Postcard published by T & G MacKenzie

commemorating the record number of Scottish caps
 awarded to Hearts football player

Bobby Walker

Bobby Walker

Steven Oliver has been researching the football career of  the Heart of Midlothian football player in the early 1900s.

Steven writes:

Postcard

"This postcard celebrated Hearts footballer Bobby Walker.  It shows the 38 Scottish Caps that he was awarded up to 1909.

The reverse of the card says that it was published by T&G Mackenzie, Athletic Outfitters, 6 Bank Street, Edinburgh and I believe that the portrait and caps were painted by an artist by the name of William McGhie."

Steven Oliver, Shropshire, England:  November 3, 2007

Bobby Walker

Steven Oliver e-mailed me again, giving further details of what his research into Bobby Walker has revealed.

Steven writes:

Postcard

"David Speed, Hearts historian recently confirmed that the postcard was painted in late-1909 by William McGhie.

Please be aware that there are 1983 reproductions of this postcard in circulation and this is obvious from the inscription on the reverse.  The reproduction has no date or artist's name."

©

Oil Paintings

"Two oil painting of Bobby Walker and his caps, both by William McGhie, are known:

- One was found in 2006, hanging in a 'mock' English pub in Kansas, USA.  It is almost identical to the postcard, but has a 39th cap at the bottom.

- The other hangs in Hearts' Board Room.  It shows 45 caps awarded to Bobby Walker.  It was painted in 1913.

Both paintings include two caps that don't qualify as being 'Full International' caps.

Steven Oliver, Shropshire, England:  November 4, 2007

Questions

Steven Oliver is continuing his research and is looking for more information.

 In particular, he asks:

1.   What is known about the artist, William McGhie?

2.   Where did the 1911 painting hang initially?

3.  What is known of A & G MacKenzie, athletic outfitters?  Did they have any connections with Hearts between 1909 and 1913?

4.  What were Bobby Walker's International Caps, 1910?   There is some doubt as to his total number:  43 or 44?

5.  Did the Argyll Bar, Old Sneddon Street, Paisley display Bobby's caps or the paintings of them in late '60s / early '70s?

6.  Bobby's 'Rosebery' Scotland shirt and cap from the 1901 International  at Crystal Palace have turned up at Hearts.  Do you know where these were pre-1980?

7.  Do you know where I can have access to the book:
'The Bobby Walker Story' [Publ. Thornton Sports, 1920]

Steven Oliver, Shropshire, England:  November 4, 2007

 Please e-mail me if you can help to answer any of the above questions.  Then, I'll pass on your message to Steve.

Thank you.

-  Peter Stubbs:  December 1, 2007

Answer 1

Thank you to Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh, for replying to Question 3 above.

 Bob wrote

"There was a large very well stocked sports shop called McKenzies right next to the Empire Theatre."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh, December 5, 2007

Answer 2

Thank you to Bobby Waugh who replied.  Bobby's reply did not answer any of the 7 questions above, but it included a photograph of Bobby Walker.

Bobby wrote:

1901

"Here is an old photo of the Hearts Scottish Cup Winning Team of 1901.  Unfortunately the quality is very poor.

The trainer, Bob Waugh,  is my great-grand father.

Bobby Walker is second from left, middle row."

Bob Waugh, December 6, 2007

The caption under the photo lists all the players and the trainer.

Unfortunately, the photo would not display well on the web site, and I'm not able to add it to the site it because it appears to be a reproduction and I don't know who holds the copyright.

Peter Stubbs, December 9, 2007