R
GORDON RAE (1958 –
The considerable frame and enormous heart of Gordon Rae served Hibs for 13 seasons and whether he played as a centre-forward or a centre-half he proved extremely effective. He joined the club in 1975 from Whitehill Welfare and made his debut against Queen of the South in 1977, three days later he scored in a 2-0 win at Rangers and his Hibs career was up and running.
Tall and strong it was his determination that won Gordon a special place in the thoughts of Hibernian supporters. Over 13 seasons he grew to personify Hibs and the supporters loved his never-say-die commitment.
Those were the qualities that impressed Eddie Turnbull enough to sign Gordon and persuade the 17 year old to give up an apprenticeship to concentrate on football.
During his stint at Easter Road Rae won a First Division championship medal, played in the Scottish Cup final and sampled European nights. He was perhaps unlucky not to land silverware during his Hibs career. Beaten by a freakish goal against Aberdeen in a 1978 League Cup semi-final, Hibs then gamely battled through to the Scottish Cup final only to lose the marathon match against Rangers in a second replay.
Getting to Hampden gave Rae some of his finest moments in green. Amongst his many goals (there were 47 from 348 league games alone) was a very important strike in a tense quarter-final tie against Hearts at Easter Road in 1979. As if that were not contribution enough he bettered that feat by scoring against Aberdeen in the semi-final. He couldn’t score in the final, however, and the cup was lost to Rangers; ironically a few days later Hibs beat Rangers in the league and Rae did score on that occasion.
Several managers occupied the hot-seat whilst Gordon was at Hibs, Eddie Turnbull giving way to Willie Ormond, Bertie Auld, Pat Stanton and Alex Miller. When Gordon left it was with a heavy heart to join Partick Thistle for £65,000 in March 1990. At Maryhill he won a promotion and made a favourable impression and when he returned to Easter Road in 1992 on Scottish Cup business he was afforded a most generous welcome.
Later he served in either playing or coaching capacities Hamilton, Meadowbank, Gala Fairydean, East Fife, Edinburgh City, Coldstream, Newtongrange Star, Tranent and Linlithgow Rose. He returned to Hibernian behind the scenes to help in John Park’s prolific youth academy but by 2007 was assistant manager at Linlithgow Rose as the junior side entered the Scottish Cup with some style. Away from football he owned Clean Easy Laundry Services which specialized in cleaning football kits.
Tall and strong it was his determination that won Gordon a special place in the thoughts of Hibernian supporters. Over 13 seasons he grew to personify Hibs and the supporters loved his never-say-die commitment.
Those were the qualities that impressed Eddie Turnbull enough to sign Gordon and persuade the 17 year old to give up an apprenticeship to concentrate on football.
During his stint at Easter Road Rae won a First Division championship medal, played in the Scottish Cup final and sampled European nights. He was perhaps unlucky not to land silverware during his Hibs career. Beaten by a freakish goal against Aberdeen in a 1978 League Cup semi-final, Hibs then gamely battled through to the Scottish Cup final only to lose the marathon match against Rangers in a second replay.
Getting to Hampden gave Rae some of his finest moments in green. Amongst his many goals (there were 47 from 348 league games alone) was a very important strike in a tense quarter-final tie against Hearts at Easter Road in 1979. As if that were not contribution enough he bettered that feat by scoring against Aberdeen in the semi-final. He couldn’t score in the final, however, and the cup was lost to Rangers; ironically a few days later Hibs beat Rangers in the league and Rae did score on that occasion.
Several managers occupied the hot-seat whilst Gordon was at Hibs, Eddie Turnbull giving way to Willie Ormond, Bertie Auld, Pat Stanton and Alex Miller. When Gordon left it was with a heavy heart to join Partick Thistle for £65,000 in March 1990. At Maryhill he won a promotion and made a favourable impression and when he returned to Easter Road in 1992 on Scottish Cup business he was afforded a most generous welcome.
Later he served in either playing or coaching capacities Hamilton, Meadowbank, Gala Fairydean, East Fife, Edinburgh City, Coldstream, Newtongrange Star, Tranent and Linlithgow Rose. He returned to Hibernian behind the scenes to help in John Park’s prolific youth academy but by 2007 was assistant manager at Linlithgow Rose as the junior side entered the Scottish Cup with some style. Away from football he owned Clean Easy Laundry Services which specialized in cleaning football kits.
