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UEFA CUP
The UEFA Cup came into being in 1971 and replaced the Inter Cities Fairs Cup. Hibs first took part in 1973 when they were drawn to face Keflavik of Iceland. A 2-0 home win paved the way for a safe passage to a Second Round tie against English giants Leeds United. Over two legs neither side could manage a single goal and thus the tie went to penalties and sadly Hibs lost 4-5, Pat Stanton hitting the post with Hibs very first effort.
The following season Hibs once again took part. Rosenborg of Norway provided the opposition in the first round and goals by Stanton, Gordon and Cropley gave Hibernian a valuable 3-2 away victory. But few could have expected the outcome of the second leg when Hibs romped home 9-1. Harper, Munro, Stanton, and Cropley all scored twice and Alan Gordon ‘s strike made it nine.
The contrast with the part-timers of Norway and Hibs next opponents could not have been greater. The famous Italian club Juventus of Turin were next in line. The game was lost by Hibs in the first leg when the Italians with typical breakaway tactics scored four times to Hibs twice. The great Altafini netted twice, but it was his colleague Anastasi who ran the second leg scoring twice in a comfortable 4-0 Juventus win.
In 1975/76 Hibernian once again great out a plum tie. Liverpool would win the highly competitive English Championship that season and it was The Hibess misfortune to be paired with them. Yet it all started well enough with ex-Everton striker Joe Harper giving Hibs a 1-0 win in the first leg. Away from home Hibs played bravely and that veteran of the European stage Alex Edwards scored, but John Toshack hit a hat-trick for Liverpool and the English side went through. There was some form of consolation when the Merseysiders won the tournament itself in a thrilling final against Bruges.
It is strange to reflect that the following season Hibs were something of a spent force. They again contested the UEFA Cup and beat French side Sochaux in the first round, that it took a goal by full back John Brownlie to do so hardly seemed to matter. In the Second Round Scandinavian opposition in the form of Oesters Vaxjo of Sweden look harmless enough on paper.
Hibs won the first leg 2-0 with defenders Blackley and Brownlie the marksmen. The return leg was a disaster and doubles by Linderoth and Ejderstedt eased the Swedes through.
There was a degree of Scandinavian revenge in the 1978/79 UEFA Cup as Hibs beat Norkopping in the first round; a club Hibs had visited in a friendly in the summer of 1947. However, it was hardly convincing and the Edinburgh club enjoyed a degree of luck in progressing. Hibs lost 2-0 on the French/German border and could only muster an Ally MacLeod goal.
A decade would pass before Hibernian’s name graced the UEFA cup again. When it did they drew Hungarian side Videoton and gave a classic display; Having won at home 1-0 there was a sense of trepidation about the trip to the East. But Hibs played superbly and won 3-0. In the next round Liege of Belgium may have been concerned but they drew 0-0 at Easter Road and then scored the one goal necessary to take the tie on aggregate in Belgium.
It was a far bigger Belgian name that lay in store for Hibs in the 1992/93 contest. Anderlecht, who had John Marc Bosman (he of the Bosman ruling) in their squad, drew 2-2 in Edinburgh and a 1-1 draw in Brussels meant Hibs were out on the dreaded away goals ruling.
Defeat was harder to take in the 2001/02 season. In the heat of Athens Hibs wilted and lost 2-0 (the game was delayed a week because of the 9/11 atrocity in New York). The return game at Easter Road was a thriller. Hibs led 2-0 in the final minute of normal time when Paco Luna sent a header just over. Hibs were to rue that miss as Athens took charge of extra-time and scored twice before David Zitelli scored an outrageous, but ultimately useless, third for Hibs
The following season Hibs once again took part. Rosenborg of Norway provided the opposition in the first round and goals by Stanton, Gordon and Cropley gave Hibernian a valuable 3-2 away victory. But few could have expected the outcome of the second leg when Hibs romped home 9-1. Harper, Munro, Stanton, and Cropley all scored twice and Alan Gordon ‘s strike made it nine.
The contrast with the part-timers of Norway and Hibs next opponents could not have been greater. The famous Italian club Juventus of Turin were next in line. The game was lost by Hibs in the first leg when the Italians with typical breakaway tactics scored four times to Hibs twice. The great Altafini netted twice, but it was his colleague Anastasi who ran the second leg scoring twice in a comfortable 4-0 Juventus win.
