Spotlight on the people who really matter...the fans

MP George Foulkes knocked back the chance to rub shoulders with the fat cats today - so he can sit side-by-side with his fellow Jambos.

The Labour junior minister was offered a five-star hospitality package by sponsors Tennent's.

But he'd rather pull on his scarf and mingle with the punters than sit on his hands in a private box.

Tynecastle season ticket holder Foulkes, a shareholder for the past 15 years, will yell himself hoarse along with sons Roderick and Alexander and 22,000 other Hearts fanatics.

He said: "It was a very kind offer from Tennent's, but I've watched the previous Interview: Gary Ralston rounds from the stands with the boys and there's no reason to change that for the final.

"Anyway, I prefer sitting with the Jambos rather than having to dress up to watch from a corporate hospitality area.

"This is a chance to let my hair down and if we win the cup I'll travel through to Edinburgh with the boys tonight for a little celebration."

Foulkes was an armchair Jambo until Roderick, 27, and Alexander, 22, started taking an interest in football as kids.

All three have been regulars home and away ever since - and Foulkes even tries to arrange his parliamentary diary round the fixtures list.

He said: "Even now I'm a minister, my private office keeps a note of the Hearts fixture lists and tries to arrange meetings around it.

"However, if the Prime Minister wanted to arrange a get-together I think he would just take priority!

"It has been a joy to turn up for work this season, but my friends and colleagues Eric Clarke and Martin O'Neill are both Hibs fans so it hasn't been so good for them.

"My main rivals this week have been Rangers fans Brian Donohoe and Adam Ingram.

"But I'm not alone - the new SNP MP John Swinnie is also a Hearts fan.

"I like to watch as many matches as possible but if not I make sure I hear the score.

"I often have to stay with ambassadors or High Commissioners abroad and they always arrange a short wave radio so I can get the scores on the BBC World Service.

"Most recently I had to arrange a radio in South Africa, but it's not in the least eccentric - most of the British officials in these countries crowd around the set as they're football fans too."

Foulkes, who wrote of his love of Hearts in a book compiled by MPs called Football and the Commons People, hasn't had much reward for his unstinting devotion.

But he reckons all that could change today.

He said: "We have a fanzine called Always The Bridesmaid and I guess that sums it up.

"It takes a lot of dedication to be a Hearts fan because every year you think it's going to be OUR season and it rarely is.

"I've gone through the agony of losing the league and cup in 1986 and my hanky is still wet from the 5-1 cup final defeat from Rangers in 1996.

"But on the plus side I've enjoyed some good European occasions, particularly going to Belgrade with the boys on the team flight a few seasons ago - that was a great joy for the two of them, a trip they will never forget.

"However, Jim Jefferies has made all the difference since he arrived.

He's a brilliant manager and you wonder what he could do with the Old Firm's millions at his disposal to spend.

"So hopefully my best moment as a Hearts fan is yet to come - at 4.45pm this afternoon when we lift the cup!"