Hibernian Football Club was saddened to learn yesterday of the death of one of our former players, Alan Gordon.

Alan had the great distinction of being a hero on both sides of the football fence in two Scottish cities, having played for Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Dundee and Dundee United. He started his career at Tynecastle where he turned out 111 times for Hearts - with a fantastic strike-rate of 49 goals. A brief spell at Durban United in 1967 was ended by a return to Hearts where he added a further 15 games scoring six times.

He arrived in Dundee in 1969 having signed for United, and again he kept up his phenomenal scoring record, 34 strikes in just 77 games. It was in 1972 that Alan arrived at Hibernian to become a vital part of Eddie Turnbull's successful side. His scoring rate at Easter Road was the best of his career, hitting the net 51 times in just 84 first-team appearances. There were many great goals to savour for Hibernian supporters during that 'Turnbull's Tornadoes' era, but perhaps Alan will forever be remembered for the 7th goal on 1st January 1973, his own second that day but the pick of the bunch in that 7-0 Derby victory that is still celebrated to this day.

A return to Dundee saw Alan see out his career at Dens Park where he scored 8 times in 36 appearances before finally ending his playing career in 1976.

Alan was a very well educated man, having studied at George Herriot's School in Edinburgh - in spite of spending so much time in that bastion of Rugby it was football that he excelled in, but even after signing a professional contract at 17 he persisted in his accountancy studies, taking up positions as a Chartered Accountant after his football career ended. He also made appearances in the 1980's as a football reporter on Radio Forth and was a familiar face at both Easter Road and Tynecastle in recent years.

Everyone at the football club express their condolences to his family.

Supporters should note that the club will hold a one-minute period of applause ahead of the next home match against St Johnstone on 27 February as a mark of respect to Alan.