Sitting in his seat in the old Main Stand looking out as a kid, the thought of running out in the all-maroon of Heart of Midlothian in front of a packed, pulsating and partisan Tynecastle Park crowd on a big European night under the lights was, to Aidan Denholm, beyond his wildest dreams.
Yet, at just 19, he got the chance on Thursday night in the crucial Conference League qualifying tie with Rosenborg. His first ever start for his boyhood club with mum Jil, dad Paul and grandad Bobby, all Jambos, watching on from the stands on a night the team won 3-1, overcoming the 2-1 loss in the first-leg.
Told he would be playing earlier that day you could have forgiven him for wanting to keep his head down and focus on his own game. But there he was, taking charge. He was vocal from the beginning. Demanding the ball from team-mates and, failing that, directing play. Even when a mistake was made, he had the gumption, the cajones to still go looking for the ball.
When calmness was required after a breathless 15 minutes at elapsed, as the teams exchanged goals, mistakes and moments of brilliance, it was the teenager, the second youngest player on the pitch, who was appealing for calm.
"The best," he answered when asked to rate playing his part in the win. "Of course it is. I would never have dreamed I would be playing in a big European night here so when you get that chance, you've just got to try to take it. Playing alongside Cammy [Devlin] made it easier because he just talks you through the game. The boys have all been brilliant with me, saying ‘you’ve got this chance, now you’ve just got to take it’ and I think I was decent.
"It is one of those nights where you have to try to stay as calm as you can. It was a great win and one you dream of but I just had to try to stay as focused as I could. I looked at the clock and it was 60 minutes and we’d got the second goal but I was thinking ‘jeez, I am knackered!’. You could probably tell. But you dig in because it is all about the win."
The story of Denholm makes this particular dream all the more special. Told he was being released at the Oriam while Robbie Neilson was in charge, he was re-signed by Steven Naismith, who coached him in the B team, during the summer. By that point he had already begun looking for jobs outside of football.
"The mindset does change when you get told you are leaving," he said. "My Mum and I were talking about it the other day. We were looking for jobs not that long ago so to be playing in Europe for Hearts is a bit surreal.
"That’s football. If the worst comes to the worst you have to look to what happens next. I was looking at working in a bank because that’s where my mum works. It was one of those: ‘can you help me get a job.’ My agent was doing bits in the background as well and I got a trial at Wigan. But when I spoke to Naisy and I got the chance to come back that was the icing on the cake."
He added: "It shows something to the young boys in the building that if the worst comes to the worst you have to prove everyone wrong. It’s the mindset. I tell young players that they need to work hard and do extra. But Thursday shows to any young player that Hearts are willing to play young boys even in a big European tie."
Other management teams may have taken the decision to replace Denholm at half-time after a couple of moments where he was pickpocketed and a challenge which the player admitted left his heart in his mouth over a red card. Yet, Frankie McAvoy, Naismith and Gordon Forrest have the utmost faith in the teenager. With Peter Haring injured, he was chosen ahead of Andy Halliday, Calem Nieuwenhof and Jorge Grant. McAvoy said: "He's a fantastic young kid, great attitude, great enthusiasm, desperate to do well for Hearts as they all should be."
He was also supported by Devlin and Haring. The former sought him out after a mistake to rally around him and make sure his head didn't drop. Not that he is the type to go into his shell, looking to get back on the ball as soon as possible.
"Tonight was my first start and I just tried to get my first pass off then my second pass off then my confidence grew and grew," he said. Playing alongside Cammy in midfield he keeps you ticking over. We are an energetic pairing as you can probably tell tonight. But now I want to keep going.
"I’m not too sure about his celebration but everything else was outstanding. I’m delighted for him. He’s been brilliant for me. Don’t get me wrong, it is competition. He said to me: ‘It’s dog eat dog’ but it’s good competition. Everyone is on their toes because everyone wants to play. Luckily for us two we got the chance to do it and I think we did well.
"Pete has also been great. He came in at half time and told me what to do and what not. They have all been brilliant with me."
