SPONSORSHIP
In 1977 Hibernian became the first Scottish club to have a sponsors name emblazoned across their first team jersey. That sponsor was Bukta, a football strip manufacturer, and it caused a furore in football circles.
Whilst the Scottish football authorities had no objection to Hibs’ strip carrying a sponsors logo the television companies were less accommodating. Hard as it is to believe today the very thought of Hibs appearing on Saturday night or Sunday afternoon highlights with a sponsor logo on their chest was unacceptable. The disagreement reached the stage where STV announced that they would not screen any clubs who advertised in this manner and in early September a blanket coverage ban was issued.
The compromise was that when Hibs were scheduled to appear on television they would wear an alternative strip … a rather bizarre purple affair. This however proved short lived because that late 1970s still involved a fair amount of black and white television and thus Hibs purple strip was indistinct from the maroon of Hearts or blue of Rangers.
Today sponsorship is very much part and parcel of the game. Stadiums, programmes, pitch sides, dugouts, indeed an almost bewildering array of football related items are sponsored. Hard now to imagine the ‘stooshie’ that Hibs 1977 strip created.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE
Hibernian’s short lived Eastern League experience was replaced by entry to the Southern League in 1940. This brought fixtures with Rangers and Celtic back onto the calendar and in October 1940 Hibs beat the green half of Celtic 4-0. However, there was little chance of doing the same thing to Rangers and a 1-5 reversal at Ibrox Stadium was Hibs heaviest defeat of the season.
It should be noted that Celtic’s attitude to war-time football was clearly lukewarm and in contrast to the likes of Hibs and Rangers. As the season wore on Hibs got to grips with the task in hand and beat Falkirk 7-1 when Johnny Cutherbtson scored 5. He had four in a 5-2 win at Queen’s Park and was easily the club’s top scorer. 27 goals from 27 league matches was a great haul. The final game of the season was the 5-3 win over Hearts made famous by Gordon Smith making his debut and scoring a hat-trick.
The Southern League ran for five seasons and Hibernian’s record wasn’t too bad considering the dominant grip Rangers exerted on war-time football:-
It should be noted that Celtic’s attitude to war-time football was clearly lukewarm and in contrast to the likes of Hibs and Rangers. As the season wore on Hibs got to grips with the task in hand and beat Falkirk 7-1 when Johnny Cutherbtson scored 5. He had four in a 5-2 win at Queen’s Park and was easily the club’s top scorer. 27 goals from 27 league matches was a great haul. The final game of the season was the 5-3 win over Hearts made famous by Gordon Smith making his debut and scoring a hat-trick.
The Southern League ran for five seasons and Hibernian’s record wasn’t too bad considering the dominant grip Rangers exerted on war-time football:-
Season P W D L For Agst Pts Pos.
1940/41 30 14 7 9 74 61 35 3rd
1941/42 30 18 4 8 85 46 40 2nd
1942/43 30 18 7 5 86 40 43 3rd
1943/44 30 17 4 9 72 54 38 3rd
1944/45 30 15 5 10 69 51 35 5th
1945/46 30 17 6 7 67 37 40 2nd
1940/41 30 14 7 9 74 61 35 3rd
1941/42 30 18 4 8 85 46 40 2nd
1942/43 30 18 7 5 86 40 43 3rd
1943/44 30 17 4 9 72 54 38 3rd
1944/45 30 15 5 10 69 51 35 5th
1945/46 30 17 6 7 67 37 40 2nd
1941/42 saw Hibs beat Rangers twice and in the first of that double they handed out an unprecedented 8-1 spanking to the Glasgow side. Sadly silly results (like losing 4-2 to Arbroath and 4-1 to Clyde cost Hibs any chance of winning the title). 1942/43 brought yet more goals but no title. Airdrie were thrashed 7-1, but Clyde beat Hibs 7-2 in what was a topsy-turvy campaign. That Clyde defeat came after a 14 match unbeaten start to the season.
Entertainment was still high on the agenda in the 1943/44 season. Goals were flying in left, right and centre and on only two occasions (against Rangers and Hearts) did Hibs fail to score in a 30 match campaign.
The penultimate season of war time football began in the summer of 1944 and Hibs enjoyed a fine first half to their season. An 8-0 win over Partick Thistle was amongst the highlights that included a 6-3 win over Third Lanark, a 3-1 win over Hearts and a 6-2 win over St. Mirren. But from December onwards Hibs struggled and lost an appalling number of goals.
Although the war with Germany was over by May 1945 there was still war in the far-east with Japan and post-war reconstruction to consider, so football stayed in its war-time guise for the 1945/46 season. On August 11th Hibs opened the season with a 3-0 defeat at Queen of the South but just five days earlier the first atomic bomb had been dropped on Japan. President Truman’s American war machine was about to end the biggest war in history.
The football season saw Hibs perform well; beat Rangers and Hearts early but then lose their way. Four defeats in December dealt championship hopes a real hammer blow and a 1-4 defeat at Morton in January truly extinguish all hope.
