Ridgers is waiting to make his mark

MARK RIDGERS has heard all the chatter and he knows that Hearts are intent on taking a more youthful approach to team selection next season as they attempt to reduce costs. But when it comes to the Scotland Under-21 goalkeeper, the prospect is far from daunting.

Speaking as he helped launch the Scottish FA’s new partnership with Big Hearts, the Hibernian Foundation and Edinburgh City Council to deliver increased grassroots football in the city, he said he can still remember virtually every minute of his introduction to first-team football. The Hearts youngster was at Ross County at the time and was anticipating another 90 minutes simply making up numbers on the bench when he was thrust into the action. He says that unexpected experience means he now goes into every game fully prepared to take advantage of any similar opportunity.

“I was 15 years old and was on the bench for a CIS Cup game. I can tell you everything about it. Craig Samson got injured and I was called on. Since then I have always been switched on and aware that I could be involved in a game. That has helped and it gives me a lot of belief, because you can doubt yourself as a young player.

“I left school at 15 to go straight to professional football. George Adams, the director of football, took me to County and Scott Leitch was the manager. They showed faith in me by sticking me on the bench at the age of 15 and I didn’t expect to go on. We won 4-2. I went on with 15 minutes to go against Stranraer and we were winning 2-1 before making it three then four, but Michael Moore scored late for a header. So I did concede a goal on my debut.”

Having built on that experience with loan spells at Airdrie United and East Fife, the lad who made his Hearts debut in the second half of the recent match against St Johnstone is now keen to enjoy a more prolonged run in the Gorgie side.

“I’ve waited long enough and it was a case of when it came I had to enjoy it, and I did do that. It is 45 more minutes than I had in the SPL before. Nobody can take that away from me and it’s a case of building from that now.

“Jamie [MacDonald] has come into the team and done really well and he is starting to show he is a really good goalkeeper. It’s a case for me of getting the head down, working hard and hopefully getting another chance.