HONOURS
Scottish Cup final 1979
Scottish Cup final 1979
REAL MADRID
In October 1964 Jock Stein, the then Hibernian manager, invited Real Madrid to Easter Road for a prestige friendly. They brought their full side including world stars Puskas and Gento.
17 year old Peter Cormack scored the opening goal. Jim Scott added a second and Hibs won 2-0, bringing sarcastic chants of “Easy, Easy” from the Hibs support. A pitch invasion and a lap of honour brought the curtain down on a memorable evening.
The victorious Hibs team was: Wilson, Fraser, Parke, Stanton, McNamee, Baxter; Cormack, Hamilton, Scott, Quinn and Martin.
Real Madrid lined up: Araquistain, Miera, Pachin, Muller, Santamaria, Zoco; Amancio, Ruiz, Grosso, Puskas, Gento.
17 year old Peter Cormack scored the opening goal. Jim Scott added a second and Hibs won 2-0, bringing sarcastic chants of “Easy, Easy” from the Hibs support. A pitch invasion and a lap of honour brought the curtain down on a memorable evening.
The victorious Hibs team was: Wilson, Fraser, Parke, Stanton, McNamee, Baxter; Cormack, Hamilton, Scott, Quinn and Martin.
Real Madrid lined up: Araquistain, Miera, Pachin, Muller, Santamaria, Zoco; Amancio, Ruiz, Grosso, Puskas, Gento.
REGIONAL LEAGUE – EASTERN DIVISION
The outbreak of the Second World effectively ended the 1939/40 official season in early September and there was a brief period without any league football. When the authorities, both civil and football, decided that league football could continue the decision was taken to run with both an Eastern and Western Scottish Leagues.
Hibernian were in the Eastern League and an incredibly high scoring league unfolded. Twice Hibs lost games 5-6, and when they did so to Hearts on January 1, 1940 it was so foggy that the Hearts goalkeeper got left out on the pitch when the match ended; such was the thickness of the fog he was unaware that the game had ended!
Johnny Cuthbertson scored 21 goals in 28 games and Bobby Nutley had only three less. Surprisingly Falkirk won the title. Alas for the Bairns the Eastern Division lasted just a solitary season and the following season was replaced by a Southern League.
Hibernian were in the Eastern League and an incredibly high scoring league unfolded. Twice Hibs lost games 5-6, and when they did so to Hearts on January 1, 1940 it was so foggy that the Hearts goalkeeper got left out on the pitch when the match ended; such was the thickness of the fog he was unaware that the game had ended!
Johnny Cuthbertson scored 21 goals in 28 games and Bobby Nutley had only three less. Surprisingly Falkirk won the title. Alas for the Bairns the Eastern Division lasted just a solitary season and the following season was replaced by a Southern League.
ISAK REFVIK (1956 -
When Tom Hart brought Norwegians Isak Arne Refvik and Svein Mathisen to Easter Road in 1978 he could hardly have imagined the political issue that would erupt.
Refvik had seven Norway Under-21 caps to his name and Mathisen the same number of full caps. It hardly seemed possible that their signing would provoke any problems, but gaining work permits proved to be a real issue.
Both players made their Hibernian debut against Morton on November 15. The match was a League Cup quarter-final and Hibs were trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Greenock. 90 minutes later Hibs had won 2-0 and Refvik in scoring both goals had won over a quizzical Hibernian support. In his first eight matches with Hibs the little man from Bergen scored three times.
But issues were surfacing and it soon became clear that Hibs would have a real fight on their hands to secure a work permit. Mathisen as a full internationalist was not an issue. Both players went back to Norway; Refvik to Viking Stavanger and Mathisen to IFK Start.
Refvik had seven Norway Under-21 caps to his name and Mathisen the same number of full caps. It hardly seemed possible that their signing would provoke any problems, but gaining work permits proved to be a real issue.
Both players made their Hibernian debut against Morton on November 15. The match was a League Cup quarter-final and Hibs were trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Greenock. 90 minutes later Hibs had won 2-0 and Refvik in scoring both goals had won over a quizzical Hibernian support. In his first eight matches with Hibs the little man from Bergen scored three times.
But issues were surfacing and it soon became clear that Hibs would have a real fight on their hands to secure a work permit. Mathisen as a full internationalist was not an issue. Both players went back to Norway; Refvik to Viking Stavanger and Mathisen to IFK Start.
