Mileson's big day out

MOST Chairmen and Directors of football clubs which reach a major final will don a good suit or even a black tie to attend the match. Gretna manager Rowan Alexander, for instance, wore full Highland regalia in the dug-out at Hampden yesterday.

His clubs owner the managing director Brooks Mileson does not usually make any concessions to such fashion demands, but yesterday he did realise it was a special event and at least changed his jeans for a new pair.

"Well I had to change them," said Mileson, "because me other ones were covered in pig shit." It is a fair bet that very few football club owners have ever had to muck out the byres before attending their teams' big day out at the Scottish Cup final, but then Mileson is not like any other club boss in the world. At the crack of dawn yesterday he was up and around the animal sanctuary which surrounds his one hundred acre spread eight miles south of Gretna attending to the various pigs, lamas, deer, horses and tortoises which reside there courtesy of his renowned generosity. The tortoises have a football connection, as they were handed in by some Dundee supporters a while back. "And you should see the size of them," said Mileson, "they are going to be giants and they could live to 100, so they'll see us all off."

For someone who has been the subject of intense media scrutiny in the last few days, 58-year-old Mileson seems remarkably unfazed by it all. The self confessed ageing hippy has taken it all in his stride, even when the radio station called him at six o'clock in the morning. On Friday night, as luck would have it, Mileson was attending a charity dinner in Edinburgh of all places. "There was 300 people and more in a room in the Sheraton and I remember thinking there was more there than we sometimes get at Raydale Park. It was all in a good cause, raising money for the Sick Kids Hospital, and I only do two of these dinners a year in any case - I'm not really a black tie sort of person. But what a reception we got from the Hibs and Hearts fans who were at the do, great friendly banter and a lot of money raised for a good cause. Posh is not Mileson's bag. He is much happier in pony tail and jeans sitting with his mates in the crowd which is exactly where he took his place yesterday at Hampden.

He had left Gretna after picking up his mates Lofty Grant, Jack Gass and Mick Galloway plus son Craig and an interloper from a tabloid newspaper who somehow made it into the people carrier which conveyed Mileson up the M74 to Glasgow, with the press following behind. Mileson's big day out had attracted something of a media circus who all descended on Michael Tartaglia's fish and chip shop in the shadow of Hampden. Mileson had gone there before the semi final and he was determined to get "the best fish and chips in Scotland" in the hope that it would bring good luck to his team. He maybe a millionaire many times over but Mileson appreciates the good things in life such as deep fried breaded haddock - these were Tartaglia's famous 'special' fish suppers and the media looked on as Mileson and chums wolfed it down there lunch and Michael's shop temporarily became the most famous fast food joint in Britain.

In typical Glasgow style a street urchin approached and asked Mileson if he was something called the "Real Radio renegade" which is apparently to do with a stunt to promote the station of that name. "Nah," quipped one of the Mileson crew, "he's just a renegade."

If so, he's a renegade who knows how to do good public relations, for he happily went through the whole rigmarole again to satisfy a couple of late photographers, which is why Hearts fans Dougie Thomson and Garry Sprott found themselves with fish and chips courtesy of the opposition's owner. It is such crowd pleasing antics which have made Gretna famous for more than just weddings, though Gary and Rebecca McBain will wonder what all the fuss is about as their start to married life coincided with yesterday's final. Well what would you rather do, start your honeymoon or go to a football match? As the fans made there way north from Gretna they will undoubtedly have spotted a huge trailer beside the motorway emblazoned with the Gretna motto: "Living the Dream". And in a sense, yesterday was a dream-like existence for Mileson. "If you had said to me back in August that we would win the league by 18 points and would reach the final of the Scottish Cup I would have told you to lie down on a couch while I sent for a psychiatrist."

But it was all real and everywhere that Mileson went good humour seemed to follow, the fans of both Gretna and Hearts exchanging banter with a man who single-handedly has put so much joy into Scottish football. The only sour note came on a Radio 5 Live interview in which Mileson suggested that Gretna were everybody's favourite small team "your not mine" said former Hearts Chairman George Foulkes who was immediately dubbed a smart ass Lord Fauntleroy by Mileson, who was clearly unaware of Foulkes's own pedigree as a terracing Tam at Tynecastle.

