Hearts and their fans earn sponsors' praise

Ian Paul

20 Mar 1993

THE troubled times of Scottish football are well enough recognised but at least one investor in the game believes in its future well-being.

Hearts sponsors, Strongbow, not only extended their support for a further two years to the tune of a possible £[1/2]m, but declared themselves fans of the fans, writes Ian Paul.

Spokesman Julian Todd said that the company had been greatly impressed by the behaviour of the Tynecastle supporters in a trip abroad for a European tie earlier in the season.

"They were great ambassadors for the club, the country and our company," he said before pointing out that the cider firm's sales in Scotland had increased by 65% since they backed the Edinburgh club.

"We are very pleased with our first involvement in Scottish football and have decided not to go into sponsorship in England."

The sponsorship is worth £300,000 over the next two years but there are incentives which can take that up to £500,000.

The deal gives a timely boost to Hearts as they take on their old rivals, Hibs, at Tynecastle.

Some might feel they hardly need a lift, having not lost to Hibs for four years, but manager Joe Jordan is not paying too much heed to that statistic.

"I'd rather have the record than not, but this is a one-off game with all the tension that you get in derbies."

Jordan believes his team can still catch Celtic for third place if they have a good run to the end of the season and a perfect start would be made if they won this afternoon.

He and his Hibs counterpart Alex Miller have injury problems to resolve before picking their teams.

Gary Mackay, Tosh McKinlay, Alan Preston, and Ally Mauchlen are all doubtful for Hearts but Hibs are in similar bother.

Murdo MacLeod, Tom McIntyre, Joe Tortolano, and Neil Orr, may be out.

Each side has a player back from suspension, Peter Van de Ven for Hearts, and Gordon Hunter for Hibs.

The Easter Road team have to break this derby run some time and maybe this will be their day.

Taken from the Herald