill said it was his right to do this and no fine given, so "logically" Hearts would not be fined (Yes, we all know that would not be the case!)

Jimmy Sanderson was a very intelligent articulate broadcaster ("Were you at the game caller?") who shot down most of the clowns who phoned in. Sadly, after he died they replaced him with Hugh Keevins who is considerably less intelligent but plays to his audience. Keevins is a Celtic fan who ALWAYS predicted Rangers for the title so he could claim neutrality . For him only two teams matter so both need bigged up at everyone else's expense.

Heart of Midlothian B won 5-3 v East Stirlingshire Friday night to confirm they will finish above Celtic B this season. Despite regularly postponing games (for International games) poor Celtic will finish behind Hearts who played all their games when arranged. Tough for poor Celtic.......

It was standard policy to do this from when football started to quite recently (10 years ago?). In those days officials came from all over Scotland - unlike now when all are from about 45 mins max from Hampden by SFA decree....... Officialdom stopped putting where officials came from after some "glaziers" were required after two teams' supporters couldn't take a bad result

The League won't be won tonight as the game between Civil Service Strollers & East Kilbride is off due to a waterlogged pitch. No surprise after all the rain today.

Costa Rica & Canada won their (CONCACAF Nations League) play-offs last night to make the Finals. Kenny Vargas was a 2nd half sub for Costa Rica so can look forward to being involved in the Summer.

Cheers! Shows how much attention I pay to some International sides

Has Michael O'Neill been mentioned as a possible yet? He lives in Edinburgh - and kept a house there even as Stoke manager. I'm not sure what he's been up to recently but he was NI manager for a time. AFAIK he's out of a job at present so no compo would be due.

Yes, and Johnston's reaction is a clear 2nd yellow for chasing after Tait. No surprise (with one red cardalready) no ref is going to give a 2nd red to Celtic. Reminds me of the Championship season where torn-face Kenny Miller's two footed lunge at Kevin McHattie was only a yellow as Rangers were already down to ten. At least Kris Boyd admitted after the game his yellow later in the game should have been a red! I was at the Gerry Evans game Hearts had 4 sent off despite only committing 10 fouls - Richard Gough chopped Neil McCann down as last defender and head in hands expected a red in the last minute. No probs, not even a yellow. Different rules for different teams......

Finlay Pollock only played the first half against EK in Friday's 4-2 win but was excellent. His reward was to come off the bench in the last 10 mins against Hibs for the first team. Ironically, this is his league debut for Hearts. He'd played and scored in the League Cup and friendlies, plus created the Hearts goal in Istanbul, but injuries had delayed his debut till yesterday. It looks like (along with Denholm & Tait) he's graduated to the first team squad.

I've only been to two grounds where I've not seen Hearts win - Ayr (two losses, 2-0 league and the "Ian Brines" league Cup game we were 2-0 up and lost 4-1 on pens after 1-1 draw ) and Peterhead (2-1 loss). I've seen Hearts win at all other Scottish Grounds for current League teams except Kelty/Bonnyrigg/Edin City/Annan (Hearts haven't played at those grounds). Hearts didn't play at Albion Rovers' Cliftonhill (so far) during my lifetime and I've seen Hearts win a few at Hampden over the years (and v Queens Park)...... I've also seen Hearts win at old grounds (RIP) - Muirton, Love Street (St Mirren Park to be accurate), Broomfield, Brockville, Douglas Park, Boghead, Bayview, Shawfield, Broadwood (Clyde) PLUS some LL grounds of former League clubs - Central Park, Shielfield and Firs Park plus a win at Brechin. For completeness I've been to games at Cliftonhill, Meadowbank Thistle and Annan (until Kelty/Bonnyrigg arrived I'd been to all then league grounds). Guess its what happens when you've been going to games since the late 1960s!

Big game on Friday with Hearts B welcoming East Kilbride to Ainslie Park. EK are looking certainties for the title but did lose the home fixture to Hearts B. Since the transfer window closed, Hearts B have lost 3 games in a row before winning 1-0 at Tranent last Sat. The loss of Makenzie Kirk (loan to Accies) has reduced the goalscoring plus Callum Flatman being on loan at Edin City has weakened the defence. Macauley Tait is now a fully fledged 1st Teamer and has signed a new contract worthy of that status. I guess he'd be the "poster boy" for the benefit of our B Team playing in the Lowland League. Finlay Pollock will benefit from regular games to the end of the season before joining the 1st Team squad next season. The lad has had horrendous luck with injuries the last couple of seasons. The team played well at Tranent apparently so we'll see how the youngsters progress I feel sorry for Kirk in that he's only played around a dozen minutes in the last 4 Accies games, all at the end of games. Now Falkirk have disappeared over the horizon with the Title, maybe John Rankin will give him a chance before the play offs start. He seems a decent bet to remain LL Top Scorer at the end of the season!

Good jump and squeal from Vale (?) though

The "errors" are only those announced as a VAR check, then shown up as making the wrong decision afterwards. Our obvious penalty at home to Livingston, where Holt slipped and completely wiped out Boyce, was clearly not considered by VAR at the time so not included. The ref gave a foul against Boyce, which was absolute nonsense! I'm sure there are plenty others (Shankland being taken from the back at Fir Park, Shankland having his jersey pulled off at Livingston at a corner etc etc).