Danny Grainger no stranger to final act but craves a starring role

Published on Sunday 12 February 2012 03:26

HE has heard the tales of glory, witnessed the tears of woe. Time and again Danny Grainger has been close to a cup-final experience, just not close enough.

This season he is desperate for that to change and he believes that despite all the off-field distractions Hearts can put together a run that will take them all the way to the Scottish Cup final in May.

In 2006, he was at Gretna as they lived out their fairytale but he missed out on a role in the final chapter because a loan spell at Brechin earlier that term had left him cup-tied. In the end his team-mates lost out on penalties and he had the job of consoling his pals.

In recent months, though, he has learned all about the flipside of that day. These days he shares a dressing room with Rudi Skacel, who played his part in securing the Tynecastle side’s victory and the Czech hasn’t been shy when it comes to sharing his Hampden memories and stories of the glorious repercussions.

“In 2006, when they beat Gretna in the final it was a massive year and, speaking to the boys like Rudi, who were here when that happened, it just makes you want it more and more, for the fans as well. With everything that is happening with the club, we know it shows sometimes on the pitch, so it would be nice to give them a cup run all the way to Hampden.”

This week the Gorgie squad travels to Perth for a second shot at usurping St Johnstone and progressing to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup. Steve Lomas’s side offer stern opposition but everyone at Hearts knows what is at stake.

Grainger would gratefully risk his Gretna misery for the chance to experience a final from the pitch.

“I have been sat in the stand for three cup finals in my career and I also saw the Dundee United boys win the trophy two years ago. I was still really close to a lot of them and I could see what it meant to all of them and it makes you want have that feeling for yourself.

“They were on the open-top bus on the Sunday then they were away on my stag do on the Monday so it was a fun week while we were away and I’m just happy they all made it onto the plane! I have been in the stands when boys have won and lost cup finals and it’s something I really want to be involved in.”

Grainger left the club at the beginning of United’s cup-winning season and, while the likes of Jon Daly and Craig Conway remained close enough to be enlisted as ushers at his wedding, mixed with joy the he felt watching them from the Hampden seats was a tinge of envy.

In 2008 he’d had another sniff at the showcase occasion but Paul Dixon was preferred in the full-back role, leaving Grainger on the periphery when United lost the League Cup to Rangers on penalties.

“Hopefully we can get to the final this year. I fell short last season with St Johnstone, with two semi-finals, so I have not had a lot of luck in the cups. I go quite deep a lot of the time but just not far enough.”

But there are still some obstacles in the way and some of them are of the capital club’s own making.

The recent stand-off between Marian Kello and owner Vladimir Romanov means that Hearts have been denied the services of their first-choice goalkeeper. The late payment of wages has dogged the players, who eventually sought the intervention of the SPL. The next wage is due on Thursday but the news that the taxman is again turning the screw, allied to UEFA’s unwillingness to permit a date switch to allow this week’s cup replay to be televised and gift the clubs some much-needed cash, means there is again doubt over the club’s ability to meet all wage deadlines between now and the end of the season.

“You would like to think that won’t be the case. We have had two Sky games in three/four days and that’s money generated for the club. There were a few players moved on in the window, OK, not as many as we thought would move, but you would like to think come payday all bills will be sorted and we can just carry on what we have been doing on the pitch.

“At the end of the day there are bigger clubs than Hearts who are in situations worse than ours, the likes of Rangers, who are struggling as well. I don’t think it’s a case of if we get paid, it’s more a case of when.

“That’s what the boys have now got their heads round.”

After last midweek’s league setback at home to Celtic, Hearts can retrieve the situation in Perth on Tuesday. Grainger is clinging to that and desperate to edge closer and closer to a Hampden showdown in May that would create his own memories worth regaling.

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15

Hammy1874

Monday, February 13, 2012 at 08:55 AM

I wonder if any of the new boys in the Hibs dressing room have anyone they can ask about winning the Scottish Cup?