Hibernian’s leading scorers in this competition on a season by season basis were as follows:
1940/41 Johnny Cuthbertson 27
1941/42 Jimmy Caskie 33
1942/43 Gordon Smith 26
1943/44 Tommy Bogan 15
1944/45 Gordon Smith 20
1945/46 Gordon Smith / Arthur Milne 14
SOUTHERN LEAGUE CUP
First held in the 1941/42 season Hibs had mixed fortunes in a competition that would grow into the Scottish League Cup. The high point for Hibernian was clearly landing the trophy in 1944, ironically the only year in which the club won their group and made the latter stages.
Hibernian commenced playing in this trophy with a match against Clyde at Shawfield in March 1941, but despite winning that game (and the return group match 5-4) they bowed out to the section winners Hearts.
It was unfortunate that in the 1942 season Hibs found themselves drawn in a section along with Celtic (the other clubs were Hamilton and Queen’s Park) for the Glasgow club were destined to reach the semi-final stage. Ironically Celtic had lost 1-0 to Hibs at Easter Road in the sectional match and they lost their semi-final against Hearts at Easter Road too.
The task in 1943 was if anything even harder as Hibernian were faced with a group that included both Celtic and Rangers, although once again Celtic were defeated at Easter Road. St Mirren made up the group but it was Rangers who won the group and as in the previous year went on to take the trophy.
Things changed in 1944, as Hibernian took the trophy by storm. Scrambling out of a group that contained Third Lanark, Albion Rovers and Morton they overcame Clyde in a semi final at Hampden Park. Returning to the national stadium to play Rangers sin the final a dour 0-0 draw followed but Hibs won by 6 corners to 5 (as ties were decided in this pre penalty shoot-out era.).
The winning Hibernian team was: Downie, Fraser, Hall; Finnigan, Baxter, Kean; Smith, Bogan, Nelson, Woodburn, Caskie.
However, from the high of 1944 it was back to the usual fare in the 1945 competition as Hibs exited a group that contained Rangers, Third Lanark and Albion Rovers; this despite beating Rovers 8-1 in the final group game. Rangers gained ample revenge by reclaiming the trophy.
The competition was last contested in 1946 and Hibs lost out to Aberdeen, Partick Thistle and Kilmarnock at the group phase.
Perhaps best to dwell on the details of Hibernian Southern League Cup winning campaign of 1944:
Section Tie Third Lanark (A) W 4-0 Smith 2, Nelson, Colvan
Section Tie Albion Rovers (H) W 2-1 Nelson 2
Section Tie Morton (A) D 2-2 Nelson, Bogan
Section Tie Third Lanark (H) W 4-0 Cuthbertson, Devlin, Bogan, Caskie
Section Tie Albion Rovers (A) W 2-0 Marshalsay, Smith
Section Tie Morton (H) W 6-3 Nelson 3, Smith, Caskie, Kean
Semi Final Clyde (N) W 5-2 Woodburn 2, Combe, Baxter, Nelson
Final Rangers (N) D 0-0 (won on corners 6-5)
Hibernian commenced playing in this trophy with a match against Clyde at Shawfield in March 1941, but despite winning that game (and the return group match 5-4) they bowed out to the section winners Hearts.
It was unfortunate that in the 1942 season Hibs found themselves drawn in a section along with Celtic (the other clubs were Hamilton and Queen’s Park) for the Glasgow club were destined to reach the semi-final stage. Ironically Celtic had lost 1-0 to Hibs at Easter Road in the sectional match and they lost their semi-final against Hearts at Easter Road too.
The task in 1943 was if anything even harder as Hibernian were faced with a group that included both Celtic and Rangers, although once again Celtic were defeated at Easter Road. St Mirren made up the group but it was Rangers who won the group and as in the previous year went on to take the trophy.
Things changed in 1944, as Hibernian took the trophy by storm. Scrambling out of a group that contained Third Lanark, Albion Rovers and Morton they overcame Clyde in a semi final at Hampden Park. Returning to the national stadium to play Rangers sin the final a dour 0-0 draw followed but Hibs won by 6 corners to 5 (as ties were decided in this pre penalty shoot-out era.).
The winning Hibernian team was: Downie, Fraser, Hall; Finnigan, Baxter, Kean; Smith, Bogan, Nelson, Woodburn, Caskie.
However, from the high of 1944 it was back to the usual fare in the 1945 competition as Hibs exited a group that contained Rangers, Third Lanark and Albion Rovers; this despite beating Rovers 8-1 in the final group game. Rangers gained ample revenge by reclaiming the trophy.
The competition was last contested in 1946 and Hibs lost out to Aberdeen, Partick Thistle and Kilmarnock at the group phase.
Perhaps best to dwell on the details of Hibernian Southern League Cup winning campaign of 1944:
Section Tie Third Lanark (A) W 4-0 Smith 2, Nelson, Colvan
Section Tie Albion Rovers (H) W 2-1 Nelson 2
Section Tie Morton (A) D 2-2 Nelson, Bogan
Section Tie Third Lanark (H) W 4-0 Cuthbertson, Devlin, Bogan, Caskie
Section Tie Albion Rovers (A) W 2-0 Marshalsay, Smith
Section Tie Morton (H) W 6-3 Nelson 3, Smith, Caskie, Kean
Semi Final Clyde (N) W 5-2 Woodburn 2, Combe, Baxter, Nelson
Final Rangers (N) D 0-0 (won on corners 6-5)
IVAN SPROULE (1981-
Possessed of electrc pace Ivan Sproule burst onto the Scottish football scene with a wonderful hat-trick against Rangers at Ibrox in 2005. When he followed up with a goal at the same venue as Hibs knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup his reputation was made.
