“Last season was a whirlwind,” admits Hearts fan Charlie Macleod-Adams, who is very much putting things mildly.
Having gone 66 years without a league title, Hearts went into the final game of last season within touching distance of clinching the Scottish Premiership, only to fall to a 3-1 defeat against eventual champions Celtic.
It was a heart-crushing outcome after what had been a sensational season, but Hearts still earned themselves a spot in the first round of Champions League qualifying, which meant only one thing. One of football’s most stirring anthems was back in the competition for the first time in 20 years.
Originally written by Hector Nicol in 1958, The Hearts Song has become part of the club’s DNA, roared out ahead of every home game. A song of pride, passion and, well, heart, it’s the quintessential pre-match anthem, leaving every hair on your body standing on edge and a tear threatening to burst forth each time you hear it.
Hearts’ return ended in the first round of qualifying, Austria’s Sturm Graz winning 6-0 on aggregate. But after making the two-hour trip from his Helensburgh home near Glasgow for the historic occasion, Charlie took us along to Tynecastle to experience the anthem for ourselves.
“I was five years old the last time we played a Champions League game, so it was a full-circle moment for me to go as a grown man and experience it for myself. It was an unreal feeling, travelling to the stadium, knowing I’m going to see my boyhood club in the Champions League. It means so much to even be in the same ballpark as all those European giants. It’s astounding.
“My dad grew up in Edinburgh with his brother, and he was an avid supporter of Hearts. He would always get me something to do with Hearts when I was younger. My father passed away when I was very young, and I don’t have any of the shirts or anything from back then, but I have this watch that he gave me that I always take to games, and it keeps me connected to him.
“One of the highlights of last season was against Aberdeen at Tynecastle. We were on a fantastic run around February, and they brought out Colin Chisholm, who had re-recorded The Hearts Song in 1986, to sing on the pitch. Obviously, all four stands are going to belt out the song no matter what, but that game was astronomical, and we won 1-0.
“When the fans start singing, the sound pierces through you. It’s a real boost before anything’s even started. The song itself is about what communities can achieve in football. It’s all about camaraderie and community if you look at the lyrics: ‘Though some say that Celtic and Rangers are grand/The boys in maroon are the best in the land.’ It’s about how we’re standing out and this is our story; this is our song. It’s nostalgia for the good times – ‘Hearts, Hearts, glorious Hearts’ – but, equally, it shows younger fans there’s still that winning mentality.
“It builds a camaraderie, not just with the fans but the players as well. It’s the city coming together to support this team: ‘Auld Reekie supports them with pride’, which is the affectionate term for Edinburgh.
“When you’re singing it in the stands, belting it out in unison, you get this feeling of hope. But for me it’s a personal connection because I’m not just singing about the team my dad supported throughout his life, but the city that I’ve got a connection to through him. It’s like I’m singing it for him since he can’t sing it any more. It’s a lump in the throat kind of moment. It’s something you do every week, home and away, singing for your community, for the people around you.
“I’ve seen grown men cry, I’ve seen couples embrace. It just brings something more. It brings a passion, and it’s a massive motivator. Other fans know the words too because it’s ingrained in Scottish football.
“Football is a way of life. Whether you’re on the pitch or supporting your club, you’re there because of football. There’s so much more to it than just kicking a ball around. It’s a way of bringing people together from all walks of life.”
“Last season was a whirlwind,” admits Hearts fan Charlie Macleod-Adams, who is very much putting things mildly.
Having gone 66 years without a league title, Hearts went into the final game of last season within touching distance of clinching the Scottish Premiership, only to fall to a 3-1 defeat against eventual champions Celtic.
It was a heart-crushing outcome after what had been a sensational season, but Hearts still earned themselves a spot in the first round of Champions League qualifying, which meant only one thing. One of football’s most stirring anthems was back in the competition for the first time in 20 years.
Originally written by Hector Nicol in 1958, The Hearts Song has become part of the club’s DNA, roared out ahead of every home game. A song of pride, passion and, well, heart, it’s the quintessential pre-match anthem, leaving every hair on your body standing on edge and a tear threatening to burst forth each time you hear it.
Hearts’ return ended in the first round of qualifying, Austria’s Sturm Graz winning 6-0 on aggregate. But after making the two-hour trip from his Helensburgh home near Glasgow for the historic occasion, Charlie took us along to Tynecastle to experience the anthem for ourselves.
“I was five years old the last time we played a Champions League game, so it was a full-circle moment for me to go as a grown man and experience it for myself. It was an unreal feeling, travelling to the stadium, knowing I’m going to see my boyhood club in the Champions League. It means so much to even be in the same ballpark as all those European giants. It’s astounding.
“My dad grew up in Edinburgh with his brother, and he was an avid supporter of Hearts. He would always get me something to do with Hearts when I was younger. My father passed away when I was very young, and I don’t have any of the shirts or anything from back then, but I have this watch that he gave me that I always take to games, and it keeps me connected to him.
