F
FAMOUS FIVE
The legendary Hibernian forward line known as ‘The Famous Five’ comprised Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormond. Each player at his peak was a household name and together they helped Hibernian enjoy a rich post-war period. Famous cricket commentator John Arlott once said after a visit to Edinburgh that he took five great memories of Edinburgh back to England “Smith, Johnstone, Reilly, Turnbull and Ormond”!
The actual origins of the name are obscured by time, but the likeliest explanation is that sports writers of the day were looking for a catchy tag for this most productive of forward lines. Similarly the prolific Hearts strike force of the day was nicknamed in alliterative fashion The Terrible Trio (Alfie Conn, Willie Bauld, Jimmy Wardaugh). Edinburgh was truly blessed to have both forward lines on duty at the same time.
The forward-line of Smith, Johnstone, Reilly, Turnbull and Ormond first featured in a league game against Queen of the South on October 15, 1949. Hibs won the match 2-0. However near the end of the previous season, on 21 April, 1949 the five had played in a friendly against Nithsdale Wanderers in the little borders town of Sanquhar. Hibs won the game 8-1 and Bobby Johnstone was the only member of the five not to score.
Of the five only Ormond cost a transfer fee, being recruited from Stenhousemuir for £1,500. Johnstone was the only player to leave for a transfer fee; Manchester City paid £22,500 for his services in early 1955. He would later return to Easter Road but in1960 Johnstone headed south again, this time to join Oldham Athletic for just £4,000.
Whilst each player’s career is extensively documented elsewhere in this book a few interesting comparisons and a collective review is nevertheless worthwhile. Younger fans will no doubt wonder how Hibs hung onto five such talented players for so long. The reasons are not particularly complex. Big crowds meant that Hibernian were quite wealthy by post-war standards and the existence of the maximum wage made it hard for other clubs to lure the five away from Leith.
All five broke the 100 goal mark for Hibs - Johnstone requiring his second spell with the club to grab his 100th league goal as a Hibee. Both Ormond and Turnbull would later manage Hibernian.
The Famous Five attracted huge crowds wherever Hibs visited. They also spawned some wonderful stories. One poem typified the affection with which they were held:
The actual origins of the name are obscured by time, but the likeliest explanation is that sports writers of the day were looking for a catchy tag for this most productive of forward lines. Similarly the prolific Hearts strike force of the day was nicknamed in alliterative fashion The Terrible Trio (Alfie Conn, Willie Bauld, Jimmy Wardaugh). Edinburgh was truly blessed to have both forward lines on duty at the same time.
The forward-line of Smith, Johnstone, Reilly, Turnbull and Ormond first featured in a league game against Queen of the South on October 15, 1949. Hibs won the match 2-0. However near the end of the previous season, on 21 April, 1949 the five had played in a friendly against Nithsdale Wanderers in the little borders town of Sanquhar. Hibs won the game 8-1 and Bobby Johnstone was the only member of the five not to score.
Of the five only Ormond cost a transfer fee, being recruited from Stenhousemuir for £1,500. Johnstone was the only player to leave for a transfer fee; Manchester City paid £22,500 for his services in early 1955. He would later return to Easter Road but in1960 Johnstone headed south again, this time to join Oldham Athletic for just £4,000.
Whilst each player’s career is extensively documented elsewhere in this book a few interesting comparisons and a collective review is nevertheless worthwhile. Younger fans will no doubt wonder how Hibs hung onto five such talented players for so long. The reasons are not particularly complex. Big crowds meant that Hibernian were quite wealthy by post-war standards and the existence of the maximum wage made it hard for other clubs to lure the five away from Leith.
All five broke the 100 goal mark for Hibs - Johnstone requiring his second spell with the club to grab his 100th league goal as a Hibee. Both Ormond and Turnbull would later manage Hibernian.
The Famous Five attracted huge crowds wherever Hibs visited. They also spawned some wonderful stories. One poem typified the affection with which they were held:
Johnstone was braw,
Reilly an' aw,
but the cocky wee Gordon was the pride of them aw.
The impact of the Famous Five on Hibernian FC was considerable and the players are acknowledged by the naming of the North Stand at Easter Road as the Famous Five Stand.
