Review of 2018

 

Report on the Operations and Activities of the Association

 

Overview

It is probably very unfortunate that I am writing up this report on the weekend that we have just been on the end of a Friday evening televised hammering from Livingston in the SPFL, which will hopefully remain our worst result of the season and again hopefully a defeat that will be avenged in the Scottish Cup in January at Tynecastle.  It would be a brave man who could predict where we will end up by the end of the season.  After an excellent start to the season which saw us as League Leaders, a number of long term injuries to some of our better and experienced players has halted progress, both in the SPFL and League Cup. We must remain optimistic and hope that the return of our injured players and the arrival of a new striker will bring a return to regular wins in the SPFL and a good run in the Cup (if not better).

Off the pitch things are looking very good. The financial figures are good and the Club is being well managed.  A new Stand, still a work in progress, plus a new modern pitch has transformed Tynecastle into a fabulous arena to play football both for Hearts and Scotland. To come from near oblivion to our current situation both on and off the field is a huge tribute to our current ownership and the fans.

Stop Press.  Victory against Hamilton Accies at Tynecastle and a New Year Derby win at Easter Road have somewhat alleviated the gloom after the Livingston match!!

 

Dinner meetings

During the year the Association held seven General Dinner Meetings as well as an Annual General Meeting.

At our annual General Meeting in January we received a presentation from Box Soccer owner and Hearts legend John Colquoun and Academy Coach Darren Murray.  In February we were very fortunate to have our own Club Ambassador Gary Locke as our guest, followed in March by 1998 Scottish Cup Winner Colin Cameron who was joined by Cup winning coach Billy Brown.  Our Player of the Year Dinner was very well attended and graced by our POY Christophe Berra who was joined by our sponsored players Don Cowie and Kyle Lafferty. Our speaker for our first meeting in the new season was former Sky TV and BT Presenter David Tanner who entertained us with many great anecdotes.  Our coaching staff , Austin McPhee, Jon Daly and Liam Fox updated us all on progress on all football matters in September and  Hearts Chair and CEO Ann Budge and Head of Planning Jonathan Tink updated us on all matters off the park in October.  We had a very appropriate talk from Tom Purdie from his book ‘Hearts in the War 2014-18’ in November to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War, plus a welcome update from Museum Manager David Allan on progress and new items in the Museum in 2018.

A huge thanks is due to all our guests of 2018 who have come along and informed and entertained us in equal measure.  We have been very fortunate again.

Committee Meetings

The Committee has met four times during 2018

The Committee for 2018 was

Chair:           Bill Alves

Vice Chair:   Rab Currie

Secretary:      Alison Ross

Treasurer:      Sandra Alves

Committee Members:   Lisa Paterson, Graham Shaw, Ron Smart.

In September 2018 Vice Chair Rab Currie stood down from the Committee after twenty years of service.  Over the years Rab has occupied a number of positions on the Committee including Secretary and Vice Chair and his experience and hard work will be sorely missed. I am sure all our members will join me in thanking him for his huge contribution to the Shareholders Association and we will look forward to seeing him and Loraine at out future Dinner Meetings. Graham Shaw has also decided to stand down from the Committee after many years service.  Graham became a very familiar face on the raffle table at our meetings and we shall miss him.  Graham has moved house out of Edinburgh but we hope to see him also at our future meetings sitting at his usual table with his pals. 

 

The Association continues to have an excellent relationship with all aspects of the Club. Regular meetings are held with Mrs Budge and other Board Members through the G10 Supporters Group Committee. The Committee works closely with the Federation of Hearts Supporters and we have an active role within  Big Hearts , the official Hearts Charity, and we also have a number of members who are active volunteers at Hearts Museum.  The Association is also represented on the 1914 Memorial Trust Committee.

A big vote of thanks is due to all Committee Members whose hard work throughout the whole year, attending HMSA Committee Meetings, attending meetings with other parts of the Club has led to a successful year for the Association.

A big thank you is also due to our auditor of many years, Jimmy Robertson.

We are also very grateful to the Catering team, Graham Pacitti and Carla Gordon, and all their staff for their invaluable contribution in making our monthly Dinner Meetings run so smoothly.

 

Membership

It is pleasing to report that during a time when financial demands are asked (and met) by our members and all fans, our membership remains stable and indeed has slightly increased.

 

Donations

During the year the Association, in accordance with the decisions made by the Committee and at the Annual General Meeting in January 2018, made the following donations to the Club.

1. A donation of £9000 to Heart of Midlothian specifically for Tynecastle Development Fund.

2. A donation of £1000 to Heart of Midlothian towards the construction of a bronze model of the Haymarket Clock to be on display in the Museum.

3. A donation of £485 to purchase photographic equipment for the Museum to help with digitalizing club records held within the museum.

4. A payment of £932 to Heart of Midlothian to sponsor the playing strips of Steven Naismith, Steven MacLean and the training  kit of Academy Star Cameron Logan.

 

The Committee would like to thank all members, old and new, for continuing to pay their subscriptions, attending our meetings and supporting the Association.  Thank you to all of you.

 

Bill Alves

Chair.