JOHN Robertson stood like an Olympic gold medal winner on the podium, arms outstretched, in the middle of the cauldron of noise. Around him his team-mates stood and applauded as the little man with the big heart lifted the Scottish Cup.

He put his hand on his heart and dedicated the moment to the memory of his father, a Hearts fan through and through, who died when John was just 14.

As he turned to the stand to face his family he realised the significance of this very private moment in the most public and emotional of places.

When he held the Scottish Cup aloft, more than 20,000 Hearts fans gave him the biggest cheer of the day, which could probably be heard all the way back in Gorgie.

It would matter to him, but not to the tens of thousands of Hearts fans who had idolised him for 18 years, that he hadn't actually got on the park during the game.

What mattered to them was that John Grant Robertson, with more than 700 appearances for Hearts and the scorer of more than 300 goals, had finally got a winner's medal.

Afterwards, draped in a Hearts scarf and clutching a bottle of beer he talked of that emotional cup final moment which he

dedicated to his dad, also called John.

''I told my family before the final that if we won I would put my hand on my heart and lift the cup for my dad and my mother-in-law, both of whom died,'' said Robertson.

''My dad was a Hearts man through and through and that was for him, simple as that. Every ball I kicked, every record I have broken I wanted to do it for my dad. I wanted him to see me being a winner. I've no doubt my dad was kicking them off the line today. It was certainly an emotional moment for me.''

Robertson said Hearts had been on a 36-year rollercoaster ride, in which time the club had come close to picking up major honours but had never quite managed it.

''Our victory is a reward for our fantastic season, but at the same time you have to applaud the efforts of Rangers,'' said Robertson.

''The team which is breaking up is a credit to Scottish football and a credit to Rangers Football Club, their manager, and themselves.

''They have handled themselves with class and dignity.

''What made the day extra special is to see their players congratulating us on what must be an emotional day for them.

''It was also nice to see the Rangers fans cheering us as well and I don't think they will begrudge us the victory as they know how long we have been trying for it.''

Robertson's medal, his first after a string of runners-up badges and international honours, is the second for his family as his brother, Chris, won a Scottish Cup winner's medal with Rangers.

Robertson has made it clear he believes he has a good couple of years left in him yet as a player and wants to then progress into coaching.

As for what the future holds, he said his manager, Jim Jefferies had said he would be speaking to him this week.

''If it's time to go, it's time to go,'' said Robertson.

''I have no problem with what the manager decides. It will be a football decision and if that was my last game it was a hell of a way to go out.''

As the team returned to Tynecastle on Saturday evening for a private party it was Robertson who was mobbed more than most by the Hearts fans on the way in.

As the evening went on,

thousands gathered outside the ground and again it was the little striker's name they were chanting as they paid homage outside the function suite where the players had gathered.

In doing so, a wave of sentimentality towards him was clearly in the air.

One fan, David McIntosh, from Tranent in East Lothian, said the club owed Robertson a huge debt.

''John Robertson was good enough to win things with other clubs but he stuck with us even through the lean years,'' he said.

''If any player in Scottish football ever deserved this success it's him.''