In Colours Green and White: Volume 2 E-Book

John Campbell

• Herausgeber: Birlinn
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Seitenzahl: 841

Beschreibung

In Colours Green and White is the second volume in John Campbell's fascinating post-war history of Hibernian Football Club, which continues to relive the club's past with a game-by-game and goal-by-goal account of the Easter Road team between 1967 and 1990. In the years that followed the halcyon days of the Famous Five and the club's domination of the league championship, the Easter Road faithful continued to witness some outstanding milestones in the history of the club. As pioneers in Europe, Hibernian regularly faced giants of the European stage, rising majestically to the occasion year after year against Italian, German, Portuguese and English opposition, with illustrious names like Napoli, Sporting Lisbon, Hamburg and Liverpool all leaving Edinburgh cowed by the men in green and white. Throughout this period the team that would become known as 'Turnbull's Tornadoes' lifted the League Cup and pulled off the mother of all derby wins at Tynecastle in January 1973 with a display of outstanding tactical play and mesmeric footballing skill. Denied a position at the pinnacle of Scottish football by Jock Stein's superb Celtic side, Eddie Turnbull's Hibs nevertheless entertained wherever they played and are remembered to this day with huge affection by fans around the country.

Leseprobe

In Colours Green and White

In Colours Green and White

A Post-War History of Hibs

Volume Two

John Campbell

This eBook edition published in 2013 by

Birlinn Limited

West Newington House

10 Newington Road

Edinburgh

EH9 1QS

www.birlinn.co.uk

Copyright © John Campbell

The moral right of John Campbell to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without the express written permission of the publisher.

eBook ISBN: 978 0 85790 695 3

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Ebook by Iolaire Typesetting, Newtonmore

Contents

List of Illustrations

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Chapter One 1967/68: Napoli Humbled

Chapter Two 1968/69: Record Sale

Chapter Three 1969/70: ‘Nijinsky’ Signs

Chapter Four 1970/71: Managerial Changes

Chapter Five 1971/72: Turnbull Takes the Reins

Chapter Six 1972/73: Seventh Heaven

Chapter Seven 1973/74: Ring Out the Old

Chapter Eight 1974/75: So Near and Yet So Far

Chapter Nine 1975/76: Derby Dominance

Chapter Ten 1976/77: The End of an Era

Chapter Eleven 1977/78: ‘Shades’ Departs

Chapter Twelve 1978/79: Hampden Heartbreak

Chapter Thirteen 1979/80: Relegation – Despite Best Efforts

Chapter Fourteen 1980/81: Straight Back Up

Chapter Fifteen 1981/82: Death of an Institution

Chapter Sixteen 1982/83: A Legend Returns

Chapter Seventeen 1983/84: Youngsters Given Their Chance

Chapter Eighteen 1984/85: ‘Juke Box’ Arrives

Chapter Nineteen 1985/86: ‘Juke Box’ Departs Again!

List of Illustrations

Napoli arrive at Turnhouse in 1968 in confident mood.

Joe McBride scoring one of a hat-trick against Lokomotiv Leipzig on his home debut.

Arthur Duncan shortly after signing for Hibs.

Pat Stanton, Alex Cropley and Eric Stevenson enjoying a cup of tea!

Joe Baker returns to a hero’s welcome.

Eddie Turnbull addressing the players at training.

Hibs fans out in force at Hampden.

Pat Stanton about to be presented with the League Cup.

Hibs players in early S43 mode as they record Turnbull’s Tornadoes.

Evidence of Leeds boss Don Revie being on the park during the penalty shoot-out.

Action from the Hibs v Norrkoping game in December 1978 at Easter Road.

Norwegians Svein Mathisen and Isak Refvik looking proud in their Hibs kit.

The one and only George Best in action against St Mirren.

Tam McNiven with the players he looked after so well.

Action from a friendly against Moscow Dynamo which Hibs won 2–0.

Action from a friendly against Dutch champions Feyenoord which Hibs won 4–2.