As if the above were not enough he then contrived to make his Northern Ireland full international debut in the very match in which they defeated England 1-0 in Belfast. Shocks it seemed were part and parcel of Sproule’s early career development.
He had joined Hibs for £5,000 from Institute (a part-time Northern Irish side) in January 2005. Debut day came away to Inverness and his first goal was in a surprise 3-1 win at Celtic. His impact was therefore pretty swift, so much so that Dnipro of Ukraine made a £1m bid for his services, having faced him in a UEFA Cup tie.
Sproule was eventually lured away from Hibernian in June 2007 when newly promoted Bristol City convinced him to swop Edinburgh for the West country in a £250,000 deal. Born in Omagh he was 5’9” and a very speedy 10st 8lbs.
As if the above were not enough he then contrived to make his Northern Ireland full international debut in the very match in which they defeated England 1-0 in Belfast. Shocks it seemed were part and parcel of Sproule’s early career development.
He had joined Hibs for £5,000 from Institute (a part-time Northern Irish side) in January 2005. Debut day came away to Inverness and his first goal was in a surprise 3-1 win at Celtic. His impact was therefore pretty swift, so much so that Dnipro of Ukraine made a £1m bid for his services, having faced him in a UEFA Cup tie.
Sproule was eventually lured away from Hibernian in June 2007 when newly promoted Bristol City convinced him to swop Edinburgh for the West country in a £250,000 deal. Born in Omagh he was 5’9” and a very speedy 10st 8lbs.
HONOURS
Northern Ireland (5)
Northern Ireland (5)
PAT STANTON (1944 -
One of the ‘all time greatest Hibees’ who guided the club to League Cup and Drybrough Cup triumphs during the Eddie Turnbull era. He played for Hibernian between 1963 and 1976 and was quite simply a most accomplished performer. In amassing 399 league appearances he proved his value to the team over an extended period.
Signed provisionally in 1961, he had a wonderful link with the club’s past being a direct descendent of the first ever Hibernian captain – Michael Whelahan. Pat was farmed out to Bonnyrigg Rose before being called up in 1963 by Walter Galbraith. He made his debut against Motherwell in 1963 and scored in a 4-3 defeat.
His career never looked back and there were to be many highs in a Hibs jersey. As a midfield general, capable of assisting both attack and defence, he scored and captained the club to the 2-1 League Cup final win over Celtic in 1972 and was part of the side that mauled Hearts 7-0 on New Years Day 1973.
The League Cup final was a seminal moment for the Turnbull era and Pat played a huge role. “The achievement stands out” he noted “because I don’t think Hibs had won a cup in Glasgow for around 70 years. I scored a goal and it was a great feeling. I actually thought we won that final far more convincingly than the 2-1 score-line suggested.”
Yet he was quite clear about what he considered one of the best Hibs performances. It came in the European Cup Winners Cup in a second leg match. Hibs had lost 2-1 to Sporting Lisbon in Portugal but played sufficiently well to pave the way for an incredible 6-1 home triumph.
But Europe gave Pat his bitterest disappointment too when Leeds United ousted Hibs on penalties after two goal-less draws. The shoot out ended up 5-4 for Leeds with Pat missing the first spot kick and retiring from penalty taking there and then.
The final sighting of Stanton in a Hibernian top came in August 1976 and a few days later he left Hibs to join Celtic. That transfer marked the end of a year-long pursuit by Celtic supremo Jock Stein, a long term admirer. Turnbull had begun to question the value of Stanton to his team, suggesting his performances were notably sub-standard, but it appears the great manager was beginning to chop and change too readily at Easter Road.
Proof that Stanton was still a top player was swift in coming. He collected a league championship medal and a Scottish Cup badge at Celtic and in 1978 he returned to Easter Road for a testimonial match which was attended by over 20,000 appreciative fans.
When his playing career was over he moved into coaching as assistant boss at Aberdeen (to the famous Alex Ferguson) and success there earned him a move to Cowdenbeath as manager. From Central Park (after a mere 17 games) it was on to Dunfermline. He managed Hibernian in the early 1980s when the club nurtured promising youngsters such as Collins, Weir and Hunter but in a period of transition Pat was unable to arrest a gradual decline.
Reflecting on that spell in charge later he would say “Actually I did enjoy it although it was perhaps the wrong time to be in charge of the club. I was aware that it was a chance that might never come along again and I was desperate to take it when it emerged. The one aspect I certainly did appreciate was seeing a crop of good youngsters breaking through”.
He would return to Easter Road to host hospitality tables and his support for the club did not waver despite occasional fall-outs.
Signed provisionally in 1961, he had a wonderful link with the club’s past being a direct descendent of the first ever Hibernian captain – Michael Whelahan. Pat was farmed out to Bonnyrigg Rose before being called up in 1963 by Walter Galbraith. He made his debut against Motherwell in 1963 and scored in a 4-3 defeat.
