Frederick Glidden (7 September 1927 – 1 January 2019) was a Scottish professional footballer who spent most of his career with Heart of Midlothian.

Freddie Glidden
Personal information
Full name Frederick Glidden
Date of birth (1927-09-07)7 September 1927
Place of birth Newmains, Scotland
Date of death 1 January 2019(2019-01-01) (aged 91)
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Murrayfield Rovers
West Calder Juveniles
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1945–1946 Whitburn Juniors
1946–1959 Heart of Midlothian 165 (2)
1946–1948Newtongrange Star (loan)  
1959–1962 Dumbarton 97 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Early years

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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.[1] He earned selection for the Scottish junior international team in that role and eventually the chance to sign for a professional League side.[2]

Hearts

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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 teammate Willie Bauld.[3]

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.[2] 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' Bobby Dougan sustained the second serious injury of his career and required a cartlidge operation. After covering for Dougan during his enforced lengthy absence, Glidden took over the position on a permanent basis.[1] 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.[3]

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.[3]

Dumbarton

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He joined Dumbarton in 1959 and played three seasons for the Second Division club before retiring in 1962.

Away from playing

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Throughout his playing career Glidden had been registered on a part-time contract, simultaneously working in the West Lothian County Water Department.[2] He later worked as a sub-postmaster in Edinburgh.[3] He continued to follow former side Hearts and was a regular spectator at their home games for many years.[3]

Death

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Glidden died on 1 January 2019, at the age of 91.[4][5]

Honours

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Heart of Midlothian

References

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  1. ^ a b Hoggan, Andrew (1995). Hearts in Art (Hardback). Mainstream. ISBN 1-85158-736-5.
  2. ^ a b c Heart of Midlothian Official Annual 1955 (Paperback). Heart of Midlothian. 1955.
  3. ^ a b c d e Robertson, Rob; Kiddie, Paul (2005). Hearts: Great Tynecastle Tales. Mainstream. p. 186. (ISBN 1-84596-003-3).
  4. ^ "Hearts' Scottish Cup-winning skipper Freddie Glidden dies aged 91". scotsman.com. The Scotsman. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Hearts great Freddie Glidden dies aged 91". skysports.com. Sky Sports. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
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  • Freddie Glidden at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
  • Profile at londonhearts.com