Hat Trick for Hearts 56

Heart of Midlothian 56 Scottish Walking Football League Champions

By Scott Campbell

HEARTS 56 were crowned Scottish champions for a third straight year as they won Walking Football Scotland’s Over 50s National League at Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility on Wednesday, November 27.

 The Tynecastle side won three and drew one of their four games on a busy last day out of seven sessions, which have taken place over the last nine months, to pip Ayr United to the title by two points.

 Ayr had gone into the final day a point clear at the top after a run of eight wins and one draw over the previous three sessions.

 The Somerset Park side were looking to make it a double after their Over 65 side won the inaugural title at that age level last month.

 But it was always likely that there would be a few twists and turns before the championship was decided and that was the way it worked out.

 Five teams were in with a shout of the title, with Hearts 98, Alloa and Glasgow Sport East hoping to capitalise on any late mistakes by the top two.

 Ayr and Hearts 56 both won their first game and drew their second, so it was as you were after 20 games with United a point clear.

 But then Hearts 98 – who had just drawn 0-0 against the Hearts 56 side – did their Tynecastle team-mates a favour by winning 2-1 against Ayr.

 Hearts 56 were beating Tullibody 3-1 at the same time and went into the final games two points clear at the top. They knew another win would get the job done, and beat Motherwell 3-0 to seal the title, with proud captain Jimmy Bremner collecting the trophy from Walking Football Scotland chairman Gary McLaughlin and Scott Currie from hosts North Lanarkshire Leisure afterwards.

Hearts 56 also won the Fair Play Award, with Ralph Gillespie of Alloa named Player of the Year for 2019.

Walking Football Scotland would like to all the teams and participants for taking part and to thank Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire Leisure for their continued support and hospitality.
A competitive league with social inclusion placed high on the agenda.

Runners-up Ayr United