GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 16: A Hearts fan looks dejected during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park, on May 16, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
For 10 minutes on the evening of May 13 Hearts fans felt that they had won the SPFL Premiership title.
Liam Gordon’s 85th minute equaliser for Motherwell against Celtic meant that they would be three points clear of the champions going into the final match.
As their team had just scored a third in their 3-0 win over Falkirk all was well in the world of the Jambos.
For some the 40 year hurt inflicted by Albert Kidd was starting to clear away.
The clip below highlights the joy among Jambos as news came through of Motherwell’s equaliser.
Young and old celebrated. One chubster in an orange anorak pointed to his watch as if that provided added significance.
Had Motherwell scored a third goal to win the match the SPFL trophy would have been presented that night at Tynecastle. What a moment to be a Jambo, even their cousins were cheering them on as they lost at home to Hibs.
The final whistle blew on Hearts beating Falkirk 3-0. All attention turned to news from Fir Park.
When Kelechi Iheanacho tucked away his stoppage time penalty to win the match for Celtic hearts sunk. At that moment their dream was over.
Fans and players alike knew that they were heading to defeat on Saturday at Celtic Park.
Heres a wee video of hearts fans getting excited when motherwell made it 2-2. They actually thought for 8 months they were winning the league but the cream always rises to the top. Breaking hearts in the last 10 mins of the season. It was amazing pic.twitter.com/FBRTitSMyY
— Joseph P Sloan prc (@sloanybhoy7) June 7, 2026
Hearts do have the significant consolation of being declared as the People’s Champions.
THE NEVER ENDING PAIN OF BEING A HEARTS FAN
According to legacy media outlets the eyes of the world were on Scotland hoping that Derek McInnes’ side could deny Celtic a fifth successive title.
They were following every bit of news from Hearts. The entire world wanted to know what Blair Spittal had for breakfast.
In Madrid and Milan the locals were singing the Claudia Bravo song. It wasn’t just Tom English that had posters of Anne Budge on his bedroom wall.
The football world was rooting for Hearts.
Alas the People’s Champions finished second to Celtic.
Half of the team that failed to get a draw against Celtic won’t be seen again in maroon.
Captain Lawrence Shankland’s head was halfway to Ibrox when he played against Celtic.
Ten days later Shanks was living the dream. Switching second place for third without a penny of a transfer fee being paid to Hearts.
Substitute goalie Craig Gordon is battling to put the injustice of losing a football match behind him as he prepares for his World Cup debut.
So was the heartache
— Joseph P Sloan prc (@sloanybhoy7) June 7, 2026
Still time for us to bottle it pic.twitter.com/57uXFim4mi
— Paul Richardson (@PaulRichie88) June 7, 2026
F**k them and the White horses they rode in on.
The Peepul’s Champions eh?
It cheers me up every time I see these losers. They’ll never get a better chance but they Heartsed it.
GLORIOUS.
It was McInnes himself who lost that final league game before a ball was even kicked,
with his “disgusting” comment about our late penalty.
He was rattled, and he let his emotions get the better of him.
He should have been calm, confident and avoided the faux controversy,
and simply state that nothing has changed:
he’s taking his team to play to win at Parkhead on Saturday – and to win the league.
Spot on Bob,that was Hearts Kevin Keegan moment when Fergie F****D up Keegans head with Keegan on Sky Sports giving it,I would love it if we beat them,but he he didn’t and Newcastle won F**K all,just like Hearts.
So McInnes and that outburst at the end of us beating Motherwell,carried on into the Hearts players mind all the way through to Saturday and niw beyond,that’s what lost them the league,they were already a broken team before showing up at Parkhead for the final fame,abd they have their manager to thank fir that.
BOOM!
Posters of Anne Budge on his bedroom wall – that’s one horrible thought, it’s just put me off my dinner
So you ain’t going to Budge on that one.
Still got it taped on Sportscene…
The tears were in their eyes in advance…
Either that or The Tynecastle floodlights we’re bloody bright !