Conn among select few who played for both clubs

DAVE Mackay might be the best known, but there other post-war figures who boast an association with both Hearts and Tottenham Hotspur. Not every player could claim to have been a legend at both Tynecastle and White Hart Lane, however.

Bobby Flavell’s time with Spurs was fleeting, only guesting for the club during the Second World War. He also made a few appearances for Arsenal in the same temporary capacity. Flavell made his debut for Hearts in December 1947 having been signed to help boost the Tynecastle club’s chances of avoiding relegation. With demotion averted he then helped supply chances for the newly established Terrible Trio of Alfie Conn, Willie Bauld and Jimmy Wardhaugh. He scored 26 goals himself in 69 appearances before provoking outrage at the time by walking out of Hearts in June 1950 to sign for Millonarios of the breakaway Columbian league. He returned months later but was banned until for the rest of the season, whereupon he signed for Dundee.

Alfie Conn junior’s time with Hearts was not quite so explosive, though he is another to have donned both maroon and lillywhite shirts. He made his name elsewhere, and was one of the few to win honours with both Rangers and Celtic. But he also followed in his father’s footsteps by signing for Hearts, making his debut in August 1980 against Partick Thistle. Although only 28, his best days were behind him and he made only 17 appearances in his nine month stay at Tynecastle. He had known more success at Spurs, where he played between 1974 and 1977, playing 32 times and scoring six goals. He was also capped twice during his stay at White Hart Lane, and endured Scotland’s 5-1 trouncing by England at Wembley in 1975. Alex Hamill played in the same side as Conn at Hearts, having been signed by manager Alex Rennie from Spurs, where he hadn’t made a first-team appearance, in 1980. He left to join Hamilton Accies two seasons later having proved a bit-part player in midfield, but did score a goal in a 2-1 victory over Accies in September 1981. The other scorer was Gary Mackay with his first ever goal for Hearts. Gordon Durie arrived at Hearts in 2000 after making his name with a variety of clubs, including Spurs - and Hibs. He scored twice on his debut for the Tynecastle side against Motherwell, but collected only one further goal for Hearts. He did, however, score 11 times for Spurs between 1991 and 1993.

Current Spurs assistant Joe Jordan also managed Hearts between 1990 and 1993.