Fixtures
Friendlies
| 26 July 1980 Friendly | Hearts | 0–1 | Chelsea | Tynecastle Stadium |
Colin Viljoen  70' | Attendance: 6,128 |
| 2 August 1980 Friendly | Glenavon | 3–3 | Hearts | Mourneview Park |
| Mickey McDonald 24' Brenden Tully 41'Mickey McDonald 62' | Derek O'Connor 18' Chris Robertson 21'Chris Robertson 84' | Attendance: 800 |
| 4 August 1980 Friendly | Hearts | 1–1 | Newcastle United | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Chris Robertson 55' | Bobby Shinton 26' | Attendance: 3,384 |
Anglo-Scottish Cup
| 30 July 1980 Anglo-Scottish Cup | Hearts | 0–3 | Airdrieonians | Tynecastle Stadium |
| David Thompson 24' Robert Shearer Russell 69'David Thompson 77' | Attendance: 2,000 |
| 6 August 1980 Anglo-Scottish Cup | Airdrieonians | 3–3 | Hearts | Broomfield Park |
| Tommy Walker 11' Alexander Clark 73'Tommy Walker 80' | Chris Robertson 5' Derek O'Connor 24'Derek O'Connor 60' | Attendance: 2,843 |
League Cup
| 27 August 1980League Cup R1 1st leg | Hearts | 2–1 | Montrose | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Chris Robertson 15' Alex MacDonald 73' | Douglas Robb 84' | Attendance: 4,211 |
| 30 August 1980League Cup R1 2nd leg | Montrose | 1–3 | Hearts | Links Park |
| Mike Milne 48' | Chris Robertson 3' Chris Robertson 5'Chris Robertson 17' | Attendance: 1,548 |
| 3 September 1980League Cup R2 1st leg | Hearts | 2–3 | Ayr United | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Chris Robertson 20' Dave Bowman 47' | Robert Connor 32' (pen.) Ian Cashmore 53'Robert Connor 89' | Attendance: 5,364 |
| 24 September 1980League Cup R2 2nd leg | Ayr United | 4– 0 | Hearts | Somerset Park |
| Robert Connor 17' Gerard Christie 84'Derek Frye 85'Eric Morris 89' | Attendance: 4,484 |
Scottish Cup
| 24 January 1981 Scottish Cup R3 | Morton | 0–0 | Hearts | Cappielow Park |
| Attendance: 6,052 |
| 28 January 1981 Scottish Cup R3 Replay | Hearts | 1–3 | Morton | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Alex MacDonald 83' | James Tolmie 43' James Rooney 82'Bobby Thomson 86' | Attendance: 5,672 |
East of Scotland Shield
| 13 August 1980 Semi Final | Hearts | 0–0 | Berwick Rangers | Tynecastle Stadium |
| 20 August 1980 Final | Hearts | 2–2 | Hibernian | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Willie Gibson 34' (pen.) Willie Gibson 40' | Brian Rice 80' Gordon Rae 89' |
Scottish Premier Division
| 9 August 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Partick Thistle | 3–2 | Hearts | Firhill Park |
| Tony Higgins 3' Ian Gibson 58'Frank Liddell 70' (o.g.) | Frank Liddell 69' Cammy Fraser 76' (pen.) | Attendance: 3,863 |
| 16 August 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 0–2 | Airdrieoians | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Alexander Clark 53' Willie McGuire 61' | Attendance: 6,711 |
| 23 August 1980 Scottish Premier Division | St Mirren | 1–3 | Hearts | St Mirren Park, Love Street |
| Doug Somner 17' | Alfie Conn 2' Derek O'Connor 68'Derek O'Connor 78' | Attendance: 7,598 |
| 6 September 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Kilmarnock | 0–1 | Hearts | Rugby Park |
| Willie Gibson 87' | Attendance: 3,995 |
| 13 September 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 0–2 | Celtic | Tynecastle Stadium |
| David Provan 32' Charlie Nicholas 53' | Attendance: 17,169 |
| 20 September 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 0–1 | Morton | Tynecastle Stadium |
| John McNeil 24' | Attendance: 5,996 |
| 27 September 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Dundee United | 1–1 | Hearts | Tannadice Park |
| Davie Dodds 90' | Derek O'Connor 40' | Attendance: 6,263 |
| 4 October 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 0–1 | Aberdeen | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Doug Rougvie 65' | Attendance: 10,873 |
| 11 October 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Rangers | 3–1 | Hearts | Ibrox Park |
| Colin McAdam 50' Jim Jefferies 77 og'Colin McAdam 79' | Alex MacDonald 87' | Attendance: 22,443 |
| 18 October 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 0–1 | Partick Thistle | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Iain Jardine 87' | Attendance: 5,905 |
| 25 October 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Airdrieonians | 3–0 | Hearts | Broomfield Park |
| James A March 21' David Thompson 36'James A March 38' | Attendance: 4,512 |
| 1 November 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 1–1 | St Mirren | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Alfie Conn 76' | Doug Somner 18' McCall 56' | Attendance: 5,707 |
