Hearty Hugh Image 2 Clapton Orient 1939

Description

Edinburgh born left back Hugh Hearty began his senior football career with Royal Albert in 1931 from where he joined Heart of Midlothian in 1933, making his Hearts debut against Greenock Morton that March. Never a regular for The Jambos, he joined Clyde on loan after 22 appearances in early 1935, and after being released by Hearts during the summer he signed for Third Division (South) club Cardiff City, making his Football League debut at Crystal Palace that August. He lost his place after 3 matches for The Bluebirds, but regained it in December and played 18 matches before the season end, but moved to join Clapton Orient in the 1936 close season.

At Lea Bridge he settled into regular football with Clapton Orient for the final three seasons before the Second World War’s outbreak forced the abandonment of peacetime football in September 1939, missing very few matches, and he was twice on the scoresheet for The O’s, the first time in a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion in May 1937, and then the following September in a home defeat to Mansfield Town. Having made 108 appearances for Clapton Orient his career was effectively ended by the outbreak of the Second World War, and after the War he played for Rochester City Police in 1945 before his eventual retirement.