Craig Gordon admits he immediately set his sights on reaching 300 Hearts appearances after recovering from his horrific double leg break.
Many predicted Gordon’s professional career was over after the sickening injury he sustained against Dundee United on Christmas Eve 2022.
He was a week shy of his 40th birthday and the time it would take for him to recover and get back fit again may have proved too much for some.
Not for Gordon, however. He went through months and months of rehabilitation before making a remarkable comeback in October 2023.
And it’s all been worthwhile with Gordon firmly back as Hearts‘ No.1 stopper and going on to reach 300 appearances for his boyhood club against Heidenheim on Thursday.
It’s been an incredible journey for Gordon, who once was part of the Tynecastle ground staff as a youngster in 1999.
Gordon on playing 300 games for Hearts
Reacting to his latest milestone, Gordon said: “No it’s all motivation and all something to aim for. Any little extra pieces of motivation I will take and strive to get there.
“I’ve probably been written off a few times with the injuries I’ve had. But keeping proving people wrong is a big motivation in itself.
“I think everyone has to keep doing that in their career. That’s what it’s like. You have to keep coming back and proving yourself in every game. It’s something I enjoy.
“It’s nice to get to 300. It’s a great achievement. Three hundred appearances for one club is a lot, especially these days.
“And more than I could ever have imagined when I first came through these doors in October 1999 on the ground staff.
“It’s not an easy place to play that number of games. If you’re going to play at that level in front of this crowd you’re going to have to do something pretty good.
“It’s a special one and was something after coming back from the leg break that I set as a target to achieve.
“I saw the 100 clean sheets mentioned. I was hoping it would be nice to tie those both up against Heidenheim and at half time it looked like we were the stronger team.
“But it wasn’t to be. I will keep that one going for a little longer and hopefully I can get it soon.”
Gordon happy to be amongst esteemed Hearts company
Only 37 former Hearts stars are ahead of Gordon in the all-time record appearance-makers list now. He said: “Times running out on reeling those guys in! It’s just great to be in that company.
“Guys like Gary Mackay, Henry Smith who were people I watched playing for Hearts towards the end of their career.
“I even managed to play a game against Henry before he finally hung up his gloves because he had played on so long.
“I see Henry now and again. He comes with his grandson and I see him in the Main Stand sometimes when we are warming up.
“Every time we meet up or we’re at a function he still reminds me he has a few more records on me – I’m probably not going to catch his appearance one. He can have that one to keep!”