Hearts set to become a force in Scottish football on return to Tynecastle says Gary Locke
Sunday 12 November 2017 20:33, UK
Gary Locke believes that a revamped Tynecastle can be the catalyst for Hearts to re-establish their place at the forefront of Scottish football.
After 13 games, Hearts have yet to play at home this season as the main stand in Gorgie has been redeveloped, but they are scheduled to return to their own ground on 19 November, ending their three-month stay at Murrayfield.
Locke, who made 153 appearances for the club before a brief spell as manager four years ago, says the future is looking bright for Craig Levein's side.
He said: "I can't wait to get back to Tynecastle. We've missed playing there, no doubt about that, and the team has done reasonably well where they are in the league bearing in mind they have not played a home game yet.
"Murrayfield has been good but it's ceratinly not the same as playing at Tynecastle.
"When you're playing at Tynecastle with a massive Hearts support behind you it does make a big, big difference. I know the players are looking forward to getting back there to what will be one of the best stadiums in the country.
"The stand is out of this world and I think it can help take the club to a different level. We will never be able to have the fan base of Celtic and Rangers but maybe it will help us get a little closer to them.
"Hopefully we'll be able to make a few signings in January and really kick on from here."
Locke, who now works as an ambassador for the club, was speaking at the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the Heart of Midlothian War Memorial at Haymarket in the west end of Edinburgh.
The service marks the sacrifice made by members of Sir George McCrae's batallion in the First World War, a unit which included 13 members of the Hearts playing staff as well as players and supporters of rival clubs such as Hibernian, Raith Rovers, Falkirk and Dunfermline.
Locke said: "It's a huge part of the club's history and heritage, McCrae's battalion, players who went away to war and never came home. It's great to see so many people come out and pay their respects.
"There is a lot going on at the moment. We've got the development of the stadium. It's a great time to be part of Heart of Midlothian but this makes it all a lot more humbling when you see the amount of people that turn up today. It shows what the club means to people.
"It unites everyone and shows you the importance of what these guys did."
