Heart of Midlothian travel to Celtic Park on Saturday needing only a draw to secure their first Scottish top-flight title since 1960, and Edinburgh is braced for an unprecedented celebration should they succeed. The match, played in front of an estimated 60,000 Celtic supporters, has captured the imagination of neutrals across Scotland and beyond, with many hoping to see a break in the long dominance of Celtic and Rangers.
Fans have travelled from as far afield as Australia to witness the occasion. Josh Mill, a 24-year-old season ticket holder, flew home from Sydney after following Hearts' title charge from abroad. Unable to obtain a ticket – only 752 have been allocated to Hearts supporters – he will watch the game in Edinburgh. "There was no doubt in my mind. I'm not going to miss this," he said. Dave McLaren, an administrator of the Jambos Kickback fan forum, also missed out on a ticket but is clinging to the club's slogan, "believe". Having seen Hearts narrowly fail to win the title in 1965 and 1986, he called this "almost like last chance" and predicted "mayhem" in the city if Hearts triumph.
The fixture carries wider significance for Scottish football, where Celtic and Rangers have won 110 of the 120 titles contested since the league's formation. Many fans resent the Old Firm's financial and political influence, and Hearts supporters believe referees have been subconsciously swayed in Celtic's favour – particularly in Wednesday night's controversial penalty at Motherwell. Gerry Hassan, an academic who has attended matches at 122 grounds across Scotland, noted that Aberdeen in 1985 were the last team outside the Old Firm to lift the title. He described the current duopoly as "suffocating" and said he was backing Hearts "as a tactical fan for the greater good".
Political backing has come from Ian Murray, the Labour MP for Edinburgh South, who helped rescue Hearts from financial collapse in 2013. He said there would be "tears from everyone" if Hearts win and predicted "raw emotion off the scale". Should Hearts hold on for a draw or victory, a raucous victory parade through central Edinburgh is planned for Sunday, with civic leaders preparing a reception at the city chambers.
