In pictures: Hearts' 1986 'nearly season'

The squad lines up at Tynecastle in August 1985.

Alex MacDonald and Sandy Jardine welcome new signing Billy Mackay to the club in April 1986.

But the league campaign ended in disaster: Dundee beat Hearts 2-0 (here Albert Kid celebrates after scoring) and Celtic beat St Mirren 5-0. The results mean Hearts miss out on the championship on goal difference.

...leaving the fans distraught.

...

But Hearts had made it to the cup final - here the team record their song "Hearts Hearts Glorious Hearts" in April...

...only to be beaten by Aberdeen in the game itself.

But that didn't stop the fans turning out to greet the team back in Edinburgh.

• Pictures: Bill Newton, George Smith, Donald Macleod, Denis Straughan.