Hearts stadium announcer Scott Wilson says no football is ‘sair to bear’

In the first of a series of profiles, Andrew Smith look at how the vital behind-the-scenes staff at football clubs are coping with the shutdown of the game

Hearts stadium announcer Scott Wilson and his son Chris in position to gee up the home fans at Tynecastle.

A couple of weeks ago, Scott Wilson was having a “wee mump and moan” to himself about all the things he had to fit in to make his stadium announcer gig at Hearts work. The 57-year-old regrets that now with the shutdown imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s sair to bear,” is how Wilson reflects on the loss of his fix of football compering at his beloved club. “I’m desperately missing it.”

As with so many others who have an involvement in the game, Wilson treasures it. It is 18 years since the radio presenter was first asked by then chairman Chris Robinson to revamp the audio entertainment down Gorgie way. Since then, it is fair to say he has become the best known in his field in Scottish football. In no small part because he resists the anodyne. He is edgy, but within parameters.

“I’m just a fan with a microphone,” he said. “And football isn’t life or death – and can’t we all recognise that distinction now – but something that should be escapism. It’s taken far too seriously. I know where the line is, I push it, but never overstep it.”

Wilson does pinch himself that his talents have taken him to the inner sanctum of the club he loves, made him even part of its character on matchdays and beyond. He has provided the entertainment for players’ weddings, and fraternises with their families in the lounges .

“I just think I’m just a guy from Edinburgh and I am on first-name terms with these players, know them well, when if I didn’t do this job I’d be looking up to them.”

In this crisis, Hearts, as with so many other businesses and individuals, face desperately challenging times. Yet, Wilson doesn’t pretend it impacts on him directly that owner Ann Budge has asked all staff to take a 50 per cent wage cut.

“I don’t charge the club too much,” said Wilson, who has his son Chris now selecting the music as he gees up the crowd.

“I would never do anything for free, to me that results in the service you provide not being valued, but I would be there as a supporter anyway, even if I wasn’t behind the mike. Though I certainly wish I was going to be soon, especially with the situation as it is. Part of the miss is that the end part of the season was so important with the situation with relegation.”

One of Wilson’s proudest boasts is that, in more profitable days for Hearts, he would always ensure visiting European teams would be properly welcomed, whether by using his smattering of Spanish or German… or learning a bit of Serbo-Croat when Hearts played Zeljeznicar. “I gave a little address in the language, played U2’s Miss Sarajevo and received a lovely letter from the club thanking me.”

His distinctive voice has also given him some brushes with fame.

“People hear me and ask me to record a voicemail message. And it is always for me to say my rallying call: ‘let’s make some noise!” The silence settling on Tynecastle could never be golden for Wilson.