The Edinburgh Reporter October 2021
The independent local newspaper all about Edinburgh The independent local newspaper all about Edinburgh
22 SPORTWe’ve got McGinnProud moment as older brother capped for ScotlandBy JOHN HISLOPTWELVE YEARS after making his debut forQueen’s Park and subsequently plying histrade in the lower divisions with St Mirren,Dumbarton, Dundee, Chesterfield andPartick This-tle, Paul McGinn has beencapped for Scotland.The older brother of “Super John McGinn”joined Hibs on the last day of the January2020 transfer window and it’s fair to say thathis arrival was not met with a great deal ofenthusiasm from the fans, but his consistentperformances as right back have earned himwidespread praise.After being called-up just one day beforelast month’s World Cup qualifier againstAus-tria, McGinn was thrown in the deepend, coming on with just 13 minutesremaining as Scotland were battling to keephold of their 1-0 advantage, and performedto the stand-ard he displays consistentlyfor Hibs.Paul played his part as Scotland earned avital win and put themselves in a good placewith the remaining qualifying games left.After the game he explained how muchrepresenting Scotland meant to him.He said: “I’m immensely proud. I’ve beenon a similar journey to Andy Robertsonfrom the bottom - we both played atQueen’s Park together, so it’s nice that thenext time we end up playing together is ina Scotland jersey.“I was straight in at the deep end. It was atense affair, but we got over the line and Ithought the boys deserved it on chances.“Steve Clarke told me stuff like tuck in, allthe usual, but mostly just to enjoy it.“I think I’m enjoying it more now that it’sfinished but it’s just a proud moment for me.Paul McGinn inaction for Hibs“Look, Austria are a top team still, maybenot in the greatest of form right now but youneed to go there and play well to win, andthey still put us under a lot of pressure.Maybe a second goal would have killed it,but we didn’t quite get it.”The game also saw Paul playingalongside his brother and former Hibs manJohn, which means two of the threeMcGinn brothers have now played fortheir country.“It was also good playing alongside Johnalthough it would have been nice if he’d putthat one in the top corner. I’m sure my mumand dad will be proud and there’s still timeleft yet for Stephen!”Ian JacobsMixed fortunesfor SWPL sidesBy JACK BARNESAFTER TWO GAMES of the SWPL1 season Hibstopped the table in style, scoring seven goalsand conceding none. Hearts new manager EvaOlid, wants to give the other Edinburgh sides arun for their money and build a project atTynecastle with increased investment. Spartans,who finished behind Hibs on goal difference lastyear, are also looking to consolidate theirposition in the top half of SWPL1.Hibs moved from Ainslie Park to the TonyMacaroni Arena, beating Spartans 3-0 on theopening day of the season. Hibs’ new signingAlexa Coyle - in her first ever game of leaguefootball - scored from the penalty spot. WingerColette Cavanagh - player of the match - scored.Hibees then played Motherwell, winning 4-0with four different goalscorers. Boyle’s earlyfree-kick was the pick of the bunch, scoringfrom a seemingly impossible angle. DeanGibson’s side will be hoping to use this as afoundation to challenge the three full-timeGlasgow teams.The Jambos opening day fixture againstHamilton was remarkable. They conceded threepenalties, two of which were well-saved bygoalkeeper Parker-Smith. Despite leading in the73rd minute, the visitors scoring one penaltyand converting from the rebound meant thatHamilton were controversial victors 2-1.Next up for Hearts was an all-action affairversus Spartans at Ainslie Park which the homeside won 3-1. Eva Olid was unlucky - her teammissed lot of chances.Live Edinburgh NewsHow I Made European History with HibsBy JOHN HISLOPLOOKING FOR a gift for thebeloved Hibee in the family, thenhow about the autobiography ofJackie Plenderleith, the onlysurviving player from Hibs firstEuropean game?First and Last: How I MadeEuropean History With Hibs wasco-written by Jackie and TomMaxwell, who also wrote thepopular Fabulous Baker Boys bookabout brothers Joe and Gerry.Now aged 83, Jackie takes thereaders back to 1955 anddescribes what it was like for a17-year-old coal miner’s son towitness first-hand the awkwardbirth of the global phenomenonnow known as the ChampionsLeague, and his role in helpingHibs reach the semi-finals.The former Scotlandinternational relives his timeplaying alongside the Edinburghclub’s legendary “Famous Five”forward line, and reveals how itfelt to line up against theincomparable Ferenc Puskás twicein the space of two days while inSouth Africa.Captain of the British Armyteam during his national service, ateam-mate to Joe Baker at Hibsand Denis Law at Manchester City,Jackie is the proud possessor ofinternational caps from schoolboyto senior level.Jackie recalled to The EdinburghReporter: “Writing the book hasbrought back so many greatmemories of my time playing forthis great club.“When Hibs entered theEuropean Cup I travelled toGermany for the first-leg againstRot Weiss Essen who were theGerman champions and had somegreat players in their team. Whatmany people don’t remember isthat Germany were worldchampions, having won theWorld Cup.“Once the game started I wasnot nervous. I just played mynormal game and we won 4-0across there, which was a fantasticresult which would beinconceivable today.“I stayed in the side for the nextround against Djurgardens, whowere also a good team but Imissed the semi-final againstRheims. They had a centre forwardcalled Raymond Kopa who wasone of the best players in theworld, but I firmly believe thatI would have been able to dealwith him.“Without being big-headed, Ibelieve that Hibs would have wonthat game if I had been playingand reached the first EuropeanCup final against Real Madrid.“I am proud to have played forHibs and have no regrets aboutchoosing them over the Old Firmor the top English clubs as I had agreat time at Easter Road.”
