Alan Gordon tributes evoke memories of his early days at Hearts under wing of 'King' Willie Bauld

I enjoyed reading the much deserved obituaries to Alan Gordon who has sadly died at much too young an age.

As a young school boy, being obsessed with all that happened down Gorgie way, I was never content to wait for a Saturday to see my favourites, but would follow them to their training sessions wherever possible.

In the early 1960s Hearts trained at Colinton. When the regular training session ended the young Alan Gordon would receive very personal tuition from 'the King' Willie Bauld in how to leap into the air, appear to hover there and head the ball with uncanny accuracy. Practice, practice Alan, practice. I'll cross, you head, Willie Bauld would instruct the young Heriot's schoolboy who in turn modelled himself on the style of the veteran maestro.

Hibs supporters who marvelled at Alan Gordon's heading ability years later may not appreciate the debt they owe to the King of Hearts, who had provided such expert tuition.

At a tender age, Alan was invited to climb the famous marble staircase at Ibrox to be offered signing papers for Rangers Football Club during the era of 'nobody says no to Rangers'. The manager, James Scotland Symon, was astonished by Alan's response: 'No, I won't sign your forms, I have a meeting arranged with Mr Tommy Walker. I am a Hearts supporter and I want to play for the Hearts, so I will see him first.'

Would such a thing happen today? Hearts instantly knew that they had signed a precocious talent. Alan gave great service to Hearts during the early 1960s as the number of goals and number of appearances testify. If he was not as fully appreciated as he should have been, I submit that the weight of expectation upon his shoulders was just too great.

In recent times whenever I reminded Alan that even now I had not fully forgiven him for scoring two for the Hibs in the 7-0 New Year romp, he would always try to console me: 'Remember Eric, I scored a lot more goals for Hearts against Hibs than I ever scored for Hibs against Hearts.'

He was a truly great football player who served both Edinburgh clubs with great distinction. He also truly loved being a son of our city and more important than all of that, he was a true gentleman.

CLLR ERIC MILLIGAN

City Chambers

Edinburgh

IT was sad to hear of the death of Alan Gordon. While as a Jambo I cannot recall many of the goals he scored for Hearts, I will remember him for one of the most costly misses of any Hearts player.

In the league decider in season 1964-65 I remember him so clearly receiving the ball five minutes from full-time on the six-yard line in front of goal in plenty of space and with only the Kilmarnock goalie to beat.

He seemed to have time to look at myself, my pals and other supporters behind the goal before shooting. We waited for the net to bulge to seal the league title but history now tells us Campbell Forsyth saved his shot. Our last chance was gone and we lost the title to Kilmarnock on the fraction of a goal. He was not totally to blame but that miss deprived us of the title.

For the younger supporters disappointed in 1986, it was nothing compared to that day in 1965.

Only one goal was needed that day to force Kilmarnock to score a great number of goals. To lose the title by a fraction of a goal!

However that miss created not only history for Hearts and Kilmarnock but perhaps also for Rangers. The question must be asked: if Willie Waddell, the Kilmarnock manager, would ever have ended up at Ibrox. Not only that, but in charge when Rangers won a European trophy.

Tall, thin, and blond was Alan Gordon – always best suited to the maroon of Hearts than the green and white of Hibs. Of course, that is a biased view.

My condolences to his family for their loss.

ALAN ROBERTSON

Drumsargard Road

Glasgow