S
FRANK SAUZEE (1965 -
Raised in the small French fishing village of La Begude near Marseille Franck was just 17 when he joined Sochaux. He spent five very happy years there and was part of the French Under 21 side that won the European Championship. After ‘cutting his teeth’ he then moved to Marseille and although he had a single year with Monaco he returned to Marseille to help in the winning of the French ‘double’ of League and Cup in his first season. The highlight however was winning the European Cup in 1993 against AC Milan in Munich.
From Marseille, which suffered financially in the wake of owner Bernard Tapie’s fall from grace, he joined Atalanta Bergamo in Italy; signed by the renowned Marcello Lippi. Things did not work out in Italy for Franck and he was sold to Strasbourg and stayed there until he was 31 when he moved to Montpellier.
He was 33 years old and in dispute with his club when Alex McLeish persuaded him to join Hibernian. For such a player to come to Easter Road would at one time have been unimaginable. It was not just as a star in French domestic football that Franck had shone. He had 39 caps for France and had scored 9 goals. He was in short a top class international footballer.
Signed in 1999, whilst Hibs were in the First Division, Franck revelled in the freedom and responsibility he was given at Easter Road. He helped the club win that First Division in 1999 and in 2001 led the club out for the Scottish Cup Final against Celtic.
Sauzee had all the skills of a top international star. He could play in midfield or as sweeper and with equal impact. His long range passing was awesome as was his ability from the dead-ball situation and some of his goals for Hibernian were quite thunderous efforts.
He genuinely loved his spell as a Hibs player and put much of that down to the mature way in which Alex McLeish handled him. At one point Alex devised an ‘open planned’ training schedule for the French master. Franck told me at the time “I prefer playing and live for the Saturdays. I am lucky at Hibs however as Alex McLeish and Andy Watson are so intelligent and recognise that I am 34 years old. They know that I need a different training schedule from the young players of say 18 and 19. Sometimes when I am tired I have a rest and this is better for the team and for me obviously. I am grateful that the club recognise my situation.”
Alas when then Hibs boss Alex McLeish moved to Rangers, Franck was placed in the managerial chair. This was the natural move and it would have been ludicrous for Hibernian not to have offered the post to such a huge international star on their own pay-roll. However, things did not work out and after a sad few months (69 days in total), in which the nadir was losing to First Division Ayr United in a Hampden League Cup semi-final, Franck was sacked as boss.
Franck was a very personable man. As programme editor I had the task of speaking to Franck on Monday nights as we put together his programme notes. Initially these chats were a pleasure and his genuine passion for Hibernian shone through. However, as ignominious results heaped the pressure on he became withdrawn, beleaguered and almost perplexed.
For a man used to success as a player and clearly possessed of a wonderful mentality he found such a run particularly hard to bear. The image of him before the press under the main stand at Hampden Park after the League Cup semi-final exit to Ayr Untied was painful to behold.
Best to remember him as the truly legendary player he was. The song that rolled down from the terraces “There’s only one Sauzee” is the more fitting memory of a wonderful talent.
From Marseille, which suffered financially in the wake of owner Bernard Tapie’s fall from grace, he joined Atalanta Bergamo in Italy; signed by the renowned Marcello Lippi. Things did not work out in Italy for Franck and he was sold to Strasbourg and stayed there until he was 31 when he moved to Montpellier.
He was 33 years old and in dispute with his club when Alex McLeish persuaded him to join Hibernian. For such a player to come to Easter Road would at one time have been unimaginable. It was not just as a star in French domestic football that Franck had shone. He had 39 caps for France and had scored 9 goals. He was in short a top class international footballer.
Signed in 1999, whilst Hibs were in the First Division, Franck revelled in the freedom and responsibility he was given at Easter Road. He helped the club win that First Division in 1999 and in 2001 led the club out for the Scottish Cup Final against Celtic.
Sauzee had all the skills of a top international star. He could play in midfield or as sweeper and with equal impact. His long range passing was awesome as was his ability from the dead-ball situation and some of his goals for Hibernian were quite thunderous efforts.
He genuinely loved his spell as a Hibs player and put much of that down to the mature way in which Alex McLeish handled him. At one point Alex devised an ‘open planned’ training schedule for the French master. Franck told me at the time “I prefer playing and live for the Saturdays. I am lucky at Hibs however as Alex McLeish and Andy Watson are so intelligent and recognise that I am 34 years old. They know that I need a different training schedule from the young players of say 18 and 19. Sometimes when I am tired I have a rest and this is better for the team and for me obviously. I am grateful that the club recognise my situation.”
Alas when then Hibs boss Alex McLeish moved to Rangers, Franck was placed in the managerial chair. This was the natural move and it would have been ludicrous for Hibernian not to have offered the post to such a huge international star on their own pay-roll. However, things did not work out and after a sad few months (69 days in total), in which the nadir was losing to First Division Ayr United in a Hampden League Cup semi-final, Franck was sacked as boss.
Franck was a very personable man. As programme editor I had the task of speaking to Franck on Monday nights as we put together his programme notes. Initially these chats were a pleasure and his genuine passion for Hibernian shone through. However, as ignominious results heaped the pressure on he became withdrawn, beleaguered and almost perplexed.
For a man used to success as a player and clearly possessed of a wonderful mentality he found such a run particularly hard to bear. The image of him before the press under the main stand at Hampden Park after the League Cup semi-final exit to Ayr Untied was painful to behold.
Best to remember him as the truly legendary player he was. The song that rolled down from the terraces “There’s only one Sauzee” is the more fitting memory of a wonderful talent.
HONOURS
Scottish Cup final 2001
Scottish Cup final 2001
ERICH SCHAEDLER (1949 – 1955)
In two spells with Hibernian Erich became a cult hero. A solid left-back he had tremendous fitness and was guaranteed to give 100% week after week.
Erich had started out with Peebles Rovers and Melbourne Thistle before joining Stirling Albion and it was from the latter that he joined Hibs in 1969 for £7,000. The link here was Willie Macfarlane who was to be Schaedler’s manager at both Albion and Hibs. By the time the Turnbull’s Tornadoes era was off and running in the early seventies, the full back pairing of Brownlie and Schaedler was a solid foundation in the Hibs team.
He wasn’t a regular goalscorer but he scored from 40 yards when his free kick eluded the entire Celtic defence for a memorable counter. He moved to Dundee in November 1977 but was back with Hibernian in 1981. Finally he moved to Dumbarton on a free transfer in 1985. Sadly Erich took his own life when he was still a young man.