But Mileson was determined to let nothing spoil the day on which he lived the dream. Not even the absence of his fake cigarettes which helped him through the time in the smokeless zone that is Hampden could disturb him. "In all the pandemonium this morning I left my Crafeaways behind at the club," he explained. Earlier in the season Mileson had promised striker Kenny Deuchar an Aston Martin if he scored the winning goal in the Scottish Cup final. Shrewd businessman that he is, by the day of the final Mileson had talked the wager down to a sooped up Jaguar, but it would have still been the biggest win bonus in Scottish football at £80,000. "I ordered the car just in case," said Mileson. "But if he doesn't score it will just have to be a perk for me. During the game itself Mileson remained very composed and anyone who thinks that he is just on some kind of moneyman's ego trip should have seen the look of sheer exaltation when Gretna's equaliser hit the back of the net. That feeling is something only a true fan would know. During the agony of the penalty shoot out Mileson stood with his arms folded even as Derek Townsley's whole body shape showed that he just did not want to be taking that penalty. So the dream died but it will live again, maybe even in Europe where the Gretnacticos could even end up playing the Galacticos of Real Madrid and why not? For now we know where dreamland is - a small village just off the M74 a few miles inside Scotland.
All of the drama minute by minute

2 mins Roman Bednar just fails to connect with a Hartley through ball as Hearts take the early initiative.

8 mins Deividas Cesnauskis' twenty yard shot beats Alan Main but strikes the base of the post.

12 mins This time it's Rudi Skacel who shoots from distance, his shot held by Main. Seconds later, Jankauskas breaks free but Main repels his attempt.

18 mins Gretna push forward for the first time in the game, forcing two corners. The Hearts defence holds firm though.

22 mins Bruno Aguiar's attempt is deflected over by Mark Birch, saving a certain goal.

25 mins Paul Hartley races through on goal but loses control of the ball at the vital moment, allowing Main to collect.

26 mins Gavin Skelton's free kick is turned over by Craig Gordon.

34 mins Hearts are pressing forward but Gretna are defending superbly and keeping the favourites at bay.

37 mins It's first blood to Hearts as RUDI SKACEL hammers home from six yards after Jankauskas flicked on a Neilson throw in.

45 mins Gretna have not looked overawed but Hearts go in at half time a goal to the good.

48 mins Steve Tosh finds himself in space at the edge of the Hearts box but his shot trundles just wide of Gordon's near post.

53 mins Paul Hartley twice finds himself with room to shoot, his first shot is held by Main while his second flies over the bar.

56 mins Rowan Alexander makes the first change of the match, bringing on David Graham for Davie Nicholls.

61 mins Roman Bednar breaks through on goal and is brought down by Mark Birch. However, referee Dougie McDonald only books the Gretna full back. Hartley sends the free-kick over and the underdogs breathe easy.

67 mins Robbie Neilson saves Hearts. David Graham rounds Craig Gordon and as he looks set to roll the ball into the net, Neilson slides in and robs Gretna of the equaliser.

72 mins Hearts have brought on Brellier and Pospisil in place of Bednar and Aguiar.

75 mins Cesnauskis brings down John O'Neil and Gretna have a penalty. RYAN MCGUFFIE steps up and although Gordon saves his attempt, the Gretna midfielder puts in the rebound.

77 mins Jankauskas is inches away from connecting to Skacel's cross.

79 mins Hartley almost restores Hearts' lead, his shot shaving the bar with Main beaten.

84 mins Ryan McGuffie breaks clear but Gordon is out quickly and blocks his shot. From the corner, Graham sclaffs his volley wide with the goal gaping.

90 mins Ninety minutes have come and gone, Gretna hold on through two minutes of injury time.

91 mins Extra time; Gretna kick off, but Hearts have the first chance. Rudi Skacel's free kick deflects wide.

93 mins Jankauskas somehow heads wide from six yards, Gretna are holding on.

96 mins Rudi Skacel can't believe it as his shot cannons off the post. Hartley then sees his effort turned away by Main.

98 mins Gretna create their first chance of extra time, Deuchar heading over from Grady's cross.

105 mins Hartley's 30 yard free kick sails inches wide. Half time in extra time.

113 mins Both sides look shattered as the game moves tantalisingly towards penalties.

116 mins Skacel breaks clear and as he rounds Main, stumbles. However, referee McDonald waves away his penalty claims.

120 mins Paul Hartley is sent off for a petulant kick on Derek Townsley.

120 mins Penalty kicks as the final whistle goes.

Penalties Pressley scores; Grady scores; Neilson scores; Birch scores; Skacel scores; Townsley misses; Pospisil scores; Skelton misses. Hearts win 4-2 on penalties

Taken from the Scotsman