Acknowledgements

Over the period of time taken to write this book I have been helped and encouraged by many friends and I’d like to thank them all for giving me such tremendous backing. Though the list is long I’d like to single out Brian Johnson from the Programme Shop in Albion Road for access to and use of Hibs match programmes and yearbooks for the whole of the period covered as without them the task would have been so much harder; former director of the club Stephen Dunn and fellow Hibernian author Ted Brack both of whom were kind enough to read the whole manuscript and offer hugely appreciated advice and encouragement; and to Pat Stanton for his foreword. Sincere thanks also to Peter Burns, Neville Moir and all at Birlinn publishers.

Foreword

I have known John Campbell for a long time and his love of Hibernian Football Club is evident every time I meet him.

I remember going to Athens with John and a few of the lads when Hibs were due to play AEK. I recall us sitting in a bar not far from the Acropolis in this land of the great philosophers, Plato and Socrates (and I don’t mean the Brazilian midfield maestro). We were another group of philosophers pondering on the fate of Hibs and how they would do. There was no lack of wisdom in our discussions either.

With his vast experience of writing about Hibs in the match programme, club website, Hibs.Net and the fanzine, Mass Hibsteria, John has a vast knowledge of the Hibs and this shows through in his book. I enjoyed the book immensely and it brought back many happy memories for me.

John is ideally placed to write such a book on the fortunes of our great club and I wholeheartedly recommend In Colours Green and White to all Hibs fans.

Pat Stanton

Chapter One

1967/68

Napoli Humbled

Just four weeks after the end of season 1966/67 Hibs set off on a marathon trip to Canada and the USA, where they would play in the North American League. Based in Toronto for ‘home’ games, the players flew thousands of miles in order to complete their fixture commitments, with the opening tie taking place in New York on 28 May 1967.

Prior to their departure, Hibs had called up Peter Marinello from the youth ranks and brought back John Blackley from Bo’ness United, where the young defender had been farmed out to gain experience, but neither player made it into the tour party.

The North American competition placed Hibs in the Eastern Division along with Aberdeen, Stoke City, Cerro (Uruguay), Glentoran and Shamrock Rovers. The Western Division contained ADO (Holland), Wolves, Sunderland, Dundee United, Cagliari (Italy) and Bangu (Brazil). In that peculiar conference type of arrangement now seen in American football, Hibs found themselves playing teams both within and outwith their own division, and their travels took them to New York, San Francisco, Dallas, Vancouver, Houston and Cleveland.

In that first game in New York, Hibs drew 1-1 with Cerro, thanks to an Allan McGraw thunderbolt. Three days later, it was Aberdeen in Toronto’s Varsity Stadium, but Hibs lost to Eddie Turnbull’s team by 2-1, with Peter Cormack on target for the Green and Whites. A long flight to San Francisco followed, but the players showed no ill effects, defeating ADO of Holland 2-0 after goals from Joe Davis (pen) and Cormack.

‘Home’ form deserted Hibs in the next match with Wolves at the Varsity and despite Davis scoring again from the spot the English outfit, eventual tournament winners, ran out 2-1 victors. The unlikely setting of Dallas brought Hibs up against Dundee United and although they were the better team they could only achieve a 2-2 draw, with goals from Cormack and Colin Stein.

It was a punishing schedule, with just three or four days between matches and thousands of miles to travel when playing away, but Hibs seemed to be coping well when they met the crack Italian outfit Cagliari at the Varsity on 18 June. The fans had expected the Italians to play the tight defensive game which was their hallmark. Surprisingly that was not the case, and both sides went for goals, Hibs coming out on top 2-1 with Cormack and Colin Grant on target. Sadly for Cormack he was sent off in highly controversial circumstances as the Italians got more and more physical. The referee was having real problems controlling the players and eventually decided to abandon the game with seven minutes left. There was some satisfaction for Hibs: the score was allowed to stand and the League took action against Cagliari for their unsporting behaviour.