Erich had started out with Peebles Rovers and Melbourne Thistle before joining Stirling Albion and it was from the latter that he joined Hibs in 1969 for £7,000. The link here was Willie Macfarlane who was to be Schaedler’s manager at both Albion and Hibs. By the time the Turnbull’s Tornadoes era was off and running in the early seventies, the full back pairing of Brownlie and Schaedler was a solid foundation in the Hibs team.
He wasn’t a regular goalscorer but he scored from 40 yards when his free kick eluded the entire Celtic defence for a memorable counter. He moved to Dundee in November 1977 but was back with Hibernian in 1981. Finally he moved to Dumbarton on a free transfer in 1985. Sadly Erich took his own life when he was still a young man.
HONOURS
Scotland (1)
League Cup 1972
Scottish Cup final 1972
Scotland (1)
League Cup 1972
Scottish Cup final 1972
SCOTTISH CUP
Hibs association with the Scottish Cup is a well document and painful one. Having failed to win the cup since 1902 theirs is an undistinguished yet intriguing tale that is regularly dredged up and explored at some journalistic length. That neither the Famous Five nor Turnbull’s Tornadoes were able to bring the cup back to Easter Road is a source of constant amazement.
Hibernian have twice won the Scottish Cup:
1887: Despite going a goal down, Hibs won their first ever Scottish Cup final. The Edinburgh club was backed by a noisy travelling support, some of whom had walked to Hampden from Edinburgh (the embryonic railway system being out of their price range). Ironically in the aftermath of this triumph Hibs attended a function in Glasgow which began the process of their best players defecting to the new Glasgow Celtic club.
However, for many the success is associated with the infamous semi-final against Vale of Leven, which saw the Dumbartonshire club lodge a protest that Hibernian had paid one of their players (this in the days before professionalism). The player at the centre of the scandal was inside-right Willie Groves, whom we must presume was paid by Hibs to make up for his missing work to play in matches! Groves would, it seems, have been fairly motivated by money, for he was one of the defectors who helped establish Celtic. He then enjoyed lucrative stints in England with West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa before returning to Hibs in 1895. Alas for all his opportunities he died in poverty stricken conditions in 1908.
Hibernian have twice won the Scottish Cup:
1887: Despite going a goal down, Hibs won their first ever Scottish Cup final. The Edinburgh club was backed by a noisy travelling support, some of whom had walked to Hampden from Edinburgh (the embryonic railway system being out of their price range). Ironically in the aftermath of this triumph Hibs attended a function in Glasgow which began the process of their best players defecting to the new Glasgow Celtic club.
However, for many the success is associated with the infamous semi-final against Vale of Leven, which saw the Dumbartonshire club lodge a protest that Hibernian had paid one of their players (this in the days before professionalism). The player at the centre of the scandal was inside-right Willie Groves, whom we must presume was paid by Hibs to make up for his missing work to play in matches! Groves would, it seems, have been fairly motivated by money, for he was one of the defectors who helped establish Celtic. He then enjoyed lucrative stints in England with West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa before returning to Hibs in 1895. Alas for all his opportunities he died in poverty stricken conditions in 1908.
Scottish Cup Final –12 February 1887
Hampden Park
Hibernian 2, Dumbarton 1 (Montgomery, Groves)
Hampden Park
Hibernian 2, Dumbarton 1 (Montgomery, Groves)
Hibernian: Tobin; Lundy, Fagan; McGhee, McGinn, McLaren;
Groves, Clarke, Reynolds, Montgomery, Smith
1902: En route to winning the cup for a second time Hibs overcame Rangers in a semi-final tie at Ibrox Stadium. A few weeks later the first Ibrox Disaster cost 25 people their lives. The stadium had been due to host the final and the match had to be switched. Bizarrely Celtic Park was the choice of venue for the final ... one which Celtic would contest!
But Hibs made light of this disadvantage. With goalkeeper Harry Rennie in imperious goalkeeping form they won the final 1-0, with Andy McGeachan’s winner, according to some sources, coming in the form of a back-heeler.
Groves, Clarke, Reynolds, Montgomery, Smith
1902: En route to winning the cup for a second time Hibs overcame Rangers in a semi-final tie at Ibrox Stadium. A few weeks later the first Ibrox Disaster cost 25 people their lives. The stadium had been due to host the final and the match had to be switched. Bizarrely Celtic Park was the choice of venue for the final ... one which Celtic would contest!
But Hibs made light of this disadvantage. With goalkeeper Harry Rennie in imperious goalkeeping form they won the final 1-0, with Andy McGeachan’s winner, according to some sources, coming in the form of a back-heeler.
Scottish Cup Final - 26 April 1902
Celtic Park, Glasgow
Final – Celtic 0, Hibernian 1 ( McGeachan)
Celtic Park, Glasgow
Final – Celtic 0, Hibernian 1 ( McGeachan)
Hibernian: Rennie, Gray, Glen; Breslin, Harrower, Robertson;
McCall, McGeachan, Divers, Callagan, Atherton
Those two triumphs, however, are the extent of Hibernian’s Scottish Cup success. The remainder of their Scottish Cup tale is one of near misses and underachievement. In 1914, 1923, 1924, 1947, 1958, 1972, 1979 and 2001 they have contested and lost Scottish Cup finals.
Hibs lost four Scottish Cup finals before the Second World War. In 1896 they lost the only (to date) all-Edinburgh final. Hearts took the honours beating Hibs 3-1 in the Logie Green contest on 14 March. In 1914 Hibs lost the final once more, this time beaten 4-1 by Celtic in a replayed final at Ibrox Stadium (Jimmy McColl, later to star at Easter Road bagged two of the Celts goals).
The same opponents beat Hibs in the 1923 final at Hampden Park and although Hibernian returned to contest the very next final they lost 0-2 to Airdrieonians at Ibrox.
Post World War Two Scottish Cup finals:
1947: Hibernian reached the first post-war Scottish Cup final after a marathon semi-final win over Motherwell. At Hampden Park on April 19, 1947 they faced Aberdeen and made a whirlwind start. After just one minute Johnny Cuthbertson had put the Hibees in front. Hibs keeper Jimmy Kerr even saved a penalty, but still it was not to be Hibs day and Aberdeen ran out 2-1 winners.
The beaten Hibees lined up: Kerr, Govan, Shaw, Howie, Aird, Kean, Smith, Finnigan, Cuthbertson, Turnbull, Ormond.
McCall, McGeachan, Divers, Callagan, Atherton
Those two triumphs, however, are the extent of Hibernian’s Scottish Cup success. The remainder of their Scottish Cup tale is one of near misses and underachievement. In 1914, 1923, 1924, 1947, 1958, 1972, 1979 and 2001 they have contested and lost Scottish Cup finals.
