A cup final medal awarded to former Selkirk footballer Bob Mercer has been stolen from Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh.
Mercer, after whom Selkirk recently named their new stand, picked up the Victory Cup runners-up medal in 1919, playing for Heart of Midlothian.
Last Friday, police appealed for information following the theft, which occurred on Wednesday, August 7.
Also taken in the raid on a glass cabinet in Hearts’ stadium were two Scottish Football League Championship medals, won in 1895 by George Scott and in 1897 by James Mirk. A gold pocket watch was also stolen.
It was only following police inquiries that it emerged that staff at the Edinburgh stadium had noticed a man acting suspiciously around the time the items were taken. The man is believed to have forced open the display cabinet and made off with the items.
Inspector David Hynd from Police Scotland said: “These medals have significant historic value, not just to Heart of Midlothian FC, but to the city of Edinburgh.”
Mercer, who played for Selkirk in the early years of the 20th century, died on the Ettrick Park pitch in a friendly match for Hearts against Selkirk on April 23, 1926.
Capped for Scotland twice, Mercer had been captain of Hearts before the First World War broke out.
Caught in a gas attack in 1918, it is believed that this could have contributed to his early death at just 36.