I’m going to Gorgie on a family Halliday
Andy’s dad’s cousin is Hearts fan chief
JOINING the Jambos was a family affair for Andy Halliday as he revealed the connection he has with the Foundation of Hearts that played a part in his signing.
The former Rangers midfielder penned a twoyear deal at Tynecastle this week after his five-year spell at Ibrox came to an end in the summer.
No one is in any doubt where the 28-year-old’s allegiances lay growing up in a Gers-daftaft family.
But FOH directorGarrydirectorGarry Halliday wasas in a unique position too influence the ex-Middlesbroughsbrough man’s choice of club. ub.
“He’s certainlytainly been bending my dad’s ear quite a bit! He’s my dad’s d’s cousin,” said d Halliday. “It has been well documented which team I support and my family supports but Garry’s mad Hearts, being an Edinburgh guy. “He was one of the happiest fans when it got announced. He is somebody w ho haha s followed my career, even going back to when I was playing for Livingston. “He’s got a good relationship with the Hearts fans, being in the supporters’ trust, so I’m glad I made some people happy!”
Halliday wasn’t short of offers outside of Scotland, after initially saying it would be difficult to play for another Scottish club after leavinglea Rangers.
But a combination of some optionsop falling through, and thenth seeing what Hearts had to offer, meant he was more thanth happy to put pen to paperpa at Tynecastle.
“First and foremost, it’s a big club,” he told Hearts TV. “They’reT obviously in an unfortunateun position where theyth probably shouldn’t be.
“I had the privilege to talk to the manager three weeks agoag and I loved his ideas and his ambition for the club moving forward.
“Thirdly, it’s still a fantastic squad and they’ve still got a lot of top-quality players that I’d be happy to play with and call team-mates.
“I’ve said before that my favourite away stadium to play at has always been Tynecastle. I’ll enjoy being the home player for once and playing under the fans when they get back in the stadium.
“It ticked many of the boxes and I’m delighted to get it over the line and get back to playing football.
“The immediate goal is to get Hearts back into the top flight at the first time of asking. It’s a challenge I’m confident we can achieve.”
Halliday’s experience of playing in and winning the Championship with Rangers appealed to Jambos manager Robbie Neilson.
And the player himself clearly doesn’t see himself as being too good for the second tier, having no qualms about dropping a division.
“I’ve experienced lower leagues than this one as well,” the former Walsall and Bradford City star said with a laugh.
“These difficult away grounds that you have to go to, it might not be too glamorous but it is all part of football.
“I’ve got a brother who plays in Junior football so I certainly can’t complain about the Championship.
“It’s going to be hard playing in front of no fans for a while but the motivation is there to get the club back into the top flight.”