Hearts ready new batch for Hall of Fame

Published on Monday 19 October 2009 22:32

FORMER players covering a century of the club's history have been nominated to become Hearts' latest Hall of Fame members.

The Tynecastle outfit will now ask supporters to choose five from a 12-strong short-list as they seek the next batch of inductees to join the likes of Dave Mackay, Willie Bauld, Craig Gordon and Craig Levein in being honoured.

Record goal-scorer John Robertson and record appearance holder Gary Mackay, both already members, helped draw up the nominations, which include Bobby Walker from the late 19th and early 20th century, post-war hero Alfie Conn, current Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies and stalwarts of the 1980s, Walter Kidd and Henry Smith.

Robertson, who was assisted in the selection by club historian David Speed as well as former team-mate Mackay, said: "We had a cop out (in choosing 12 nominees) because the choice was so difficult. In truth, the choice could have been 40 or 50 on the final list."

Also included on the short-list are Barney Battles, Johnny Hamilton, Drew Busby, Donald Ford, Alex MacDonald, John Colquhoun and Dave McPherson.