| 8 November 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 0–3 | Dundee United | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Paul Sturrock 2' Paul Hegarty 34'Paul Sturrock 77' | Attendance: 5,875 |
| 15 November 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Morton | 2–2 | Hearts | Cappielow Park |
| Joe McLaughlin 49' James Rooney 73' | Alfie Conn 17' Derek O'Connor 46' | Attendance: 3,321 |
| 22 November 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 0–0 | Rangers | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Attendance: 16,315 |
| 6 December 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 2–0 | Kilmarnock | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Alex MacDonald 57' Paul O'Brien 59' | Attendance: 5,183 |
| 13 December 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Celtic | 3–2 | Hearts | Celtic Park |
| Roddie MacDonald 30' Frank McGarvey 36'George McCluskey 46' (pen.) | Alex MacDonald 6' Willie Gibson 57' | Attendance: 14,070 |
| 20 December 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 0–0 | Morton | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Attendance: 5,946 |
| 27 December 1980 Scottish Premier Division | Dundee United | 4–1 | Hearts | Tannadice Park |
| Paul Sturrock 32' Ralph Milne 66'Ralph Milne 68'Paul Sturrock 79' | Willie Gibson 2' | Attendance: 6,928 |
| 1 January 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 2–3 | Airdireonians | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Willie Gibson 58' Paul O'Brien 65' | Jim Rodger 70' Willie McCulloch 85' Willie McCulloch 86' | Attendance: 8,086 |
| 3 January 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Partick Thistle | 1–0 | Hearts | Firhill Park |
| Kenny Watson 17' (pen.) | Attendance: 3,904 |
| 10 January 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 0–2 | Aberdeen | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Walker McCall 34' Mark McGhee 56' | Attendance: 7,999 |
| 31 January 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 0–3 | Celtic | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Tommy Burns 31' Frank McGarvey 49'Dom Sullivan 68' | Attendance: 14,596 |
| 21 February 1981 Scottish Premier Division | St Mirren | 2–1 | Hearts | St Mirren Park, Love Street |
| Frank McDougall 44' Jackie Copland 76' | Pat McShane 70' | Attendance: 3,412 |
| 28 February 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 1–1 | Partick Thistle | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Walter Kidd 28' | Tony Higgins 30' | Attendance: 3,491 |
| 7 March 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Aberdeen | 4–1 | Hearts | Pittodrie Stadium |
| Walker McCall 34' Alex Hamill 70' (o.g.)Drew Jarvie 53'Ian Angus 66' | Alex Hamill 70' | Attendance: 10,208 |
| 14 March 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 2–1 | Rangers | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Ian Redford 4' (o.g.) Frank Liddell 69' | Ian Redford 43' | Attendance: 11,500 |
| 21 March 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Morton | 3–0 | Hearts | Cappielow Park |
| John McNeil 25' Drew Busby 52'John McNeil 77' | Attendance: 2,898 |
| 24 March 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Kilmarnock | 2–0 | Hearts | Rugby Park |
| Ally Mauchlen 44' Stuart McLean 81' | Attendance: 1,445 |
| 28 March 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 0–4 | Dundee United | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Paul Sturrock 1' Billy Kirkwood 21'Paul Sturrock 46'Billy Kirkwood 82' | Attendance: 3,786 |
| 1 April 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Celtic | 6–0 | Hearts | Celtic Park |
| George McCluskey 23' (pen.) David Provan 25'Frank McGarvey 29'George McCluskey 47'Murdo MacLeod 62'Murdo MacLeod 75' | Attendance: 13,228 |
| 4 April 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 1–0 | Kilmarnock | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Dave Bowman 43' | Attendance: 1,866 |
| 11 April 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Aberdeen | 1–0 | Hearts | Pittodrie Stadium |
| Doug Rougvie 85' | Attendance: 6,357 |
| 18 April 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Hearts | 1–2 | St Mirren | Tynecastle Stadium |
| Scott Maxwell 5' | Frank McDougall 28' Alan Logan 68' | Attendance: 2,649 |
| 25 April 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Airdrieonans | 1–2 | Hearts | Broomfield Park |
| Alexander Clark 56' | Gary Liddell 42' Gary Liddell 85' | Attendance: 1,737 |
| 2 May 1981 Scottish Premier Division | Rangers | 4–0 | Hearts | Ibrox Park |
| Jim Bett 19' Bobby Russell 33'Ian Redford 35'Willie Johnston 62' | Attendance: 9,770 |