Hibs lost four Scottish Cup finals before the Second World War. In 1896 they lost the only (to date) all-Edinburgh final. Hearts took the honours beating Hibs 3-1 in the Logie Green contest on 14 March. In 1914 Hibs lost the final once more, this time beaten 4-1 by Celtic in a replayed final at Ibrox Stadium (Jimmy McColl, later to star at Easter Road bagged two of the Celts goals).
The same opponents beat Hibs in the 1923 final at Hampden Park and although Hibernian returned to contest the very next final they lost 0-2 to Airdrieonians at Ibrox.
Post World War Two Scottish Cup finals:
1947: Hibernian reached the first post-war Scottish Cup final after a marathon semi-final win over Motherwell. At Hampden Park on April 19, 1947 they faced Aberdeen and made a whirlwind start. After just one minute Johnny Cuthbertson had put the Hibees in front. Hibs keeper Jimmy Kerr even saved a penalty, but still it was not to be Hibs day and Aberdeen ran out 2-1 winners.
The beaten Hibees lined up: Kerr, Govan, Shaw, Howie, Aird, Kean, Smith, Finnigan, Cuthbertson, Turnbull, Ormond.
1958: Up against lowly Clyde, but hampered by injury, Hibs lost 0-1 to a goal by Johnny Coyle. Denied the services of Lawrie Reilly Hibs cause was further hampered when Andy Aitken was injured early on and reduced to the role of ‘passenger’. Eddie Turnbull played in the final and was destined to be the manager when Hibs next reached the Scottish Cup final.
Hibernian: Leslie, Grant, McClelland; Turnbull, Plenderleith, Baxter; Fraser, Aitken, Baker, Preston, Ormond
1972: Faced with Jock Stein’s powerful Celtic side Hibs crashed horribly to the tune of 6-1. Alan Gordon’s goal had made it 1-1 but a hat-trick by Dixie Deans cut Hibernian to pieces. Caught chasing the game Hibernian were repeatedly hit ‘on the break’. Hibs were behind as early as the second minute but equalized in the 12th. Deans was a thorn in the flesh of Hibs for several seasons (he scored 18 times in 13 matches against Hibs) and the hat-trick was not to be his only one against Hibs. Two very late goals put an entirely false complexion on the afternoon.
Hibernian: Herriot, Brownlie, Schaedler; Stanton, Black, Blackley; Edwards, Hazel, Gordon, O’Rourke, Duncan (Auld)
1979: Against Rangers Hibs played their part in two of the most tedious matches ever. Not until the second replay was the cup destination decided. But whilst Hibs favourite Arthur Duncan scored the winner, his was an own-goal and Rangers took the cup 3-2. The non-award of a penalty when Colin Campbell was felled by Peter McCloy proved decisive, the referee somehow waving away furious Hibernian protests and allowing play to continue.
Hibernian: McArthur, Brazil, Duncan, Bremner, Stewart, McNamara; Rae, McLeod, Campbell, Callachan (Brown), Higgins (Hutchison)
2001: Managed by Alex McLeish and captained by Franck Sauzee Hibs hoped to dent Celtic’s treble bid. Despite starting well, with Marc Libbra particularly impressive, they were sunk 0-3 before a crowd of 51,284 and former Hibernian captain Jackie McNamara saw his son score one of Celtic’s goals.
Hibernian: Colgan, Fenwick, G Smith, Sauzee, Jack, Laursen, Murray, Brebner (Arpinon) (Lovell), O’Neil, Paatelainen (Zitelli), Libbra
Since 1946 Hibernian have contested 18 Scottish Cup semi-finals and as the list above suggests they have managed to win only five of those fixtures.
In 1948 they were beaten 1-0 by Rangers at Hampden Park in a game watched by 143,570. Rangers centre-forward Willie Thornton scored the goal that separated the sides. Rangers and Hibs were the major powers in immediate post-war Scottish football.
Remarkably there were 100,000 fewer present to see Hearts and Hibs contest the 2006 Scottish Cup semi-final. The match went badly for Hibernian who lost 0-4 and had two players sent-off. Ironically former Hibee Paul Hartley scored a hat-trick for the Maroons.
Hibernian have lost several semi-finals in domestic cups at Tynecastle Park. In 1965 they were beaten 2-0 by Dunfermline at Hearts’ ground. Things might have gone differently had Hibs’ boss Jock Stein not left for Celtic just two months before this tie. Stein ultimately managed Celtic to victory over Dunfermline in the final.
In 1951 Hibs lost 3-2 to Motherwell at Tynecastle Park. Lawrie Reilly scored twice but in the days before substitutes Hibs could not counter losing John Ogilvie to a broken leg.
In 2007 Hibs lost 1-0 in to Dunfermline at Hampden Park after the first game had ended 0-0. The replay proved notable for the tiny crowd that turned out.
Arguably Hibernian’s worst ever Scottish Cup result came on January 22nd, 1938 when they lost to local amateur side Edinburgh City 2-3 and missed a penalty to boot. Between 1931 and 1939 Edinburgh City were bottom of the league almost every season. After World War two the club went into rapid decline and by 1955 no longer existed.
In 1934 Hibernian met Clyde in the Scottish Cup. The January 20th match saw Hibs trailing 4-1 at one stage and seemingly intent on exiting the tournament. Remarkably the Hibees rallied to win an astonishing game 5-4 with Watts and Smith both scoring twice. The winning Hibernian team lined up: Blyth, Wilkinson, Urquhart; Laughton, Watson, Egan; Walls, Moffat, Malloy, Smith, Kavenagh.
Since 1946 Hibernian have contested 18 Scottish Cup semi-finals and as the list above suggests they have managed to win only five of those fixtures.
In 1948 they were beaten 1-0 by Rangers at Hampden Park in a game watched by 143,570. Rangers centre-forward Willie Thornton scored the goal that separated the sides. Rangers and Hibs were the major powers in immediate post-war Scottish football.
Remarkably there were 100,000 fewer present to see Hearts and Hibs contest the 2006 Scottish Cup semi-final. The match went badly for Hibernian who lost 0-4 and had two players sent-off. Ironically former Hibee Paul Hartley scored a hat-trick for the Maroons.
Hibernian have lost several semi-finals in domestic cups at Tynecastle Park. In 1965 they were beaten 2-0 by Dunfermline at Hearts’ ground. Things might have gone differently had Hibs’ boss Jock Stein not left for Celtic just two months before this tie. Stein ultimately managed Celtic to victory over Dunfermline in the final.
In 1951 Hibs lost 3-2 to Motherwell at Tynecastle Park. Lawrie Reilly scored twice but in the days before substitutes Hibs could not counter losing John Ogilvie to a broken leg.
In 2007 Hibs lost 1-0 in to Dunfermline at Hampden Park after the first game had ended 0-0. The replay proved notable for the tiny crowd that turned out.
