Fans back Hearts' half-season tickets

More than four times the amount from last season – a rise of around 300 per cent – were sold recently to boost the 10,000 full season tickets that were snapped up by fans for Jim Jefferies' first full season back at the club. Under Jefferies, Hearts have become a more entertaining team and, despite two recent defeats at the hands of the Old Firm in Glasgow, the fans are digging into their pockets to stay behind the Gorgie outfit.

"The demand for the half-season tickets has been quite remarkable and we sold more than four times the amount of last season," said a Hearts spokesman. "The team's terrific results and exciting style of play have certainly caught the imagination and we have seen the evidence of that in the uptake since the offer was launched.

"Our fans are renowned for their loyalty with Hearts the only club, in fact, to show an average increase in attendances over the past ten years."

Meanwhile, Hearts starlet Robert Ogleby has spoken of his delight at opening his account for Wales Under-21s in a win over Northern Ireland earlier this week.

Coventry-born Ogleby joined the Capital club last summer after being released by Coventry City, his hometown club. The 18-year-old qualifies for Wales through his grandfather and is the latest Hearts youngster to be on a high, having scored just after coming on as a substitute at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham.

"It was literally my first touch of the ball in the game and made it 2-0," he said. "I had to pinch myself after the ball went in but it's an absolute honour to have scored for my country and it was a very proud moment."

Ogleby added: "I'm told (new Wales manager) Gary Speed was there, so it was pleasing to do well in front of him. The goal clinched the victory for us so it was good to score an important one. It didn't work out for me at Coventry after two years as a youth there and I think it was a blessing in disguise for me to leave. I'm really enjoying it at Hearts and the under-19s are having a good season."