Believe the Hearts hype, says Fergie

BARRY ANDERSON

REMEMBER the hype? Remember the anticipation? Hearts were top of the league and flying after the season's opening three games brought them three victories, including a shock defeat of Rangers at Tynecastle.

The year was 1991, and the side under Joe Jordan contained some of the most costly employees ever to add their names to the Hearts payroll. Transfer fees of £750,000 each for John Robertson and Derek Ferguson were justified come the following May though, as Hearts split the Old Firm like an axe would a coconut to finish second.

It was October 5 before they even lost a league match, going down 3-1 to Celtic at Parkhead, forcing the entire nation to sit bolt upright in recognition of the rumblings down Gorgie. Sound familiar? Ferguson remembers it well.

"Regardless of the hype over our start, what we had together was a good dressing-room and some decent players," he says. "Every one of them worked for each other. That was why that team did well. We looked at Rangers and Celtic and knew they had better quality and we knew we couldn't match them individually, but, by god, I don't think any team worked as hard as we did that season. Hearts now have their own real quality players, so maybe that will allow the rest to be more workmanlike round about them. But I'm delighted because it's great to see a strong Hearts. We need this up here in Scotland and it's refreshing."

Now 38 and still a string-puller in midfield for Raith Rovers, Ferguson admitted he required a touch of schooling in the ways of the Jambos. He continued: "When I was at Rangers I was the one making new guys aware of what it meant to play for Rangers, but when I went to Hearts I was quickly told how important representing Hearts was by the likes of Gary Mackay and John Robertson. Big Craigy [Levein] as well.

"To get that vibe from those guys helped me take it onto the park, and I still have a lot of pals from my Hearts days like Scott Crabbe, who is with me at Raith Rovers now. In that dressing-room the Hearts players will believe they can win the league. Maybe keep it in there and don't shout about it, but you have to believe.

"People think they won't be able to sustain it, but who knows? Look at Greece last year winning Euro 2004. It would certainly be nice."

Takis Fyssas would concur, but Ferguson has his own reasons for willing success for Hearts in the years to come as two of his children lean towards a possible future in maroon.

"Two of my boys are training pro-youth with them, so there is a wee connection there. Darren (11) has been with Hearts for a year. He thoroughly enjoys being with them. Ross (8) is also training with the younger age group."

So how would Ferguson react if his boys helped Hearts pip Rangers to the league in a few years' time? "That would do me," he says.

Taken from the Scotsman