His career never looked back and there were to be many highs in a Hibs jersey. As a midfield general, capable of assisting both attack and defence, he scored and captained the club to the 2-1 League Cup final win over Celtic in 1972 and was part of the side that mauled Hearts 7-0 on New Years Day 1973.
The League Cup final was a seminal moment for the Turnbull era and Pat played a huge role. “The achievement stands out” he noted “because I don’t think Hibs had won a cup in Glasgow for around 70 years. I scored a goal and it was a great feeling. I actually thought we won that final far more convincingly than the 2-1 score-line suggested.”
Yet he was quite clear about what he considered one of the best Hibs performances. It came in the European Cup Winners Cup in a second leg match. Hibs had lost 2-1 to Sporting Lisbon in Portugal but played sufficiently well to pave the way for an incredible 6-1 home triumph.
But Europe gave Pat his bitterest disappointment too when Leeds United ousted Hibs on penalties after two goal-less draws. The shoot out ended up 5-4 for Leeds with Pat missing the first spot kick and retiring from penalty taking there and then.
The final sighting of Stanton in a Hibernian top came in August 1976 and a few days later he left Hibs to join Celtic. That transfer marked the end of a year-long pursuit by Celtic supremo Jock Stein, a long term admirer. Turnbull had begun to question the value of Stanton to his team, suggesting his performances were notably sub-standard, but it appears the great manager was beginning to chop and change too readily at Easter Road.
Proof that Stanton was still a top player was swift in coming. He collected a league championship medal and a Scottish Cup badge at Celtic and in 1978 he returned to Easter Road for a testimonial match which was attended by over 20,000 appreciative fans.
When his playing career was over he moved into coaching as assistant boss at Aberdeen (to the famous Alex Ferguson) and success there earned him a move to Cowdenbeath as manager. From Central Park (after a mere 17 games) it was on to Dunfermline. He managed Hibernian in the early 1980s when the club nurtured promising youngsters such as Collins, Weir and Hunter but in a period of transition Pat was unable to arrest a gradual decline.
Reflecting on that spell in charge later he would say “Actually I did enjoy it although it was perhaps the wrong time to be in charge of the club. I was aware that it was a chance that might never come along again and I was desperate to take it when it emerged. The one aspect I certainly did appreciate was seeing a crop of good youngsters breaking through”.
He would return to Easter Road to host hospitality tables and his support for the club did not waver despite occasional fall-outs.
HONOURS
Scotland (16), Scottish League (7),
Scotland Under- 23 (3), Scotland Under-21 (1)
Scottish Cup final 1972
League Cup 1972, League Cup final 1969, 1974
Scotland (16), Scottish League (7),
Scotland Under- 23 (3), Scotland Under-21 (1)
Scottish Cup final 1972
League Cup 1972, League Cup final 1969, 1974
See also: Pat Stanton: The Quiet Man, Published 1989 by John Donald (Edinburgh).
COLIN STEIN (1947 -
Centre-forward Stein joined Hibernian in 1965 from Armadale Thistle. Bustling, direct and a sharp finisher, he scored 40 league goals for Hibs in just 69 starts and was every bit the ‘darling’ of the Easter Road terraces.
However, all of that changed in the early days of November 1968. Stein by then was 21, had been capped at Under-23 and league level by Scotland and as well as some 30 goals in the previous season was sitting with 9 strikes in what was a truthfully, rather poor Hibs side.
Clubs hovered on the fringes coveting the young striker and Everton were first to make a move offering £90,000 for his services. However, Stein proved most capable of negotiating his own transfer and turned down the Goodison club confirming that “I stated my terms and they are certainly not in the fortune class. No matter where I go, the terms have to be my terms.”
And indeed that is what transpired. Hibs contacted Rangers and negotiations got underway. On November 1st Stein left training whilst Hibs and Rangers directors met at 11.00am. By mid-day chairman Harrower emerged to say that a deal had been done … by which time Stein was on the train home to Linlithgow. A Rangers car met him and whisked him back to Edinburgh to tie up the deal.
The Dundee Courier of the day noted the impact this transfer would have on Hibs, “Stein in a Rangers jersey would always be a reminder to Hibs fans that he was once at Easter Road. – and he would be a constant danger too, to any ambitions of the Edinburgh club, even this season with both Gers and Hibs in the Fairs Cup competition”.
And so it proved. A couple of weeks later Stein lined up against Hibs at Ibrox Park in a league fixture. He ran riot and scored three in a 6-1 rout. The love affair between Hibs supporters and Colin Stein was definitely over.
However, all of that changed in the early days of November 1968. Stein by then was 21, had been capped at Under-23 and league level by Scotland and as well as some 30 goals in the previous season was sitting with 9 strikes in what was a truthfully, rather poor Hibs side.
Clubs hovered on the fringes coveting the young striker and Everton were first to make a move offering £90,000 for his services. However, Stein proved most capable of negotiating his own transfer and turned down the Goodison club confirming that “I stated my terms and they are certainly not in the fortune class. No matter where I go, the terms have to be my terms.”