A cross-Canada flight for the next match put Hibs up against Sunderland in the Empire Stadium, Vancouver. Despite going a goal down, the Hibees roared back to win 4-2 with Eric Stevenson getting a double while Scott and Stein also hit the target. One familiar face in the Sunderland team that day was former Hibs striker Neil Martin. A few days later the teams met again, this time in Toronto, and the Black Cats did a little better in securing a 2-2 draw, Stein and a Davis penalty providing the strikes for Hibs after the visitors had gone two goals up.

Game nine took Hibs to Houston for a match against Bangu of Brazil on the famous Astrodome synthetic surface. Cormack got the goal in a 1-1 draw which ensured a continuation of the good unbeaten run over the previous four games. At this stage, Hibs were looking a good bet to top their division, but a 0-2 reversal against Stoke City in Cleveland dented their chances. Cormack (ankle) and Stanton (blistered feet) missed that game and their absence obviously affected the Green and Whites. Two games remained, both in Toronto and both against Irish opposition. Four points were likely to be enough to win the division and therefore a place in the final. They got off to a good start with a fine 6-1 thrashing of Shamrock Rovers, Grant getting a hat-trick and singles coming from Stein, Cormack and Scott (pen), leaving only the requirement to beat Glentoran in the last game at the Varsity. In terrible storm conditions both teams struggled to find any form and an own-goal was all Hibs had to show for their efforts after 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw.

The 12 games in 43 days gave a record of played 12, won four, drawn five and lost three, with 23 goals scored and 17 conceded. Thomson Allan, Joe Davis, John Madsen and Jim Scott were the only players to feature in every game, while Peter Cormack finished top scorer with six goals. A tired Hibs party travelled back to Scotland, where a few short weeks of rest awaited them before they kicked off the new season.

On Tuesday, 8 August, Hibs travelled to the holiday town of Blackpool and it’s assumed they entered into the holiday spirit as they were hammered 6-2 with only a Davis penalty and a strike from Stein to bring back as mementos. Four days later it was down to the serious business of competitive football as Hibs visited Dens Park for the first game in a League Cup qualifying group which also included Motherwell and Clyde. First-team regulars Alan Cousin and Eric Stevenson were both missing due to injury and Jim Scott had been transferred to Newcastle, but Hibs dominated for large parts of the game and were unlucky not to take both points, the game finishing goalless.

The fixture list then gave Hibs three home ties in a row, which must have had manager Bob Shankly thinking that qualification was eminently achievable, especially after a good 1-0 win over Motherwell in the first of those games. Just ahead of that match, Hibs offered a trial to a young full-back who turned out for the reserves at Berwick and impressed so much that he was signed. The lad was Mervyn Jones, a product of Edina Hibs and a nephew of the Rangers stalwart John Greig. The game with Motherwell was not as close as the result suggests and Hibs should have had a lot more than a solitary strike from Grant to celebrate.

Around this time the draw for the first round of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was made and Hibs were paired with FC Porto of Portugal, the home leg scheduled for 20 September and the return two weeks later.

Prior to that, however, the Hibees had a few other games to play and the first of those was the League Cup tie with Clyde, who had finished third in the League the previous season and so would be no pushovers. In a game tighter than the scoreline suggests, Hibs ran out 3-1 winners with Davis (pen), Cormack and Grant hitting the target and Clyde countering through Hastings. The result kept Hibs at the top of their group but only on goal average over Dundee, who would be next to visit Leith.

In the Dundee programme notes, praise was offered for the record of Joe Davis in his goal attempts from the penalty spot – the full-back had netted 29 out of 34 times since he took the job in September 1965. Joe was to alter the figures to 30 successes in 35 attempts when he scored in that Dundee game, but his goal, together with a strike from Stein, failed to save Hibs from losing 4-2 and relinquishing top spot in the group to the victors. Dundee had been on an incredible run when they had arrived at Easter Road, having gone their previous 25 matches without defeat, and goals from George McLean (2), Jim McLean and Sammy Wilson won the day and both points for Bobby Ancell’s men.

