Crock Locke sees off stuffy steward

LIFELONG Jambo Gary Locke almost saw his dream day ruined on Saturday.

The Hearts captain was forced to watch his beloved team from the sidelines as he nursed a knee injury on Scottish Cup final day.

Captain for the day Stevie Fulton made a touching gesture by hauling him up onto the podium and the pair lifted the trophy together.

But for Locke that moment nearly never came when safety stewards refused to let him on the pitch.

He said: "I really didn't think I was going to get on the park.

"There was a bit of commotion downstairs, the SFA said that the boys who didn't play in the final were not allowed on the park to celebrate which I thought was totally out of order.

"But they eventually saw sense and let us on to celebrate.

"It got a bit heated. We had to get the chairman and the manager in the end and they still weren't going to let us on the park. I mean being a Jambo myself I've waited 22 years for this and to not see it would have been a severe kick in the teeth for me.

"It's been a long time coming, you could see that by the reaction of the fans but it was all worthwhile in the end.

"It wasn't arranged for me to collect the trophy but when I went on the park to celebrate Stevie Fulton said to me 'come on, let's go and get that trophy' which meant a lot to me because it was the 14 guys out there that done the business and I just sat in the stand and watched.

"But you'd better believe I kicked every ball.

Damage

"It was a great gesture, not only from Stevie but all the lads. They were the ones who went out there and did the damage so I shouldn't have got the plaudits. But I was over the moon to get up there.

"I don't know if I'll be getting a medal, of course I'd love one but the most important thing for me is that Hearts have won the cup.

"It takes the pressure off us now because it has been a long time in coming.

"I've talked about this day for a long time and what I'd do when we did finally win the Scottish Cup but as I said it's been a long time coming - I think I'll just go home for a couple of juices," he laughed.

"I had a bit of a nervous time during the game. I popped out and missed the Rangers goal and then someone came over to me and said Rangers had just got a penalty and I couldn't believe it but fortunately for us it was just a free-kick."

Also battling to join the celebrations on the pitch was winger Jose Quitongo. He said: "It was terrible, crazy, very bad.

"Because we won, we wanted to get on the pitch to celebrate with the team but they wouldn't let us.

"We did get on the pitch though and I was happy.

"I'm going to party now, I don't drink but I'll maybe drink tonight."

The team coach had to wait as skipper Fulton gave a urine sample for a random drugs test.

He eventually emerged from Celtic Park at 7.30pm ready to join the lads on, and on top of, the bus.

The former Celtic star's last Scottish Cup winners medal came in the eighties.

But victory this time around was so much sweeter for the ex-Falkirk man.

He said: "We knew we had a good chance of winning today with people like Jorg Albertz missing from Rangers.

"We knew that if we followed our game plan right then we could win and that's how it worked out.

"I think there was a bit of luck involved as well. I don't know of it was a penalty or not at the end for McCoist. But it went our way and I think we deserved it.

"We spoke a lot before the game about our plans for the midfield. I think a lot of games are won there I think that's how we won the game.

"If Gary Locke wasn't injured he would have been there to lift the Cup.

"He's a Hearts man through and through so it wasn't such a big deal to me, I was happy just to win the Cup.

"It was a nice touch being the captain, especially back at Parkhead.

"Most of the boys were inspired when they went out for the warm-up and saw all the fans together in the one bit.

"The noise we got off the Hearts supporters was frightening and it was only half full then.

"It was much sweeter than the medal I won with Celtic because I wasn't playing that day.

"So to be on the park and then go and lift the Cup was magnificent."

It was Fulton's fall that gave the Gorgie men their early lead from the spot inside the first minute.

He explained: "The guy clipped my heels, I wasn't sure if it was inside or outside the box, I don't really know if it was a penalty.

"But I won't lose any sleep over it."