And indeed that is what transpired. Hibs contacted Rangers and negotiations got underway. On November 1st Stein left training whilst Hibs and Rangers directors met at 11.00am. By mid-day chairman Harrower emerged to say that a deal had been done … by which time Stein was on the train home to Linlithgow. A Rangers car met him and whisked him back to Edinburgh to tie up the deal.
The Dundee Courier of the day noted the impact this transfer would have on Hibs, “Stein in a Rangers jersey would always be a reminder to Hibs fans that he was once at Easter Road. – and he would be a constant danger too, to any ambitions of the Edinburgh club, even this season with both Gers and Hibs in the Fairs Cup competition”.
And so it proved. A couple of weeks later Stein lined up against Hibs at Ibrox Park in a league fixture. He ran riot and scored three in a 6-1 rout. The love affair between Hibs supporters and Colin Stein was definitely over.
JOCK STEIN (1922 – 1985)
On April 1st, 1964 Jock Stein took over as Hibernian manager following a four year spell with Dunfermline Athletic that earned nothing but praise. Unfortunately he was a former Celtic captain and with the Bhoys going through a bad spell it was a fact of life that if he did well for Hibernian then the call to Glasgow might come.
Stein had been a centre-half with Celtic and had steered his team to victory over Hibs in the 1953 Coronation Cup final. When his playing career ended he coached the Celtic reserve side for three years. Then came his stint with Dunfermline which began in March 1960 and during which time he led them to Scottish Cup success including a semi-final victory over Hibernian. When Dunfermline won the Scottish Cup in 1961 Stein began to earn rave reviews for his tactical genius and he further enhanced that reputation when he led the Pars on memorable European clashes with the likes of Valencia and Ujpest Dosza.
He came to Hibernian in 1964 and within months of being at Hibs he had landed the Summer Cup. Celtic stepped in and Stein having learned his craft at East End Park and Easter Road reached his true potential at Celtic. He steered the Bhoys to the European Cup in 1967, and to an astonishing 9 consecutive league titles. In short he became a Celtic legend.
Stein had been a centre-half with Celtic and had steered his team to victory over Hibs in the 1953 Coronation Cup final. When his playing career ended he coached the Celtic reserve side for three years. Then came his stint with Dunfermline which began in March 1960 and during which time he led them to Scottish Cup success including a semi-final victory over Hibernian. When Dunfermline won the Scottish Cup in 1961 Stein began to earn rave reviews for his tactical genius and he further enhanced that reputation when he led the Pars on memorable European clashes with the likes of Valencia and Ujpest Dosza.
He came to Hibernian in 1964 and within months of being at Hibs he had landed the Summer Cup. Celtic stepped in and Stein having learned his craft at East End Park and Easter Road reached his true potential at Celtic. He steered the Bhoys to the European Cup in 1967, and to an astonishing 9 consecutive league titles. In short he became a Celtic legend.
ERIC STEVENSON (1946 -
An outside-left, Eric joined Hibs from Hearts in 1960. He was with Hibernian for many years forming several strong partnerships but the link he forged with Neil Martin in particular was very productive. Stevenson’s crosses allied to Martin’s heading prowess was a potent combination indeed.
Eric was raised in Bonnyrigg and despite being a Hibs fan he all but joined Hearts only for the deal to falter at the 11th hour. Hearts were to regret this in one particular derby when both he and Jim O’Rourke scored twice in the first ten minutes of a 4-0 win at Tynecastle.
As John Campbell noted in the Hibernian match programme “Eric Stevenson could barely watch team-mate Joe Davis taking penalties. As Davis set himself to take the penalty, Stevenson had a habit of walking to the half way line, near the dug out, before turning his back on play whilst crouching down and placing his forearms on his knees, waiting for the crowd reaction to see if we’d scored and with Joe Davis an ace from the spot he was rarely disappointed”.
He was capped once, by the Scottish Football League. In a match against their Northern Ireland counterparts at Ibrox Scotland won 5-2 with Stevenson lining up alongside fellow Hibees Pat Stanton and Peter Cormack. Also playing that night (and scoring twice) was Joe Harper then of Aberdeen but later to star with Hibs.
Eric clocked up 256 league outings as a Hibee and netted 53 goals before he left Hibs to join Ayr United in 1971, ironically just as his early mentor Eddie Turnbull was returning to the Club.
Eric was raised in Bonnyrigg and despite being a Hibs fan he all but joined Hearts only for the deal to falter at the 11th hour. Hearts were to regret this in one particular derby when both he and Jim O’Rourke scored twice in the first ten minutes of a 4-0 win at Tynecastle.
As John Campbell noted in the Hibernian match programme “Eric Stevenson could barely watch team-mate Joe Davis taking penalties. As Davis set himself to take the penalty, Stevenson had a habit of walking to the half way line, near the dug out, before turning his back on play whilst crouching down and placing his forearms on his knees, waiting for the crowd reaction to see if we’d scored and with Joe Davis an ace from the spot he was rarely disappointed”.
He was capped once, by the Scottish Football League. In a match against their Northern Ireland counterparts at Ibrox Scotland won 5-2 with Stevenson lining up alongside fellow Hibees Pat Stanton and Peter Cormack. Also playing that night (and scoring twice) was Joe Harper then of Aberdeen but later to star with Hibs.
