THIS TIME NEILSON AIMS TO TAKE A LEADING ROLE IN CUP BID

09:00 - 12 May 2006
As A 17-year-old, Robbie Neilson watched Hearts beat Rangers in the 1998 Scottish Cup final - and expected more of the same when he broke into the team.

Eight years and 158 appearances for the Tynecastle club later, the full back will finally get his chance to win some silverware when the Jambos take on Gretna in the cup final at Hampden tomorrow.

Neilson was still more than two years from his Jambos debut when goals by Colin Cameron and Stephane Adam ended Hearts's 42-year drought in the competition as they won 2-1 at Celtic Park. His role in the celebrations was peripheral as Neilson and his youth side team-mates followed on behind Jim Jefferies's full squad parading their less-vaunted Scottish Youth Cup.

But Neilson's season has been a positive one and the defender is now getting the recognition his consistent performances deserve.

Having stepped from the shadows into the limelight, he is keen to prolong his stay there with victory against Gretna.

Neilson said: "I was on the groundstaff in 1998 and just went along to the game, although I didn't go in the team bus. There were a lot of coaches that were taking player's friends and families to the match from Tynecastle and I was on one of them. I didn't really have any part in the final so it will be nice to play a bigger part this time.

"The day after the final back then, the team came back to Tynecastle to parade the trophy. I was out on the pitch as well, albeit behind the first team, because we won the Youth Cup in the same year, beating Dundee United. It was nice to parade our trophy with them and I am pretty sure there was a full house.

"I was only young at the time and I had just come in the door but I thought that would happen all the time. I soon realised it doesn't and you have to make the most of these sort of things. We have had semi-finals here and there but have not been in a final since. A team like Hearts should be fighting for the honours every year."

Paul Hartley is another Hearts player who has had a campaign to remember for the right reasons. Following his first Scotland caps last term against Italy and Moldova, four more - and his first international goal, against Slovenia - have followed this season.

So too have 17 club goals and countless more rave reviews - the most notable coming from current Hearts manager Valdas Ivanauskas, who described the 29-year-old as one of the best midfielders in Europe.

Yet for all his progression, he has just one medal to show from the effort he has put into a 12-year senior playing career.

For that reason, he has extra desire to beat the Second Division champions tomorrow.

Hartley said: "I won a First Division medal at Hibs but I don't know if that counts as I was only there for half a season and, if we win the Scottish Cup, that will mean everything to me.

"The fans here have been crying out for success but it has been eight years since Hearts won a trophy, which is far too long.

"Our fans have been absolutely fantastic this season and they feel something is going to happen here."