Real Hearts Supporters - Not Just The Paying Customers

After the victory over SC Braga on Thursday, the general opinion around executives, directors and guests was alike - "It doesn't get much better than this". Chairman George Foulkes nearly bounced into the Thistle Suite at around 10pm, thanking everyone for their contribution, especially myself, who he picked out simply because I was wearing my replica jersey. As the game started the atmosphere was as you'd expect from "non-supporters". Polite applause at chances, comments to each other about mistakes made and general robotics. However, at half time the talk was, while eating pies and ironically enough, prawn sandwiches, about how excited everyone was. The second half began and then Andy Webster scored the opener. The surrounding area was bouncing. To put a knife through the hearts of protesters, even Chris Robinson was spotted jumping around in celebration, hugging all in sight. Singing could be heard from all the men in suits, while I stood there conducting. As the half wore on, the suits themselves started the singing. As Paul Hartley bulleted home the second, the transformation was nearly completed, but at the moment it was about to happen, Braga scored a goal against the run of play from a wicked free kick, poorly given away as pointed out loudly from a tall man, with a bald head and a shaking rage. The game went on and the atmosphere began to sink back to it's familiar view of whispering and applause, until the 90th minute. Dennis Wyness took the ball to the touchline, and tried to get by a player earning a corner. The area stood in unison to watch, as Hartley's deep corner was controlled by Patrick Kisnorbo, and rocketed into the back of the net. At this point, the transformation was complete. Grown men wearing Hearts blazers jumped around with no care for dignity or thought. Robinson and Foulkes embraced and flew into the air in celebration, and I was pulled down a row into a group hug of 6 men, all of whom celebrated like I had never seen before.