THEBOYIN MAROON IS TALK OF THE TOON
Locke on his love affair with Hearts ahead of his testimonial
FROM Mickey Mouse to the ‘Queen of Hearts’, Gary Locke has seen it all in two decades at Tynecastle.
And the club stalwart is convinced it is time for the Jambos to now prove they are ‘The Incredibles’.
Locke has been casting an eye back over a rollercoaster 20 years of service with his boyhood heroes ahead of tomorrow’s testimonial match in his name against Stoke City.
The 47-year-old suffered an injury-plagued playing career but still got to lift the Scottish Cup in 1998 despite not making the final.
Having lived out his fantasies as a player and captain, Locke then saw a dream move into management turn into a nightmare when Hearts were plunged into administration with him at the helm in 2013.
Relegation soon followed and Locke, who had also been a coach for the 2012 hammering of Hibs in the Scottish Cup Final, left the Gorgie outfit on a sour note.
But having since returned five years ago in an ambassadorial role, he is determined to focus on past positives and future hopes as he surveys the ups and downs since he first pulled on his beloved maroon in 1993.
He said: “I was really humbled and I never saw it coming but I was delighted when the club approached me about a testimonial.
“It’s a club where everyone knows how I feel about it.”
“My debut was something I dreamt of all of my life. A lot of kids now dream of playing for Real Madrid and Barcelona but my dream was Hearts.
“If I had played just once then I’d have fulfilled my dream but to do it so often was incredible.
“I was disappointed not to be playing in 1998 when we won the Cup but it was one of my most special memories, along with 2012.
“I’ve had a lot more highs than lows.
“Another was the day we came out of administration. I knew as the manager how bad a position we had been in and the day I was told the doors could shut was the lowest.
“There’s been ups and downs but I’ve loved every minute of it. Back in the day, we had a lot of dafties! I can assure you. I’m delighted I wasn’t around with social media.
“We loved a laugh and a joke, but when it came to the serious stuff, we were all bang at it.
“The manager [Jim Jefferies] never would have had it any other way.
“Once, when we were sitting second or third in the league, we went to Rugby Park and got beaten, I think 3-0. The manager was going berserk because we were poor.
“He cancelled our Christmas night out in Newcastle and got us all into training the next day. But the lads who hadn’t been playing hadn’t had the message, so they were all at Waverley station in fancy dress.
“So then you’ve got Minnie and Mickey Mouse rocking up for training!
“The timing couldn’t have been worse and sure enough we went three days without seeing the ball.”
In his own first managerial role, Locke admits that – like the team he was left with – he was too wet behind the ears to cope with everything thrown at him during administration.
But the relief of the club being saved and his pride in the role the supporters played in that has given way to optimism over where the team can go now under Robbie Neilson.
He added: “Last season just epitomised everything that is good about the club. We came up from the Championship and then finished third, which was fantastic.
Christmas bash was cancelled but next day you had Minnie and Mickey Mouse at training! GARY LOCKE ON HIS DAYS AT JAMBOS UNDER BOSS JIM JEFFERIES
“But, for me, with the size of the club, we should be looking at finishing third or fourth and getting into Europe and winning a trophy.
“That is where I expect Hearts to be and I think most fans expect us to be there.
“Robbie will be telling the players there isn’t any point in doing that one season and then being mediocre next season.
“We’ve got to try to set that example again and get up to where we all feel we should be.”