A full profile of the history and present organisation

The original Tynecastle Club was formed in 1928 as can be seen on the club crest. At the outset the club had a membership of 10 boys and was formed as a Meccano club to build models of various descriptions and met one night of the week at Tynecastle Secondary School. Under the leadership of Norman Murchison, then a teacher at the Tynecastle School, the numbers increased and so did the activities which led to the formation as Tynecastle Former Pupils Club.

Up to 1939 and before the Second World War, teachers and headmasters administered all sport including that of football. Outings were considered an exciting adventure in those days and we were one of the first clubs to use the National Association of Boys Clubs training centre at Dalguise House in Perthshire.

When the war did intervene the vast majority of leaders went to fight for their country and at one stage the club was in serious danger of folding. To the rescue came Bill McAlpine, the first club leader. 'Mac' was a tremendous character where his enthusiasm, affection and leadership throughout those war years laid the very foundation of the Tynecastle Club.

In 1944 Jimmy Aitken took charge and the club became Tynecastle Boys Club. Previously Jimmy had been one of the original boy members and was well indoctrinated in the boys club movement. For the next 20 years Jimmy controlled the show, two or three nights a week using a small hut next to the school in McLeod Street.

The early sixties saw the first biggest change with Tynecastle Athletic joining forces. Coupled with that was the move along Gorgie Road to a premise within the confines of Pentland School later to become Tynecastle High School Annexe. The move was attributed to the efforts of Bailie James Ross whose arm twisting with the City powers led to having our own true first home.

Football and Table Tennis continued to be the main sporting activities and as interest grew in playing so did the membership numbers. In 1965 Davie Hogg took over as Club Leader and the football teams increased from the present under 17's and 16's, to include younger players.

Three years later, John McConnell became club leader and it was during this period that the club experienced it's first European tour to Germany.

On the 23rd of June 1971 the club won it's first Scottish Cup, defeating Gairdoch United by 4 goals to 2 in the under 16's final played at Saughton Enclosure. Since then the club has won many more national competitions at a number of different age groups

Douglas Dalgleish took the helm in 1973 and the following year overseen the first international trip to Winnipeg in Canada to play in the centennial tournament of the city at under 16 level. The winning of any international tournament is special but to defeat the West German National team in the process will always be regarded as one the major achievements at the Tynecastle Club. For the record the score was 2 goals to 1 with a crowd of 1,500 containing predominately exiled Scotsmen. The celebrations that day can never be forgotten!!

1978 saw the Club celebrate it's 50th and Jubilee year. A special Dinner was held on Saturday 28th October where past and present members, honoured guests and Director representatives from

Heart of Midlothian F C, Hibernian F C and Meadowbank Thistle (now Livingston F C) joined us for a very gala occasion.

For the next 20 years the club continued to prosper both on and off the field of play and it was during this period, in 1984, that the club moved to its present location within the confines of Balgreen School, directly opposite the playing fields at Saughton Park. The club are much indebted to the work of Club President Jimmy Mclauchlin and Eric Milligan, ex Lord Provost and still a City Councillor, for securing the premise and the facilities that are now enjoyed.

From 1985 and for the next 8 years the club organised the highly successful Edinburgh Festival Football Tournament, a tournament that at under 14 and under 16 was recognised as one the best in the country with participating teams of the highest calibre.

In 1990, in conjunction with the City Council and Balgreen Primary School, the club financed the building of the first local based astro playing surface within the confines of the school area, to be used exclusively by school and club members.

The latter part of the nineties and the start of the new century were probably the lowest part of our history with team and member numbers reducing to such an extent that we nearly went out of business. However a merger with Hearts Boys Club, then under the control of the Heart of Midlothian Football Club, and the return of Douglas Dalgleish to the management saw the club change it's name to that of Tynecastle Hearts and become predominately a youth football club for both boys and girls. The arrangement with Hearts was terminated 2 years later and thus the club name was restored to 'Tynecastle' with 'Football Club' added.

With the number of teams now on the increase in 2004 the club entered into an arrangement with the City Council for the exclusive use of the pitches at Saughton. Later that same year we became members of the East of Scotland Football League with the merger of then League members, Tollcross United. This merger meant that Tynecastle F C were admitted to the senior levels of Scottish football for the first time and gave a pathway for players to remain at the club playing at one of the highest levels in Scotland.

On the 5th of August the club played their first ever senior match at the home venue of Fernieside Recreation Ground, a pre season friendly against Premier League side Hibernian. The match ended in a very credible 2 - 2 draw.

On 13 November 2007 the club received a windfall of £90,000 after former player and Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was transferred from Hearts to Sunderland for £9 million. Under new FIFA regulations, grassroots clubs were now entitled to a percentage of any transfer. The monies received provided financial stability for the club and allowed also for investment in a number of projects that would secure the future of the club.

In January 2008, the club set up a sister club in the American city of Everett, near Seattle called Tynecastle International F.C. It was set up by former Tynecastle and Bolton Wanderers player and resident of Everett, David Hoggan.

At the start of the 2008 season, former Livingston and Gretna player, David Bingham was appointed as player/coach of the club. He joined former Hearts legend Gary Mackay on the coaching staff at Tynecastle F.C. Gary later became the club's first Commercial Director.

On 16 May 2009, Tynecastle defeated Gretna 2008, 4-0 to secure the East of Scotland League First Division Championship and as a result were promoted to the Premier Division for the 2009-10 season.

August 2009 was a busy month for Tynecastle with a number of important events happening. Firstly the club announced the appointment of Eddie Smeaton as Club Manager with Douglas Dalgleish moving upstairs to the role of Chairman. The club also announced its first Technical Director, with David Bingham taking this post as well as continuing his involvement in the senior set up as player/coach. Secondly Tynecastle was awarded the SFA Quality Mark which is awarded to show good practice in on and off field matters. And finally Tynecastle opened the new Fernieside Recreational Ground pavilion with a game against a Heart of Midlothian XI, the new pavilion having been given to Tynecastle on a long term lease. As well as all this happening in August, the senior team played its first game as Tynecastle FC in the Premier League of the East of Scotland League.

In September 2011 it was announced that Tynecastle Star, an amateur club of some 47 years standing, was to become part of the Tynecastle Football Club set up, thus allowing for a pathway for all players to progress through the club at all age groups.