Long road back to fighting fitness for injured service personnel

But that respect isn't just historical. This season, the club is raising thousands of pounds for the Erskine charity, which provides care for former members of the armed forces. Serving soldiers and those recovering from injuries are also being invited to games, including on 27 March and 10 April.

A spokesman for Hearts explains: "Our history is hugely important to us and it's for that reason we are so heavily involved in supporting the work of the armed forces, particularly through our partnership with Erskine.

"We are delighted to be welcoming serving personnel to these forthcoming games, rightly giving them the chance to receive the acclaim of all the supporters."

A spokesman for 1 Scots adds: "The battalion appreciates all the support from Hearts, and recognises its historic link with the military. The guys are really looking forward to going along and are grateful for the opportunity."

Here, soldiers from 3 Rifles and 1 Scots, injured in recent tours of Afghanistan, who are hoping to get to one of the Hearts matches, tell their stories.

Click here to listen to a clip of Garrison FM

Lance Corporal Steven Higgins and Private Ian Blair, 1 Scots

Cousins Steven Higgins 29, and Ian Blair, 22, left to serve in Afghanistan together at the end of last year, with hopes that they would both be returning home to their families at the same time too. They did – but not because they finished their tour of duty but because both were badly injured in incidents just two days apart.

Twenty-one men have had to return home to Dreghorn Barracks due to injury since B Company headed to Afghanistan last October.

For Ian, who lives in Prestonpans with girlfriend Stacey, 22, his return was particularly hard to take – only a week later his platoon was attacked by insurgents. One of his close friends lost both his legs, two men were killed and another shot in the back. He explains: "I had to come home when I shattered my hip. We were climbing over walls in the compound, which is like a maze, and they are only six inches or so thick. We'd put a ladder over the top of it so we could get over, but I fell about 18 feet on to the rocks below.

"When I heard what had happened the week after I left, I was horrified. A tiny part of you feels relieved, but there is guilt too. What if I had been there? Would it have made a difference? At the end of the day you have to remember that this is the nature of the job.

"My friend Paul (who lost both legs] is recovering in a rehab facility now, and I visit him. He's doing well. But there is the guilt still."

Steven, who left behind his wife Sharon, 28, and children, Grace, two, and Joey, six months, returned to Dreghorn after badly damaging his back. He says: "I suppose it was bad luck from the start. Joey was born just two days before I went away and it was the hardest thing I have ever done, seeing him then having to leave.

"Before I left I knew that my back wasn't totally right because I'd slipped a disc during training. I wanted to go out and do my bit, after all that training, but all of the gear we have to carry proved too much for it to take. I lost all the reflexes in my legs and could not move. Now I get physiotherapy and nerve treatments several times every week."

Despite the painful injury, Steven is adamant that he will go back, if he is permitted. He says: "I guess there is a feeling of unfinished business. Your pals are out there doing their share, you're here with nothing but your thoughts. I hope to be back with the company soon."

Lance Corporal George Williams, 3 Rifles

It was a simple action which Lance Corporal George Williams, 24, believes saved his life – going to ask a mate for some chewing gum. It meant that when, minutes later insurgents opened fire on the base and a huge blast destroyed George's room, he wasn't in it.

He says: "It was about 6pm. We'd just had our tea, and everyone was doing day-to-day jobs. I was just chatting to a friend.

"Then we heard a big blast. The Taleban were firing into our compound. The first blast happened in my room, and the roof caved in. I believe God sent me to get chewing gum, as it saved my life.

"You don't think about it at the time. You just want to fight. I thought I was going to die."

George was hit by indirect fire, causing fragmentation to his hip and elbow, in December. His wounds are still open, and need to be cleaned every day. Six of his colleagues were injured and one died in the attack.

He says: "We lost one man. He died from his injuries. He was one of my best mates. Some of them had bad injuries to legs and arms.

"You only think about it when the danger's over. When the aircraft came to pick us up, you had to prioritise the most seriously injured. Some of them are still in hospital, or sick at home." They were flown to Camp Bastion, before being taken to Selly Oak Hospital, in England, which specialises in treating injured soldiers. Now back at Redford Barracks, he has just started physiotherapy and is starting to get his fitness levels up again. He has also started a computer course, which he hopes to complete in a fraction of the usual time.

He describes the conditions in Afghanistan as "very basic", living in a simple compound built of mud. There was no TV or internet access, and only occasional phone calls using a satellite phone.

He says: "We were working all the time – the only free time was when you were sleeping. The place is so dusty, you have to keep cleaning your weapons. We used to go on patrol and have a chat with the locals. We'd try and solve their problems. We always had a translator, but I did learn a few Pashtu words. They could save your life in some circumstances.

"Before I left, my family knew what I was going into. We have a job out there to do. They know it's what I've chosen to do."

Rifleman Craig Beacham, 3 Rifles

Craig Beacham was left in no doubt of the very real danger he faced when he saw a colleague lose an arm and a leg at a practice range near their base. But it was just one missed step that led to the 20-year-old twisting his ankle and being forced to return home. He suffered stress fractures in his foot while carrying almost his own bodyweight in equipment.

The young soldier had hoped that a few days' rest would put it right. But when it didn't improve, doctors made the decision to fly him home last November.

Craig, who is originally from Weston-Super-Mare, says: "I was gutted. I was the first bloke back and I wanted to be out there with the boys. But I've got flat feet so I'm prone to this type of injury.

"In a way it's a relief to be home, but I'd rather be out there. There's a big sense of family there and I really love my job."

Despite his training, he says it was still a culture shock when they landed in Afghanistan last October. They had to cope with extreme temperatures of around 40C in the Afghan summer, which fall to below freezing in winter.

Craig says: "You see things you're never going to see in your life. It doesn't really feel real when you're out there. You never think you could be killed.

"When I first got there I saw a man lose his leg and arm on the practice range. Everyone thought it was safe, but there was an improvised explosive device. I was a bit shaken by that.

"Afghanistan could be a beautiful country if they could just sort their problems out."

Captain Toby Hood, 3 Rifles

Captain Hood, 29, believes Taleban insurgents must have been watching him as he led soldiers on a foot patrol. They set off an improvised explosive device, and the force of the blast threw him to the ground.

He says: "I should've been in charge, but I found myself in pieces on the floor. Within 30 minutes I was heading out to Camp Bastion.

"I had a gloved thumb – it was like peeling a banana. I'm now deaf in one ear, and I had a big bit missing out of my thigh."

"But apart from that I'm fine," he adds with a smile. " I think the key is not to let something like that affect your future. We've all taken a knock – it doesn't matter what job you're in – it's just the knocks we get are caused by explosives."

Now back at Redford Barracks, Captain Hood is in charge of Sharpe's Platoon, which is made up of soldiers who have returned from sick leave, but are not well enough for active duty. Their aim is to help men fully recover and regain their fitness, as well as learning new skills. They have also arranged a programme of activities, including the Hearts match.

He says: "We're taking people from home sick leave and preparing them for getting back into normal employment. We're trying to keep them motivated, and make it enjoyable and proactive.

"There are guys doing very different things, with different injuries and abilities.

"The lads do their best to keep morale up. They're all professional soldiers, and they want to do the job they're trained for."

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