Key statistics
Player Born Scotland Scottish Lge League
Caps Caps Games Goals
Gordon Smith 1924 17 10 310 122
Bobby Johnstone 1930 17 6 195 100
Lawrie Reilly 1928 38 13 253 187
Eddie Turnbull 1923 9 4 346 147
Willie Ormond 1927 6 10 349 132
Gordon Smith Hibernian career …
League Scottish Cup League Cup Total
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
1946/47 23 7 6 1 6 5 35 13
1947/48 29 19 5 4 6 4 40 27
1948/49 29 15 4 0 6 3 39 18
1949/50 29 23 1 0 7 4 37 27
1950/51 25 8 5 1 11 7 41 16
1951/52 29 9 3 0 2 0 34 9
1952/53 28 13 4 4 9 2 41 19
1953/54 12 5 0 0 9 4 21 9
1954/55 28 9 1 0 6 0 35 9
1955/56 30 7 1 0 6 2 37 9
1956/57 17 3 1 1 4 1 22 5
1957/58 16 3 0 0 6 2 22 5
1958/59 15 1 5 1 0 0 20 2
Totals 310 122 36 12 78 34 424 168
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
1946/47 23 7 6 1 6 5 35 13
1947/48 29 19 5 4 6 4 40 27
1948/49 29 15 4 0 6 3 39 18
1949/50 29 23 1 0 7 4 37 27
1950/51 25 8 5 1 11 7 41 16
1951/52 29 9 3 0 2 0 34 9
1952/53 28 13 4 4 9 2 41 19
1953/54 12 5 0 0 9 4 21 9
1954/55 28 9 1 0 6 0 35 9
1955/56 30 7 1 0 6 2 37 9
1956/57 17 3 1 1 4 1 22 5
1957/58 16 3 0 0 6 2 22 5
1958/59 15 1 5 1 0 0 20 2
Totals 310 122 36 12 78 34 424 168
Bobby Johnstone Hibernian career …
League Scottish Cup League Cup Total
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
1948/49 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
1949/50 26 9 1 0 1 1 28 10
1950/51 29 12 5 3 12 8 46 23
1951/52 27 23 3 0 6 3 36 23
1952/53 30 16 5 1 5 5 40 22
1953/54 30 11 3 3 9 8 42 22
1954/55 20 12 1 0 4 2 25 14
164 83 18 7 37 27 219 117
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
1948/49 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
1949/50 26 9 1 0 1 1 28 10
1950/51 29 12 5 3 12 8 46 23
1951/52 27 23 3 0 6 3 36 23
1952/53 30 16 5 1 5 5 40 22
1953/54 30 11 3 3 9 8 42 22
1954/55 20 12 1 0 4 2 25 14
164 83 18 7 37 27 219 117
Lawrie Reilly Hibernian career …
League Scottish Cup League Cup Total
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
1946/47 5 2 0 0 3 0 8 2
1947/48 6 4 0 0 0 0 6 4
1948/49 20 14 1 0 6 1 27 15
1949/50 29 15 1 0 9 7 39 22
1950/51 29 23 5 6 12 9 46 38
1951/52 29 27 3 1 6 2 38 30
1952/53 28 29 5 5 9 9 42 43
1953/54 18 15 3 1 1 2 22 18
1954/55 20 15 1 0 0 0 21 15
1955/56 29 24 2 1 6 2 37 27
1956/57 26 17 1 1 6 1 33 19
1957/58 14 2 1 0 0 0 15 2
253 187 23 15 58 33 334 235
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
1946/47 5 2 0 0 3 0 8 2
1947/48 6 4 0 0 0 0 6 4
1948/49 20 14 1 0 6 1 27 15
1949/50 29 15 1 0 9 7 39 22
1950/51 29 23 5 6 12 9 46 38
1951/52 29 27 3 1 6 2 38 30
1952/53 28 29 5 5 9 9 42 43
1953/54 18 15 3 1 1 2 22 18
1954/55 20 15 1 0 0 0 21 15
1955/56 29 24 2 1 6 2 37 27
1956/57 26 17 1 1 6 1 33 19
1957/58 14 2 1 0 0 0 15 2
253 187 23 15 58 33 334 235
Eddie Turnbull Hibernian career …
League Scottish Cup League Cup Total
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
1946/47 18 13 6 3 3 0 27 16
