Hearts star Ryan McGowan in desperate scramble to find winners' medal after losing it in celebrations

May 21 2012 By Craig Swan

RYAN McGOWAN last night revealed he lost his treasured Scottish Cup medal in the mayhem of Hearts’ Hampden celebrations.

The Australian ace enjoyed the day of his footballing life with a star-studded display in the 5-1 rout of Hibs.

With proud dad Jamie watching from the stand, McGowan had a dream day at the National Stadium.

His performance was capped when he dived full-length to head home his team’s fourth goal which put the contest to bed just four minutes after half-time.

McGowan was ecstatic after the match and danced jigs of delight around the park as 25,000 Hearts fans partied in the stands.

But he was brought to earth with a bump when he returned to the dressing room to find his cherished gong had gone.

McGowan was frantic – but a Hampden steward came to his aid when he rummaged through the confetti to find the keepsake.

The Aussie said: “I actually lost my medal on the pitch. I couldn’t find it.

“I came into the dressing room, looked down and thought, ‘Where’s my medal?’

“The little clasp had fallen off. I think a steward found it, which was good going with all that confetti on the pitch.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with it, to be honest. I’ll probably take it home, my mum will be dying to see it.”

Reunited with his medal, McGowan was able to savour the remainder of the weekend and admits it was special to have his father and family with him.

He explained: “My dad surprised me by coming over at the start of the week. He gave me a call and said, ‘Come and pick me up at Edinburgh Airport’.

“My dad was born in Coatbridge and has come back a few times but this was the first time he had seen me play for the first team.

“Every other time he has come over, I’ve been playing for the under-19s or been out on loan.

“So it’s his first time seeing me play for Hearts, first time seeing me in a cup final and the first time he has seen me score a goal.

“I got to see him at the end of the game and it was a special moment for my whole family. I made a big commitment coming over here at a young age. I wouldn’t have done that without their support.”

McGowan could not have dreamed the day could have gone any better as he rampaged up and down the right flank and caused mayhem to Hibs.

But the icing on the cake came when Rudi Skacel escaped the opposition defence to strike a Danny Grainger corner towards the goal.

Stephen Elliott’s flick was touched into the air by Hibs keeper Mark Brown and hovered tantalisingly for McGowan to launch himself and net from a yard out.

He said: “The goal came from a set-piece we’d worked on in training and I knew Rudi, with his shot, he was going to pull it and it was going to come that way.

“The keeper got a hand to it and I threw myself at it. It wasn’t that far out.

“You can’t put the emotion into words. It’s everything I’d been working for since I was a youngster. The whole occasion, the whole build-up. It was a massive relief.

“I get a lot of stick for my celebrations but being a defender, I don’t score too often. When I do, I guess I go a bit crazy!”

McGowan is heading Down Under for summer – but scoring at Hampden appears not to have whetted his appetite for the Dark Blue. He added: “I said if Scotland asked me to play for them I’d consider it, that’s all.

“I’ve played all my international football for Australia and want to play for the Socceroos. I suppose now I’ve scored at Hampden, maybe I’ll get another in a World Cup qualifier!”

Taken from the Daily Record