HARRY RENNIE (1873 – 1954)
Probably the best goalkeeper of his era, Rennie certainly got about and served Morton, Hearts, Hibs and Rangers in his career. He won league and Scottish Cup badges, as well as ten Scotland caps whilst a Hibee, so clearly merits mention when the all-time great Hibs players are being discussed.
Born in Greenock in 1873 he started out with Morton before moving to Hearts in 1898 for the princely sum of £50. It is worth noting that Rennie was originally an outfield player at Morton and played as such for the Greenock club in the Scottish Cup semi-final of 1897! It was a few months after that game (which Morton lost 2-7) that Rennie converted to goalkeeping during an emergency and began his eventual journey to Hibs.
In 1900 he joined Hibernian and he won major honours whilst a Hibee. In 1908 he moved to Rangers and although he surprisingly didn’t win any trophies there he did play in the 1909 Scottish Cup final against Celtic which ended in the notorious Hampden Park riot.
His technique was said to be based on an acute understanding of angles and domination of his half of the field. It was on the advent of goalkeepers not being able to handle outside the penalty area that changed his particular approach to the game. Perhaps having been an outfield player prior to being a goalkeeper made him ‘a sweeper’ in modern parlance.
Born in Greenock in 1873 he started out with Morton before moving to Hearts in 1898 for the princely sum of £50. It is worth noting that Rennie was originally an outfield player at Morton and played as such for the Greenock club in the Scottish Cup semi-final of 1897! It was a few months after that game (which Morton lost 2-7) that Rennie converted to goalkeeping during an emergency and began his eventual journey to Hibs.
In 1900 he joined Hibernian and he won major honours whilst a Hibee. In 1908 he moved to Rangers and although he surprisingly didn’t win any trophies there he did play in the 1909 Scottish Cup final against Celtic which ended in the notorious Hampden Park riot.
His technique was said to be based on an acute understanding of angles and domination of his half of the field. It was on the advent of goalkeepers not being able to handle outside the penalty area that changed his particular approach to the game. Perhaps having been an outfield player prior to being a goalkeeper made him ‘a sweeper’ in modern parlance.
HONOURS
Scotland (11)
League championship 1903
Scottish Cup 1902
Scotland (11)
League championship 1903
Scottish Cup 1902
LAWRIE REILLY (1928-
Was this the greatest Hibee of them all? Most would say ‘yes’.
A legendary centre-forward, and a gentleman to boot, he was a Hibs hero from 1947 until his retirement in 1958. How ironic that just as he faded from the scene a lad called Joe Baker came into the team. Had Hibs been able to field both then surely no defence would have been safe.
Born in October 1928 and raised in Edinburgh, Reilly cut his teeth at juvenile level with North Merchiston and Edinburgh Thistle before joining Hibs. He was a Hibs supporter and had travelled up and down the country watching Hibs before he joined them.
He made a scoring debut against Kilmarnock in September 1946 when only 17 but was very much a fringe player when the title went to Easter Road in 1948. When Willie Ormond was ruled out with a broken leg the chance came for Lawrie to step into the side and he made such a good job being an outside left that Scotland capped him in that position in 1949.
Prior to playing at full international level Lawrie had made a huge impression in the Scottish League side. In September 1948 he played against the League of Ireland as an outside left and scored twice in a 5-1 victory. Matches of this nature had a high profile in the post-war calendar and a crowd of 57,600 turned up at Ibrox for a game that was acknowledged as being against weak opposition. Davie Shaw and Bobby Combe also represented Hibs in a match that proved Reilly, even as an outside left had what it took to be a success at the highest level. In October 1949 Scotland traveled to Dalymount Park in Dublin for a return fixture and squeezed home 1-0; this time with Gordon Smith at outside right and Lawrie at outside-left.
Eventually the more experienced Willie Ormond returned to the first team at Easter Road and it was decided to try young Reilly at centre-forward. It was a fortuitous switch and the rest as they say “is history”.
If Reilly shone as an outside-left then he positively dazzled as a centre-forward. Reilly performede like no other Scottish footballer as a centre-forward. In season 1950/51 he scored 23 league goals and in the next six seasons he netted 27, 30, 15, 15, 23 and 16 league goals. He thus became the first Hibs player to top the Easter Road scoring charts in seven consecutive seasons. His haul of thirty league goals in season 52/53 was a club record at that time.
