Edinburgh City sign ex-Hearts striker Craig Beattie

Edinburgh City have signed former Scotland, Celtic and Hearts striker Craig Beattie ahead of their first season in Ladbrokes League Two.

Craig Beattie is Edinburgh City's marquee signing this summer. Pic: TSPL

The 32-year-old is certainly the Meadowbank club’s highest profile summer signing, with Dean Cummings, Neil Martynuik and Ryan Porteous arriving from Lothian Thistle, St Johnstone and Hibs respectively.

Beattie became a cult figure with the maroon half of Edinburgh during a spell at Tynecastle in 2012. He netted a stoppage time semi-final penalty against old club Celtic to fire the Jambos in to an historic Scottish Cup final showdown with Hibs. The striker’s exuberant celebration became known as ‘doing the Beattie’. He replaced Suso Santana in the final with Hearts 5-1 up.

City boss Gary Jardine has been looking to add experience to his City squad, and the former Swansea striker certainly brings that. Three league titles and two Scottish Cups with Celtic were followed by an English Championship medal with West Brom under former Hibs manager Tony Mowbray.

Various loan spells followed before a permanent move to Swansea, before returning north of the border to join Hearts after two years in Wales. An injury plagued spell with St. Johnstone followed his Hearts success before heading south again to join Barnet.

Beattie will be no stranger to League Two, having joined Stirling Albion for the 2015/16 season. He scored six times in 23 appearances for the Binos, and City will be hoping to he can at least make a similar contribution to their own league campaign.

Beattie will be officially unveiled at a press conference tomorrow night before training with the Lowland League champions at Riccarton, and will go in to the squad for Saturday’s Betfred Cup Group G tie at St. Mirren.