MARK DONALDSON'S CUP FINAL WEEKEND

OCCUPATION:

DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR - RADIO FORTH
FEATURE WRITER FOR THE JAMBO
FREELANCE JOURNALIST

THURSDAY MAY 16th

Press Day at Tynecastle and as well as getting the usual pre-Cup Final stuff for Radio Forth, I was also working for Sky News and getting interviews to be aired on their sport bulletins in the build up. Therefore I had to do every interview twice, one for radio and one for TV. Paul Ritchie had just signed a new two year deal and seemed relieved, Jim Jefferies was his usual talkative self, twelve minutes worth of stuff - and that was only two questions!!! I also interviewed Hammy, Dave McPherson, Colin Cameron, Lockie and Robbo who was just hoping to be in the Cup Final team....considering JJ told the players the team on the Monday he was being very coy. Anyway press day over and back to Radio Forth to edit the interviews - which took all day!!

FRIDAY MAY 15th

Put the audio to good use by co-hosting a Hearts cup final special on Forth AM between 6pm and 7pm. Interspersed with music and hopefully it sounded OK. Phoned a few contacts and drafted up two possible cup final teams with subs, one with Flogel in, the other with Hammy in. Chose the first one...lucky guess!!

SATURDAY MAY 16th

Had to be at Radio Forth at 9am to record the 11.30 Sportsdesk, and set off for Parkhead at 10.30, picking my mate up at Hermiston Gait on the way. Arrived in Glasgow on the sunniest day there for a while. Grabbed a bite to eat at the nearest McDonalds and entered Parkhead at 1.10pm. As Radio Forth only have access to live coverage of league and Coca Cola Cup matches, I was limited to after match interviews, but I was also working for the Jambo and so I had to do player quotes etc. My seat was plum in the middle of the centre stand, surrounded by 10,000 blue noses, who would devour me if I showed any indication of my preference.

3:01:00 - Steve Fulton goes down in the box, and the ref awards a penalty. My face has one of those timeless, gullible expressions on it, a sense of utter disbelief, but of course I couldn't show any emotion or risk losing my life. Mickey scores and my facial expression is unmoved, my mouth still wide open aghast at the proceedings in front of me. Only 89 minutes to go.

Somehow we managed to go in at half-time still one-nil up, although in all fairness, Rangers had most of the possession, but never really troubled Gilles, apart from a couple of occasions.

At half time there was a sense of disbelief in the press box that a team from the Capital had dared take the lead against one of their own. Anyway the consensus was that Hearts lead would be short lived and the 'mighty' Glasgow Rangers would start playing in the second half!! Even I, in my heart of hearts, feared the worst and I just prayed we could hold on.

Stephane Adam does the unthinkable...it's 2-0. Now, a tiny little thought about the Open Top Bus...NO....I can't tempt fate at this stage. Time to start wishing there were 30 seconds in a minute, and not what seemed like 120 seconds per minute!!!

Rangers bring on McCoist and I think to myself that the script has already been written. Super Ally, in his last game for Rangers, grabs a sensational hat-trick to win Rangers the Cup, and end an era.

4:44:00 Knew it. HE pops up to narrow the scoreline, and we're in for the most nerve-wracking last eight minutes ever. When David Weir fouled McCoist on the edge of the box, the Ibrox legions in front of me erupted in joy, and then in the space of 10 seconds vented their fury at Willie Young. I WASSCARED. A free-kick was awarded, and i sighed an imaginary sigh, making sure I didn't give the game away, or else.....

A look at my watch, another look, yet another....has Willie Young's watch stopped. Hammy performs miracles in defence and then the moment Hearts fans of all ages had been waiting years and years for.

The final whistle to signify Hearts as 1998 Scottish Cup Winners. One problem though - I'm still surrounded by my 10,000 blue friends!!!!

I put my head in my hands and thank the necessary people!!! Let the crowd disperse and then head to the touchline for interviews. The players are still on the pitch, and I grab Stephane and Gilles for the post-match interview. I believe I sounded a little excited!!!!

I managed to get David Weir as well, before they all headed inside to begin the champagne celebrations. JJ appeared for the customary after match interviews holding a glass of champagne. My microphone was thirsty - it was a hot day - and JJ's glass of champagne was no more...all over his suit. Just as well they'd just won the Cup Final, or I would just have done my last ever interview with anyone associated with Hearts!!!

Anyway a quick chat and congratulations with Leslie Deans, and I'd had enough. I had to get out of Parkhead to show my emotions. I picked up my stuff from the Press Room, was stopped by my work colleague Hugh Keevins, who congratulated me for being a Jambo and on my team's success - it was him who revealed my footballing allegiance to the listening public the month before at Ibrox for the semi!!! I don't care now, I want everyone to know I'm a Jambo, and a proud one at that. Into the car park to meet my mate, and I just cried and cried. Before Radio Forth, I'd missed about 10 Hearts games in 12 years, so I'd seen my fair share of disappointments. That's now all in the past.

The journey back through to Edinburgh was slow, but did I care!!! Back home via the off license to get the champagne, and also the via the local Hearts pub in Penicuik - The Crown Inn - to see who was already celebrating.

Quickly home to get changed into my Hearts top and shorts...looking completely daft, but I didn't care. Back to the pub to start a night of celebrations, and to start thinking about being on top of that bus tomorrow........

SUNDAY MAY 17th

The culmination of the best weekend of my life. Having already spoken to Hearts press officer - Douglas Dalglish - on the previous Tuesday, Radio Forth were granted permission to do live inserts into both Forth FM and AM from the top of the bus. Unfortunately there were no takers to do this hard task, and I had to be persuaded very hard before finally succumbing to pressure!!!!!!

There was only going to be one person from Radio Forth on that bus!!!!

Words cannot express what I saw that day. From the time when I was getting interviews outside the city chambers, to going inside for the civic reception, to getting on the bus for the most memorable bus ride of my life, the whole day went too quickly - even the LRT bus seemed to be going faster than normal!!!

A journey, which took one hour and six minutes, but will live with me forever. Arriving at Tynecastle with all the broadcasting equipment, I quickly dashed inside to set it up. The press box in the main stand is the old business suite, just in front of the director's box, and it offered the perfect view of the forthcoming events. Eventually it all wound down, but the posterity of the occasion has been captured on film, and I hope you enjoy the following pictures, I certainly did, and will enjoy them for oh so many years to come.....

Proud to, proud to be, proud to be a..........JAM TART.

MARK DONALDSON