It's hard to believe it's been a decade since I was moved so much by one kid plundering his piggy bank in a bid to help keep his beloved Hearts afloat.
Back in 2013 there was an administration, a story came out that this wee guy had donated all of his coppers which amounted to around £6, it had a profound impact on me. With the news that the club have posted a record £20.8million turnover for the 2022/23 campaign in their latest financial accounts, I can let a few secrets out of the bag from a time when the Jambos were on the financial brink.
There were a handful of players who paid a monthly direct debit during that time when there was a real fear the institution would go to the wall, myself included. Boys like Danny Wilson and Jamie MacDonald had money taken off them every month and it went straight into the club. Time and time again it's been the fans who have saved the club so I can't think of any other team which would be a safer investment.
The monthly support of the fans via the Foundation of Hearts which pours in thousands every month via pledges has been combined by James Anderson's donations which has swelled the £4.5m received from that arm of support.
If I had £4million I would put it in. As an investment my money would be safe as houses. Even if it was squandered, I'd still throw it into the pot, that's the depth of feeling I have for the club.
I've always felt I owed Hearts and I owed the fans and when the club officially went into administration I was phoned by Gary Locke and told I would need to take a 50-per-cent pay cut. I was given one hour to make a decision and I called him back within five minutes and told him that was fine by me.
I didn't really give it a moment's thought and I also pledged other money to the club as well. Only the people working inside the club at that time will know that but it was the right thing to do.
Hearts became part of my soul from the age of a 12-years-old. The best picture I have from my entire career is standing on Tynecastle with grandpa when I was just about to become a teenager. It was my first professional club and my family were invited to watch a game in hospitality and I met Lockey who was the captain at the time and now he's one of my best mates.
Jim Jefferies was the manager and mentor so all of these things are intertwined in how I feel about Hearts as well as the connection I have with the fans. Hearts will always have young players coming through and I know how much the club can grab a hold of you.
I remember leaving Partick Thistle as I wasn't enjoying it, it was nothing to do with them, I just didn't feel it, there was not the same buzz I got that I had playing for Hearts. I moved to Ayr, who are my hometown club, I thought that would give me that buzz but it didn't even touch the sides. I always played my best when I believed in something and I was playing for a cause.
Hearts are a side on the up, Steven Naismith is a good young manager and he'll prove that but Rome wasn't built in a day. All that's required is consistency and now we have a good news week where the bank balance makes good reading.
Dipping into the financial figures we see that there has been a 42 percent increase on the previous year's turnover figure and net assets came to £24.4million. It's a mind blowing set of accounts from where the club was just ten years ago.
It's a testament to the fans who turn up every week, home and away. They know the truth, once Hearts is in you, it never leaves you.
