Buy our beer!

YORK HEARTS are raising a glass and raising funds at the same time, to help secure HMFC's future.

The Supporters Club teamed up with Tyne Bank Brewery from Newcastle and Brass Castle Brewery in Malton to produce a beer called "TyneCastle Hearty Ale".

Casks of the beer have since gone on sale in York, Newcastle and Edinburgh, and Brass Castle say the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

Ian Warner, York Hearts chairman, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to work with two fantastic breweries to produce this new beer and are very grateful to them for bringing the idea to fruition.”

The recipe was devised by Tyne Bank and brewed at Brass Castle's new brewery in Yorkersgate, Malton.

York Hearts has around 35 members living in or around York. Ten pence from each bottle or pint sold will go the Foundation of Hearts. To buy bottles of the beer, visit www.brasscastle.co.uk - the code "@thefoh" will provide a discount.

Ian Goodall from Brass Castle said: “It was an interesting concept when we were introduced to the idea, and we are always happy to help with this type of effort. If we get a great response to the bottled product we will happily look to brew it again and continue to donate to the Foundation of Hearts”.

Beer we go, beer we go, beer we go.....

York Hearts have teamed up with two great breweries to produce a new Hearts beer.

Tyne Bank in Newcastle and Brass Castle in Malton have made a collaboration brew at our request, called Tynecastle Hearty Ale, incorporating an amalgamation of their names and paying tribute to the famous Hearts home.

The idea was born when we spotted beers from the two breweries in quick succession.

The beer is a traditional bitter with an ABV of 4.4 per cent and 10p from every bottle or pint sold will go to the Foundation of Hearts. The recipe was devised by Tyne Bank and the beer was brewed at Brass Castle in Malton.

We would love to see the beer widely available in Yorkshire, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Any pubs wanting a cask or anyone wanting to buy bottles should email sales@brasscastlebrewery.co.uk

Pictured above is the pump-clip to look out for on the bar, and below is the fantastic brewing team at Brass Castle.

Here's what our chairman Ian Warner says: "We're delighted to have been able to work with two fantastic breweries to produce this new beer, and are very grateful to them for bringing the idea to fruition.

"Heart of Midlothian are rebuilding after a tumultuous few years, and a share of the proceeds from this beer will go to the Foundation of Hearts to help fund long-term fan ownership, which is hugely exciting for all supporters here in York and back in Edinburgh."

This is the second York Hearts beer, following the success in 2013 of Marooned, which commemorated the 2012 Scottish Cup win.

Hearts on TV

The Championship match between Hearts and the new Rangers will be shown live in the White Horse at 12.45pm next Saturday (Nov 22). The following Sunday (Nov 30), Hearts are live on TV again, against Celtic in the Scottish Cup.

Winning start

Hearts and York Hearts began the season with a great win over the New Rangers on Sunday. 20 Hearts fans were in the White Horse in Bootham as Hearts won 2-1 at Ibrox, winning the match in injury time, despite having conceded an equaliser moments earlier. Club regulars were joined by a visiting group from Middlesbrough, and the sale of a football scratch card raised £20 for club funds. We'll be back in The White Horse on Sunday for the Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle. Kick-off is 12.30pm.

AGM date set

The York Hearts 2013 AGM will be held in the White Horse at 2pm on Sunday 1 December. Immediately afterwards, we will be watching the Hearts v Celtic Scottish Cup tie. All members welcome.

Derby delight

AROUND a dozen members of York Hearts gathered in the White Horse in Bootham, to see the Jam tarts win the Edinburgh Derby 1-0 on Sunday.

The victory means Hearts have clawed back 3 of the 15 points they were deducted for entering administration over the summer.

Thanks to all who attended and contributed to a great atmosphere in the pub.

Remember, we are back on TV again THIS FRIDAY, against Partick Thistle. Kick-off is 7.45pm.