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14

jambo2006

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 11:18 PM

Scotsman get your website sorted ffs 2 full teams typed in but only shows half grrrrr while i'm at it..about time you fixed your re-fresh facility sick of a thread perhaps showing 8 comments, go in and it has 3, come out and its showing 12, go back in and it has 2 ffs !! Amateurish to say the least..almost as bad as my spelling lol

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13

jambo2006

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 11:10 PM

In an ideal world my team for Tuesday would be.....Kello..grainger...Webster...McGowan...Barr...Skacel...Robinson...Black...Templeton...G. Smith....Elliott 4 4 2 and go for it from the start !! Tho suspect team MacDonald...Barr..Webster..Zaliukas..Grainger...Taouil..Mrowiec...Obua...Robinson..Driver (if Temps unfit).Elliott in a 4 5 1

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12

pfhs77

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 10:52 PM

Black for Scotland.....best one yet!

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11

Baldrick

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:23 PM

I'm backing Hearts to win and go all the way in the tournament.

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10

busbyfth

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 07:35 PM

#9 ...Cannot agree......StJ like all clubs outside OF reckon it is a trophy they might win, therefore a totally new attitude for the replay-fresh competition. Saturday past won't bother them. Hearts had a chance to finish them off at Tynie, but partially due to a poor management of gameplan and substitutes, we never looked like doing the job.If I was a bookie - I would make it a toss of the coin between the two depending on Templeton (he's out and St J favourites) - if he doesn't play, Hearts lack some inspiration going forward as Driver has lost nearly everything he had (now mediocrity personified) and can only get it back if he starts 4 or 5 games on the trot, which he won't get the chance to do. First goal will be huge. Not that you want to know - but if temps out.......Suso should play and Skacel go out on the left (but played tight inside) At least the Spaniard sometimes sparks things off (including trouble)

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9

First Green

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 07:04 PM

Grainger doesn`t sound too convinced about being paid but that`s hardly surprising. #3 of course Hibs have spent money to retrieve league position but as most of the signings are loans we won`t bankrupt ourselves paying them after summer if they`re not good enough. Basically we`re spending what we`ve got, a policy unheard of in Gorgie in the last decade with the current ridiculous situation of players once again being more worried about being paid than winning matches. Reckon you`ll get through on Tuesday since Saints will be demoralised after yesterday -a pity Saints settled for draw last week cause they looked superior.

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8

what a chancer

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 06:06 PM

we know zali is a player who costs us points and cash every season,this is one of vlads terms that certain players must get a start its like a shop window for them but nobody is buying.

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7

Hen Broon

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 05:01 PM

Budd...outwith the OF the best midfielder in the SPL......would offer more to the pool than Ryan Stevenson or Danny Swanson who have been drafted in. Try watching him.

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6

busbyfth

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 04:42 PM

# 4&5.....Monikar sounds like a starring role in Deliverance.

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5

Billy Budd

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 04:16 PM

Mind you with monkey heid potter at the helm anything is possible

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4

Billy Budd

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 04:14 PM

Good enough to be involved with Scotland. Ha ha ha ha

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3

busbyfth

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 01:33 PM

# 2........It's because Zali's man to man marking is awful. His concentration levels are very poor so when his mind wanders he leaves the forwards space to get away from him. ........OFF subject - for the two or three FFFHibs eejits that infest the Hearts' threads (rest being OK) ................I have it that it cost the leith club plenty to buy out the contracts of the players they jettisoned over the winter. Couple that with the 9 additions that the Irishman (forget his name) has made, basically means that FFFHibs have released funds to be used of a level that is practically unheard of in their neck of the woods,i n a gamble to keep them in the SPL. This has occurred during a period of time when the reveniew coming into easter road has been at record lowsIS the biggest gamble that FFFHibs have taken for many many years.......if it doesn't come off, the repercussions are seemingly monstrous.

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2

Hen Broon

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 09:10 AM

Tuesday game is masssive. Important on & off the field. The game is not televised & it is up to the HEARTS fans to do their bit and support the side.Black will be a massive lost........his form this year is good enough to get him involved with Scotland..........hopefully Temps back. I would start SUSO as well.It will not happen but ZALI should be dropped .....was fine v Killie but he is clueless how to play v STJ forwards when they run off him.

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1

Baldrick

Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 06:35 AM

I think you will find yourself at Hampden in May Danny. Whether you will take the field is hard to say because, as you know, Hearts are full of star quality. Take your chances when they come is my advice. If you are on the park, a couple of goals in the March derby won't do your chances any harm.

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