That 1952 season saw Reilly binge on goals. In October 1952 the Scottish Football League selectors named Smith, Johnstone, Reilly and Ormond in their side to face Ireland. Scotland won 5-1 and Reilly bagged four goals in as emphatic display of forward play as anyone could wish to see.
Physically Reilly was not the archetypal centre-forward. He wasn’t particularly big, standing at just 5 foot 7 inches, nor was he particularly heavy. Yet Lawrie was a prolific marksman and scored a goodly number of goals from headers. His explanation was that the other members of the Famous Five delivered such telling crosses and passes. Were he less modest he would have mentioned his own sense of timing and sheer bravery.
Reilly could be a terror of individual teams. He scored seven against Motherwell in the two matches in season 1952/53. But like Ormond and Smith his run of success was halted by illness. He was diagnosed as having pleurisy in 1954 and missed the World Cup finals; although on reflection he may consider himself lucky to have avoided that dreadful trip.
Despite that 1954 set-back he was an international hero and the darling of the famous Hampden slopes. Scotland’s top scorer for three consecutive seasons he also played five times for Scotland at Wembley and hit five goals … an astonishing feat. It was one of his international goals, a dramatic late counter in 1953; that effectively sealed the ‘Last Minute Reilly’ tag.
However the ‘last minute’ title did detract from the real facts which were that that Reilly was a handful throughout the ninety minutes. How else could he have bagged no fewer than 22 goals in his 38 internationals?
The final word on Lawrie Reilly’s remarkable career must be that he was forced to retire when aged only 29. His 253 league games had yielded a sensational 187 goals.
A legendary centre-forward, and a gentleman to boot, he was a Hibs hero from 1947 until his retirement in 1958. How ironic that just as he faded from the scene a lad called Joe Baker came into the team. Had Hibs been able to field both then surely no defence would have been safe.
Born in October 1928 and raised in Edinburgh, Reilly cut his teeth at juvenile level with North Merchiston and Edinburgh Thistle before joining Hibs. He was a Hibs supporter and had travelled up and down the country watching Hibs before he joined them.
He made a scoring debut against Kilmarnock in September 1946 when only 17 but was very much a fringe player when the title went to Easter Road in 1948. When Willie Ormond was ruled out with a broken leg the chance came for Lawrie to step into the side and he made such a good job being an outside left that Scotland capped him in that position in 1949.
Prior to playing at full international level Lawrie had made a huge impression in the Scottish League side. In September 1948 he played against the League of Ireland as an outside left and scored twice in a 5-1 victory. Matches of this nature had a high profile in the post-war calendar and a crowd of 57,600 turned up at Ibrox for a game that was acknowledged as being against weak opposition. Davie Shaw and Bobby Combe also represented Hibs in a match that proved Reilly, even as an outside left had what it took to be a success at the highest level. In October 1949 Scotland traveled to Dalymount Park in Dublin for a return fixture and squeezed home 1-0; this time with Gordon Smith at outside right and Lawrie at outside-left.
Eventually the more experienced Willie Ormond returned to the first team at Easter Road and it was decided to try young Reilly at centre-forward. It was a fortuitous switch and the rest as they say “is history”.
If Reilly shone as an outside-left then he positively dazzled as a centre-forward. Reilly performede like no other Scottish footballer as a centre-forward. In season 1950/51 he scored 23 league goals and in the next six seasons he netted 27, 30, 15, 15, 23 and 16 league goals. He thus became the first Hibs player to top the Easter Road scoring charts in seven consecutive seasons. His haul of thirty league goals in season 52/53 was a club record at that time.
That 1952 season saw Reilly binge on goals. In October 1952 the Scottish Football League selectors named Smith, Johnstone, Reilly and Ormond in their side to face Ireland. Scotland won 5-1 and Reilly bagged four goals in as emphatic display of forward play as anyone could wish to see.
Physically Reilly was not the archetypal centre-forward. He wasn’t particularly big, standing at just 5 foot 7 inches, nor was he particularly heavy. Yet Lawrie was a prolific marksman and scored a goodly number of goals from headers. His explanation was that the other members of the Famous Five delivered such telling crosses and passes. Were he less modest he would have mentioned his own sense of timing and sheer bravery.
Reilly could be a terror of individual teams. He scored seven against Motherwell in the two matches in season 1952/53. But like Ormond and Smith his run of success was halted by illness. He was diagnosed as having pleurisy in 1954 and missed the World Cup finals; although on reflection he may consider himself lucky to have avoided that dreadful trip.
