Urquhart of Hearts and Raith dies at 83

Angus Wright
FORMER Hearts and Raith Rovers winger Johnny Urquhart has died in his hometown of Kirkcaldy at the age of 83.
Urquhart was part of the Hearts team who lifted the League Cup in 1954, the Tynecastle club's first major honour in 48 years, during an 11-year career with the club. He later became a player, director, chairman and president of his hometown team, Rai th Rovers.

Urquhart signed for Hearts in October 1944, but after two seasons of regular appearances from 1946 to 1948 he fell out of the picture and did not return to being a regular fixture at outside left until 1951, when he teamed up with the 'Terrible Trio' of Alfie Conn, Willie Bauld and Jimmy Wardhaugh. When Hearts beat Motherwell 4-2 at Hampden in October to lift the League Cup, Urquhart played alongside John Cumming, who died last week.

He also won representative honours in 1954, when he played for the Scottish League against their Irish counterparts at Windsor Park in Belfast, scoring once in the 5-1 win.

After losing his place in the first team during season 1955-56, he made his last appearance for Hearts in a 2-0 league defeat away to Partick Thistle on 2 April 1956, completing a total of 220 competitive appearances in which he scored 61 goals.

He was sold to Raith Rovers for a reported fee of £300 and went on to enjoy six seasons at Stark's Park. Although he moved into coaching in 1962, he re-registered as a player in 1963/64.

He served on the board at Stark's Park, eventually as chairman, until 1994, and then became club president. During this time, he reacquainted himself with the League Cup thanks to Raith Rovers' historic victory in 1994.

He was a regular at Stark's Park until he was struck by illness a few years ago.

His funeral will take place at Kirkcaldy Crematorium on Friday 19 December at 2.15pm.

Taken from the Scotsman