Hearts to give fans a night to remember

HEARTS have sold more than 22,000 tickets for tomorrow night's UEFA Cup match with Sparta Prague after promising to deliver a spectacular array of pre-match and half-time entertainment at Murrayfield.

Supporters arriving at the club's European home will be treated to a dance routine from Scotland's finest professional dance troupe, the Scottish Rockettes, a stunning pyrotechnic display as the teams emerge from the tunnel and a half-time sky dive from specialist skydivers the Golden Lions.

Tickets for the match are on sale until 7.15pm tomorrow evening and prices start at £12 for adults and £6 for concessions. They can be obtained by calling 0870 787 1874 (24 hours), booking online at www.heartsfc.co.uk or in person at the Hearts ticket office.

The club's new CityStore in the St James Centre in Edinburgh is also selling tickets while stocks last in an attempt to meet demand. As sales edge nearer the 25,000 mark, with 3000 having been distributed to local primary school children through Hearts' Education and Community Trust scheme, a club spokesperson said: "There has been a noticeable increase in demand for tickets for Thursday night's game.

"This may be down to the fact that this will be Hearts' first European tie this season that is not on TV. We also expect that with pre-match entertainment and fireworks we'll witness a great atmosphere at Murrayfield. After that we have no doubt the fans will, as always, be in good voice by the time the football begins.

"This is a hugely important game for the club. We want to help generate a fantastic atmosphere. It is important that we, as a club, play our part by helping ensure that Sparta Prague face an intimidating and passionate crowd."

Tomorrow's crowd will be supplemented by a representative contingent from the Royal Regiment of Scotland [RRS]. More than 100 soldiers have accepted an invitation from Hearts to attend the UEFA Cup first round, first leg.

The club's close relationship with the Royal Scots can be traced back to 1914, when 13 Hearts players became the first volunteers to join Sir George McCrae's famous battalion. They were followed by several hundred supporters and this tradition was continued during the Second World War.

The spokesperson continued: "We have had a number of individual requests from members of the armed forces to attend games at Hearts on their return from active service. We felt that given the club's historic links with the armed forces, we could extend a wider invitation and we're delighted to have been able to offer a night of European football."

Taken from the Scotsman