'Lifelong Jambo' sues his club over Tynecastle tumble

A HEARTS fan once banned from Tynecastle has launched a legal action against his beloved team – after slipping on the stadium steps.

Steven Colquhoun, who says he is a lifelong Jambo, claims the was unable to drive his taxi for nine weeks after the fall during a 1-1 draw with Dunfermline in 2006.

The 46-year-old from Wester Hailes has now launched the action to recover undisclosed lost earnings from the club at the Court of Session.

But while a fan suing their favourite football team may raise eyebrows, the legal action is far from the first time Mr Colquhoun has courted controversy. He was once caught on TV cameras allegedly fighting with another fan before a club AGM in 2007 and was later temporarily banned from the club's stadium, training ground and shop.

Mr Colquhoun told the Evening News he had slipped on steps at the stadium after diesel from a faulty generator mixed with rainwater, caused him to fall awkwardly.

He claims stewards at the ground ignored his warnings that the spillage would need to be cleaned up and then failed to come to his aid.

He said: "It was kind of wet that day and when I started walking down the steps I fell. I was lying there for 20 minutes before anyone came to get me."

The former taxi driver said the experience, along with owner Vladimir Romanov's running of the club, had put him off supporting the team in future.

"I don't feel anything for Hearts now," he added. "I'm on painkillers most of the time (after the fall] and there's no way I'm going back to Tynecastle."

A spokeswoman for the Court of Session confirmed that a procedural hearing relating to a personal injury claim had been due to take place this week but was put off.

The case is expected to call again in the coming weeks.

It is, however, unlikely to cause as much concern to fans as Hearts' recent court action threats.

Last month, the Evening News revealed that Hearts were being taken to court by the HM Revenue and Customs as the taxman moved to recover unpaid debts. However, Hearts later paid up and the legal action was dropped.

A spokesman for Hearts declined to comment on the case involving Mr Colquhoun.