Hartley on a high as Tynecastle fans vote him the top boy in maroon

GIVEN his form over the second half of the season, it was perhaps inevitable that Hearts midfielder Paul Hartley would pick up the 2005/2006 People's Choice award from the Evening News.

The Scotland internationalist has not only been the form player at Tynecastle over the past few months but arguably the top man in the SPL. His scintillating displays have helped Hearts into the Champions League qualifiers for the first time in their history and to claim the Tennnet's Scottish Cup.

When Hartley first signed for the Jambos it's fair to say that he wasn't universally accepted by the Hearts support due to a previous spell at Capital rivals Hibs.

An indifferent start on the pitch didn't help him win over the fans either but as his performances improved so too did the fans' opinion of him to the extent that he has now achieved cult status in the maroon half of the city, thanks in no small part to his hat-trick in last month's Scottish Cup semi-final against his former employers.

Last term was far and away the best of his career and his commitment to the Hearts cause is there for all to see with his lung-bursting runs and constant geeing-up of team-mates.

The former St Johnstone midfielder's 17 goals this term also helped him to finish the campaign as Hearts' joint leading scorer with Czech ace Rudi Skacel, who had looked like running away with the People's Choice crown after his explosive early-season form.

The fact Hartley has talked in recent weeks of his desire to end his career with the Jambos will have been music to the supporters' ears given just how key a player he has become for the Jam Tarts.

And, if he can continue to produce the kind of form he has this season, in the years to come there is every chance the Hearts fans will have further successes to cheer.

Of course, the Gorgie side's amazing season has been achieved due to a team effort and it was no surprise to find that hot-on-the-heels of Hartley in the People's Choice voting was inspirational skipper Steven Pressley.

The former Dundee United and Coventry defender has proved not only a fantastic player for Hearts since being signed by former manager Jim Jefferies but also a great ambassador.

With the off-field problems well documented at the club this term, Pressley often found himself in the glare of the media spotlight firstly after the sacking of George Burley and latterly of Graham Rix.

At times it appeared from the outside as though he was holding the club together single-handedly and his displays on the pitch have been just as important.

Initially alongside Andy Webster and more latterly with Ibrahim Tall, Pressley has been an integral part of the most miserly defence in the SPL.

His no-nonsense style of defending has made him a firm favourite with supporters, who donned white Elvis Presley-style jump-suits and wigs at the Scottish Cup final in tribute to their club captain.

Skacel had been leading the People's Choice voting at the halfway stage of the campaign but as the goals dried up and his displays became less influential he began to slip down the table.

Despite signing for the club on a permanent deal he looks almost certain to have played his final game in a Hearts jersey although he's certainly left the fans that adored him with plenty of happy memories.

Skacel's dip in form has allowed the now frozen-out Webster and goalkeeper Craig Gordon, to pip him in the ratings.

Webster and Pressley formed the best defence in the country in the first three quarters of the campaign while Gordon showed time and again why he is Scotland's undisputed No.1.

The unsung Robbie Neilson, who only missed one league game this season for Hearts also fared well.

Taken from the Scotsman