Despite that 1954 set-back he was an international hero and the darling of the famous Hampden slopes. Scotland’s top scorer for three consecutive seasons he also played five times for Scotland at Wembley and hit five goals … an astonishing feat. It was one of his international goals, a dramatic late counter in 1953; that effectively sealed the ‘Last Minute Reilly’ tag.
However the ‘last minute’ title did detract from the real facts which were that that Reilly was a handful throughout the ninety minutes. How else could he have bagged no fewer than 22 goals in his 38 internationals?
The final word on Lawrie Reilly’s remarkable career must be that he was forced to retire when aged only 29. His 253 league games had yielded a sensational 187 goals.
HONOURS:
Scotland (38); Scottish League (13)
League Cup final 1950
Scotland (38); Scottish League (13)
League Cup final 1950
REPLAYS
There may come a time when Scottish Cup replays go the same way as League Cup replays and are discontinued. However, since the end of World War Two Hibs have been involved in some epic Scottish Cup replays and from 1946 to 2002 Hibs contested 40 replays and contrived to lose 20 of them!
The full list of Hibernian Scottish Cup replays is as follows:-
1946/47 Rangers H W 2-0
1948/49 Raith Rovers A W 4-3
1950/51 St Mirren H W 5-0
1951/52 Raith Rovers H D 0-0
1951/52 Raith Rovers N L 1-4
1952/53 Aberdeen A L 0-2
1955/56 Raith Rovers A L 1-3
1957/58 Dundee United H W 2-0
1957/58 Rangers N W 2-1
1958/59 Raith Rovers H W 2-1
1960/61 Celtic H L 0-1
1961/62 Partick Thistle H L 2-3
1964/65 ES Clydebank A W 2-0
1966/67 Aberdeen A L 0-3
1970/71 Rangers N L 1-2
1971/72 Rangers N W 2-0
1972/73 Rangers H L 1-2
1973/74 Dundee A L 0-3
1975/76 Motherwell H D 1-1
1975/76 Motherwell N L 1-2
1976/77 Arbroath H L 1-2
1977/78 Partick Thistle A L 1-2
1978/79 Dunfermline Ath H W 2-0
1979/80 Berwick Rangers H W 1-0
1980/81 Dunfermline Ath A W 2-1
1981/82 Dundee United H D 1-1
1981/82 Dundee United H L 0-3
1983/84 East Fife H L 0-2
1987/88 Dumbarton H W 3-0
1987/88 Celtic H L 0-1
1992/83 Cowdenbeath H W 1-0
1994/95 Celtic N L 1-3
1996/97 Aberdeen A D 0-0(Hibs won on Penalties)
196/97 Celtic A L 0-2
1998/99 Stirling Albion A L 1-2
1999/00 Clydebank A W 3-0
2001/02 Stranraer A W 4-0
2002/03 Dunfermline Ath H L 0-2
2006/07 Aberdeen H W 4-1
2006/07 Dunfermline Ath N L 0-1
1948/49 Raith Rovers A W 4-3
1950/51 St Mirren H W 5-0
1951/52 Raith Rovers H D 0-0
1951/52 Raith Rovers N L 1-4
1952/53 Aberdeen A L 0-2
1955/56 Raith Rovers A L 1-3
1957/58 Dundee United H W 2-0
1957/58 Rangers N W 2-1
1958/59 Raith Rovers H W 2-1
1960/61 Celtic H L 0-1
1961/62 Partick Thistle H L 2-3
1964/65 ES Clydebank A W 2-0
1966/67 Aberdeen A L 0-3
1970/71 Rangers N L 1-2
1971/72 Rangers N W 2-0
1972/73 Rangers H L 1-2
1973/74 Dundee A L 0-3
1975/76 Motherwell H D 1-1
1975/76 Motherwell N L 1-2
1976/77 Arbroath H L 1-2
1977/78 Partick Thistle A L 1-2
1978/79 Dunfermline Ath H W 2-0
1979/80 Berwick Rangers H W 1-0
1980/81 Dunfermline Ath A W 2-1
1981/82 Dundee United H D 1-1
1981/82 Dundee United H L 0-3
1983/84 East Fife H L 0-2
1987/88 Dumbarton H W 3-0
1987/88 Celtic H L 0-1
1992/83 Cowdenbeath H W 1-0
1994/95 Celtic N L 1-3
1996/97 Aberdeen A D 0-0(Hibs won on Penalties)
196/97 Celtic A L 0-2
1998/99 Stirling Albion A L 1-2
1999/00 Clydebank A W 3-0
2001/02 Stranraer A W 4-0
2002/03 Dunfermline Ath H L 0-2
2006/07 Aberdeen H W 4-1
2006/07 Dunfermline Ath N L 0-1
There was only one season in the 1970s when Hibernian didn’t have a Scottish Cup replay, and in the first three years of the 1970s Hibs played Rangers each and every time! Probably the most surprising result in the list above is the 1977 reversal to lowly Arbroath when Hibs were bundled out in a real giant-killing act.