Arguably Hibernian’s worst ever Scottish Cup result came on January 22nd, 1938 when they lost to local amateur side Edinburgh City 2-3 and missed a penalty to boot. Between 1931 and 1939 Edinburgh City were bottom of the league almost every season. After World War two the club went into rapid decline and by 1955 no longer existed.
In 1934 Hibernian met Clyde in the Scottish Cup. The January 20th match saw Hibs trailing 4-1 at one stage and seemingly intent on exiting the tournament. Remarkably the Hibees rallied to win an astonishing game 5-4 with Watts and Smith both scoring twice. The winning Hibernian team lined up: Blyth, Wilkinson, Urquhart; Laughton, Watson, Egan; Walls, Moffat, Malloy, Smith, Kavenagh.
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP
The League Cup came into being when football returned to normality after the Second World War. Based on the successful Southern League Cup it has enjoyed varying degrees of popularity and at one time the victors were able to enter European competition on the back of lifting the trophy.
It is the League Cup that has given Hibs most cause for celebration in recent years. In 1972 the club won the trophy against a very good Celtic side and they have been back to Hampden Park twice to reclaim the cup.
The first success came under the guidance of Eddie Turnbull. His side won the tournament the hard way having to overcome both Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park to do so. In the final his artistic side made up for losing the Scottish Cup final at the same venue to the same opponents a few months earlier.
Indeed Hibs won the League Cup with a blaze of goals. In the Sectional phase they overcame Queen’s Park, Aberdeen and Queen of the South, this despite losing 1-4 at Pittodrie. They then ousted Dundee United 5-2 and Airdrie by an astonishing 10-3 aggregate before beating Rangers in the semi-final at Hampden.
A crowd of 71, 696 saw Hibs overcome Celtic in a thrilling final that the Edinburgh club won rather more easily than the 2-1 scoreline suggested. Truth was that Kenny Dalglish’s late goal for Celtic put a rather false impression on the game.
The details of the final were – Hibernian 2, Celtic 1 (Stanton, O’Rourke)
Hibernian: Herriot; Brownlie, Schaedler; Stanton, Black, Blackley; Edwards, O’Rourke, Gordon, Cropley, Duncan
The club had to wait until 1991 to repeat this success, but that they did so in the wake of Wallace Mercer’s attempt to merge Hibs with Hearts was all the sweeter.
The final was a rather predictable glory day for Hibernian as they swept aside Dunfermline at Hampden Park. Keith Wright had got the only goal of the semi-final against Rangers at Hampden and he was on target in the final too. Tommy McIntyre got the first goal in a 2-0 trumph from a penalty kick.
The details of the final were – Hibernian 2, Dunfermline Athletic 0 (McIntyre, Wright)
Hibernian: Burridge, Miller, Mitchell, Hunter, McIntyre, MacLeod, Weir, Hamilton, Wright, Evans, McGinlay
The most recent League Cup triumph came shortly after John Collins had joined the club as manager. His youthful team defeated Hearts in a tense quarter final and then overcame St Johnstone at Tynecastle Park in a truly memorable semi-final that required extra-time. The final pitched Hibernian in against fellow Premier League side Kilmarnock and few could have predicted the ease with which Hibs claimed the trophy. Their 5-1 victory was one of those days when Hibernian did not let anybody down. Captain Rob Jones (28) headed his side into the lead and doubles by Steven Fletcher (66, 87) and Abdessalam Benjelloun (59, 85) won the day.
Hibernian: McNeil, Whittaker, Hogg, Jones, Murphy, Sproule, Brown, Beuzelin, Stevenson, Benjelloun, Fletcher. Subs: Zemmama, Martis, McCann
It is the League Cup that has given Hibs most cause for celebration in recent years. In 1972 the club won the trophy against a very good Celtic side and they have been back to Hampden Park twice to reclaim the cup.
The first success came under the guidance of Eddie Turnbull. His side won the tournament the hard way having to overcome both Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park to do so. In the final his artistic side made up for losing the Scottish Cup final at the same venue to the same opponents a few months earlier.
Indeed Hibs won the League Cup with a blaze of goals. In the Sectional phase they overcame Queen’s Park, Aberdeen and Queen of the South, this despite losing 1-4 at Pittodrie. They then ousted Dundee United 5-2 and Airdrie by an astonishing 10-3 aggregate before beating Rangers in the semi-final at Hampden.
A crowd of 71, 696 saw Hibs overcome Celtic in a thrilling final that the Edinburgh club won rather more easily than the 2-1 scoreline suggested. Truth was that Kenny Dalglish’s late goal for Celtic put a rather false impression on the game.
The details of the final were – Hibernian 2, Celtic 1 (Stanton, O’Rourke)
Hibernian: Herriot; Brownlie, Schaedler; Stanton, Black, Blackley; Edwards, O’Rourke, Gordon, Cropley, Duncan
The club had to wait until 1991 to repeat this success, but that they did so in the wake of Wallace Mercer’s attempt to merge Hibs with Hearts was all the sweeter.
The final was a rather predictable glory day for Hibernian as they swept aside Dunfermline at Hampden Park. Keith Wright had got the only goal of the semi-final against Rangers at Hampden and he was on target in the final too. Tommy McIntyre got the first goal in a 2-0 trumph from a penalty kick.
The details of the final were – Hibernian 2, Dunfermline Athletic 0 (McIntyre, Wright)
Hibernian: Burridge, Miller, Mitchell, Hunter, McIntyre, MacLeod, Weir, Hamilton, Wright, Evans, McGinlay
The most recent League Cup triumph came shortly after John Collins had joined the club as manager. His youthful team defeated Hearts in a tense quarter final and then overcame St Johnstone at Tynecastle Park in a truly memorable semi-final that required extra-time. The final pitched Hibernian in against fellow Premier League side Kilmarnock and few could have predicted the ease with which Hibs claimed the trophy. Their 5-1 victory was one of those days when Hibernian did not let anybody down. Captain Rob Jones (28) headed his side into the lead and doubles by Steven Fletcher (66, 87) and Abdessalam Benjelloun (59, 85) won the day.
Hibernian: McNeil, Whittaker, Hogg, Jones, Murphy, Sproule, Brown, Beuzelin, Stevenson, Benjelloun, Fletcher. Subs: Zemmama, Martis, McCann
Rob Jones scoring in the final against Kilmarnock
Of course Hibernian’s League Cup history is littered with both highs and lows. The lows have tended to come in the shape of semi-final defeats but on five occasions Hibs have reached finals only to falter at the last.
In 1950 they were widely tipped to beat a rather ordinary Motherwell side in the final. Given that Hibs had won 6-2 at Fir Park a few days earlier this seemed a reasonable assumption. But on the day injuries and poor form wreaked havoc and Hibs were thrashed 3-0 in one of the biggest upsets ever in that tournament.
