A bit of all white? Marooned Jambos tear strip off design

Published on Monday 19 July 2010 20:10

"THE boys in maroon are the best in the land," is the famous refrain that welcomes Hearts on to the pitch but fans might have to sing a different tune at Tynecastle this season.

LOOKS FAMILIAR?: Ian Black and Gary Glen model the strips. Right, Eddie Thomson in action in a similar kit in 1972. Left picture: IAN GEORGESON

The club's new "Ajax-style" home strip, with a white central panel offset by two maroon stripes at either side, has been met with a mixed response from former players and fans.

The strip has echoes of the 1972-73 season, which had a maroon central panel offset by white stripes down either side.

Former striker Donald Ford, 65, who wore that strip more than anyone else with a total of 44 appearances that season, remembers it well.

He said: "I'm really happy they're bringing that design back because the players really liked it , but I don't think the fans were too happy with it if I remember correctly.

"Probably my most memorable game in that strip was when I scored from a header at Ibrox (December 2 1972] to win 1-0,

"I think the maroon is the most important part of the strip so it's a shame they've decided to do it the other way."

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However, former team-mate Ian Sneddon, who scored his first competitive goal in the strip, was partial to the white.

He said: "My favourite strip was always the away strip with the white top and maroon shorts.

"I think the new one looks quite nice with the white panel down the middle and the maroon at the sides."

One of the most notable former-players to wear maroon-and-white was current manager Jim Jefferies, who made eight appearances as a youngster in 72-73.

However, David Beveridge, of the Robertson's Bar Hearts Supporters Club, was surprised that Jefferies current team will be playing in a mostly white top.

He said: "I remember during his first spell as manager when we changed the strip from that horrible purpley-maroon colour and he said he liked his team playing in the classic maroon.

"I'm all for an all-maroon Hearts top and I'm not happy that we'll be walking out in white."

There was a similarly mixed response from regular fans, and not only for the radical home strip.

Jambo Keith Marsh, 45, a postman from Gorgie, said: "I think the Hearts strip should be mostly maroon but I do think the design is quite modern and stylish, and it will probably appeal to the kids and sell more replicas.

Fans are used to seeing Hearts march out in white while playing away, but their decision to go white at home has forced them to design an even more radical blue-and-white Argentina-style design away.

Scott Preston, 47, a road worker from Clermiston and lifelong season ticket holder, was not impressed. He said: "It looks like a Kilmarnock top."

Fellow road worker Craig Fowler, 32, from South Queensferry, said he won't be deterred by the radical new design.

He said: "I buy a new strip regardless of how it looks."