Eric clocked up 256 league outings as a Hibee and netted 53 goals before he left Hibs to join Ayr United in 1971, ironically just as his early mentor Eddie Turnbull was returning to the Club.
HONOURS
Scottish Football League (1)
League Cup final 1969
Scottish Football League (1)
League Cup final 1969
STRIPS
Hibernian have long been associated with green jerseys with white sleeves. However, that particular style of top only relates back to the 1938/39 season. Prior to that date the club wore a variety of green jerseys. The white sleeves have become the distinguishing factor and were first worn on 13 August 1938 in a home match against Hamilton Academical.
ST MUNGO CUP
In July 1951 Hibernian played in the St. Mungo Cup. This competition, in the format of a knock-out tournament, was organised by Glasgow Corporation to celebrate the 1951 Festival of Britain. The competition was contested by the 16 Scottish 1st Division sides, and was won by Celtic.
The cup was named after Glasgow's Patron Saint but Glasgow Corporation were left red faced when Celtic discovered, on closer examination, that the cup was decorated with ornate life belts and mermaids and it was revealed that the trophy was not in fact new but third hand. It transpired that the cup had been made in 1894 as a yachting trophy. In 1912 it had been altered for a football competition between Provan Gasworks and a City of Glasgow Police team!
First round ties were played either home or away but second and third round ties were played at neutral venues in Glasgow. Hibs entertained Third Lanark at Easter Road in the first round and had a considerable advantage, for although Hibs had a couple of players on National Service, Thirds were in a dreadful state and still signing players for the new season. The Glasgow club’s efforts were further hampered when their train was delayed and the game kicked of 18 minutes late. Hibernian fielded the following side: Kerr, Govan, Cairns, Gallagher, Paterson, Buchanan; Smith, Johnstone, Reilly, Turnbull and Combe and won 3-1.
Quarter final action switched to Glasgow and at Celtic Park Hibs lined up against Motherwell; the side who had beaten them in the League Cup final and Scottish Cup semi-final in the previous season. It proved to be a third time lucky cup tie for Hibs. Jimmy Souness replaced Bobby Combe and Hibs won 3-1 again.
Parkhead remained the venue for Hibernian in the semi-final where Aberdeen lay in store. Gordon Smith had Hibs goal in a 1-1 draw but the key moment came after the match when a coin was tossed to decide the venue of the replay. Smith lost out when it really mattered and thus the action shifted north to Aberdeen’s Pittodrie Stadium. 25,000 were sufficiently motivated to attend a replay that came just three days after the original meeting and they saw the Dons move through to face Celtic in the final. With Ormond and Ogilvie out injured long-term the tournament had come too quickly for Hibs and another trophy opportunity had escaped.
The details of Hibernian’s St Mungo’s Cup campaign were as follows:
14 July Third Lanark (H) W 3-1 Turnbull, Johnstone 2
21 July Motherwell (N) W 3-1 Turnbull (p), Souness, Johnstone
25 July Aberdeen (N) D 1-1 Smith
28 July Aberdeen (A) L 1-2 Turnbull (p)
The cup was named after Glasgow's Patron Saint but Glasgow Corporation were left red faced when Celtic discovered, on closer examination, that the cup was decorated with ornate life belts and mermaids and it was revealed that the trophy was not in fact new but third hand. It transpired that the cup had been made in 1894 as a yachting trophy. In 1912 it had been altered for a football competition between Provan Gasworks and a City of Glasgow Police team!
First round ties were played either home or away but second and third round ties were played at neutral venues in Glasgow. Hibs entertained Third Lanark at Easter Road in the first round and had a considerable advantage, for although Hibs had a couple of players on National Service, Thirds were in a dreadful state and still signing players for the new season. The Glasgow club’s efforts were further hampered when their train was delayed and the game kicked of 18 minutes late. Hibernian fielded the following side: Kerr, Govan, Cairns, Gallagher, Paterson, Buchanan; Smith, Johnstone, Reilly, Turnbull and Combe and won 3-1.
Quarter final action switched to Glasgow and at Celtic Park Hibs lined up against Motherwell; the side who had beaten them in the League Cup final and Scottish Cup semi-final in the previous season. It proved to be a third time lucky cup tie for Hibs. Jimmy Souness replaced Bobby Combe and Hibs won 3-1 again.
Parkhead remained the venue for Hibernian in the semi-final where Aberdeen lay in store. Gordon Smith had Hibs goal in a 1-1 draw but the key moment came after the match when a coin was tossed to decide the venue of the replay. Smith lost out when it really mattered and thus the action shifted north to Aberdeen’s Pittodrie Stadium. 25,000 were sufficiently motivated to attend a replay that came just three days after the original meeting and they saw the Dons move through to face Celtic in the final. With Ormond and Ogilvie out injured long-term the tournament had come too quickly for Hibs and another trophy opportunity had escaped.
