News

James Burberry

James Burberry I welcome this opportunity to provide you with my election address for the role of Director of the Foundation of Hearts. I’m a lifelong Hearts fan – which I wear as a badge of pride. I am a recently retired business advisor with circa 30 years’ experience built from a career in professional services Firms, the last 20 of which were in a leadership role as a Partner with client service, profit, risk and governance responsibilities. In the last 15 years at RSM I have specialised in advising membership organisations with Charitable status similar to the Foundation, their Boards, Trustees and wider stakeholders, on a wide range of issues affecting their Charitable objectives, fundraising plans and future funding and wider business needs. In this area of specialism, I have built up an extensive network of business and personal contacts with similar professional and personal interests, which I would seek to bring to bear in the Role of Director to the benefit of the Foundation. This I believe shows that I have the necessary understanding of the past, current and future business and commercial issues faced by the Foundation and its members, and potentially I could act as a sounding board for matters impacting on the Football Club. I also have experience in leading and delivering Diversity and Inclusion initiatives for stakeholders which I believe will contribute towards the stated values of the Foundation, and would ideally contribute further to a sense of inclusion amongst pledgers. Prior to my career in professional services, I served in the Army, and therefore have a deep understanding of the history HMFC and the Armed Forces and the importance for HMFC and the Foundation to continue that historic relationship. I am a season ticket holder, an early pledger to the Foundation, and now a proud plot owner of a part of the hallowed turf at Tynecastle. I’m Edinburgh born and bred and live, and have lived, within the sound of Tynecastle for most of my life. The Hearts DNA that I inherited from my family, which stretches way back to pre-war years, has now been passed on to the next generation, as they share and pass on their love of Hearts in the likes of London and as far afield as Australia and Uruguay. My recent retirement (June 2022) affords me the opportunity to commit as much time, and indeed more time as may be necessary, to the role of Director. I would see my role as a new Director as an evolutionary process in the first instance. I WOUld, assume nothing and act without a preconceived agenda or lists of topics or reasons for change. Rather, I would spend my time initially to come up to speed with current and future matters by listening and learning from pledgers together with current and departing board members and exploring areas where I may be able to have an immediate and positive impact based on my experiences. For instance, say around current initiatives to maintain, expand, broaden and deepen the pledge base, engagement initiatives with pledgers, and harnessing the passion we all have for our club. I also see the role of Director as one of custodian. That is, custodian of the foundations laid and legacy established to date, custodian of the reputation built which has to be jealously guarded and protected. and custodian of such for the benefit of those who seek to follow us in future. To quote the late, great Dave Mackay ” … Always Hearts … “.

Graham Robertson

Graham Robertson My Hearts credentials started when my dad took me to my first match in 1965 the league decider versus Kilmarnock we lost 0-2. Character building was a phrase I became accustomed to whilst supporting ‘the Hearts’. In my teens I joined Tranent Hearts Supporters Club and quickly took on responsibilities of running the Club and travelling home and away in the 70/80’s. I cried in despair when Arthur Mann was sold to Man City. I loved watching Drew Busby, Donald Ford scoring goals, and Jim Cruikshank keeping them out. Witnessing a talent in Craig Levein whilst at the same time John Robertson was hammering Hibs! The Jeffries years and emotional Cup win. The Romanov/Burley 113 days and madness that followed. Hartley, Fyssas, Skacel and Craig Gordon amongst others delivering a Cup. Even in the dark days we had the return of Webster, the irrepressible McGowan, the chest of Beattie, Captain Zaliukas and the extraordinary left foot of the goal machine that was Rudi. 2012 and 5-1. In recent years we have had our ‘downs’ but ‘we aye come back up’ and this time under the safe hands of fan ownership. My bowling career interrupted my fortnightly visit to Tynecastle. I would always manage ten plus games per season, but that interruption included representing Scotland over 200 times, captaining Scotland Indoors more than any other player, winning over 25 major Scottish, British, and International titles including World Outdoor and Indoor titles. I retired in 2017 from that highest level. I accepted a part-time National Director of Coaching position for Bowls in 1998 and over a 1s-year period modernised the Coaching system. Managing a team that trained over 1800 coaches. I developed a programme introducing over 70,000 school children to the Sport. No mean achievement in a volunteer system. Career Highlights- 20 years with HMRC, half of which as an Inspector investigating small businesses. Various Sales Director roles with product development and marketing responsibilities leading to a Managing Director role, 2008, in Sports and Surfaces Argyle International Ltd, wholly owned by my wife and I, completed a management buyout of the Sports and Surfaces divisions in 2015. Track record since then of making good decisions by growing and diversifying the business and increasing profitability. My Passion for Hearts has led me to this nomination. I believe I have the time and the variety of skills that offers something different but complements the skills of the existing FOH Board. If elected I would dedicate time to serve the Foundation with an ambition to significantly grow our Foundation Membership thus forever supporting our Club with an aim that Heart of Midlothian the Club that we all love becomes the ‘FIRST’ force in Scottish football. The FOH and what has been achieved so far by its members is a tribute to all that have served. I believe the FOH Board should be represented by Hearts supporters that individually and collectively make a positive difference whilst representing its membership. I would be honoured to receive your vote. Graham Robertson

Survey Policy and Terms

Survey GDPR Policy Terms and Conditions The Foundation of Hearts and Heart of Midlothian Football Club are committed to ensuring your data and privacy are protected, so any details you provide in the survey will be handled in accordance with strict data protection rules. In completing the survey we would like to ask for your consent, that the Foundation of Hearts and Heart of Midlothian Football Club, are able to use the details supplied to provide you with relevant information via email and other forms of communication. If you do not wish to give contact permission, please do not participate in the survey. The Privacy Policies of Foundation of Hearts and Heart of Midlothian Football Club are available on our respective websites (www.foundationofhearts.com and www.heartsfc.co.uk) Foundation of Hearts Prize Draw Terms and Conditions 2022 Free Prize Draw Terms and Conditions 1. By entering the prize draw you are agreeing to these prize draw terms and conditions. 2. The prize draw is being run by Foundation of Hearts and Heart of Midlothian Football Club Eligibility to enter 3. The prize draw is open to entrants over 18 years of age. Foundation of Hearts board members and Heart of Midlothian Staff are excluded. 4. In entering the prize draw, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and eligible to claim any prize you may win. 5. A maximum of one entry per individual is permitted. 6. The prize draw is free to enter. How to enter 7. The prize draw will include those currently registered as a pledger or non active pledger of the Foundation of Hearts as at 1st August 2022. Entries after that time and date will not be included in the draw. 8. To enter the prize draw simply complete the Pledgers Survey in the email provided and enter the prize draw by clicking on the checkbox at the end of the Survey 9. Foundation of Hearts will not accept responsibility if contact details provided are incomplete or inaccurate. The prize 10. The prize will be one of Four prizes – Two prizes of two matchday tickets and hospitality at the Skyline Lounge – A signed shirt – A player’s board from the changing room at the 2022 Scottish Cup final.. 11. Foundation of Hearts use of particular brands as prizes does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement of such brands. 12. The winners will be drawn at random. 13. The prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable and no cash alternatives will be offered. WE ARE… CLICK HERE OUR VISION CLICK HERE