23Queen of Heartsis going nowhereJob done butAnne not forbudging as fanownership beginsBy JAMIE MCINTOSHAFTER HEARTS became the largestfan-owned club in the UK at the end ofAugust, club chair Ann Budge committed toa minimum of two more years at the club.Budge and Hearts have come a long waysince the local businesswoman, whoreportedly cashed in £40 million on sellingher IT company in 2005, took over the clubin May 2014 and forked out £2.5 million totake them out of administration just 51weeks after downfall of the VladimirRomanov regime.Since then, the Foundation of Hearts,a fan-led group which was set up in 2010by local businesspeople, all of whomwere Hearts’ fans, has raised £12 millionfor the club through pledges fromHearts supporters.The Foundation has roughly 8,000members, whose monthly pledges havehelped build the new main stand atTynecastle, pay the original £2.5 million loanback to Ann Budge, and much more. Now,Ann Budge’s majority share in the club hasbeen passed over to the Foundation ofHearts - i.e. the fans.The message from the Foundation hasalways been that the club will be fan-ownedand not fan-led, so what has exactly changedsince the handover?The Foundation’s members will not get topick the team, but they will all have a vote inimportant club proposals, such as changes toTynecastle Stadium, the club name orcolours, as well as the selling of theFoundation’s shares in the club.To put it simply, never again will anindividual like Chris Robinson or VladimirRomanov be able to gain control of the clubwithout the permission of the supportersthrough the Foundation.Hearts have made numerous off-the-fieldappointments this summer. Joe Savage wasbrought in as sporting director to overseerecruitment and on-the-field matters,Andrew McKinlay was brought in to takecare of the day-to-day running of the club asthe new chief executive, and James Andersonwas appointed to the Hearts board, havingalready donated significant monies to Heartsin previous years.All of these appointments were designedto allow Ann Budge to take a step back andfocus solely on her role as chair of the club.Looking to the future, Budge hasconfirmed money from various benefactorswill continue to reach Tynecastle, andpledges through the Foundation will add tothe impressive £12 million already raised.Budge has assured fans that Hearts arenow in a stable position, which certainlyhasn’t been the case for the previous decade.It’s been a difficult journey and someHearts fans have voiced concerns over someof Budge’s on-the-field decisions, andunderstandably so. However, she got the ballrolling and stumped up the initial lump sumto take the club out of administration.The view of some of the foundingmembers of the Foundation, as well as theirchair, Stuart Wallace, is very clear - withoutAnn Budge, there would be no Heart ofMidlothian today.Ian JacobsTHE ANN BUDGETIMELINE...201317 JUNEHearts enteradministration withdebts of £25 millionand start the newseason on -15 points.20145 APRILHearts are relegatedto the Championshipfor the first time since1981.9 MAYAnn Budgecompletes her £2.5million takeover withplan to hand the clubover to theFoundation of Hearts.11 JUNEHearts exitadministration.201522 MARCHHearts sealChampionship title atthe first time ofasking.3 DECEMBERHearts announceplans to build a newmain stand, takingthe capacity to over20,000.201630 NOVEMBERRobbie Neilson winshis final game incharge of Heartsbefore departing forMK Dons.20171 AUGUSTNeilson’s replacementIan Cathro sackedafter an embarrassingLeague Cupcampaign.28 AUGUSTDirector of FootballCraig Levein wasannounced asmanager for thesecond time in hiscareer.201931 OCTOBERCraig Levein sackedas Hearts bossfollowing a 1-0 defeatto St Johnstone. Onlygoal difference keptHearts off the bottomof the league.7 DECEMBERGerman managerDaniel Stendelsucceeds Levein.202013 MARCHScottish footballsuspended due toCovid-19 with Heartssitting bottom of thetable.15 APRILHearts demoted tothe ScottishChampionship.21 JUNERobbie Neilsonreappointed Heartsmanager.27 JULYCourt battle againstrelegation fails andclub fined £2,500 bythe Scottish FA forstarting proceedings.202112 APRILHearts win theChampionship andreturn to thePremiership.30 AUGUSTHearts became thelargest fan ownedclub in the UK, as AnnBudge hands hermajority share overto the Foundation ofHearts.
