January Dinner

Following the Annual General Meeting business the members present were given a presentation by First

Team Sports Scientist John Hill. John is a Wolverhampton lad (Wolves fan originally but now a fully fledged Jambo!) who came to Edinburgh to study obtaining a Masters degree at Edinburgh University.  Following an internship at Edinburgh Rugby, John joined Hearts looking after the young teenagers but has now risen in the ranks to be sports scientist for the first team. With the use of visual aids and film of the players (starring Callum Paterson and Jamie Walker) John went through a typical day at the Academy. Firstly warm up exercises , working in the gym, building up body strength  and training outside which would emulate the work done by the players during an actual game. Emphasis for John was building up the physical strength of the players, holding and shielding the ball very well illustrated using the recent 0 0 draw with Celtic at Parkhead. Tailoring individual fitness programmes is a very important part of the job in particular those players who have been injured.  We were shown the exercises used to bring Jamie Walker back to full fitness after a long lay off and operation.  Heart monitors are used to make sure the player is working hard but also to ensure that his body is coping with recuperation programme.  

John is also an expert on the diets and lifestyle of the players.  John explained that although they do not

have the players 24 hours a day they can advise on these topics to maximise fitness levels.   He explained

that all the players buy into this making his job a bit easier!  He is a self confessed ‘sports scientist geek’

and being part of Heriot Watt has allowed him to go to lectures, visit other clubs like Manchester United to

keep himself completely up to date with the latest tecniques. This was a fascinating presentation and an eye opener to all our members and further proof that no stone is left unturned not only to improve the first team performance but make Riccarton a great place for all academy players to improve themselves in every way and optimise their careers in football. While we all look to the newspapers to read about management and players it is obvious that John and sports science have an equal part to play in making Hearts a successful Club.

Donations

Following the decisions made at the AGM on 28th January, the Association will donate the sum of £3000 to

the Academy at Riccarton for a specific project to be decided by the coaching team.  A further £3000 will  

be donated to the new Hearts museum at Tynecastle.  The museum is due to open in the summer of 2016

and curator Caroline Mather is delighted to receive this sum which will be used to help with the fixtures

and fittings required to make this project a first class visitor centre for all football fans.

1914 Memorial Trust

Bill Alves represented the Association at the 1914 Memorial Trust Committee meeting on 27th January.  

Sufficient cash has been raised to produce the magnificent statue currently under production.  The statue

will be positioned next to the new Memorial Garden at Tynecastle and should be on view there by this

summer.  The Committee will continue with fundraising in order to purchase a plinth and for future

maintenance costs.

The Annual Dinner will be held on 7th May in the Gorgie Suite with excellent after dinner speakers and is a

not to be missed evening.

Big Hearts

The Association was represented at a catch up meeting on 2nd February with Big Hearts General Manager

Caryn Kerr and Hearts Supporter Groups.  Caryn reported that 2015 has been a successful year for Big

Hearts with the launch of their new ‘family focussed’ strategy.  The Kinship Care Programme was

launched and Football Memories continued to flourish.  In 2016 they will continue to grow the existing

programmes, as well as create new programmes, where need is identified.

Caryn reported ‘ The Big Hearts Supporter Movement is an initiative designed to encourage fans of the

Club to become involved in a way we don’t believe has been seen in any other football club in Scotland.

Recognising the huge financial contributions by the Hearts fans already to support the Club, this is not a

financial ask.  Every single Hearts fan will be able to get involved in some way, however big or small and

in a manner that suits them.’

This new initiative will be launched in the middle of February with a new website going live.  The website

will allow for fans to sign up to become ‘Big Hearts Supporters’ and there will be further promotion at the

home game against Kilmarnock on Saturday 27th February which will be a Big Hearts Day.  Volunteers are

required to help out on the match day and anyone interested should contact communications@big

hearts.org.uk .

Fund Raising

We never fail to be amazed at the generosity of our members, both in buying raffle tickets and for

donations for our monthly dinner raffles.For the next three months we are raffling the Poppy Jersey of Morgaro Gomis worn by him in our victory against Hamilton Academical on 7th November.  Added to this prize asset we have the signed jerseys of our sponsored players Captain Alim Ozturk and Blazej Augustyn. Ticket prices for this raffle is a very reasonable £2.50.  All proceeds will go to the Academy at Riccarton.

We also have a Hearts ball signed by the 1998 Scottish Cup winning team and a 2014/15 jersey signed by

all coaching staff and players of this Championship winning year which will be used to raise funds.

_____________________________________________________