Hoping to recover their form in order to stay in with a chance of qualification for the later stages of the League Cup, Hibs travelled to Motherwell needing both points, but returned with none as the Steelmen triumphed 2-1 in a tough match which saw both physios earning their corn. Goals from John ‘Dixie’ Deans and Lindsay were met by a single response from young John Murphy, scoring on his debut.

By the time Hibs visited Clyde in the final game they already knew that Dundee had won the group and so it was both galling and satisfying that they turned in a fine display at Shawfield in winning 2-0, thanks to goals from Stein and Cormack. Two League games had to be completed prior to the visit of Porto in the Fairs Cup and the first of those saw Hibs heading for Tynecastle to face Hearts.

In what manager Shankly later described as a display of fast, clever football, Hibs thumped their oldest rivals 4-1, Pat Quinn scoring an unforgettable hat-trick and Cormack raising the rafters in the stands with a magnificent diving header which bulleted past the helpless Cruickshank in the home goal. Hearts found small consolation in a Traynor goal. The visiting fans were ecstatic as they poured out on to Gorgie Road. Sadly, a small number took their celebrations a little too far and earned a reprimand from the Hibs chairman, William P. Harrower, who asked that the good name of Hibernian be kept out of the press for any reason other than performing well on the park.

A fine addition to the first-team squad was soon to arrive: prior to the home League match with Raith Rovers, Hibs announced that they had signed Alex Scott, brother of the recently departed Jim, from Everton. Winner of cup medals with Rangers and Everton, Scott also had huge experience of playing in European competition. With the Fairs Cup tie against Porto looming, it was a shrewd piece of business by manager Shankly.

Newly promoted Raith had narrowly lost their opening fixture 2-1 to Dunfermline and with former Hibee Bobby Kinloch and a young Ian Porterfield, who later went on to star for Sunderland and Aberdeen, in their line-up they looked likely to offer Hibs stiff opposition. As it turned out, the home side proved far too strong for the Fifers and a 3-0 scoreline might have been increased but for some fine goalkeeping by Raith’s Bobby Reid. The goals came from Cormack, Stein and the unfortunate Kinloch – who for once did not intend to score for Hibs!

European football nights at Easter Road have been very special over the years and the evening of Wednesday, 20 September 1967, was no different as FC Porto arrived in Leith hoping to snuff out the Scottish challenge. With Alex Scott making his debut, Hibs set about attacking the visitors from the off and two first-half goals from Cormack, together with an early second-half strike from Stevenson, secured a 3-0 lead from this first leg. In truth it could have been six as Hibs saw the visitors clear the ball off their line on three separate occasions.

Ten goals in their last three games seemed to prove that the eye was in and when Hibs took on Dundee United at Tannadice just three days later they continued their fine form and raced into a two-goal lead through Stein and the dependable Davis from the penalty spot. It was Joe’s 149th consecutive first-team appearance, an admirable record for any player to wish to protect, and so when he took a heavy thigh knock in the second half he made sure he would begin to receive treatment right away and be ready for the punishing schedule of games ahead. Sadly, the two-goal half-time lead was pulled back in the second period by a determined home side and goals from the Scandinavians Seeman and Dossing earned them a point in a 2-2 draw. It might have actually been a defeat for Hibs had Thomson Allan not saved Seeman’s penalty, the first Hibs had conceded in nine months.

One more League game remained before Hibs would face Porto in the return leg of their Fairs Cup tie and that was a home match against bottom club Partick Thistle. The Jags arrived and left with no League points on the board as Hibs went nap with goals from Stevenson (2), Davis (pen), McGraw and Quinn. Thistle’s consolation goal came from Rae after outside-left Arthur Duncan had been tripped in the home box. Duncan was superb in that losing Thistle outfit, and it was no surprise that a number of Scottish and English clubs, including Chelsea, were keeping tabs on the flying winger.

