Editorial

Happy New Year everyone. Pity about the final result on New Years Day, but remember, they were the side who only created three chances. I hope everyone got what they wanted for Christmas (and more). In footballing terms, let's hope we get something in 1998. The team looks up for it at the moment and despite the recent hiccups, we can look back on 1997 with more satisfaction than most Think about it:

a) One end at Parkhead looks really crap now
b) The new stands at Easter Road look like temporary affairs compared to ours
c) The Old Stand at Easter Road is a disgrace
d) Tynecast/e is now the most obvious choice for an International match outside Glasgow
e) it would be a major surprise if we didn't finish 3rd or better this season
f)Hibs are bottom of the league
g) Hibs are bottom of the league
h) Hibs are bottom of the league

Enough of this! Thanks for all the nice comments regarding the colour cover. It was an expensive experiment which was made worthwhile because of the increased sales and the positive feedback. We sold 1,400 of issue 36 and that is set to increase this time. It has always been our policy to improve with each issue and thanks to the advertisers we have been able to do this.

BREAKAWAY

Peace is slowly breaking out, but I must admit I did like the idea of a 12 team Premier league with a split midseason giving a total of 32 games. Unfortunately this permutation meant no relegation and two coming up. This meant hibs would stay up, which is not something I really want. Jambos everywhere should campaign fiercely to have relegation adhered to his season. On the other hand, imagine the fun you would have slagging hibbys for years to come if the reconstruction was the thing that saved them from relegation. It is all a farce really. I dont want to watch football in a league where there is no relegation. Maybe the best way to appease some of the opponents is to have , one down and three up, with a financial sweetener going to the team who leaves the top ten? That would shut Fulston and Hunter up, and it would get rid of Hibs!

THE GORGIE SUITE

A group of lads attended the Gorgie Suite to take part in a recorded programme for Radio Five Live just before Christmas. The speakers were Robbo, Jim Duffy, Jock Brown and Trevor Steven and it was two hours of interesting debate with a BIG Hearts bias. My main reason for attending was to check out our new facilities. I have also been in the Hibs functions rooms so I was keen to see how our facilities compared to theirs. When you walk in the door first of all the impression you get is that the place is huge; it runs the full length of the Gorgie Stand. There are toilets at each end and there is a partition available so the 300 capacity room can be split into 2 if there are 2 smaller functions on. I can imagine on matchdays it would be pretty noisy down there before kick-off, and I don't know how and segregation of opposing fans is worked out (or are sponsors meant to behave themselves?). incidentally, on the night the price for the beer was £2 per pint (McEwans, Strongbow) and £2.20 per bottle, and yes, Jim Duffy took a major slagging all night!

THE HEARTS SONGBOOK

We are putting together a wee songbook which we were originally going to include as a pull-out in this issue. As you might expect, the songs just kept on coming and now we have enough to justify a separate publication. It will probably cost 50 pence and be in the shops/around the ground by mid-february. The reason for this is to allow any of you reading this to come up with any late additions to the book. We've thought of all the usual songs and chants sung in the pubs and at the ground. What we are looking for are older ones from the 70's or 80's, plus any new ones which are maybe popular is a certain supporters club and which should be aired "nationally". we are also looking for aspiring songwriters to "invent" some new Iyrics to famous songs. If we get the words down in print, who knows, maybe we can do our little bit to enhance the atmosphere at games? If you want to contribute, please send your Iyrics and the name of the tune it is sung to by 3rd February 1998.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

We would like to get in touch with any official photographers who may be willing to let us have colour photos which are not required by Tynecastle or the press. We would pay a modest fee for the privilege, if we were to use the photo on our next front cover. Please write to the usual addrese or phone Craig on 01506-844818.

Take me back to the issue 37 contents page