The details of Hibernian’s St Mungo’s Cup campaign were as follows:
14 July Third Lanark (H) W 3-1 Turnbull, Johnstone 2
21 July Motherwell (N) W 3-1 Turnbull (p), Souness, Johnstone
25 July Aberdeen (N) D 1-1 Smith
28 July Aberdeen (A) L 1-2 Turnbull (p)
SUMMER CUP
The Summer Cup came into being during the Second World War and is widely believed to have been the brain-child of Hibernian chairman Harry Swan. The 1941 competition started well for Hibs who beat Celtic 5-2 in their very first match; Arthur Milne grabbing a hat-trick.
Hibernian defeated Celtic and Clyde in the opening two rounds (which were two-legged affairs), but required a replay to see off the latter. Dumbarton lay in wait at the semi-final stage, conveniently played at Tynecastle Park and a 1-0 victory sent Hibs into the final. In order to land their first trophy since the Scottish Cup win of 1902 they needed to overcome Rangers (who had beaten Hearts in the other semi) at Hampden Park.
Hibernian defeated Celtic and Clyde in the opening two rounds (which were two-legged affairs), but required a replay to see off the latter. Dumbarton lay in wait at the semi-final stage, conveniently played at Tynecastle Park and a 1-0 victory sent Hibs into the final. In order to land their first trophy since the Scottish Cup win of 1902 they needed to overcome Rangers (who had beaten Hearts in the other semi) at Hampden Park.
1940/41 - Summer Cup Final
Hibs 3, Rangers 2
(Finnigan 2, Baxter)
Hibernian: Kerr, Shaw, Hall; Busby, Baxter, Keane;
Nutley, Finnigan, Milne, Combe, Caskie
It was interesting to note that Hall (Sunderland), Busby (Liverpool) and Baxter (Middlesbrough) were all key figures and all players on loan to Hibs.
The final was a triumph for Willie Finnigan whose versatility had seen him moved ‘from pillar to post’ in the Hibernian team but he shook off the changes to score twice in the final.
The competition ran for the remainder of the war period but Hibs struggled to scale again the heights of 1941. They did thrash Third Lanark 8-2 in the 1941/42 competition (for a huge 13-3 aggregate win) but lost to Rangers in a final decided on a toss of a coin.
Hibs were high scorers again the following season; this time they beat Partick Thistle 7-0 at Easter Road then 5-2 in Glasgow. However, Rangers lay in store at the semi-final stage and they swept Hibs aside 3-1 (given that Hibs had also beaten Queens Park it meant that all three opponents had been Glasgow based).
It wasn’t until the 1943/44 trophy was contested that Hibs had a poor year, losing to Morton in the second round. The final Summer Cup of this era was held in May and June of 1945. Once more Hibs found their shooting boots early and thrashed St Mirren 7-0 at home. They then put Falkirk to the sword and eliminated Celtic in a semi-final won thanks to goals by Caskie and Weir.
A Glasgow side lay in wait at the final stage but this time it was Partick Thistle rather than Rangers. The Jags had Bill Shankly, later to dominate English football as manager of Liverpool, in their ranks and they beat Hibs 2-0.
The Summer Cup then dropped of the fixture list for many years. However, it was resurrected in the 1960s and Hibs, under the managerial reign of Jock Stein, won it once again.
Resurrected in the summer of 1964, the format was similar to the Scottish League Cup and Hibernian were drawn in a competitive section with Hearts, Dunfermline and Falkirk. The results were not indicative of a team likely to land the trophy:-
May 2 A Hearts L 2-3 Vincent, O’Rourke
May 6 H Dunfermline A D 1-1 Martin (pen)
May 9 A Falkirk L 2-4 Martin, Vincent
May 13 H Hearts W 1-0 Vincent
May 16 A Dunfermline A D 1-1 Leishman
May 20 H Falkirk W 4-0 Martin 3 (1 pen), Hogg
May 6 H Dunfermline A D 1-1 Martin (pen)
May 9 A Falkirk L 2-4 Martin, Vincent
May 13 H Hearts W 1-0 Vincent
May 16 A Dunfermline A D 1-1 Leishman
May 20 H Falkirk W 4-0 Martin 3 (1 pen), Hogg
The section had seen Hibs fail to win even half their fixtures but they did tie with Dunfermline at the head of the section and a play-off was required. This took place at Tynecastle Park and goals by Scott (2), and Vincent won the day. This put Hibs into a Semi Final tie against Kilmarnock and although beaten 4-3 at Rugby Park in the first-leg, Hibs stormed to a 3-0 Easter Road win with big Neil Martin grabbing a brace.
And to a final with Aberdeen that became quite bizarre. The first leg took place at Pittodrie and the Dons won 3-2. At the Easter Road return Hibs won 2-1 and so the game went to a decider … but not immediately.
An outbreak of Typhus in Aberdeen (where the deciding match was to be played) delayed the tie as Aberdeen was virtually quarantined and gatherings of more than a handful of people discouraged. When the game finally went ahead it went the way of Hibs:-
And to a final with Aberdeen that became quite bizarre. The first leg took place at Pittodrie and the Dons won 3-2. At the Easter Road return Hibs won 2-1 and so the game went to a decider … but not immediately.