A lot of us would ordinarily have made the effort to travel to these early-season matches, particularly the derby. We are encouraging anyone who considered travelling to Edinburgh but who instead stayed in York to give HMFC all or some of the money they'd have otherwise spent travelling, as the club continues to fight for its future.

Save Our Hearts Social

Don't forget, we are holding a club social at The Lighthorseman pub in Fulford Road on Saturday 20 July, starting at 7pm.

This is a vital fundraiser to help York Hearts pay for the season tickets we are buying this year and to raise money to help keep HMFC afloat.

We need a big turnout so bring yourselves, friends, neighbours, colleagues, family etc.

There'll be beer, music, pig-racing, raffle, Hearts Darts and prizes to be won - including the use of the season-tickets for the Edinburgh derby on Aug 11 at Tynecastle.

New facebook page

We've launched a new Facebook page, which we'll use as an additional way of keeping members up to date on what we're doing, and also of raising awareness of the club. Please take a look, 'like' the page and spread the word. We're at

Save our Hearts!

Hearts remain in deep financial crisis and it is vital that all fans rally round. As a supporters club, here's what we are doing and what we are advising members to do:

Pledge - If you can afford to do so, please pledge to support the Foundation of Hearts, which is trying to bring the club into fan ownership. To sign up, visit

Season-tickets - York Hearts are to buy season tickets for 2013/14 for use equally by members. To pay for this, we need membership renewal money ASAP. All membership money this Sumer will go on season-tickets. If you've not already renewed, please do so by giving your tenner to a committee member.

Social - There will be a club fundraising social for HMFC in The Lighthorseman in Fulford Road on July 20 from 7pm. We need a big turnout so bring yourselves, friends, neighbours, colleagues, family etc. There'll be beer, music, pig-racing, raffle, darts etc. Prizes will include use of the season-tickets for the Edinburgh derby on Aug 10 at Tynecastle.

Derby-day For those who don't win the raffle.... We would ordinarily run a trip to the first home derby. This year, we are taking the unusual step of not doing so. Instead, we encourage those who would have gone to give HMFC some or all of the money they'd have otherwise spent on travel. The match is likely to sell out in any case so this approach should ensure Hearts get more of our money, instead of the train or petrol companies.

All additional ideas and suggestions welcome. Email yorkhearts@yahoo.co.uk

York Hearts v Orwell Hearts

York Hearts welcomed Orwell Hearts Supporters Club last weekend, when they made the trip south from Edinburgh for football and races. The two clubs played a friendly football match on Friday evening (Orwell won 10-1), followed by drinks at the Lighthorseman pub. On the Saturday, the Orwell lads then headed to York Races. Thanks to all who took part in the match or turned out for the drinks. Thanks too to Terence Tate, whose photographs from the match can be seen here: https://picasaweb.google.com/Yorkhearts/YorkHeartsVOrwellHearts2013#

In 200 years, they'll know the score....

THE story of York Hearts' greatest day will be recounted in 200 years' time, thanks to a new project in York.

City of York Council is to bury a time capsule containing many people's stories and memories of York, as part of the York800 celebrations.

York Hearts have added a photograph and small report from May 19 last year, covering the trip to and from Hampden and the celebrations in York after Hearts' Scottish Cup Final victory.

The capsule will be dug up again and its contents examined in 2212, to coincide with the 1,000th anniversary of York gaining its Royal Charter as a city.

Caps but no cup on the day everything was flat

THERE were flat caps, flat tyres and a flat atmosphere as 20 members of York Hearts headed to and from Hampden on Sunday.

It was one of the biggest turn-outs for a trip since the friendly against Barcelona in 2007, but the day ended in frustration as Hearts failed to add the League Cup to the Scottish Cup in the Tynecastle trophy room, going down 3-2 to St Mirren in a disappointing game.

Club members were joined by a few extras for the dawn departure from Memorial Gardens, with several Jambos who were visiting York for the weekend making use of the bus north, and we picked up two others en route on the M74.