Following a nine-hour trip to Oporto, Hibs kicked off their return tie with their Portuguese opponents in confident mood, but things soon began to go wrong as Cormack was ordered off in the first half after reacting to a punch thrown at him by Rolando. Two goals by Valdir then made the Hibees jittery, but when the Spanish referee, Antonio Rigo, awarded the visitors a penalty all hell broke loose. First, the home players surrounded and jostled the referee and this went on for three or four minutes before order was restored. Davis finally got to place the ball on the spot. As Joe moved forward to strike his shot, the Porto keeper Americo came charging out towards him in a disgraceful display of poor sportsmanship, but the Hibs skipper stayed cool and fired the ball home to make it 4-2 on aggregate. A late strike by Pinto failed to save Porto, and Hibs were through.

Back in Scotland, the next action arrived against Celtic at Parkhead, as tough a return to League duty as anyone could have expected. While the Hibs men would undoubtedly be weary after their midweek travels to Portugal, there was every chance that the Celtic players, too, would be feeling the effects of their midweek trip to Moscow, where they had crashed out of the European Cup. In a game far closer than the final scoreline would suggest, Hibs gave a decent showing but still lost heavily 4-0 as Murdoch (2), Wallace and Johnstone breached Thomson Allan’s goal. At one point, with the score at 1-0, a cracking header by Stein had whizzed past Simpson in the Celtic goal, only to be booted off the line by Gemmell. Had that gone in, things might have been different, but it was not to be.

As fans turned up for the next home game, against Dunfermline at Easter Road, they were met with the news that Hibs had drawn crack Italian outfit Naples (Napoli) in the second round of the Fairs Cup. The first leg was to be played in Italy in late November, delayed by the fact that Italy had some European Nations Cup qualifiers to fit in.

Dunfermline arrived on the back of a good 1-0 win at Pittodrie and so a difficult match was anticipated. Thankfully, Hibs closed the defensive gaps which had been exploited by Celtic and secured a 2-0 win, a Cormack strike and an own-goal from Pars defender Roy Barry keeping both points in Leith.

With new improved floodlights being installed at Easter Road the following weekend Hibs were of course playing away – at Muirton Park, where St Johnstone were going great guns in the League. They were undefeated so far and fresh from a brilliant 4-1 win away to Dundee. Hibs soon set about bursting the Perth side’s bubble and two first-half strikes from Stein put them well in control before Saints pulled one back through Gordon. Stevenson restored the two-goal lead and a late goal from McPhee was not enough to save the day for the Perth men.

Hearts were invited to officially ‘open’ the new Hibs floodlights on the evening of Monday, 23 October, and both sides put out strong line-ups for the East of Scotland Shield 1966/67 final. Derby matches are often tense and this one proved true to form in front of a sizeable crowd, with Hibs narrowly winning 2-1, their goals coming from O’Rourke and Davis (pen). Donald Ford struck for Hearts.

Hibs were going well in the League and keeping in touch with the leaders when Airdrie arrived at Easter Road. With Billy Simpson in for the injured Bobby Duncan, the Hibees demolished the Diamonds 5-0, Stein hitting a hat-trick, his first for the senior XI. Cormack and Airdrie defender Keenan with an own-goal completed the rout.

While the crushing victory over Airdrie undoubtedly helped the goal average, the following game against struggling Stirling Albion at Annfield most certainly had the opposite effect as Hibs contrived to dominate the first half only to go a goal down right on the whistle. They then fell apart in the second to finish the game 4-1 losers. Kerray, Munro, Peebles and Hall each stuck a goal past poor Thomson Allan, while Stein hit a consolation for the hapless Hibees.

