'Disa' points the way to Locke's success at Hearts

IT'S not often a thirty-something footballer plays in a side captained by a 20-year-old. But that's the remarkable situation Neil Pointon found himself in a little over 14 years ago when Gary Locke, a dyed-in-the-wool Jambo, was appointed captain just a matter of months after the Englishman had become one of Jim Jefferies' first signings in his previous spell as Hearts manager.

Pointon, or Disa, as he was affectionately known down Gorgie way, wasn't the only one in the squad at that time who could be considered something of a veteran. The likes of John Robertson, Gary Mackay, Dave McPherson and John Colquhoun were all the wrong side of 30 and still playing, while Gilles Rousset, Pasquale Bruno, Alan Lawrence and Steve Fulton – some of JJ's earliest recruits – would also have accumulated more than enough experience to have been considered for the captaincy when injury forced Craig Levein to hang up his boots prematurely.

It says an incredible amount, therefore, about Locke's character, leadership qualities and passion for the club that Jefferies felt compelled to make the rising star from Bonnyrigg his skipper.

Pointon believes it was a masterstroke. And, as he reflects on the recent return of Jefferies, Billy Brown and Locke to Tynecastle, the Englishman admits he wouldn't be surprised if the highly-regarded first-team coach comes full circle and ends up managing the club one day, a suggestion recently put forward by Jefferies himself.

"Lockey was a cracking young player," Pointon recalls. "Even though he was only 20, I definitely looked on him as a captain. The lad could play and he had a never-say-die attitude. He could play anywhere and was on the fringes of the Scotland squad before he got his injury. He never let the side down and it was only injuries that stopped him developing. He seems to be going down the coaching route now.

"There's no better people he could learn his trade from than Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown. If Lockey wants it enough and takes the time to learn as much as he can, then there's no reason why he can't go on to be Hearts manager. You just have to look at Craig Levein – he got his feet wet at Cowdenbeath and worked his way up to become the Scotland manager.

"There's a real opportunity or aspiring young managers these days if they can get the breaks and Lockey's in a really good place to develop himself."

While Pointon is delighted to see Jefferies and Brown back at the helm of his old club, he also feels Locke will have a massive influence in ensuring Hearts' cosmopolitan group of players appreciate just what is required to play for a club he considers to be Scotland's third force.

Indeed, evidence of hitherto unconvincing foreign players looking more up for the battle under the new regime could be found in much-improved performances from the likes of David Obua and Suso Santana in the weekend win over Falkirk.

"Lockey's Hearts through and through and I'm sure he'll be passing on that pride for the club to the young players and the foreigners," continues Pointon. "There's no doubt having someone like Lockey on the backroom staff will make sure all the players appreciate what's required. There were two sides to Lockey – the player and the fanatical supporter. When he was playing and part of the squad, he was a thorough professional. But if he was injured or suspended, he'd be in the stands with his family and friends, and then you would see the Hearts supporter come out.

"I think you need more of that in football. It's really sad that it's become so rare these days for a boy from the local area to come through and play for his team."

Pointon, who established himself as a cult hero while appearing 67 times for Hearts in what was a fruitful three-year spell, still keeps a close eye on events at Tynecastle, so he is on the ball enough to know that life under Vladimir Romanov won't necessarily be as straightforward for Jefferies as it was in the relatively serene late nineties. However, if anyone can get Hearts moving in the right direction, the amiable 45-year-old is adamant Jefferies is that man.

"Jim did a fantastic job the last time but I'm sure it's a different prospect now, with how it's run off the pitch," he said. "I'm sure if he's left just to concentrate on the football side of things, though, Hearts will pick up soon enough. He turned the club around in a short space of time the last time. A lot of players came in and a lot departed, while there were also a lot of youngsters who were given their chance. It's more of a cut-throat business these days in any Premier League, so Jim and Billy will have to weigh up whether they can get away with pitching in as many young lads as they did the last time. Jim's had his time away at Bradford and then Kilmarnock, but ultimately he's Heart's through and through. He wants them to be challenging the Old Firm and he'll relish being back involved with the Edinburgh derbies. I'm certain he'll get them back to where they belong, which is in third place and pushing the Old Firm, at the very least!"

Now residing in Wigan, Pointon, pictured right, remains in football as a part-time coach with Bolton Wanderers' under-15s. He may live some way from Edinburgh, but his heart will never be far from Tynecastle. It is obvious he feels indebted to Jefferies and Brown for hauling him aboard what he considers to have been an amazing adventure at a time when he might otherwise have been winding down his career.

"Jim and Billy were fantastic for me," he acknowledges. "They gave me a great opportunity when I was looking for a new challenge. Moving to Hearts allowed me to be involved in three cup finals and to play in Europe. I got to live in a lovely city and play in a great stadium in front of some fantastic fans. On my lounge wall I've got a picture of the little house I used to stay in, in Corstorphine, which brings back lovely memories. We played a great brand of football – it was just really fantastic times."

It would be folly to allow any player from that era to escape without sharing their memories of the Scottish Cup triumph of 1998. Unfortunately for Pointon, by the time the final against Rangers came round he had been marginalised following the arrival on the scene of a certain Gary Naysmith. Nevertheless, the former Everton and Oldham player was still very much part of things, as he became the club's unofficial cameraman for the weekend. Pointon's behind-the-scenes handiwork with the camcorder is available to view on YouTube.

"After the match, I just couldn't put the camera down because it was so spectacular," he recalls fondly. "Coming back along Gorgie Road to Tynecastle was just unbelievable. The lads were all climbing through the skylights of the team bus to get on the roof. It was just non-stop partying all the way through from getting off the bus until we got back on the open-top bus for the tour of the city the next morning.

"I've not watched the video for a while – I don't need to because the whole occasion's still locked away, vivid in my memory."