Gary Locke remembers ‘brilliant, bubbly boy’ David Hagen

The pair were team-mates and room-mates at Hearts

David Hagen scores a late winner for Hearts against Celtic at Hampden Park in 1995.

Devastated to learn of the passing of David Hagen, Gary Locke says he will always remember his former team-mate as “a bubbly boy” who “was brilliant with both feet”.

The former Rangers, Hearts, and Falkirk player, who also had spells at Clyde, Livingston, Peterhead and Bo’ness United, lost his battle with Motor Neurone Disease on Friday, aged just 47.

“I knew him really well. He was a good team-mate and I was gutted when I heard the news,” said the former Hearts captain, who broke into the Gorgie side around the time Hagen joined from Rangers.

David Hagen started his career at Rangers and featured in the club's 1992-93 treble success

“He was a year older than me and we had played Scotland Under-21s together and then he signed for us and our first trip away was a friendly against West Ham under Tommy McLean and I roomed with him as well. It is tragic news; horrendous.

“To be fair, making us room together probably wasn’t Tommy’s best idea but I think because I was still quite new to the squad and was one of the younger lads, Tommy must have thought that it would be best to put us together. It suited us because he was a good lad and we had a laugh. At that time it was probably myself, Hagey and Allan Johnston who were the young lads in and around the squad.

“It was an older squad and I think Hagey was about the only young lad that Tommy ever signed, the rest were all in their 30s! He was a great team-mate and a great lad.”

The attacker had been diagnosed two years ago with the devastating illness, which also claimed the life of Fernando Ricksen in 2019 and Jimmy Johnstone in 2006.

David Hagen playing in the 1997 Scottish Cup final for Falkirk, where he spent five years

“I knew a while ago that he had MND but it was still devastating to hear he had passed away at such a young age,” added Locke. “It’s devastating for the boys who played with him but especially for his family. They must be absolutely devastated.

“He was a great lad and anyone who knew him will tell you that he was quite a bubbly boy and in the dressing room he liked a laugh and a joke. But when you get diagnosed with that type of illness, it is a fight from then on and he fought right to the end. It must have been so difficult but that shows his character. He will be sadly missed.”

Although still in his early 20s when he joined Locke at Tynecastle, Hagen had made his professional breakthrough at Rangers, in 1992, playing his part in the march for nine-in-a-row and the 1992-93 treble success. He also featured in Europe.

“He had come from a very good Rangers squad,” added Locke. “They were a great side and to get games in a team that won the treble and did as well in Europe as that side did, he was no mug.

“He was brilliant with both feet. That’s one thing I always remember about him, his left foot was just as good as his right and he could go both ways and cross the ball with both feet.

“He scored a few goals for us. He scored against Celtic at Hampden in his first season with us, that was a late winner and was probably his most important or most memorable goal for us.

“He was a good player and it’s just a shame he was only with us for that one year at Hearts but Tommy left and I think the gaffer [Jim Jefferies] came in and made quite a few changes and swapped Hagey to Falkirk for Stevie Fulton.

“To think back to those days, when we had a lot of laughs as young lads making our way in the game, it is really, really sad. To be told he has passed away, it does bring back all the memories and it does bring home just how lucky we are to be healthy and how sad it is for him and his family.”

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