1947/48 23 11 5 0 6 1 34 12
1948/49 27 8 4 1 4 1 35 10
1949/50 27 18 1 0 9 1 37 19
1950/51 25 15 5 1 11 7 41 23
1951/52 29 5 2 0 6 5 37 10
1952/53 29 17 3 0 9 6 41 23
1953/54 27 13 3 1 8 2 38 16
1954/55 24 4 1 0 6 1 31 5
1955/56 33 18 2 1 6 3 41 22
1956/57 30 14 1 0 6 2 37 16
1957/58 30 9 7 1 5 4 42 14
1958/59 24 2 5 1 6 0 35 3
346 147 45 9 85 33 476 189
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
1946/47 18 13 6 3 3 0 27 16
1947/48 23 11 5 0 6 1 34 12
1948/49 27 8 4 1 4 1 35 10
1949/50 27 18 1 0 9 1 37 19
1950/51 25 15 5 1 11 7 41 23
1951/52 29 5 2 0 6 5 37 10
1952/53 29 17 3 0 9 6 41 23
1953/54 27 13 3 1 8 2 38 16
1954/55 24 4 1 0 6 1 31 5
1955/56 33 18 2 1 6 3 41 22
1956/57 30 14 1 0 6 2 37 16
1957/58 30 9 7 1 5 4 42 14
1958/59 24 2 5 1 6 0 35 3
346 147 45 9 85 33 476 189
Willie Ormond Hibernian career …
League Scottish Cup League Cup Total
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
1946/47 15 5 6 3 0 0 21 8
1947/48 23 12 4 0 6 3 33 15
1948/49 12 2 4 3 0 0 16 5
1949/50 30 11 1 0 9 0 40 11
1950/51 24 7 5 2 12 4 41 13
1951/52 19 12 1 0 6 1 26 13
1952/53 26 10 5 3 9 5 40 18
1953/54 26 12 3 1 9 5 38 18
1954/55 30 12 1 0 6 2 37 14
1955/56 28 18 1 0 6 3 35 21
1956/57 25 7 1 0 6 1 32 8
1957/58 25 8 7 0 6 4 38 12
1958/59 25 5 5 4 6 1 36 10
1959/60 26 8 3 0 6 3 35 11
1960/61 15 3 3 2 3 0 21 5
349 132 50 18 90 32 433 166
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
1946/47 15 5 6 3 0 0 21 8
1947/48 23 12 4 0 6 3 33 15
1948/49 12 2 4 3 0 0 16 5
1949/50 30 11 1 0 9 0 40 11
1950/51 24 7 5 2 12 4 41 13
1951/52 19 12 1 0 6 1 26 13
1952/53 26 10 5 3 9 5 40 18
1953/54 26 12 3 1 9 5 38 18
1954/55 30 12 1 0 6 2 37 14
1955/56 28 18 1 0 6 3 35 21
1956/57 25 7 1 0 6 1 32 8
1957/58 25 8 7 0 6 4 38 12
1958/59 25 5 5 4 6 1 36 10
1959/60 26 8 3 0 6 3 35 11
1960/61 15 3 3 2 3 0 21 5
349 132 50 18 90 32 433 166
FANZINES
The 1980s saw a boom in unofficial football publications. Fans who were perhaps frustrated by the straight-laced nature of official publications suddenly found that the technology existed to allow them to produce at home their own publications devoted to their favourite clubs. Very quickly a whole array of irreverent, humorous, and at times extremely well researched booklets were on sale outside football stadiums up and down the country.
Hibernian were not exempt from this development and a host of Hibs related fanzines sprung up. Among the more successful were Mass Hibsteria and The Proclaimer.
In the early part of the 21st century on-line fanzines replaced their printed forefathers. Hibee Bounce, Hibs.Net and Hibees Here, Hibees There took up the mantle and continued to give Hibernian fans the world over a chance to voice their opinions and to share their research.
Hibernian were not exempt from this development and a host of Hibs related fanzines sprung up. Among the more successful were Mass Hibsteria and The Proclaimer.