The day began in good mood, as Hearts sought to hold both domestic cups at once for the first time. Gav and Badger donned new "Ayup for the cup" T-shirts, a number of us wore less-than-fetching Yorkshire flat caps for the day, and Sam handed out Mickey Mouse masks to a select band who had vociferously belittled the competition in recent years.

We fought through blizzards on the way north but Stuiart Tait's killer quiz and the Jambo Tribe CD (starring our own chairman) made the trip less more enjoyable.

We had time for just a quick pint in The Beechwood pub pre-match and then to the game. The atmosphere was oddly flat from the off, Hearts fans perhaps still blase and high from last May's Scottish Cup final or perhaps just all-too aware that the team had rarely impressed this year. Certainly the mood was more subdued than at most finals, understandably so in the end.

Hearts began well, went 1-0 up and had plenty of chances to add to their tally, but we lost our way after the first half hour, conceded three goals and left ourselves an uphill battle. Ryan Stevenson added his and Hearts' second after 85 minutes but it was too little too late. Hearts hit the woodwork three times and can probably count themselves slightly unfortunte to lose, but they ultimately paid the price for failing to seize control when they had the chance.

The drive back went from tedious to very tedious when two of the bus's tyres blew out on the M74 heading south. The driver did well to get us on to the hard shoulder and we then endured a long wait atop the embankment until replacements arrived. Our bus was broken, our bus was broken, sorrow, sorrow, sorrow, sorrow.

The next trip will be after the SPL split. Details to be confirmed in due course.

The beer is here.... and it knows the score

The beer is here - and it knows the score.

The special beer we produced to toast last season's Scottish Cup win is now available in bottles.

Any club members who want to order bottles and haven't yet done so should email yorkhearts@yahoo.co.uk

Cheers!

Burns, beer, blizzards, butties - and another Hampden trip beckons

YORK Hearts enjoyed a double-celebration at the weekend, as Burns Night was followed by a triumphant semi-final trip.

About 25 gathered in Brigantes for Friday night's event, and 15 then made the trip to Edinburgh for the Hearts v Inverness Caledonian Thistle clash in the wee cup.

The group had to contend with blizzards on Friday night and some brutal hangovers on Saturday, but ended up toasting a cracking weekend all round, as Hearts reached back-to-back cup finals for only the third time ever.

Friday's event was a roaring success - even if it did lead to a few sore heads. Our "Marooned" beer, brewed by Gav and Badger with North Riding Brew Pub, made its debut and went down a storm, proving a huge hit at the bar.

The beer has an ABV of 5.1%, reflecting the score in last season's big cup final, and included a hop called Dr Rudi, in honour of goal machine Rudi Skacel.

Badger delivered the address to the haggis with aplomb, wielding the knife with worrying relish, and there were a few more recitals of Burns pieces and Hearts songs later in the evening (culminating in a lengthy rendition of "The Queen Mum was only one... Buffalo Bill was at the shows... We'd no TV, no radio... We'd not yet had a world war... Cars were a new fan-dangled thing... Man hadn't yet invented flight... The Jam Tarts were world champions... Away back in 1902".)

Linda Kay, Rachel Mutters, Nick Nicholson and Stuart Tait all triumphed in the raffle - but there were no winners in the snowball fight in Micklegate afterwards.

Club secretary Gav braved the snow in kilt and shirt sleeves, but was among the worst for wear a few hours later, when the minibus set off from Memorial Gardens, sleeping, moaning and incurring taxes twice for calling unscheduled bus stops.

15 of us made the minibus trip north in the snow, ice and slush, stopping at Washington services and the border-buttie van (plus Gav's 2 stops).

A pint or two in Edinburgh were followed by the match, at an unusually-full Easter Road. Hearts were the better team but the game was largely spoiled by the officials. In the end, like in the quarter-final at Tannadice, Hearts ended the game a man down but ran out 5-4 victors on penalties.

Jack Rudland won the York Hearts sweepstake, due to the 90 minutes score being 1-1 and the long drive home was a happy if exhausted one.

