Tynecastle Rising : Hearts, Belief and the Season that Changed Scottish Football

Tynecastle Rising: Hearts, Belief and the Season That Changed Scottish Football tells the story of Heart of Midlothian’s extraordinary 2025/26 season, when an unfancied side came within one result of ending nearly four decades of Old Firm dominance. From the early surge under Derek McInnes to the growing belief at Tynecastle, the book follows the matches, players, supporters and wider Scottish football context that turned a title challenge into a national story. Blending match narrative, club history, supporter culture and personal perspective, it examines why this Hearts side captured attention even though Celtic ultimately won the league. The final act at Celtic Park, with late goals, disputed decisions, a pitch invasion and a fierce aftermath, gave the season a dramatic and contested ending. This is the story of a team that did not win the title, but altered expectations and showed that the gap could be challenged.