As stated earlier the League Cup no longer accommodates replays and matches are played to a finish on the evening. It wasn’t always so and in 1950/51 a quarter final tie between Hibs and Aberdeen turned into a real epic.
On September 16 at Pittodrie in a first leg meeting Hibs were thumped 4-1 and seemed destined to exit the tournament. However, four days later, at Easter Road, Hibs won 4-1 and it required a very late goal by Aberdeen to ‘save their skin’. Thus on October 2nd a replay was held, with the venue rather strangely chosen to be Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow. Another tight encounter unfolded and the teams drew 1-1 after extra time. And so to a second replay – this time the following day at Hampden Park. Hibernian really hit form in the second replay and romped home 5-1 thanks to goals by Bobby Johnstone (2), Eddie Turnbull, Gordon Smith and Lawrie Reilly.
RESERVE FOOTBALL
Hibernian came to dominate Scottish reserve football in the late 1940s. They won the Scottish Reserve League in 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949. To that impressive quartet they added a trio of Reserve League Cup triumphs in 1947, 1948 and 1949. Things progressed to the extent that Hibs ran three successful teams in the immediate post-war era.
Winning the Reserve League Championship in consecutive years attracted attention and a wealth of young talent. As the playing strength at the club’s disposal grew the establishment of a third team was necessary. In season 1947/48 Hibernian’s C team took part in the East of Scotland league playing home fixtures at Whistone Park in Peebles. They easily won the league and for good measure added the King Cup.
But it was the side above this, the Hibernian Reserves that really caught the eye. At one stage they played 43 league games in just over 3 years at Easter Road and never lost a match. This entailed scoring 196 goals for the loss of only 29 against. The record ran until February 1949 when on February 12th, Celtic reserves inflicted a 2-0 defeat.
There was considerable pride in the youth set up at Hibernian, and the club appeared to be dominant not only in that particular time but to be laying the foundations for long term success. Thus in season 1947/48 Hibs won the championship in all three leagues they contested. The figures are stunning and worthy of repetition:
P W L D F A Pts
First team 30 22 4 4 86 27 48
Second team 30 27 2 1 119 26 55
Third team 26 24 1 1 140 29 49
Total 86 73 7 6 345 82 152
In season 1949/50 when Hibernian finished second in "A" Division one point behind Champions Rangers, the Easter Road club won "C" Division - North and East again, finishing with 54 points, with Heart of Midlothian finishing in second place on 45 points and St. Johnstone, (whose senior team that season played in "B" Division), in third place on 38 points.
For a period two C divisions operated (a North & East and a South & West) and although several reserve sides featured in these divisions it was also the home to some first team sides - the likes of Montrose and Brechin City not yet enjoying membership of the Scottish Football League.
Over time Reserve football changed and today the norm is a structure of youth sides with age groupings marking out the different levels. There no longer appears to be the same kudos in winning a reserve/youth championship and, perhaps rightly, the structure is viewed first and foremost as a feeder mechanism for the first team.
Winning the Reserve League Championship in consecutive years attracted attention and a wealth of young talent. As the playing strength at the club’s disposal grew the establishment of a third team was necessary. In season 1947/48 Hibernian’s C team took part in the East of Scotland league playing home fixtures at Whistone Park in Peebles. They easily won the league and for good measure added the King Cup.
But it was the side above this, the Hibernian Reserves that really caught the eye. At one stage they played 43 league games in just over 3 years at Easter Road and never lost a match. This entailed scoring 196 goals for the loss of only 29 against. The record ran until February 1949 when on February 12th, Celtic reserves inflicted a 2-0 defeat.