They say a week is a long time in football and it seems manager Shankly spent the next seven days sorting out the heads of those players who fell apart at Stirling, because Hibs went to a much harder venue, Dens Park, and won 4-1. But for bad luck and great goalkeeping by John Arrol they could easily have scored eight. Ironically, Dundee had taken the lead through George McLean, but Hibs came roaring back with goals from Stein (2), Cormack and McGraw that kept them in third place in the League behind Celtic and Rangers. Stein’s goals took him to the top of the scoring charts in Scotland with 13 in total, of which ten were League goals.

With the trip to Italy to face Napoli looming, Hibs first had a tough match against Aberdeen at Easter Road to contend with. Eddie Turnbull’s Dons were going well both domestically and in Europe, and so Cormack’s winner in a tight 1-0 match was very satisfying indeed and meant the Hibees could set off for Naples on the back of two good victories.

The officials and supporters of Napoli made the travelling party most welcome and before the game in the San Paolo Stadium his Italian counterpart presented captain Joe Davis with a bouquet of flowers. Joe then passed the flowers to reserve keeper Willie Wilson, who drew huge cheers from the home support when he presented them to a female supporter in the crowd. The Italian players were not, however, in such generous mood as they set about beating the visitors by a 4-1 scoreline. Many observers thought Hibs unlucky on the night as they had made many chances but taken only one, while Cane struck three for the home side with Altafini getting the other. Stein hit the vital away counter for Hibs.

After the game, the Italian officials held a reception for their visitors and generously presented the club with a silver tray to mark the occasion. In addition, each player was given a musical cigarette box – something that today might not be thought wholly appropriate for professional sportsmen!

Back home in Scotland, it was widely suggested that Hibs had blown their chances of progressing, but Bob Shankly was having none of it, his lone voice insisting that the Hibees could still go through. It would not be long before his words were put to the test as the Italians were due in Edinburgh the following Wednesday. In the meantime, Hibs had the small matter of a League match at Ibrox. With Willie Wilson recalled in goals, they were extremely unlucky to lose the match 2-0 after Greig (pen) and Willoughby struck for the home side. Wilson very nearly saved the penalty, but the sheer power of the shot carried it over the line. At the other end, Sorenson in the Rangers goal had a number of inspirational stops from Stein and O’Rourke.

And so the second-leg tie against Napoli finally arrived. And on a misty Edinburgh evening, a miracle was about to unfold. The Italians, renowned for their defensive capabilities, were simply torn apart in a fantastic display of attacking football by Hibs. It all started after just five minutes when full-back Bobby Duncan hammered the ball towards goal from just inside the opposition half and the home support roared as it flew past the bewildered Dino Zoff to put Hibs 1-0 up on the night. Four more goals arrived without reply as Stanton, Quinn, Stein and Cormack all added to Duncan’s opener and made Shankly’s words come true. The visitors didn’t know what had hit them and ended the game with just ten men after referee Antonio Rigo (remember him from the Porto game?) sent one of their players off near the final whistle. Hibs had made footballing history, becoming the first Scottish team to beat Italian opposition over a two-leg European tie. Their reward was to be drawn against the Fairs Cup holders, Leeds United, in the next round.

If the Napoli game provided a euphoric Hibernian support with a night they would never forget, the following Saturday’s home League tie offered a game they possibly prayed they could forget. In a complete anti-climax of a match, the home team were abysmal and slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Morton. Winger Bjarne Jensen, who combined his footballing prowess with abilities in the boxing ring, where he had been junior middleweight champion of Denmark, scored the solitary goal. His strike was certainly a sucker punch to the disappointed home fans.

A bad spell of weather kept Hibs out of action for a fortnight and they resumed their League challenge with a visit to Motherwell, where a solitary strike from Stein earned two valuable points. Stein’s goal was the first the side had scored in three League games and was a peach into the bargain as he controlled the ball with his right foot before smacking an unstoppable left-foot shot beyond the Motherwell keeper.