“One of the highlights of last season was against Aberdeen at Tynecastle. We were on a fantastic run around February, and they brought out Colin Chisholm, who had re-recorded The Hearts Song in 1986, to sing on the pitch. Obviously, all four stands are going to belt out the song no matter what, but that game was astronomical, and we won 1-0.
“When the fans start singing, the sound pierces through you. It’s a real boost before anything’s even started. The song itself is about what communities can achieve in football. It’s all about camaraderie and community if you look at the lyrics: ‘Though some say that Celtic and Rangers are grand/The boys in maroon are the best in the land.’ It’s about how we’re standing out and this is our story; this is our song. It’s nostalgia for the good times – ‘Hearts, Hearts, glorious Hearts’ – but, equally, it shows younger fans there’s still that winning mentality.
“It builds a camaraderie, not just with the fans but the players as well. It’s the city coming together to support this team: ‘Auld Reekie supports them with pride’, which is the affectionate term for Edinburgh.
“When you’re singing it in the stands, belting it out in unison, you get this feeling of hope. But for me it’s a personal connection because I’m not just singing about the team my dad supported throughout his life, but the city that I’ve got a connection to through him. It’s like I’m singing it for him since he can’t sing it any more. It’s a lump in the throat kind of moment. It’s something you do every week, home and away, singing for your community, for the people around you.
“I’ve seen grown men cry, I’ve seen couples embrace. It just brings something more. It brings a passion, and it’s a massive motivator. Other fans know the words too because it’s ingrained in Scottish football.
“Football is a way of life. Whether you’re on the pitch or supporting your club, you’re there because of football. There’s so much more to it than just kicking a ball around. It’s a way of bringing people together from all walks of life.”
“Last season was a whirlwind,” admits Hearts fan Charlie Macleod-Adams, who is very much putting things mildly.
Having gone 66 years without a league title, Hearts went into the final game of last season within touching distance of clinching the Scottish Premiership, only to fall to a 3-1 defeat against eventual champions Celtic.
It was a heart-crushing outcome after what had been a sensational season, but Hearts still earned themselves a spot in the first round of Champions League qualifying, which meant only one thing. One of football’s most stirring anthems was back in the competition for the first time in 20 years.
Originally written by Hector Nicol in 1958, The Hearts Song has become part of the club’s DNA, roared out ahead of every home game. A song of pride, passion and, well, heart, it’s the quintessential pre-match anthem, leaving every hair on your body standing on edge and a tear threatening to burst forth each time you hear it.
Hearts’ return ended in the first round of qualifying, Austria’s Sturm Graz winning 6-0 on aggregate. But after making the two-hour trip from his Helensburgh home near Glasgow for the historic occasion, Charlie took us along to Tynecastle to experience the anthem for ourselves.
“I was five years old the last time we played a Champions League game, so it was a full-circle moment for me to go as a grown man and experience it for myself. It was an unreal feeling, travelling to the stadium, knowing I’m going to see my boyhood club in the Champions League. It means so much to even be in the same ballpark as all those European giants. It’s astounding.
“My dad grew up in Edinburgh with his brother, and he was an avid supporter of Hearts. He would always get me something to do with Hearts when I was younger. My father passed away when I was very young, and I don’t have any of the shirts or anything from back then, but I have this watch that he gave me that I always take to games, and it keeps me connected to him.
“One of the highlights of last season was against Aberdeen at Tynecastle. We were on a fantastic run around February, and they brought out Colin Chisholm, who had re-recorded The Hearts Song in 1986, to sing on the pitch. Obviously, all four stands are going to belt out the song no matter what, but that game was astronomical, and we won 1-0.
“When the fans start singing, the sound pierces through you. It’s a real boost before anything’s even started. The song itself is about what communities can achieve in football. It’s all about camaraderie and community if you look at the lyrics: ‘Though some say that Celtic and Rangers are grand/The boys in maroon are the best in the land.’ It’s about how we’re standing out and this is our story; this is our song. It’s nostalgia for the good times – ‘Hearts, Hearts, glorious Hearts’ – but, equally, it shows younger fans there’s still that winning mentality.
“It builds a camaraderie, not just with the fans but the players as well. It’s the city coming together to support this team: ‘Auld Reekie supports them with pride’, which is the affectionate term for Edinburgh.
“When you’re singing it in the stands, belting it out in unison, you get this feeling of hope. But for me it’s a personal connection because I’m not just singing about the team my dad supported throughout his life, but the city that I’ve got a connection to through him. It’s like I’m singing it for him since he can’t sing it any more. It’s a lump in the throat kind of moment. It’s something you do every week, home and away, singing for your community, for the people around you.
“I’ve seen grown men cry, I’ve seen couples embrace. It just brings something more. It brings a passion, and it’s a massive motivator. Other fans know the words too because it’s ingrained in Scottish football.
“Football is a way of life. Whether you’re on the pitch or supporting your club, you’re there because of football. There’s so much more to it than just kicking a ball around. It’s a way of bringing people together from all walks of life.”