There was considerable pride in the youth set up at Hibernian, and the club appeared to be dominant not only in that particular time but to be laying the foundations for long term success. Thus in season 1947/48 Hibs won the championship in all three leagues they contested. The figures are stunning and worthy of repetition:
P W L D F A Pts
First team 30 22 4 4 86 27 48
Second team 30 27 2 1 119 26 55
Third team 26 24 1 1 140 29 49
Total 86 73 7 6 345 82 152
In season 1949/50 when Hibernian finished second in "A" Division one point behind Champions Rangers, the Easter Road club won "C" Division - North and East again, finishing with 54 points, with Heart of Midlothian finishing in second place on 45 points and St. Johnstone, (whose senior team that season played in "B" Division), in third place on 38 points.
For a period two C divisions operated (a North & East and a South & West) and although several reserve sides featured in these divisions it was also the home to some first team sides - the likes of Montrose and Brechin City not yet enjoying membership of the Scottish Football League.
Over time Reserve football changed and today the norm is a structure of youth sides with age groupings marking out the different levels. There no longer appears to be the same kudos in winning a reserve/youth championship and, perhaps rightly, the structure is viewed first and foremost as a feeder mechanism for the first team.
DEREK RIORDAN (1983 -
A remarkably talented young striker Riordan belied a very slight build. Full of skill and possessed of a goalscorer’s uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time he made a real impact at Hibernian in a short career. He was a noted marksman from dead-ball situations and for one so apparently frail possessed a powerful shot.
Riordan was brought up in the Muirhouse district of Edinburgh and attended Craigroyston High where his football skills first came to note. A Hibernian supporter he had once been ejected from the ground when snapping a seat after Paul Wright scored a crucial cup goal for Kilmarnock in Hibs relegation season. From Hutcheson Vale he made progress through the Hibernian youth teams until his first team debut came along in December 2001.
It was Franck Sauzee who gave Riordan his debut and in picking a match away to Hearts Sauzee gave a clear statement about Riordan’s strength of character. Alas not long afterward Hibs slumped and Sauzee was shown the door, in came Bobby Williamson and Riordan’s career slowly but surely picked up.
A loan spell at Cowdenbeath’s Central Park was arguably the making of him. He scored four goals in five matches for the Fife club, including a hat-trick in a remarkable 7-5 win at Brechin. Recalled to Easter Road he was soon amongst the goals and netted a delightful curling effort against Hearts.
Sadly the CIS Cup final against Livingston went badly for Hibs after the glory of a dramatic semi-final win against Rangers. But little could dent Riordan’s confidence and he became a mainstay of Hibs youthful attack.
In the 2004/05 season he was Hibs’ top scorer with 20 goals and Young Player of the Month in September, November and December 2004 as well as January 2005. Riordan, had well and truly arrived and he was Hibernian’s top scorer three seasons in succession racking up 60 goals. Little wonder he was Scotland’s Young Player of the Year by the summer of 2005 and earned his first international cap against Austria.
He moved to Celtic in June 2006, with Hibs receiving little by way of compensation, but it was a move that didn’t really work out. In eighteen months he played only a handful of matches and despite scoring regularly did not seem to fit with Gordon Strachan’s plans at Celtic.
Riordan was brought up in the Muirhouse district of Edinburgh and attended Craigroyston High where his football skills first came to note. A Hibernian supporter he had once been ejected from the ground when snapping a seat after Paul Wright scored a crucial cup goal for Kilmarnock in Hibs relegation season. From Hutcheson Vale he made progress through the Hibernian youth teams until his first team debut came along in December 2001.
It was Franck Sauzee who gave Riordan his debut and in picking a match away to Hearts Sauzee gave a clear statement about Riordan’s strength of character. Alas not long afterward Hibs slumped and Sauzee was shown the door, in came Bobby Williamson and Riordan’s career slowly but surely picked up.
A loan spell at Cowdenbeath’s Central Park was arguably the making of him. He scored four goals in five matches for the Fife club, including a hat-trick in a remarkable 7-5 win at Brechin. Recalled to Easter Road he was soon amongst the goals and netted a delightful curling effort against Hearts.
Sadly the CIS Cup final against Livingston went badly for Hibs after the glory of a dramatic semi-final win against Rangers. But little could dent Riordan’s confidence and he became a mainstay of Hibs youthful attack.
In the 2004/05 season he was Hibs’ top scorer with 20 goals and Young Player of the Month in September, November and December 2004 as well as January 2005. Riordan, had well and truly arrived and he was Hibernian’s top scorer three seasons in succession racking up 60 goals. Little wonder he was Scotland’s Young Player of the Year by the summer of 2005 and earned his first international cap against Austria.