St Mirren beat Celtic 3-2 in the second semi-final on Sunday, meaning Hearts will face St Mirren in the final on Sunday 17 March. Ticket details to follow.

See The Press's story on our Burns Night here.

York Hearts beer hits the bar - and the headlines

YORK Hearts have brewed a special ale to celebrate the 2012 Scottish Cup win.

Club secretary Gavin Aitchison and chairman Ian Warner (left and right above respectively) headed over to Scarborough last week, to team up with lifelong Jambo Stuart Neilson, who runs the North Riding Brew Pub.

The guys worked together on a special creation, which will be on sale at our Burns Supper in Brigantes on Micklegate on January 25.

The beer is called Marooned - in honour of all of us die-hard Jambos marooned in England - and has an ABV of 5.1%. It also includes a variety of hop from New Zealand called Dr Rudi - chosen in honour of cup-final hero Rudi Skacel.

The tasting notes read: "Marooned is a celebratory beer brewed by the York Hearts Supporters Club and North Riding Brew Pub for Burns Night 2013, and in tribute to Heart of Midlothian’s 5-1 victory over their Edinburgh rivals in the 2012 Scottish Cup Final.

The beer is an IPA brewed using Galaxy and Dr Rudi hops – the latter in tribute to cup final hero Rudi Skacel. It packs as much punch as Rudi’s left foot but goes down as easily as the wee team in May. And it has an ABV – of course – of 5.1%.

It is best enjoyed from a big cup and we recommend drinking it in the evening – ideally at around 19.02 Bottled in Yorkshire – not at Hampden."

Most of the beer will be going into casks to sell in Yorkshire, including at Brigantes and at the North Riding Brew Pub, but some is also being bottled. Anyone interested in obtaining bottles should email northridinghotel@btconnect.com and yorkhearts@yahoo.co.uk

If you are twitter, contact @yorkhearts @north_riding and @yorkshireales

PICTURES from the brewing day are HERE

Visit the North Riding website HERE

Read the Edinburgh Evening News's coverage of the beer HERE

Pre-AGM notice: constitution

Please remember, the AGM will be held on Saturday before the Motherwell v Hearts game. For any members who do not currently have a copy of the club constitution, here it is:

YORK HEARTS SUPPORTERS CLUB

CONSTITUTION

(As following AGM of 12 November 2010)

1

(a) The title will be the York Hearts Supporters Club, hereinafter referred to as the Club.

(b) The Club will be affiliated to the Federation of Hearts Supporters Clubs.

2 The objects of the Club will be:

(a) To promote the interests of Heart of Midlothian Football Club.

(b) To provide travel arrangements for Club members to selected fixtures.

(c) To promote the interests of the Club’s members.

(d) To gain benefits for the Club’s members by using the strength of The Federation of Hearts Supporters Clubs.

(e) To foster a family atmosphere within the Club.

(f) To maintain funds for these objectives.

3

The Club will be non-political and non-sectarian.

4

(a) The Club will have a maximum of 100 members.

(b) The Club defines Junior membership as follows:

Any member below the age of 16 or aged 16-18 and still at school, at the beginning of the Club’s financial year.

5

Club meetings will be held at the discretion of the Committee. They may also be called at the request of 10% or more of the Full Members, or by 10% or more of the total membership.

6

Membership and renewal fees will be fixed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM)

7

(a) Membership lasts for one year, before being due for renewal.

(b) The membership year runs from January 1 to December 31 each year, and all memberships are due for renewal at the start of each new calendar year.

(d) A member not having renewed their membership, and travelling on a club bus, will pay the rate for non-members.

(e) Anyone whose membership lapses will be required to apply to rejoin the Club.

8

(a) The AGM will be held once a year, no fewer than 11 months and no more than 13 months after the date of the previous AGM.

(b) The AGM will receive and consider a report and a statement of accounts for the past year.

(c) The AGM will consider nominations for the Executive Committee consisting of a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, and also one or two Ordinary Committee members. These appointments must be ratified at the Annual General Meeting.

