GALA Fairydean Rovers will pay tribute to a footballing legend on Saturday when they entertain Hearts.

Alfie Conn, who died in 2009, was a remarkable figure at the Tynecastle club during the 1940s and 50s before making an impact at Netherdale with the Fairydean.

At Hearts, along with Willie Bauld and Jimmy Wardhaugh, he formed the Terrible Trio, the most famous forward line in the Edinburgh club’s illustrious history.

He played in the Tynecastle teams that won the 1954 League Cup and 1956 Scottish Cup and was part of the club’s League winning squad in 1957/58. He received a Scottish cap against Austria in 1956.

Following a spell with Raith Rovers and a brief sojourn in South Africa he moved to Netherdale in 1960 to become player/manager at Gala Fairydean and went onto enjoy success in the two seasons he spent at the club.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of Alfie’s birth in Prestonpans and the Fairydean Rovers are honouring the occasion with a memorial match.

After seeking permission from the Conn Family, the clubs will compete for the Alfie Conn Memorial Trophy on Saturday.

Fairydean Rovers secretary Graeme McIver said: "I was delighted to receive a phone call earlier this week from Alfie Conn Junior to confirm that the family would give their blessing to the match going ahead and that some of them would also be in attendance.

"Alfie has fond memories of travelling to Gala with his dad when he was a young boy in the early 60s and we look forward to welcoming him back to Netherdale.”

Hearts are expected to send a strong youth side featuring many who played in the SFA Youth Cup Final at Hampden in April.

With the Jambos playing a Europa Qualifying league match next Thursday it is thought Robbie Neilson will send any first team players requiring match fitness to Netherdale to bolster the age-group squad.

Gala manager Steven Noble told us: "Whatever team Hearts send you know they will be good.

"They have some of the best young players in the country and it is going to be a difficult match for us.

"We are building a good team ourselves and I'm hoping we can build on the good performance against Airdrie."

Alfie Conn senior was player manager of Gala Fairydean in season 1960-61 during which he made 25 appearances and scored 21 goals including two hat tricks as he finished as the clubs top scorer.

The Fairydean finished runner-up in the East of Scotland League to Berwick Rangers “A” by a single point, won the King Cup and were runners up in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. A photo of Alfie Conn with the King Cup can be seen in the clubrooms at Netherdale.

In season 1960-61 Conn hung up his boots, stuck to the dug-out and steered his side to an unprecedented four trophies. He tendered his resignation at Netherdale with the club requiring a single point to be certain of the East of Scotland league title which they comfortably won with Peebles Rovers finishing six points adrift, his Fairydean side scoring 138 league goals en-route to the title.

They also won the Scottish Qualifying Cup (South), the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup and defeated Berwick Rangers in the final of the City Cup, one week after Alfie resigned from his post.

Conn’s son, Alfie Junior also went onto enjoy a successful career in top-flight football playing for both sides of the Old Firm, Tottenham Hotspur, Derby County, Hearts and Scotland.

A Hearts spokesperson said: “The club is happy to be part of a match that will honour such a legendary figure in Alfie Conn.

“Alfie made a huge impact at both Heart of Midlothian and Gala Fairydean, so this meeting of the two sides is a fitting tribute, and we look forward to our visit to Netherdale.”

Saturday's Alfie Conn memorial match will kick off at 3pm.