[ parts: intro | 1 | 2 | 3 ]

Hearts, Part 2:
Young Supporter

Two Heart of Midlothian players with a child at Tynecastle, Edinburgh, c. 1935

Members of the Heart of Midlothian FC with a child, possibly acting as a team mascot, at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, in the 1930s. The photograph is signed by the two players and addressed to Jock Mills, so that may be the child's name.

Tommy Walker, on the right, started to play for Hearts in 1932, when he was seventeen. He later became the team captain and had a long managerial career, acting as manager of clubs including Dunfermline Athletic and Raith Rovers, and later as director of Hearts. He was given an OBE in 1960. The other player is Andy Anderson.

Economic depression after World War I (1914 - 1918) was staved off by loans from America which funded Germany's war 'reparations' - a fine paid to the winning nations. Depression struck world-wide after the Wall Street Crash in America in 1929. Even with little money around, football gained in popularity during the Depression years.

• click here for SCRAN Resource