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23
Queen of Hearts
is going nowhere
Job done but
Anne not for
budging as fan
ownership begins
By JAMIE MCINTOSH
AFTER HEARTS became the largest
fan-owned club in the UK at the end of
August, club chair Ann Budge committed to
a minimum of two more years at the club.
Budge and Hearts have come a long way
since the local businesswoman, who
reportedly cashed in £40 million on selling
her IT company in 2005, took over the club
in May 2014 and forked out £2.5 million to
take them out of administration just 51
weeks after downfall of the Vladimir
Romanov regime.
Since then, the Foundation of Hearts,
a fan-led group which was set up in 2010
by local businesspeople, all of whom
were Hearts’ fans, has raised £12 million
for the club through pledges from
Hearts supporters.
The Foundation has roughly 8,000
members, whose monthly pledges have
helped build the new main stand at
Tynecastle, pay the original £2.5 million loan
back to Ann Budge, and much more. Now,
Ann Budge’s majority share in the club has
been passed over to the Foundation of
Hearts - i.e. the fans.
The message from the Foundation has
always been that the club will be fan-owned
and not fan-led, so what has exactly changed
since the handover?
The Foundation’s members will not get to
pick the team, but they will all have a vote in
important club proposals, such as changes to
Tynecastle Stadium, the club name or
colours, as well as the selling of the
Foundation’s shares in the club.
To put it simply, never again will an
individual like Chris Robinson or Vladimir
Romanov be able to gain control of the club
without the permission of the supporters
through the Foundation.
Hearts have made numerous off-the-field
appointments this summer. Joe Savage was
brought in as sporting director to oversee
recruitment and on-the-field matters,
Andrew McKinlay was brought in to take
care of the day-to-day running of the club as
the new chief executive, and James Anderson
was appointed to the Hearts board, having
already donated significant monies to Hearts
in previous years.
All of these appointments were designed
to allow Ann Budge to take a step back and
focus solely on her role as chair of the club.
Looking to the future, Budge has
confirmed money from various benefactors
will continue to reach Tynecastle, and
pledges through the Foundation will add to
the impressive £12 million already raised.
Budge has assured fans that Hearts are
now in a stable position, which certainly
hasn’t been the case for the previous decade.
It’s been a difficult journey and some
Hearts fans have voiced concerns over some
of Budge’s on-the-field decisions, and
understandably so. However, she got the ball
rolling and stumped up the initial lump sum
to take the club out of administration.
The view of some of the founding
members of the Foundation, as well as their
chair, Stuart Wallace, is very clear - without
Ann Budge, there would be no Heart of
Midlothian today.
Ian Jacobs
THE ANN BUDGE
TIMELINE...
2013
17 JUNE
Hearts enter
administration with
debts of £25 million
and start the new
season on -15 points.
2014
5 APRIL
Hearts are relegated
to the Championship
for the first time since
1981.
9 MAY
Ann Budge
completes her £2.5
million takeover with
plan to hand the club
over to the
Foundation of Hearts.
11 JUNE
Hearts exit
administration.
2015
22 MARCH
Hearts seal
Championship title at
the first time of
asking.
3 DECEMBER
Hearts announce
plans to build a new
main stand, taking
the capacity to over
20,000.
2016
30 NOVEMBER
Robbie Neilson wins
his final game in
charge of Hearts
before departing for
MK Dons.
2017
1 AUGUST
Neilson’s replacement
Ian Cathro sacked
after an embarrassing
League Cup
campaign.
28 AUGUST
Director of Football
Craig Levein was
announced as
manager for the
second time in his
career.
2019
31 OCTOBER
Craig Levein sacked
as Hearts boss
following a 1-0 defeat
to St Johnstone. Only
goal difference kept
Hearts off the bottom
of the league.
7 DECEMBER
German manager
Daniel Stendel
succeeds Levein.
2020
13 MARCH
Scottish football
suspended due to
Covid-19 with Hearts
sitting bottom of the
table.
15 APRIL
Hearts demoted to
the Scottish
Championship.
21 JUNE
Robbie Neilson
reappointed Hearts
manager.
27 JULY
Court battle against
relegation fails and
club fined £2,500 by
the Scottish FA for
starting proceedings.
2021
12 APRIL
Hearts win the
Championship and
return to the
Premiership.
30 AUGUST
Hearts became the
largest fan owned
club in the UK, as Ann
Budge hands her
majority share over
to the Foundation of
Hearts.
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