An outbreak of Typhus in Aberdeen (where the deciding match was to be played) delayed the tie as Aberdeen was virtually quarantined and gatherings of more than a handful of people discouraged. When the game finally went ahead it went the way of Hibs:-
1963/64 - Summer Cup Final (replay)
Aberdeen 1, Hibernian 3
(Cormack, Hamilton, Scott)
Hibernian: Wilson, Fraser, Parke; Stanton, McNamee, J. Stevenson; Cormack, Hamilton, Scott, Martin, E. Stevenson
Aberdeen 1, Hibernian 3
(Cormack, Hamilton, Scott)
Hibernian: Wilson, Fraser, Parke; Stanton, McNamee, J. Stevenson; Cormack, Hamilton, Scott, Martin, E. Stevenson
In the very next season Hibs looked likely to retain their cup. Again Hibs found themselves in a section that boasted Hearts, Dunfermline and Falkirk. This time Hibs were more robust, winning four and drawing one of their six ties. With fewer clubs having competed this gave Hibernian entry to the semi-final.
The omens for cup retention looked excellent when in the first leg of the semi-final against Motherwell the Hibees cruised to a 2-0 win. But in the second leg at Fir Park the ‘wheels came off the wagon’ and Hibs were thrashed 6-2 albeit after extra time. It was little consolation that Motherwell went on to take the trophy.
And thus ended Hibernian’s association with a competition that brought arguably more joy than it did sorrow.
The omens for cup retention looked excellent when in the first leg of the semi-final against Motherwell the Hibees cruised to a 2-0 win. But in the second leg at Fir Park the ‘wheels came off the wagon’ and Hibs were thrashed 6-2 albeit after extra time. It was little consolation that Motherwell went on to take the trophy.
And thus ended Hibernian’s association with a competition that brought arguably more joy than it did sorrow.
SUNDAY FOOTBALL
Hibs first competitive match at Easter Road on a Sunday came in February 1977. The match was a Scottish Cup tie against Partick Thistle and Hibs ran out 3-0 winners with the following sides entertaining a healthy crowd of 13,799:
Hibs: McDonald, Brownlie, Schaedler, Bremner, Stewart, Blackley; Edwards, MacLeod, Smith, Duncan, Carroll
Partick: Rough, Mackie, Whittaker; J Hansen, Campbell, A Hansen; Houston, Somner, Love, Melrose, Craig.
After the match Hibernian chairman Tom Hart noted that the attendance was considerably up on the season’s average and commented “It was a worthwhile experiment, but I don’t think we would want to do it too often.” The increased attendance should not have come as a surprise. Three years earlier the case for Sunday football had been proved.
However, Hibs had been notoriously reluctant to get involved in Sunday football. In 1974 the so called ‘winter of discontent’ saw a miners strike and an eventual power shortage. As the crisis wore on the government insisted that all games be started and finished in daylight thus ruling out the use of energy hungry floodlights. A three-day working week and railway strike deepened the crisis and it soon became the norm for power cuts to be imposed.
This made running a football match extremely difficult as dressing rooms, match offices and street lighting were all lost during the cuts. Eventually clubs clamoured to play on Sundays when the drain on the national grid was least and access to power more reliable. A move that started in England in turn saw requests to play Sunday football in Scotland and the SFA, in the face of stern criticism from church bodies, reluctantly agreed.
The English football authorities duly sanctioned Sunday football for 20 January 1974 and one week later the Scottish Cup saw a raft of Sunday fixtures, but Hibs had elected to play Kilmarnock at Easter Road on the Saturday. The crisis dragged on with Hibs sticking manfully to playing on a Saturday.
Hibs: McDonald, Brownlie, Schaedler, Bremner, Stewart, Blackley; Edwards, MacLeod, Smith, Duncan, Carroll
Partick: Rough, Mackie, Whittaker; J Hansen, Campbell, A Hansen; Houston, Somner, Love, Melrose, Craig.
After the match Hibernian chairman Tom Hart noted that the attendance was considerably up on the season’s average and commented “It was a worthwhile experiment, but I don’t think we would want to do it too often.” The increased attendance should not have come as a surprise. Three years earlier the case for Sunday football had been proved.
However, Hibs had been notoriously reluctant to get involved in Sunday football. In 1974 the so called ‘winter of discontent’ saw a miners strike and an eventual power shortage. As the crisis wore on the government insisted that all games be started and finished in daylight thus ruling out the use of energy hungry floodlights. A three-day working week and railway strike deepened the crisis and it soon became the norm for power cuts to be imposed.
This made running a football match extremely difficult as dressing rooms, match offices and street lighting were all lost during the cuts. Eventually clubs clamoured to play on Sundays when the drain on the national grid was least and access to power more reliable. A move that started in England in turn saw requests to play Sunday football in Scotland and the SFA, in the face of stern criticism from church bodies, reluctantly agreed.
The English football authorities duly sanctioned Sunday football for 20 January 1974 and one week later the Scottish Cup saw a raft of Sunday fixtures, but Hibs had elected to play Kilmarnock at Easter Road on the Saturday. The crisis dragged on with Hibs sticking manfully to playing on a Saturday.
Today Sunday football is commonplace, the growth of televised football and the desire to play key fixtures on a Sunday have gradually abolished the Saturday only mentality that was part and parcel of football’s early history.