Neil Critchley admits Hearts legend Gary Locke has made sure he knows all about the club’s proud history in the Scottish Cup.
And the Jambos boss insists the former captain and manager has also been a huge help in helping him settle into life in Gorgie. Hearts – three-time winners of the competition since 1998 and runners-up in three of the last six seasons – will look to move into the quarter-finals when they clash with St Mirren on Monday night. Critchley has enjoyed watching those triumphs back on YouTube and listening to club ambassador Locke’s experience of lifting silverware 27 years ago.
Critchley said: “I’m fully aware of the history that we’ve got in this competition. I know we’ve had some near misses in the last seasons, losing out on close games and penalties. Our last victory was in the 2011-12 season, wasn’t it? It’s just fondly remembered. Hearts is a club that we want to be competing for trophies. We want to be successful and you want to create memories. I know people obviously talk back to those victories.
“There was 1998, I think there were over 200,000 people lining the streets. Gary was talking to me about it the other day and we all want that. Some of the staff have been here for a long time. They speak about those stories and the memories and it’s brilliant.
“There’s nothing more that I want to do with this staff and this group of players than go all the way in this competition. I’ve seen some of the footage from the wins too. The history and the tradition of the club is vitally important and me being aware of it is important. It just helps to get you connected with the football club and see what it means to everyone.”
But Critchley admits it’s not just trips down memory lane that he appreciates from Locke after hailing the 49-year-old’s support off the pitch since he took over in October. He added: “Speaking to Lockie and seeing his passion for this club, there’s no one who is more desperate than him for this club to be successful.
“What I would say is, like a lot of the people up here, Lockie’s selfless, he wants the best for this club, it’s not about him. That’s rare in football – for a lot of people it’s about them and their own careers. It’s not with Lockie, he just has a genuine love of Hearts and wants this club to be the best it can be and be as successful as it can.
“I love that about him and I love that about the people here because I fit in well to that. Lockie’s such an infectious person, he’s been brilliant for me. Coming up here with all the staff, it’s been an enjoyable period of my life, my coaching journey, but it’s only a short period and I want that to carry on for a longer period.”
Critchley has Hearts heading in the right direction after inheriting a team from Steven Naismith that was in disarray. Three wins from a four-game unbeaten league run in January led to Critchley being named Manager of the Month but the 46-year-old wants to create memories, not collect awards.
He added: “I get a little bit embarrassed really, I don’t even know where that award is now – it’s at home somewhere. It’s about the memories, it’s about what we do, it’s together. Yes, it’s nice and of course you’re respectful and you accept them, no problem.
“Honestly, the best feeling I get is about the players and how they are performing and how they’re improving. I can see the spirit in the togetherness growing. That’s the biggest success I think you can have at any football club, because that hopefully then leads to what you want it to do on the pitch.”