Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon has finally broken his silence on the club’s agonising Scottish Premiership title near miss at the end of the season.
The veteran keeper admitted he had spent three weeks searching for the right words to describe the emotions surrounding that painful final day defeat.
Gordon, aged 43, is currently in America with the Scotland squad and could become the oldest Scotland player to represent his country at a major tournament.
Despite preparations for international duty, his mind has remained firmly on the dramatic and heartbreaking conclusion to Hearts’ league campaign.
A 3-1 defeat at Celtic Park on the final day of the season ended the Jambos’ hopes of claiming a historic Scottish Premiership title.
That result came after a controversial midweek penalty was awarded to Celtic at Motherwell, which significantly altered the goal difference equation heading into the last round of fixtures.
The penalty meant Martin O’Neill’s side needed any victory over Derek McInnes’ team rather than winning by three clear goals, easing the pressure on the Hoops considerably.
Hearts had taken the lead at Celtic Park before eventually succumbing to second-half injuries and late pressure as the home side completed the job.
A mass pitch invasion followed Callum Osmand’s late third goal, forcing the visiting players to head straight up the tunnel and onto the bus still wearing their kits.
When the squad returned to Edinburgh, thousands of supporters had gathered outside Tynecastle to greet the players in a deeply emotional reception.
Gordon posted on Instagram, saying: “It’s taken 3 weeks to find the words, and I still don’t really think I’ve found them.”
He acknowledged how quickly football moves, referencing trips to Hampden, Miami, and New York since that difficult afternoon, while remaining grateful for the opportunities in front of him.
However, he was clear about the weight of emotion that day carried, writing: “But that day was one of the most emotional moments of my career. The anger, the disappointment, the injustice. But the support and togetherness too.”
The scenes outside Tynecastle clearly left a lasting impression on Gordon, who described the connection between the squad and the supporters as a reminder of what football truly means.
He concluded: “We knew that would be the last time that group was together, and we wanted it so much for each other. It wasn’t to be, but I’m so proud to be part of that team and what we achieved.”
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