The following midweek, Hibs travelled to Leeds to face the English giants in the Fairs Cup. Once again, Stein was in the news – but, sadly, not for any positive reasons. First, he scored what looked like a perfectly good goal. Even referee Russell of Belfast appeared initially to be pointing towards the centre circle but then changed his mind after protests from the home defenders. Within minutes, Stein was involved again, but this time not for any show of skill: he had to be carried off on a stretcher with a badly bruised ankle after a tackle by Norman Hunter. Despite giving a fantastic account of themselves, the visitors ended up losing the game to a solitary strike by Leeds’ Scottish winger, Eddie Gray.

Two days before Christmas 1967, Hibs welcomed Falkirk to Easter Road for a League match and had to shuffle their forward line a little because Stein was still injured. As it happened, he would not have been eligible to start in any event because he was under SFA suspension for the game. Once again, post-European-tie blues set in and only a very late strike by McGraw saved a point after Falkirk had led through Watson. In the match programme that day, Hibs announced that they would be making the stand all-ticket for the upcoming Hearts derby, with briefs costing 15s (75p) for the centre stand and 10s (50p) for the wing stands.

A visit to Rugby Park is never easy and in a dull match dominated by defences Hibs left empty handed having conceded a very soft goal to Tommy McLean in going down 1-0. Nevertheless, they were holding on to third place in the League, with Hearts hard on their heels, so when the two sides met on 1 January 1968 there was even more at stake than the joy of beating your oldest rivals. It was not a classic by any means and tackles were flying in from all directions, but the points stayed at Easter Road thanks to a Davis penalty. It was the first New Year’s Day win for Hibs for 20 years. There was, however, a price to be paid in the form of injuries, with Duncan, Scott and Stevenson all limping off the park at the end.

Just 24 hours later, Hibs were in Kirkcaldy to face a Raith Rovers side sitting second bottom of the table. Hibs had to make changes because of the injuries and tiredness of some players from the derby match, and this provided an opportunity for 17-year-old right-winger Peter Marinello to make his debut. He turned in a fine performance, helping the visitors to establish a 2-0 half-time lead with goals from Grant and Cormack. The second half was less enjoyable as the plucky Fifers fought back. Goals from Mackie and Wallace earned them a much needed point.

Dundee United at Easter Road provided the final match before the visit of Leeds. The Hibees struck good form in overcoming the visitors by 3-0, with young Marinello sparkling on the right wing. A double for the prolific Stein and a Quinn strike meant that United went home empty handed.

The Leeds team who arrived at Easter Road on Wednesday, 10 January 1968, were positively packed with talent. Like Hibs, they were sitting in third place in their domestic championship, having not lost a match in the previous eight weeks. Any team boasting players such as Bremner, Charlton, Lorimer, Jones, Gray and Giles in their starting line-up would be entitled to expect to win, but a very plucky and determined Hibs side fought out a 1-1 draw, Stein hitting the Hibees’ goal. Of course, the draw was not enough and the Yorkshire club progressed to the next round, but they certainly knew they had been in a game that evening.

If the European adventure was over, Scotland’s pioneers in that area of football had not disgraced themselves by any means, the Napoli home match in particular proving that Hibernian could still live with and beat the best on occasion.

Back on the domestic front, Hibs next faced up to Partick Thistle at Firhill and goals from Stevenson and a Davis penalty brought the points back to Leith. Once again, the Thistle outside-left, Arthur Duncan, had a fine game and impressed the many watching scouts in the stands.

The visit of League leaders Celtic would provide a stern test to this Hibs side and on the day it turned into a total nightmare for Bobby Duncan, who not only gave the Glasgow team the lead with an own-goal but then tragically suffered both a broken right leg and severe damage to his ankle ligaments. These injuries were sustained in a challenge from the Celtic outside-left, John ‘Yogi’ Hughes, and the author’s distinct recollection is that the tackle was both outrageous and vicious. Much to the disgust of the Hibs support, it went unpunished by the referee. A second goal for Celtic, courtesy of Lennox, gave the visitors a 2-0 win and two points in their race to win the title.

