Very few players find their names becoming synonymous with a club they play for. You could single out Steve Bull at Wolves, or Alan Hansen at Liverpool as examples. Despite playing the first eight years of his career elsewhere, Newcastle's Alan Shearer falls into this category too.Mention their names and the images that spring to mind will involve a sea of amber, red or black and white.

At Tynecastle, one player accomplished this to such effect, that within three years of his departure a lounge in the Main Stand was named after him. Eighteen years and over 300 goals - it can only be John Robertson.

Robbo embodied a whole era in the club's development; breaking through at a time when the Gorgie boys languished in a lower league, rising to prominence as Hearts came so close to taking the title, and rounding off his time as a Jambo with a much-celebrated cup win in 1998.

Incredible as it may be, I only saw Robbo pull on a maroon jersey twice, as watching Hearts on a regular basis has only been a pleasure for me since 1999. But these two occasions, within 2 years of each other, were both pretty memorable in themselves; a 4-2 Scottish Cup win over Rangers and a thrilling 1-0 triumph over Celtic in a Coca-Cola Cup quarter-final. Robbo played his part in both games, as we well know.

For other legends of Gorgie, such as Gary Mackay and John Cumming, their longevity and commitment to the cause singles them out as being special. John Robertson had this too, but will be most fondly remembered for doing what he did best - scoring goals.

Everyone knows that, but for the stubbornness and impatience of then Hibernian chairman Tom Hart over the signing of a professional contract, the lad from the east of Edinburgh could well have been doing this for our fiercest rivals. How lucky we are that he wanted to think over employment terms, and that Bobby Moncur was quick to take advantage in the summer of 1980.

The young forward rose to prominence in the 1982/3 season, when our favourites were struggling to return to their rightful place in the top tier of Scottish football. His presence in front of goal ensured that Alex MacDonald's side finished as runners-up in the First Division, a feat back then that was enough to ensure promotion.

And Robbo began his first Premier League campaign as he left off the last one, most notably hammering home two goals in a 3-2 win over Hibernian in September 1983. The use of the word 'hammer' is both fitting and misleading here; fitting because of the nickname he subsequently acquired (the Hammer of the Hibs) and misleading owing to the sublime skill he demonstrated with the first of these strikes. Two-footed control, a quick turn and a stunning curl past Alan Rough created a goal that has entered derby folklore. It set the scene for 26 more!

Although he was outstanding for pretty much all of his time in Gorgie, the first five seasons he was a regular at Tynecastle are regarded as his best. There weren't many who could live with him, and Hearts' fortunes were all the better for it. One of the defining moments of the ill-fated 1985/6 season were his two goals at Tannadice in a 3-0 win many felt wrapped up the title. A left-footed sizzler from twenty yards and a perfectly timed run that left an easily-rounded Billy Thomson for dead delighted the massive travelling support. Robbo sliding across on his knees up to the overjoyed Jambos in the terracing summed the euphoria up perfectly.

As we all know however, the season ended in crushing disappointment. Hearts then staggered through the 1986/7 season before providing a further near miss the year after - runners up in the league and sixty seconds away from another Scottish Cup Final, until Henry Smith's nightmare.

Along with the likes of Craig Levein and Gary Mackay, Robbo didn't disappoint however, and the interest from England grew. In April 1988, to general anguish amidst the Jam Tart faithful, the club announced his sale to Newcastle United. A club record fee of £750,000 did little to temper the disappointment. After almost a decade and 129 goals, the greatest player to pull on a striking jersey for three decades had moved on.

Eight months later, he was back...