In 1975/76 Hibernian once again great out a plum tie. Liverpool would win the highly competitive English Championship that season and it was The Hibess misfortune to be paired with them. Yet it all started well enough with ex-Everton striker Joe Harper giving Hibs a 1-0 win in the first leg. Away from home Hibs played bravely and that veteran of the European stage Alex Edwards scored, but John Toshack hit a hat-trick for Liverpool and the English side went through. There was some form of consolation when the Merseysiders won the tournament itself in a thrilling final against Bruges.
It is strange to reflect that the following season Hibs were something of a spent force. They again contested the UEFA Cup and beat French side Sochaux in the first round, that it took a goal by full back John Brownlie to do so hardly seemed to matter. In the Second Round Scandinavian opposition in the form of Oesters Vaxjo of Sweden look harmless enough on paper.
Hibs won the first leg 2-0 with defenders Blackley and Brownlie the marksmen. The return leg was a disaster and doubles by Linderoth and Ejderstedt eased the Swedes through.
There was a degree of Scandinavian revenge in the 1978/79 UEFA Cup as Hibs beat Norkopping in the first round; a club Hibs had visited in a friendly in the summer of 1947. However, it was hardly convincing and the Edinburgh club enjoyed a degree of luck in progressing. Hibs lost 2-0 on the French/German border and could only muster an Ally MacLeod goal.
A decade would pass before Hibernian’s name graced the UEFA cup again. When it did they drew Hungarian side Videoton and gave a classic display; Having won at home 1-0 there was a sense of trepidation about the trip to the East. But Hibs played superbly and won 3-0. In the next round Liege of Belgium may have been concerned but they drew 0-0 at Easter Road and then scored the one goal necessary to take the tie on aggregate in Belgium.
It was a far bigger Belgian name that lay in store for Hibs in the 1992/93 contest. Anderlecht, who had John Marc Bosman (he of the Bosman ruling) in their squad, drew 2-2 in Edinburgh and a 1-1 draw in Brussels meant Hibs were out on the dreaded away goals ruling.
Defeat was harder to take in the 2001/02 season. In the heat of Athens Hibs wilted and lost 2-0 (the game was delayed a week because of the 9/11 atrocity in New York). The return game at Easter Road was a thriller. Hibs led 2-0 in the final minute of normal time when Paco Luna sent a header just over. Hibs were to rue that miss as Athens took charge of extra-time and scored twice before David Zitelli scored an outrageous, but ultimately useless, third for Hibs
UNDEFEATED
Hibernian’s record unbeaten run in the top league came in the 1947/48 season when the club went 17 matches without tasting defeat. In the successful promotion season of 1998/99 Hibs strung a 22 match unbeaten run together but as this was in the second league rather than the top flight the 1947/48 achievement is accepted as the benchmark.
The details of the 1947/48 run (when Hibs won the league by two points) are as follows:-
The details of the 1947/48 run (when Hibs won the league by two points) are as follows:-
Nov 29 H St. Mirren W 5-0 Ormond 3 (2 pens), Smith 2
Dec 6 A Partick Thistle D 1-1 Combe
Dec 13 A Celtic D 1-1 Cuthbertson
Dec 20 H Aberdeen W 4-0 Linwood, Smith, Ormond 2 (1pen)
Dec 27 A Airdrie W 3-0 Smith, Linwood, Combe
Jan 1 H Hearts W 3-1 Ormond (pen), Linwood, Turnbull
Jan 3 A Clyde D 2-2 Linwood, Cuthbertson
Jan 10 H Queen’s Park W 4-0 Combe, Smith 2, Turnbull
Jan 17 A Queen of South W 3-0 Cuthbertson 3
Jan 31 H Rangers W 1-0 Cuthbertson
Feb 14 A Morton W 2-1 Cuthbertson, Smith
Feb 28 A Third Lanark W 4-1 Cuthbertson 2, Aitkenhead, Combe
Mar 13 H Falkirk W 2-0 Linwood, Buchanan
Mar 20 A St. Mirren W 4-2 Smith 2, Cuthbertson, Linwood
Apr 3 H Celtic W 4-2 Linwood 2, Turnbull 2 (1pen)
Apr 17 H Partick Thistle W 1-0 Turnbull
Apr 19 H Motherwell W 5-0 Combe, Turnbull, Smith. Linwood 2
In 1950/51 Hibs enjoyed a 10 match unbeaten run that laid the foundations for the second post-war league title triumph. They started their run with a 6-2 win at Motherwell and it did not end until the New Year’s Day defeat at Hearts. Hibs retained their title the following season aided hugely by a scintillating start to the campaign that featured a nine-match start to the season without defeat. Indeed in the 1951/52 season Hibs scored in each and every league fixture.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
In the summer of 1967 Hibernian toured North America. The American soccer authorities had decided their game needed a boost and invited a number of foreign sides to play in a summer league in which the visitors would represent different American cities. Hibernian represented Toronto.
