Hearts supporters continuing to follow their team by bus and car, and then again by railway, would do well to make their journey seem much quicker by buying Never Mind the Jambos, a Hearts quiz book expertly compiled by lifelong Hearts fan John McBurnie.
The book has many questions and answers about Edinburgh’s oldest and most successful club and Jambos of all ages will be fascinated by some of the gold nuggets of information to be found. For example, some of my acquaintances of the Hibernian persuasion never tire of telling me their club was the first British club to play in the European Cup in 1955. What I didn’t realise, until I read Never Mind the Jambos, is that Uefa actually invited Hearts to play enter first but the Tynecastle club were fearful of a points deduction by the Scottish League if they were late back from a European trip and so declined the offer – leaving the way for Hibs to take their place.
Look back at wonderful facts about the Edinburgh derby (with the 2012 Scottish Cup final afforded its own chapter called ‘the greatest game in history’), memorable goals, defeats and players, and one of the most successful goalscoring acts in Scottish football history – the Terrible Trio. Questions relating to the long and eventful history of the club are here, from its formation to today’s cult heroes, from the dizzying highs to the devastating lows. Glory days, on and off the field dramas, club legends – they’re all there.
This is an excellent book and in an easy to read format. It’s small enough to stick in your inside pocket so may be useful the next time you’re debating the history books with a Hibby over a pint of foaming ale. Even for schoolchildren who can challenge their pals in the playground.
Never Mind the Jambos is an excellent stocking filler with Christmas just a few weeks away. Once you pick it up, you’ll find it hard to put down!
Never Mind the Jambos, by John McBurnie is published by The History Press. £6.99
Author of The Team for Me - 50 Years of Following Hearts. Runs Mind Generating Success, a successful therapy practice in Edinburgh. Contact me if you want rid of any unwanted habits. Twitter @Mike1874