In the early part of the 21st century on-line fanzines replaced their printed forefathers. Hibee Bounce, Hibs.Net and Hibees Here, Hibees There took up the mantle and continued to give Hibernian fans the world over a chance to voice their opinions and to share their research.
FESTIVAL CUP
Intended as a multi-national tournament linked to the Edinburgh International Festival. The aim was to bring to Scotland clubs from the nine cities Edinburgh was twinned with. Alas it never really took off and was held in rather less ambitious terms on two occasions.
The first meeting was between Hibs and Hearts at Easter Road on 2 August 2003. Hearts won 1-0 a result which couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm Hibernian managing director Rod Petrie had for the competition: “We are delighted to host this inaugural event and both ourselves and Heart of Midlothian believe it will generate a lot of excitement amongst supporters of both Clubs. The two clubs have worked together to make this happen and it should provide a competitive and exciting curtain raiser for the season to come.” Given that Edinburgh was twinned with cities like Barcelona and Munich it was a brave and bold intent. But alas the competition survived for just one more airing; Leeds United travelling north one year later. The competition was never again contested.
FESTIVAL OF BRITAIN
See also St Mungo Cup. In the period of recovery that followed the Second World War Britain invested huge effort in reviving the spirits of the nation. The Festival of Britain was one such event, held between May and September of 1951 it marked the centenary of the Great Exhibition of 1851 and was rolled out across the nation.
Hibernian invited Rapid Vienna (Rapid Wein) to play at Eater Road in a glamour match to mark the Festival of Britain. The match took place on May 19th, just days after Hibs had returned from a two match tour of France. There was a feel of ‘end of season fare’ about the match and the Austrians ran out 5-3 winners with Turnbull, Buchanan and McDonald getting the Hibees goals.
WILLIE FINNEGAN (1937-1950)
In 1937 Hibernian manager Willie McCartney was catching the eye with his vigorous recruitment policy amongst the junior ranks. In April of that year he further enhanced his reputation as a talent spotter by signing Willie Finnegan from Bo’ness Cadera. The 22 year-old had netted a hat-trick in a trial match for East Fife a few months earlier and had been newly capped by Scotland Juniors against their Irish counterparts.
A hard running half-back or inside-forward his finest hour arrived when he helped Hibs win the Summer Cup, scoring twice in the 3-2 final win over Rangers. When football returned to normal in season 1946/47 he played in 18 league matches and the Scottish Cup final. He had eight games the very next season but was slipping from the picture and Dunfermline signed Willie in July 1950.
He told one lovely story of his time at Easter Road concerning an away match. Trooping off the field following a 1-0 win for Hibs he heard the disconsolate home goalkeeper remark to his team-mates “Well at least that’s one of my aways up!” In all Finnegan played 41 post war league matches for Hibees.
A hard running half-back or inside-forward his finest hour arrived when he helped Hibs win the Summer Cup, scoring twice in the 3-2 final win over Rangers. When football returned to normal in season 1946/47 he played in 18 league matches and the Scottish Cup final. He had eight games the very next season but was slipping from the picture and Dunfermline signed Willie in July 1950.
He told one lovely story of his time at Easter Road concerning an away match. Trooping off the field following a 1-0 win for Hibs he heard the disconsolate home goalkeeper remark to his team-mates “Well at least that’s one of my aways up!” In all Finnegan played 41 post war league matches for Hibees.
HONOURS
Scottish Cup final 1947
Scottish Cup final 1947
FLOODLIGHTS
Hearts were Hibernian’s first opponents at Easter Road in a floodlit match. The game took place on 18 October 1954 and saw Hearts win 2-0 thanks to goals by Johnny Urquhart and Jimmy Whittle.
Newcastle United were the first English side to play under the Easter Road floodlights in October 1954. Gordon Smith scored the only goal of the game and thus became the first Hibs player to net under the Easter Road floodlights.
On November 7, 1951 Hibs played in the first match in Scotland under floodlights. The meeting was with Stenhousemuir under their Ochilview lights. Hibs won 5-3 with the following side: Kerr, Clark, Howie, Gallacher, Paterson, Ward; Souness, Johnstone, Mulkerrin, Turnbull and Ormond.