Other clubs were assigned as follows Dundee United (Dallas), Aberdeen (Washington), ADO Hague (San Francisco), Bangu of Brazil (Houston), Cagliari (Chicago), Cerro of Uruguay (New York), Glentoran (Detroit), Shamrock Rovers (Boston), Stoke City (Cleveland), Sunderland (Vancouver), and Wolves (Los Angeles).
The Eastern Division of the North American League was played over a six week period and Hibs finished third behind Aberdeen and Stoke City. In their opening game Hibernian played in New York’s Yankee Stadium against Cerro from Uruguay. The match ended up 1-1 with Allan McGraw getting the Hibs goal. Switching to Canada Hibs faced Aberdeen in Toronto and lost 1-2, but this was a small journey compared to the long haul to San Francisco that followed. The latter trip was well worthwhile as thanks to goals by Joe Davis and Peter Cormack Hibs were able to register a 2-0 win over ADO of Holland.
Back in Toronto Hibs were beaten 2-1 by Wolves and then drew 2-2 with Dundee United in Dallas, Texas. A third match in Toronto saw Hibernian beat Italians Cagliari 2-1 and this was followed by a thumping 4-2 win over Sunderland in Vancouver. The same teams met in Toronto a few days later and this time drew 2-2.
The unlikely sounding Bangu of Brazil awaited Hibernian in the Houston Astrodome and a 1-1 draw resulted. There are suggestions that Hibs players were growing tired of what was a dull tournament by this stage and Pat Stanton has suggested they perhaps contrived to lose when Stoke City beat Hibs 2-0. This meant that although Hibs beat Shamrock Rovers 6-1 before drawing with Glentoran the damage was done and the exhausted squad were able to make their way home.
Other clubs were assigned as follows Dundee United (Dallas), Aberdeen (Washington), ADO Hague (San Francisco), Bangu of Brazil (Houston), Cagliari (Chicago), Cerro of Uruguay (New York), Glentoran (Detroit), Shamrock Rovers (Boston), Stoke City (Cleveland), Sunderland (Vancouver), and Wolves (Los Angeles).
The Eastern Division of the North American League was played over a six week period and Hibs finished third behind Aberdeen and Stoke City. In their opening game Hibernian played in New York’s Yankee Stadium against Cerro from Uruguay. The match ended up 1-1 with Allan McGraw getting the Hibs goal. Switching to Canada Hibs faced Aberdeen in Toronto and lost 1-2, but this was a small journey compared to the long haul to San Francisco that followed. The latter trip was well worthwhile as thanks to goals by Joe Davis and Peter Cormack Hibs were able to register a 2-0 win over ADO of Holland.
Back in Toronto Hibs were beaten 2-1 by Wolves and then drew 2-2 with Dundee United in Dallas, Texas. A third match in Toronto saw Hibernian beat Italians Cagliari 2-1 and this was followed by a thumping 4-2 win over Sunderland in Vancouver. The same teams met in Toronto a few days later and this time drew 2-2.
The unlikely sounding Bangu of Brazil awaited Hibernian in the Houston Astrodome and a 1-1 draw resulted. There are suggestions that Hibs players were growing tired of what was a dull tournament by this stage and Pat Stanton has suggested they perhaps contrived to lose when Stoke City beat Hibs 2-0. This meant that although Hibs beat Shamrock Rovers 6-1 before drawing with Glentoran the damage was done and the exhausted squad were able to make their way home.
The final league table read:
P W D L F A Pts
Aberdeen 12 5 5 2 19 11 15
Stoke City 12 5 4 3 19 11 14
Hibernian 12 4 5 3 23 17 13
Cerro 12 2 7 3 21 13 11
Glentoran 12 2 7 3 11 15 11
Shamrock Rovers 12 2 3 7 12 26 7
This above competition (which Aberdeen won by beating Wolves from the Western Division in the final) was far removed from the previous year when Hibs had toured Canada and America and rattled up 9-2, 7-1, 11-0 and 15-0 victories. The latter score bettered the 15-0 win over Peebles Rovers in the Scottish Cup, but Willie Hamilton’s seven goal haul was somewhat short of Joe Baker’s treble-hat-trick against the Borderers.