(d) All motions and nominations may be submitted in writing to the secretary prior to the AGM, or may be proposed at the AGM in person.

(e) Ordinary motions require the support of a majority of those present to be passed. Motions dealing with amendments to the Club constitution require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.

(f) Changes to the Club constitution can be made only at the AGM.

(g) The Committee will have the power, at their discretion, to co-opt a Club member onto the Committee to assist in the running of the Club.

9

(a) The Treasurer will take charge of the Club’s funds, which will be paid to the credit of the Club’s bank account. All monies received on behalf of the Club will be paid to the Treasurer. Payments will, as often as possible, be made by cheque drawn on the Club’s bank account and signed by any two of the three committee members: the Treasurer, the Secretary and/or the Chairman.

(b) The accounts of the Club will be audited at least once a year.

10

The Executive Committee have the discretion to discipline members for any cases of misconduct, this could include expulsion from the Club.

11

The Committee has the right to refuse admission to the Club where just causes can be demonstrated.

12

Byelaws may be ratified or rescinded only at the AGM or at a Special General Meeting (SGM) called for that purpose.

13

(a) A SGM may be called by the Executive or by 10 members, with a minimum of 7 days notice.

(b) All members must be notified of the reason for calling a SGM, as well as the venue, time and date. This must be done in writing, not less than 4 days before the meeting.

(c) Only items specified in 13(b) may be voted on at a SGM.

14

For any decisions made at an AGM or Special General Meeting to be valid, at least 10% of the Full members, or 10% of the total membership must be present.

15

(a) The Club funds will be the sole property of all the Club’s members.

(b) All debts are joint and several on all the Club’s members over the age of sixteen.

(c) In the event of dissolution, a Special General Meeting will be called to settle the financial affairs of the Club and the distribution of its assets.

The original constitution was approved by the Club’s founding committee, at the White Horse Hotel, in Bootham, York on the 29th day of October, 2006, in the presence of the undersigned committee members: Ian Warner (chairman) Gavin Aitchison (secretary) Sam Outing (treasurer)

An amended version was agreed at the Club’s 1st AGM, at the Seahorse Hotel, in Fawcett Street, York, on the 5th day of October, 2007.

A further amendment was agreed at the Club’s 2nd AGM, at the same venue, on the 14th day of November, 2008.

Two further amendments were agreed at the Club’s 3rd AGM, at the same venue, on the 6th day of November 2009.

A further amendment was agreed at the Club’s 4th AGM, at the Minster Inn in Marygate, York, on the 12th day of November, 2010.

Save our Hearts

All Hearts supporters should now be aware of the crisis facing the club and the urgent battle to safeguard its future. If not, please read here: Official statement on HMFC website.

We are urging all York Hearts members to do what the can to support the club at this time, by buying tickets for forthcoming home matches (v St Mirren on Sat 17 Nov, v Celtic on Wed 28 Nov and v Aberdeen on Sat 8 Dec) and/or by buying shares.

All members should have received an email today, with more information and setting out York Hearts' own plan to buy shares. If you've not received that email, please let Gav or Ian know. We intend to vote on a proposed investment at our AGM on November 24.

Membership reminder

Most members have now renewed for season 2012/13. If you haven't yet, then please either do so ASAP or inform the committee that you will not be renewing.

Hearts on TV

Thanks to those who made it to the pub today for the Inverness v Hearts SPL match, which ended 1-1. Our next televised game is on November 24, when we play Motherwell at Fir Park. Kick-off is at 12.45 and we will be having the AGM pre-match (continuing at half-time and post-match if necessary).

League Cup semi-final

Hearts will face Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the semi-final of the League Cup.

The match will be played at Easter Road at 3pm on Saturday 26 January.

This was the day on which we had originally planned our big trip to Hearts v Motherwell at Tynecastle but that match has been postponed to accommodate the cup.

Can all York Hearts membes please let the committee know ASAP if they want to go to the semi-final.