| Freddie Glidden | |
| Fullname: | Frederick Glidden |
| Birth Date: | 7 September 1927 |
| Birth Place: | Newmains, Scotland |
| Position: | Defender |
| Youthclubs1: | Murrayfield Rovers |
| Youthclubs2: | West Calder Juveniles |
| Years1: | 1945–1946 |
| Clubs1: | Whitburn Juniors |
| Years2: | 1946–1959 |
| Years4: | 1959–1962 |
| Clubs2: | Heart of Midlothian |
| Years3: | 1946–1948 |
| Clubs3: | → Newtongrange Star (loan) |
| Clubs4: | Dumbarton |
| Caps2: | 165 |
| Caps4: | 97 |
| Goals2: | 2 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
Frederick Glidden (7 September 1927 – 1 January 2019) was a 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.[1] He earned selection for the Scottish junior international team in that role and eventually the chance to sign for a professional League side.[2]
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 teammate Willie Bauld.[3]
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.[2] 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' Bobby Dougan sustained the second serious injury of his career and required a cartlidge operation. After covering for Dougan during his enforced lengthy absence, Glidden took over the position on a permanent basis.[1] He was part of the side that ended Hearts 48-year trophy drought by winning the 1954-55 League Cup and captained the team to Scottish Cup victory in 1955-56, a moment he recalls as the "sweetest" in his footballing career.[3]
Glidden completed his set of domestic medals as Hearts won the League title for the first time since 1897 in the 1957-58 season but a recurring back injury during the following season limited his appearances and eventually led to his departure from Tynecastle.[3]
He joined Dumbarton in 1959 and played three seasons for the Second Division club before retiring in 1962.
Throughout his playing career Glidden had been registered on a part-time contract, simultaneously working in the West Lothian County Water Department.[2] He later worked as a sub-postmaster in Edinburgh.[3] He continued to follow former side Hearts and was a regular spectator at their home games for many years.[3]
Glidden died on 1 January 2019, at the age of 91.[4] [5]