There are also some who claim that Easter Road housed the first competitive cup tie under floodlights in Scotland. On the 25th of January 1956 Hibernian entertained Falkirk in a first round Penman Cup tie, and won 2-1 thanks to a brace by Jock Buchanan.
In an Unofficial Floodlit League in 1955 Hibs won all three of their matches before the competition was scrapped. The victories were as follows:
Newcastle United were the first English side to play under the Easter Road floodlights in October 1954. Gordon Smith scored the only goal of the game and thus became the first Hibs player to net under the Easter Road floodlights.
On November 7, 1951 Hibs played in the first match in Scotland under floodlights. The meeting was with Stenhousemuir under their Ochilview lights. Hibs won 5-3 with the following side: Kerr, Clark, Howie, Gallacher, Paterson, Ward; Souness, Johnstone, Mulkerrin, Turnbull and Ormond.
There are also some who claim that Easter Road housed the first competitive cup tie under floodlights in Scotland. On the 25th of January 1956 Hibernian entertained Falkirk in a first round Penman Cup tie, and won 2-1 thanks to a brace by Jock Buchanan.
In an Unofficial Floodlit League in 1955 Hibs won all three of their matches before the competition was scrapped. The victories were as follows:
· Oct 19 St James’s Park, Newcastle United …1, Hibernian … 2
· Nov 1 Easter Road, Hibernian …2, Manchester City … 0
· Nov 16 Easter Road, Hibernian … 2, Newcastle United … 0
In 1974 the floodlights were updated at a cost of £25,000 but some 25 years later the old drenchlighting on pylons had been superseded by lights mounted on stand roofs.
Hibernian were the guests when floodlights were hanselled at Hearts’ Tynecastle Park in 1957.
Hibernian were the guests when floodlights were hanselled at Hearts’ Tynecastle Park in 1957.
FOREIGNERS
Players from many countries have represented Hibernian over the years. The arrival of Alex McLeish in the managerial hot-seat certainly increased this tendency. The list below shows the breadth of Hibs recruitment (where players were born in one country but represented another – such as Paul Fenwick and Alen Orman – I have taken their place of birth to be their true nationality):
America Gerry Baker, Mike Franks
Austria Peter Guggi, Klaus Dietrich
Australia Stuart Lovell
Belgium Yves Makubu Makalambay
Bosnia Alen Orman
Canada Emilio Bottiglieri
Denmark John Madsen, Daniel Andersson, Ulrik Laursen
Ecuador Ulises De La Cruz, Eduardo Hurtado
England John Paterson, Alec Hall, Joe Baker, Paul Fenwick, Tony Caig, Alex Cropley, Derek Townsley, Craig James, Simon Brown, Rob Jones, David Murphy, Stuart Lovell, Paul Holsgrove
Finland Mixu Paatelainen, Jarrko Wiss
France Didier Agathe, Frederic Arpinon, Guillaume Beuzelin, Franck Sauzee, Lilian Martin, Hakim Sar Temsoury, Alex Marinkov, David Zitelli, Frederic Dacquin, Yannik Zambernardi, Mathias Kouo-Doumbe, Marc Libbra, Thierry Gathuessi, Torben Joneleit, Mickael Antoine-Curier
Germany Dirk Lehmann, Mathias Jack
Holland Shelton Martis
Hungary Janos Matyus
Iceland Olafur Gottskalksson
Morocco Abdessalam Benjelloun, Merouane Zemmama
New Zealand Chris Killen
Northern Ireland John Parke, Dean Shiels, Ivan Sproule
Norway Isaak Refvik, Svein Matheson
Poland Zbignew Malkowski
Portugal Filipe Morais
Republic of Irleand Michael Gallacher, Nick Colgan
Spain Paco Luna
St Lucia Earl John
Trinidad & Tobago Lyndon Andrews, Russell Latapy, Tony Rougier,
Amadou Konte
JOHN FRASER
A significant figure in the club’s past John is nevertheless something of a rarity in that he played over 200 games for Hibs and is not really that well known. When John joined Hibernian in 1954 from Edinburgh Thistle there was considerable difficulty working out which was his best position. Listed as an outside-right, he filled