Freddie Glidden

Who is Freddie Glidden?

Frederick "Freddie" Glidden is a retired Scottish professional footballer who spent most of his career with Heart of Midlothian.

Raised in Stoneyburn, Glidden played for several different juvenile sides as a forward before moving to a half-back role upon joining junior side Whitburn He earned selection for the Scottish junior international team in that role and eventually the chance to sign for League side Hearts. He signed provisionally for Hearts in 1946 but spent two years farmed out to local junior side Newtongrange Star, where he played alongside future Hearts team-mate Willie Bauld.

After returning to Hearts in 1948 and playing several seasons of reserve-team football, Glidden made his debut in November 1951 against Queen of the South. Although he played as a right-back on that occasion, it was as right-half that he gained a regular role in the first team later that season. In 1954, Hearts' Scottish international centre-half sustained a serious knee-injury and, after covering for Dougan during his enforced absence, Glidden took over the position on a permanent basis.