Celtic defeated Hibs 6-2 in the 1969 final (held over from the autumn of 1968 due to a fire in the main stand at Hampden Park) and in 1985 Aberdeen routed Hibs 3-0 in the same tournament. Rangers have also beaten Hibernian in the League Cup final, winning 2-1 in a match played at Celtic Park due to reconstruction at Hampden Park.
The most recent defeat came at the hands of Livingston in the March 2004 final. Livingston won the game 2-0 and defeated the following Hibernian side: Andersson, Smith, Doumbe, Murdock, Edge, Brown, Reid, Caldwell, Thomson, Riordan, O’Connor. Subs: McManus and Dobbie. There was a rather unfortunate irony in that Stuart Lovell, allowed to leave Hibs only a year earlier, captained unfancied Livingston to victory.
The semi-final reversals have been particularly painful as they have denied players and fans alike at least the joy a final day out.
SENDINGS-OFF
Down through the years Hibernian have had their fair share of players dismissed. Some instances have been particularly note-worthy:
1. In an SPL match at Aberdeen on April 20, 2007 Hibernian had two players sent off; one of whom who was making his debut. First to go was young Sean Lynch in the 52nd minute and then with only a minute left to play he was joined by debutant Dermot McCaffrey.
2. The all-Edinburgh Scottish Cup semi-final of 2006 ended in disaster for Hibs. Not only were the team soundly beaten 4-0 by local rivals Hearts (for whom ex-Hibee Paul Hartley scored a hat-trick) but they were reduced to nine men with the dismissal of Ivan Sproule and Gary Smith
3. Gary Smith whilst never a ‘dirty player’ was sent off several times in his career. He established a most unusual record against Rangers by being sent off in two consecutive games against the Glasgow club. In October 2002 he was sent off for a foul on Claudio Canniggia. In February 2003 a spot of dissent saw Smith dismissed against the same opponents. In August 2002 Paco Luna was also dismissed against Rangers.
4. On Boxing Day 2001 Hibs appalling record of dismissals against Rangers began in earnest. Beaten 3-0 by Rangers, who were managed by former boss Alex McLeish the latter stages of the game were marred by the double-sending off of Ulrik Laursen and Tam McManus.
5. In May 2006 Hibs let a goal lead slip against Kilmarnock in a 3-1 defeat; their cause was not aided by having two players sent off. Early in the second half David Murphy was dismissed and goalkeeper Zbigniew Malkowski earned a late red card too. Polish keeper Malkowski was sent off for making a gesture at the linesman who had failed to give an offside decision.
6. John McNamee was sent-off against Celtic at Ibrox Stadium when Hibs lost 0-4 to Celtic in a League Cup semi-final replay in 1965.
7. August 2004 brought an unusual first win for new manager Tony Mowbray. Gary O’Connor scored a late goal to overcome Motherwell but the main talking point was the sending off of both Colin Murdock and Grant Brebner. Brebner and O’Connor had featured in another notable sending off incident. When Hibs beat Hearts 1-0 on August 2003 they did so thanks to a last minute O’Connor goal after Brebner had been sent off in the first half. The sending off was later rescinded by the football authorities.
8. Boxing Day 2006 almost lived up to its name at Tynecastle when Hearts beat Hibernian 3-2. Dean Sheilds was sent off immediately after equalizing with a penalty kick. He followed the ball into the net and barged Hearts keeper Craig Gordon leaving the referee with no option but to flash a red card.
9. Hamilton Handling was sent off for fighting in the 1901 derby fixture at Easter Road. Hibs lost the game 1-2.
10. Peter Cormack had a fierce temper and he was sent off frequently in his career; a pattern he established as a youngster at Easter Road. In the 1960s he was even sent off whilst representing the club in North America, against Cagliari of Italy. In October 1967 he was dismissed against Porto in the Fairs Cities Cup.
In the 1978 Premier Division fixture at Tynecastle between Hearts and Hibs two home players were dismissed. Jim Jefferies and Donald Park were the players in question and curiously enough they would faced each other in the dug-out at future Edinburgh derbies.
In November 2002 Hearts Phil Stamp was sent-off after scoring a last minute winner in a 1-2 match at Easter Road. Stamp’s ‘crime’ was over-celebrating the winning goal! That same month Hibs beat Motherwell 3-1 at Easter Road, an outcome made all the more likely by the Lanarkshire club having no fewer than three players sent off. Sengewald, Pearson and Partridge were all dismissed in the second half.
April 1999 saw Hibs win 2-1 against Morton at Easter Road. The game saw Franck Sauzee score his first goal for the club but also saw Paul Fenwick, then of Morton sent off. Clearly this didn’t perturb Alex McLeish too much for the Hibs boss signed Fenwick that summer.
BOB SHANKLY (1909-1982)
54 year old Bob Shankly succeeded Jock Stein as Hibs boss in 1965 and lasted in the hot-seat for four years. He had previously managed Third Lanark with some note in the 1950s, then led Dundee to the League Championship in 1962 and was a solid, if somewhat rugged, player with Falkirk before that.
He was a member of a notable footballing family, brother Bill being the most famous, earning an international reputation as manager of all-conquering Liverpool, whilst another brother, Johnny, played for both Morton and Alloa. Like his brother Bill, Bob started his playing career with the famous Glenbuck Cherrypickers, six of that side going on to represent Scotland. He then sampled life in England with Tunbridge Wells before joining Alloa Athletic. In 1933 he joined Falkirk and thus began a long association with the Brockville club. Bob was capped once by the Scottish Football League and stayed with Falkirk for 15 years.
Whilst his coaching career had its roots at Stenhousemuir he honed his skills at Falkirk, whom he rejoined in 1950. After 5 years in charge of the Bairns came a stint with Third Lanark and then the move to Dundee in 1959 that was to make his name. He eclipsed all of his earlier achievements whilst at Dens Park, especially in 1962 when his wonderfully gifted Dundee team, with Alan Gilzean as spear-head, romped to the Scottish title then took Europe by storm, reaching the European Cup semi-final stage.
At Hibernian Bob managed with some skill, leading the club in European campaigns and overseeing the 5-0 humbling of Napoli at Easter Road. When Shankly left Hibs it was to retire, however he was tempted out of retirement in March 1971 by Stirling Albion. He managed them for two years before being promoted to a position ‘upstairs’ and latterly on to their board. He held that post until 1982 when he sadly died whilst representing Albion at an SFA meeting in Glasgow.
One of the grandstands at Dundee’s Dens Park is named after Shankly.
