Hearts fans' generosity praised with Inverness record attendance in sight as virtual tickets surpass 5k

Hearts fans are on course to break Inverness' record attendance. Picture: SNS

The initiative was launched by the Highlanders after a suggestion from the general secretary of the Federation of Hearts supporters, Steven Kilgour, of wanting to help the club out during the current pandemic.

Inverness, who haven’t played a home game since December, had donated to Hearts’ fighting fund back in 2013 when the club were in administration. From a meeting between the sides, £5 of every ticket sold above the average 650 away crowd would be donated. Around 1,100 Hearts fans attended the fixture.

With the upcoming match between the teams, which is due to be played later this month, having been picked for live coverage on being shown on the BBC, it has denied Caley Thistle of a PPV audience. With that in mind, Kilgour noted their desire to support the club in another way.

On Saturday, Inverness launched the club’s first ever virtual tickets which will act as a donation. Fans have two options: £5 for a click and print ticket or £10 for a hand signed souvenir match ticket and thank you letter from the club’s manager and Tynecastle legend John Robertson.

Hearts supporters have responded in remarkable fashion, snapping up the majority of more than 5,000 at the last update with tickets being bought in Australia, across Europe and in the United States.

Blown away

Former Hearts chief Scott Gardiner, now Inverness CEO, hailed the philanthropy of the Hearts support in a statement on the club’s website.

"On behalf of Chairman Ross Morrison and the Board of Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC, our Manager, players and staff, I would like to thank everyone who has supported our virtual match “ticket” initiative in this incredible first 24 hours or so,” he said.

“We thank as ever, the supporters of ICTFC who have once again stepped up for their club and spent their hard earned money to back us when the current pressures of the outside world are so great.

“We also thank the fans of the other Scottish clubs, both in the Championship and the Premiership who have also made such generous contributions to a game where their own team isn’t even involved and also fans of the clubs in England who have done likewise. Such kindness is a reminder of the strength of football fans and indeed our game of football.

“All of that said, we cannot emphasise how simply blown away we have been by the almost instantaneous warmth and generosity of the supporters of Heart of Midlothian FC.

Record attendance

With the ground’s capacity 7,822 and the current record attendance 7,753 for a match with Rangers, it is in danger of being broken with the game not until Friday, February.

Garder said: “As I write, we have now sold over 4,700 virtual “tickets” for our game on Friday, February 26th. The vast majority of which have been purchased by Jambos. To put this in some context for those who don’t know the Caledonian Stadium, that is the equivalent of selling out the 2,200 capacity South Stand which is the traditional away end that Hearts fans would have been occupying and also selling out the 2,200 North Stand, normally occupied by ICT supporters. This means that as things stand, Hearts fans have become the biggest away support (virtual or real) ever at the Caledonian Stadium.

"Our capacity is 7,822 and we have now managed to sell 60% of that in just over a day.

“When we had sold 1,000 tickets in less than 90 minutes yesterday, Robbo joked with me and I really mean joked, that our record attendance which is 7,753 against Rangers would be under threat. Little did we know that everyone, but especially the boys in maroon, would keep it going all day and overnight. Some Hearts supporters clubs have even pledged the price of the bus that would have brought them to Inverness later this month. Incredible generosity.

“I have spoken to Hearts Chairman Ann Budge this afternoon and she shares my gratitude and wonder at everyone’s efforts so far. I have also spoken to Stevie Kilgour of the Federation of Hearts Supporters and Hearts legend Gary Mackay who along with fellow players Jimmy Sandison, Scott Crabbe, and Hearts fan David Gardiner, accepted the original ICTFC donation to the 1874 Fighting Fund in 2013.

“It has been a remarkable feat of support and philanthropy from a set of fans who through the Foundation of Hearts, have led the way in Scotland on that front and it has been way beyond our hopes for this fundraising initiative. So for all of you who have joined in with this amazing effort thank you once again and for those who still may join us, it is clear now that you will be part of something quite remarkable.”

Such an uptake means Robertson will be required to do plenty of writing in the coming days and weeks.

Something which has been noted by fans and Gardiner.

He said: "On a serious note, manager John Robertson has now entered training camp in order to be able to sign thousands of tickets and Thank You letters in the coming days #prayforrobbo”.

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