He moved to Celtic in June 2006, with Hibs receiving little by way of compensation, but it was a move that didn’t really work out. In eighteen months he played only a handful of matches and despite scoring regularly did not seem to fit with Gordon Strachan’s plans at Celtic.
HONOURS
Scotland (1), Scotland Under-21 (5)
Scotland (1), Scotland Under-21 (5)
ROSEBERY CHARITY CUP
A competition played between Edinburgh’s senior clubs, it fell by the wayside not long after the end of World War Two. Very rarely were teams from outwith the capital invited to participate (although Lanarkshire club Mossend Swifts won the trophy in 1889) and before the demise of St Bernards and Leith Athletic this made for an easily structured competition.
The 1944-45 version was the last time the Rosebery Charity Cup was contested and Hibernian won the final on May 11, 1946 at Easter Road. The match with Hearts ended in a 2-2 draw. Jock Weir had both Hibs goals but it was the corner count that proved decisive and the Hibees edged home 7-6.
Hearts won the Rosebery Cup 33 times compared to Hibernian’s 22. The 1886 final between the sides was abandoned twice. In the first game Hearts supporters invaded the field and Hibernian fans stopped the second match with a similar incursion.
Most satisfying for Hibees to recall is the 1887 final when Hibs thumped Hearts 7-1. Hibernian had scored five times before half an hour had gone.
The 1944-45 version was the last time the Rosebery Charity Cup was contested and Hibernian won the final on May 11, 1946 at Easter Road. The match with Hearts ended in a 2-2 draw. Jock Weir had both Hibs goals but it was the corner count that proved decisive and the Hibees edged home 7-6.
Hearts won the Rosebery Cup 33 times compared to Hibernian’s 22. The 1886 final between the sides was abandoned twice. In the first game Hearts supporters invaded the field and Hibernian fans stopped the second match with a similar incursion.
Most satisfying for Hibees to recall is the 1887 final when Hibs thumped Hearts 7-1. Hibernian had scored five times before half an hour had gone.
ALAN ROUGH
Alan Rough was arguably the most formidable Scottish goalkeeper of his era. He represented Scotland 53 times, twice in World Cup finals, and was a huge success at Partick Thistle, Hibs and Celtic. A great talker he later earned a solid reputation as an after-dinner speaker and radio presenter.
They say that a good goalkeeper is the foundation of a successful side and Rough proved that adage. With Partick Thistle he was an incredible asset foiling club after club with a series of inspired displays. In 1971 he was in goal when Thistle stunned Jock Stein’s Celtic by winning the League Cup final 4-1 at Hampden (being 4-0 to the good at half-time).
With his bright yellow top, blond permed hair and model girlfriend he was one of Scotland’s best known players in the late 1970s. Certainly Bertie Auld as manager of Partick Thistle benefited hugely from Rough’s consistency and the Glasgow club punched well above their weight with Rough in their ranks.
He gave many impressive performances against Hibs, never more so than in October 1976 when he saved time and time again as Hibs were held 0-0 by Partick Thistle. Such was his reputation that it was something of a surprise when Rough was lured to Hibs in 1979 having made over 400 outings for Thistle.
When Bertie Auld was sacked as Hibs boss in September 1982 few would have predicted that former Easter Road favourite Pat Stanton would come back to the club, even fewer that one of Stanton’s first signings would be Alan Rough. Jim McArthur had been the Hibernian custodian until Rough arrived in late November 1982 and the new man made his debut at home to Celtic. Hibs lost that game but soon rallied with Rough inspirational in goal.
His laid back attitude and relaxed manner were often commented on, never more so than in the famous Graeme Souness – George McCluskey match at Easter Road. As mayhem ensued in the middle of the pitch with almost every player involved Rough was seen to lean against his goalpost and watch the events unfold. As one wag noted “See Roughie; come’s aff his line for nothing!”
Rough enjoyed a ten year career from 1976 as Scotland’s number one keeper and from that period stems much of his popularity. He wound his career down with spells at various small clubs but it is a Partick, Hibs, Celtic and Scotland goalkeeper he is best remembered.
HONOURS
Scotland (2)
League Cup final 1985
Scotland (2)
League Cup final 1985
See also: Alan Rough: My Story, The Rough and the Smooth. Published November 2006 by Headline Publishing.