He was a member of a notable footballing family, brother Bill being the most famous, earning an international reputation as manager of all-conquering Liverpool, whilst another brother, Johnny, played for both Morton and Alloa. Like his brother Bill, Bob started his playing career with the famous Glenbuck Cherrypickers, six of that side going on to represent Scotland. He then sampled life in England with Tunbridge Wells before joining Alloa Athletic. In 1933 he joined Falkirk and thus began a long association with the Brockville club. Bob was capped once by the Scottish Football League and stayed with Falkirk for 15 years.
Whilst his coaching career had its roots at Stenhousemuir he honed his skills at Falkirk, whom he rejoined in 1950. After 5 years in charge of the Bairns came a stint with Third Lanark and then the move to Dundee in 1959 that was to make his name. He eclipsed all of his earlier achievements whilst at Dens Park, especially in 1962 when his wonderfully gifted Dundee team, with Alan Gilzean as spear-head, romped to the Scottish title then took Europe by storm, reaching the European Cup semi-final stage.
At Hibernian Bob managed with some skill, leading the club in European campaigns and overseeing the 5-0 humbling of Napoli at Easter Road. When Shankly left Hibs it was to retire, however he was tempted out of retirement in March 1971 by Stirling Albion. He managed them for two years before being promoted to a position ‘upstairs’ and latterly on to their board. He held that post until 1982 when he sadly died whilst representing Albion at an SFA meeting in Glasgow.
One of the grandstands at Dundee’s Dens Park is named after Shankly.
DAVIE SHAW (1917 – 1977)
In 1939 David Shaw joined Hibs from Grange Rovers and as the date suggests his subsequent career would be interrupted by the Second World War.
A full back who could play either right or left back he built a wonderful partnership with Jock Govan and both players won a championship medal in 1948 after losing in the Scottish Cup final to Aberdeen one year earlier. Indeed Davie captained Hibs to the 1947/48 championship.
Shaw was a big influence on the Hibernian side, there were times when he seemed to make his area of the field impenetrable and his judgement and nerve were sound when faced with quality opponents. Eventually eclipsed by younger colleagues, he left Easter Road in 1950 to join Aberdeen and played for the Dons until 1953. Unfortunately he lost Scottish Cup finals with both Hibs and Aberdeen. Upon hanging up his boots he joined the coaching staff and he worked in various capacities at Pittodrie until 1967.
Twice Shaw featured for Scotland in sides with two Hibernian full -backs. The first occasion was in April 1948 when he paired with Jock Govan against England and then in October he lined up alongside Hugh Howie for a rare Hibs double. As if that were not a good enough story then consider the fact that he had taken over from his brother (Jock) at full back, a rare international feat indeed! His older brother was the legendary Jock ‘Tiger’ Shaw of Rangers.
He died in October 1976 when aged only 60 and had spent his final few years working in a paper mill near Aberdeen. Born in Annathill, Davie had worked as a miner before joining Hibs in January 1939.
A full back who could play either right or left back he built a wonderful partnership with Jock Govan and both players won a championship medal in 1948 after losing in the Scottish Cup final to Aberdeen one year earlier. Indeed Davie captained Hibs to the 1947/48 championship.
Shaw was a big influence on the Hibernian side, there were times when he seemed to make his area of the field impenetrable and his judgement and nerve were sound when faced with quality opponents. Eventually eclipsed by younger colleagues, he left Easter Road in 1950 to join Aberdeen and played for the Dons until 1953. Unfortunately he lost Scottish Cup finals with both Hibs and Aberdeen. Upon hanging up his boots he joined the coaching staff and he worked in various capacities at Pittodrie until 1967.
Twice Shaw featured for Scotland in sides with two Hibernian full -backs. The first occasion was in April 1948 when he paired with Jock Govan against England and then in October he lined up alongside Hugh Howie for a rare Hibs double. As if that were not a good enough story then consider the fact that he had taken over from his brother (Jock) at full back, a rare international feat indeed! His older brother was the legendary Jock ‘Tiger’ Shaw of Rangers.
He died in October 1976 when aged only 60 and had spent his final few years working in a paper mill near Aberdeen. Born in Annathill, Davie had worked as a miner before joining Hibs in January 1939.
HONOURS
Scotland (8), Scottish League (3)
Scottish League championship 1948
Scottish Cup final 1947
Scotland (8), Scottish League (3)
Scottish League championship 1948
Scottish Cup final 1947
HUGH SHAW
A former player, who had been an uncompromising defender, Hugh Shaw brought both local knowledge and pride to the post of Hibs boss. Of course, rather like Davy Gordon before him, he became manager in most unfortunate circumstances.
Hugh came from footballing stock, although he made faltering progress in his playing career. He started out with a club in Leith but as an apprentice engineer at the famous Clydeside shipyard of John Brown this was far from ideal and he was soon on the move to Clydebank. There he played with Clydebank Corinthians and Clydebank Juniors before joining Hibs in 1918. Indeed it was Davy Gordon (then Hibs boss) who signed the young centre-forward and persevered when the youngster didn’t really show up well as a striker. Gordon moved Shaw into defence and ultimately Shaw became a solid half back.
He served Hibernian until 1926 making over 200 outings and playing in the 1923 and 1924 Scottish Cup finals … both of which Hibs lost. Shaw then joined Rangers for the 1926/27 season before moving to Hearts where he spent three seasons. As a Hearts player he scored against Hibs in a 1927 clash and in total he made 141 outings for the Tynecastle club. However, this did not impinge on his popularity at Easter Road where he remained fondly remembered.
As his playing career drew to a close he joined Elgin City as player-coach and this helped him secure a move to Hibernian as assistant trainer to the legendary Willie McCartney. Shaw was thus settled as McCartney’s trainer when Hibs were cruelly robbed of their boss in January 1948. That Hugh Shaw was able to maintain the club’s run to the title confirmed his status as the correct choice as the next Hibernian manager.
Filling McCartney’s shoes cannot have been easy. Throughout the 1950s Shaw worked closely with chairman Harry Swan to make Hibernian both successful and innovative. One little known fact is that he tried strenuously to sign Dave Mackay before he opted for Hearts. Given what Mackay subsequently achieved at Tottenham Hotspur he would have been a classic signing for Hibs.
Thus Hugh Shaw enjoyed what can only be called a significant Hibs career. A player in the twenties, a coach in the 30s and ultimately a successful manager in the 40s and 50s. Under his stewardship the club won league titles, contested the European Cup, and the Famous Five flourished, in short his association with the club brought nothing but good to Easter Road.
