Freddie Glidden
Encyclopedia
Frederick "Freddie" Glidden (born 7 September 1927 in Newmains, Lanarkshire
) is a retired Scottish
professional footballer
who spent most of his career with Heart of Midlothian
.
Raised in Stoneyburn
, Glidden played for several different juvenile sides as a forward before moving to a half-back role upon joining junior
side Whitburn
He earned selection for the Scottish junior international team in that role and eventually the chance to sign for League side Hearts. He signed provisionally for Hearts in 1946 but spent two years farmed out to local junior side Newtongrange Star
, where he played alongside future Hearts team-mate Willie Bauld
.
After returning to Hearts in 1948 and playing several seasons of reserve-team football, Glidden made his debut in November 1951 against Queen of the South
. Although he played as a right-back on that occasion, it was as right-half that he gained a regular role in the first team later that season. In 1954, Hearts' Scottish international
centre-half sustained a serious knee-injury and, after covering for Dougan during his enforced absence, Glidden took over the position on a permanent basis. He was part of the side that ended Hearts 48-year trophy drought by winning the 1954-55
League Cup
and captained the team to Scottish Cup
victory in 1955-56
, a moment he recalls as the "sweetest" in his footballing career.
Glidden completed his set of domestic medals as Hearts won the League title
for the first time since 1897 in the 1957-58 season
but a recurring back injury during the following season limited his appearances and eventually led to his departure from Tynecastle
. He joined Dumbarton
in 1959 and played three seasons for the Second Division club before retiring in 1962.
Throughout his playing career Glidden has been registered on a part-time contract, simultaneously working in the West Lothian County Water Department. He later worked as a sub-postmaster
in Edinburgh. He continued to follow former side Hearts and was a regular spectator at their home games for many years, although in 2006 he was a vocal critic of Vladimir Romanov
's stewardship of the club.
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
) is a retired Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who spent most of his career with Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
.
Raised in Stoneyburn
Stoneyburn
Stoneyburn is a village in West Lothian, Scotland. Nearby towns include Bathgate, Whitburn, Addiewell and Blackburn.- Geography :Stoneyburn is situated in the middle of central Scotland, some 4 miles from Bathgate in the north and 5 from Livingston in the east...
, Glidden played for several different juvenile sides as a forward before moving to a half-back role upon joining junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
side Whitburn
Whitburn F.C.
Whitburn Junior F.C. are a Scottish junior football club from Whitburn, West Lothian. Formed in 1933, they play their home games at Central Park.Nicknamed Burnie, the club's colours are claret and amber...
He earned selection for the Scottish junior international team in that role and eventually the chance to sign for League side Hearts. He signed provisionally for Hearts in 1946 but spent two years farmed out to local junior side Newtongrange Star
Newtongrange Star F.C.
Newtongrange Star F.C. is a Scottish junior football club based in the village of Newtongrange, Midlothian. The home ground is New Victoria Park. The facility includes an enclosed pitch with full floodlighting, covered enclosure, changing rooms, with a separate social club...
, where he played alongside future Hearts team-mate Willie Bauld
Willie Bauld
William "Willie" Russell Logan Gavin Chalmers Bauld was a footballer who played for Newtongrange Star, Heart of Midlothian, Edinburgh City and the Scotland national team.-Heart of Midlothian:...
.
After returning to Hearts in 1948 and playing several seasons of reserve-team football, Glidden made his debut in November 1951 against Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
. Although he played as a right-back on that occasion, it was as right-half that he gained a regular role in the first team later that season. In 1954, Hearts' Scottish international
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
centre-half sustained a serious knee-injury and, after covering for Dougan during his enforced absence, Glidden took over the position on a permanent basis. He was part of the side that ended Hearts 48-year trophy drought by winning the 1954-55
1954-55 in Scottish football
The 1954–55 season was the 58th season of competitive football in Scotland.Aberdeen won their first League Title.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Aberdeen...
League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
and captained the team to Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
victory in 1955-56
1955-56 in Scottish football
The 1955–56 season was the 59th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:Following league reconstruction League Division One was expanded from 16 to 18 teams with Airdrieonians and Dunfermline Athletic being promoted...
, a moment he recalls as the "sweetest" in his footballing career.
Glidden completed his set of domestic medals as Hearts won the League title
Scottish football champions
The Scottish football champions are the winners of the highest league in Scottish football, namely the Scottish Football League from 1890 until 1998 and the Scottish Premier League thereafter....
for the first time since 1897 in the 1957-58 season
1957-58 in Scottish football
The 1957–58 season was the 61st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: HeartsRelegated: East Fife, Queen's Park-Scottish League Division Two:...
but a recurring back injury during the following season limited his appearances and eventually led to his departure from Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
. He joined Dumbarton
Dumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
in 1959 and played three seasons for the Second Division club before retiring in 1962.
Throughout his playing career Glidden has been registered on a part-time contract, simultaneously working in the West Lothian County Water Department. He later worked as a sub-postmaster
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
in Edinburgh. He continued to follow former side Hearts and was a regular spectator at their home games for many years, although in 2006 he was a vocal critic of Vladimir Romanov
Vladimir Romanov
Vladimir Nikolayevich Romanov ; born 1947 in Tver Oblast, Russian SFSR, USSR) is an ethnic Russian businessman who also holds Lithuanian citizenship following that country's independence from the Soviet Union. He is chairman of UBIG Investments which is the majority shareholder in Scottish Premier...
's stewardship of the club.
External links
- Freddie Glidden, Neil Brown
- Appearances at londonhearts.com