A lot of people talk about battling it out on the pitch. I’d say it is an overused phrase considering that the brave players of Heart of Midlothian Football Club actually fought in World War I. They gave up their careers and in some cases their lives, to fight for their country and for freedom.
Hearts players set an example, one that many others followed.
Their entire story, which has never been addressed in this kind of depth, is tackled by Tom Purdie in Hearts at War: 1914-1919. Purdie is arguably one of the top experts on Scottish football in the world and certainly the foremost authority on everything Hearts.
This title is something that every modern football fan should take a look at. It shows how far we have to go to live up to the the legacy that these players and heroes have established. The beautiful game is about service and sacrifice, just as much as it is about winning and hardware.
Hopefully this will raise some awareness about the Hearts players and their work during World War I, a horrific conflict that jeopardized freedom and the world as we know it.
Purdie does an excellent job capturing the spirit of the players and club that made history on and off the pitch.
