Hearts 56 have won the national Walking Football League for the third successive year.

The tournament which is organised by North Lanarkshire Leisure in partnership with North Lanarkshire Health and Social Care and walking Football Scotland was contested by 12 teams from throughout the country, including three from the capital.

Hearts fielded two teams, Hearts 56 and Hearts 98 named after Scottish Cup winning years whilst the Oriam also entered a squad.

Games were played at the Ravenscraig Sports Centre in Motherwell on the last Wednesday of the month and each session consisted of three 18-minute matches.

Hearts 56 went into the final day yesterday one point behind Ayr United and both sides started with victories over Alloa Athletic and The Oriam respectively.

Both sides dropped points in the next set of fixtures then in the third games, Hearts 56 beat Tullibody whilst Ayr lost to Hearts 98 thanks to a late penalty.

Ayr beat Gala Fairydean Rovers in the final fixture whilst Hearts 56 overcame Motherwell to secure the title.

In addition, the team also won the ‘Fair Play’ award voted for by the tournament referees.

Goalkeeper David Barr told the Edinburgh Reporter: “We are very lucky to have maintained our core team for the three-years which helps a lot.

“Almost as pleasing was the fair play award that realy pleased me as it showed our lads winning and losing with equal good grace.”

The players in Hearts 56 squad are David Barr. Jimmy Bremner, Brian Hymers, Russel Brown, David McNab, Gary Bate, Paul Burns, David Walkingshaw, Norrie Campbell, Orry Nowosad.

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John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.