Hugh came from footballing stock, although he made faltering progress in his playing career. He started out with a club in Leith but as an apprentice engineer at the famous Clydeside shipyard of John Brown this was far from ideal and he was soon on the move to Clydebank. There he played with Clydebank Corinthians and Clydebank Juniors before joining Hibs in 1918. Indeed it was Davy Gordon (then Hibs boss) who signed the young centre-forward and persevered when the youngster didn’t really show up well as a striker. Gordon moved Shaw into defence and ultimately Shaw became a solid half back.
He served Hibernian until 1926 making over 200 outings and playing in the 1923 and 1924 Scottish Cup finals … both of which Hibs lost. Shaw then joined Rangers for the 1926/27 season before moving to Hearts where he spent three seasons. As a Hearts player he scored against Hibs in a 1927 clash and in total he made 141 outings for the Tynecastle club. However, this did not impinge on his popularity at Easter Road where he remained fondly remembered.
As his playing career drew to a close he joined Elgin City as player-coach and this helped him secure a move to Hibernian as assistant trainer to the legendary Willie McCartney. Shaw was thus settled as McCartney’s trainer when Hibs were cruelly robbed of their boss in January 1948. That Hugh Shaw was able to maintain the club’s run to the title confirmed his status as the correct choice as the next Hibernian manager.
Filling McCartney’s shoes cannot have been easy. Throughout the 1950s Shaw worked closely with chairman Harry Swan to make Hibernian both successful and innovative. One little known fact is that he tried strenuously to sign Dave Mackay before he opted for Hearts. Given what Mackay subsequently achieved at Tottenham Hotspur he would have been a classic signing for Hibs.
Thus Hugh Shaw enjoyed what can only be called a significant Hibs career. A player in the twenties, a coach in the 30s and ultimately a successful manager in the 40s and 50s. Under his stewardship the club won league titles, contested the European Cup, and the Famous Five flourished, in short his association with the club brought nothing but good to Easter Road.
SKOL FESTIVAL CUP
In the late 1970s there were a rash of brewery sponsored tournaments. The Dryborough Cup in the early 70s was followed by Rangers’ Tennent Caledonian Cup.
Hibernian were involved in the Skol Festival Cup. The simple format tapped into the hugely successful Edinburgh International Festival and saw Hibs and Hearts pitched up against two English sides. Matches were split between Tynecastle and Easter Road and two matches were played back-to –back at the same stadium.
The tournament ran at the start of the 1979/80 season and saw Coventry City and Manchester City come north. Hibs played Hearts and Coventry at Easter Road, and Manchester City at Tynecastle.
The opening game for Hibs took place on August 4th and saw Hearts defeated 2-1 thanks to goals by Gordon Rae and Colin Campbell. For Hibs the action then switched to Tynecastle Park where a goal by Steve Brown gave the club a 1-1 draw with Manchester City. On August 8th Hibs drew 0-0 with Coventry City at Easter Road.
Hibernian were involved in the Skol Festival Cup. The simple format tapped into the hugely successful Edinburgh International Festival and saw Hibs and Hearts pitched up against two English sides. Matches were split between Tynecastle and Easter Road and two matches were played back-to –back at the same stadium.
The tournament ran at the start of the 1979/80 season and saw Coventry City and Manchester City come north. Hibs played Hearts and Coventry at Easter Road, and Manchester City at Tynecastle.
The opening game for Hibs took place on August 4th and saw Hearts defeated 2-1 thanks to goals by Gordon Rae and Colin Campbell. For Hibs the action then switched to Tynecastle Park where a goal by Steve Brown gave the club a 1-1 draw with Manchester City. On August 8th Hibs drew 0-0 with Coventry City at Easter Road.
GORDON SMITH (1924 - 2004)
Arguably the greatest-ever Scottish footballer, there was an undeniable majesty about Smith. Gordon joined Hibs in April 1941 and stayed until 1959. He won three league titles at Easter Road, then amazingly won championship badges with both Hearts and Dundee.
An outside right, Smith was as elegant and athletic a player as has ever graced the Scottish football scene. He was born in Edinburgh in May 1924 and was a Scottish schoolboy internationalist before joining Hibs. He went on to win a host of Scotland caps and 10 League caps. His Hibernian career brought 310 league games and 122 goals.
With Hibs he lost in both League and Scottish Cup finals, but with Hearts he won the League Cup. He retired from football in 1964 having played his last senior game in Scotland against Aberdeen on New Years Day. An astute businessman he promptly opened a pub called rather fittingly ‘The Right Winger’.
One of the great gentlemen of Scottish football his name inevitably crops up whenever the more mature Scottish football writers speak of the truly magnificent players.
Signed in April 1941 Smith had caught the eye with Dundee North End and scored a hat-trick for a Scottish Junior select against a Hibs-Hearts eleven before his 17th birthday. Snatched from under Hearts’ noses the gifted youngster responded with a hat-trick for Hibs in a 5-3 war-time victory over Hearts on his debut. Thus began one of the greatest Hibs careers of them all.
With his ability to run at players with pace, and carry the ball beyond them, he was feared even as a youngster. He then benefited from playing in Hibs’ war-time team which frequently included experienced guests from south of the border such as the legendary Matt Busby.
When football returned to normality after the war he was already evolving into an international class player. The icing on the cake was his ability to despatch chances with a powerful shot, a knack that made him one of the highest scoring wingers in the history of the Scottish game. Smith was not only an effective player but pleasing on the eye. He displayed great close control and supreme grace to baffle his opponents and was always a delight to watch with many observers reckoning him to be the most charismatic player in Scotland.
His goalscoring became legendary and he rattled in 170 competitive goals for Hibs, and there were 17 hat-trick or better. When he topped the Hibs scoring charts in 1950 he capped a sequence that had seen him finish Hibs top scorer in 7 out of 8 seasons. Not bad going for a wide player. He scored 5 in an 8-0 win over Third Lanark in 1947 and by the early fifties was popularly appointed club captain.
In 1951 he was widely acclaimed as ‘Scotland’s Player of the Year’. Two years on and Smith had reached the 100 goal mark for Hibs and clocked up his 500th appearance. A testimonial was richly deserved and a 7-3 win over Manchester United was the outcome in one of the most memorable games ever to take place in the capital city. Sadly he broke a leg in December 1953 and was lost to the game for several months. Injury it seemed was the only thing that could apply the brakes to a remarkable career. Yet he bounced back and even in his mid-thirties Smith was revered throughout Scotland and a popular choice as national captain in 1955.
Surprisingly Gordon was given a free-transfer by Hibs in 1959 and he went on to win League Championship badges with both Hearts and Dundee … a truly remarkable feat. Never before, or since, has a player won championship medals with 3 different clubs – none of them being based in Glasgow. Immensely popular he was welcomed back to Easter Road in the 1961/62 season as a visiting player and scored directly from a corner as Dundee won 3-1.
If evidence of Smith’s remarkable fitness and longevity were needed then it surely came in the bald facts that he turned professional in 1941 and did not retire until 1964 … a 23 year career! Sadly Gordon passed away in 2004.
An outside right, Smith was as elegant and athletic a player as has ever graced the Scottish football scene. He was born in Edinburgh in May 1924 and was a Scottish schoolboy internationalist before joining Hibs. He went on to win a host of Scotland caps and 10 League caps. His Hibernian career brought 310 league games and 122 goals.
With Hibs he lost in both League and Scottish Cup finals, but with Hearts he won the League Cup. He retired from football in 1964 having played his last senior game in Scotland against Aberdeen on New Years Day. An astute businessman he promptly opened a pub called rather fittingly ‘The Right Winger’.
One of the great gentlemen of Scottish football his name inevitably crops up whenever the more mature Scottish football writers speak of the truly magnificent players.
Signed in April 1941 Smith had caught the eye with Dundee North End and scored a hat-trick for a Scottish Junior select against a Hibs-Hearts eleven before his 17th birthday. Snatched from under Hearts’ noses the gifted youngster responded with a hat-trick for Hibs in a 5-3 war-time victory over Hearts on his debut. Thus began one of the greatest Hibs careers of them all.
With his ability to run at players with pace, and carry the ball beyond them, he was feared even as a youngster. He then benefited from playing in Hibs’ war-time team which frequently included experienced guests from south of the border such as the legendary Matt Busby.
When football returned to normality after the war he was already evolving into an international class player. The icing on the cake was his ability to despatch chances with a powerful shot, a knack that made him one of the highest scoring wingers in the history of the Scottish game. Smith was not only an effective player but pleasing on the eye. He displayed great close control and supreme grace to baffle his opponents and was always a delight to watch with many observers reckoning him to be the most charismatic player in Scotland.
His goalscoring became legendary and he rattled in 170 competitive goals for Hibs, and there were 17 hat-trick or better. When he topped the Hibs scoring charts in 1950 he capped a sequence that had seen him finish Hibs top scorer in 7 out of 8 seasons. Not bad going for a wide player. He scored 5 in an 8-0 win over Third Lanark in 1947 and by the early fifties was popularly appointed club captain.
In 1951 he was widely acclaimed as ‘Scotland’s Player of the Year’. Two years on and Smith had reached the 100 goal mark for Hibs and clocked up his 500th appearance. A testimonial was richly deserved and a 7-3 win over Manchester United was the outcome in one of the most memorable games ever to take place in the capital city. Sadly he broke a leg in December 1953 and was lost to the game for several months. Injury it seemed was the only thing that could apply the brakes to a remarkable career. Yet he bounced back and even in his mid-thirties Smith was revered throughout Scotland and a popular choice as national captain in 1955.
Surprisingly Gordon was given a free-transfer by Hibs in 1959 and he went on to win League Championship badges with both Hearts and Dundee … a truly remarkable feat. Never before, or since, has a player won championship medals with 3 different clubs – none of them being based in Glasgow. Immensely popular he was welcomed back to Easter Road in the 1961/62 season as a visiting player and scored directly from a corner as Dundee won 3-1.
If evidence of Smith’s remarkable fitness and longevity were needed then it surely came in the bald facts that he turned professional in 1941 and did not retire until 1964 … a 23 year career! Sadly Gordon passed away in 2004.
HONOURS
Scotland (18), Scottish League (10)
Scottish Cup final 1947
League Cup final 1950
Scotland (18), Scottish League (10)
Scottish Cup final 1947
League Cup final 1950
ALAN SNEDDON (1958 -
Not many players break the 300 appearance mark at Easter Road; Alan was one of that small, select band. Signed from Celtic in 1981 for a bargain £40,000 Alan won both Premier and First Division championship medals in his first season with Hibernian due to his split of games between Easter Road and Celtic Park.
He was signed by Bertie Auld, and few could deny that Auld knew a good defender when he saw one. Sneddon, who was 22 when he joined Hibs, quickly justified the faith placed in him although he did concede a penalty in his debut at Raith!
However, Hibernian were heading for promotion that season and Alan played his part alongside such veterans as Jackie McNamara and Ally MacLeod. There was a change of manager when Pat Stanton replaced Bertie Auld but Alan continued to play with his usual mix of determination and verve. This was also the case when Pat was succeeded by his former team-mate John Blackley.
It was during this reign that Hibs knocked Celtic out of both the League and Scottish Cups. Such triumphs were not enough to keep John Blackley as Hibs boss when league form slumped and Alex Miller entered the manager’s office. Soon Hibs were back in Europe for the first time in a decade. In all Alan made over 300 league outings for Hibs and his reward came in 1991 when he enjoyed a testimonial match against Aston Villa.
Never a great goalscorer he scored his first in Arthur Duncan’s testimonial match, but in a League Cup tie in 1989 against Alloa Alan scored twice in a 2-0 win!
A junior with Larkhall Thistle, Alan started his senior career in 1977 with Celtic and was signed by the great Jock Stein. He won a Scottish Cup winners badge in 1980 and had the enviable task of taking over at Parkhead from the truly legendary Danny McGrain.
His career after Hibernian took him to Motherwell in July 1992, before bringing the curtain down on his senior career with a spell at East Fife.
He was signed by Bertie Auld, and few could deny that Auld knew a good defender when he saw one. Sneddon, who was 22 when he joined Hibs, quickly justified the faith placed in him although he did concede a penalty in his debut at Raith!
However, Hibernian were heading for promotion that season and Alan played his part alongside such veterans as Jackie McNamara and Ally MacLeod. There was a change of manager when Pat Stanton replaced Bertie Auld but Alan continued to play with his usual mix of determination and verve. This was also the case when Pat was succeeded by his former team-mate John Blackley.
It was during this reign that Hibs knocked Celtic out of both the League and Scottish Cups. Such triumphs were not enough to keep John Blackley as Hibs boss when league form slumped and Alex Miller entered the manager’s office. Soon Hibs were back in Europe for the first time in a decade. In all Alan made over 300 league outings for Hibs and his reward came in 1991 when he enjoyed a testimonial match against Aston Villa.
Never a great goalscorer he scored his first in Arthur Duncan’s testimonial match, but in a League Cup tie in 1989 against Alloa Alan scored twice in a 2-0 win!
A junior with Larkhall Thistle, Alan started his senior career in 1977 with Celtic and was signed by the great Jock Stein. He won a Scottish Cup winners badge in 1980 and had the enviable task of taking over at Parkhead from the truly legendary Danny McGrain.
His career after Hibernian took him to Motherwell in July 1992, before bringing the curtain down on his senior career with a spell at East Fife.
HONOURS
League Cup final 1985
League Cup final 1985