The Scottish Cup third round had presented Hibs with a visit to Firs Park in Falkirk, where they would take on minnows East Stirling. Manager Shankly was not tempted to rest some of his wearier players and he put out his strongest team, which was just as well because the part-timers played out of their skins, losing only 5-3 in a cracking match. Jones (2) and Gillespie for Shire and Stein (3), Cormack and a Davis penalty provided the goals.

Hibs were still sitting third in the League, with Dunfermline snapping at their heels, when they crossed the Forth to face the Pars on a snow-covered East End Park. In the difficult conditions the visitors came out on top, a single strike from McGraw winning the points.

The chance to consolidate third place came along when St Johnstone visited Easter Road and that aim was duly achieved when Hibs completed a League double over the Perth outfit with a 4-2 win. In a very entertaining game, Aitken and Whitelaw scored for the visitors while Cormack (2), Stein and yet another Davis penalty counted for Hibs. A regular advertiser in the match programme in those days was Fairbairns Off Licence in Albert Street. For many years it boasted excellent prices and invariably attracted queues of people around New Year time. Fairbairns no longer exists, but like many of the players and goals recalled in these memories it formed an integral part of Leith in those days.

Round four of the Scottish Cup took Hibs to Broomfield, where Airdrie awaited. Even before the match, many fans were already speculating as to which side Hibs might meet next, but of course the Scottish Cup has been less than kind to the Hibees over the years and in the shock result of the day the hosts won 1-0. The fight to hold third place in the League, thereby qualifying again for Europe, now became the sole target for the players.

Back in November, Hibs had lost a shocker to Stirling Albion at Annfield. They had the chance for revenge as the strugglers arrived at Easter Road in early March. While Peebles and Hughes breached the Hibs defence, Stirling keeper Murray was beaten five times, the goals coming from O’Rourke (2), Stein, McGraw and Stevenson.

The chance to avenge the Scottish Cup defeat by Airdrie came quickly as Hibs arrived at Broomfield on League business and duly turned over their hosts in a 2-1 win with goals from Stein – his 21st in League and Cup for the season – and an own-goal from Jim Black. The ex-Sunderland man Billy McPheat scored for Airdrie. A reshuffled Hibs defence, brought about by illness and injury to Wilson and Madsen, saw the return of Thomson Allan in goal and Alan Cousin at centre-half, both playing their parts in helping secure the points.

Hibs were third in the League after 25 games and holding an eight-point lead over fourth-placed Dunfermline, so that European spot was looking good as Dundee visited Easter Road. The visitors had crashed out of the Scottish Cup to Rangers the previous week, but were still going strong in the Fairs Cup, and in the quarter-finals were set to meet FC Zurich, who had already eliminated Barcelona and Nottingham Forest.

Whether that fact was on the minds of the visiting players or not is open to speculation, but Hibs won 2-0 with goals from Cormack and Stevenson. Many more chances were either missed by the forwards or saved by the excellent Ally Donaldson in the Dundee goal. The game saw the debut of 19-year-old John Blackley, who was drafted in after Pat Stanton had suffered a broken toe in the previous week.

A five-goal thrashing from Aberdeen in the next match brought Hibs down to earth with a bump as the Pittodrie men handed out a lesson in the game of football. While the players might have pointed to the early loss of experienced defender Billy Simpson and Davis’s missed penalty as mitigating factors, the truth was that they were simply second best to a very good Aberdeen side, for whom Johnston (2), Smith, Taylor and Buchan got the goals.

With 37 points acquired, the third-place spot was still safe, but nothing that season could match the dominance of the unbeaten League leaders, Rangers. The Ibrox side, 12 points ahead of Hibs with a game in hand, arrived at Easter Road with 23 wins and three draws in 26 starts, a magnificent record. The Hibees had not managed a win over Rangers since season 1964/65 and that remained the case as the champions-elect recorded a 3-1 win in Leith. Despite a great goal from Stevenson, the Hibs defence could not stop Persson, Henderson and Johnston striking for the visitors.

The next scheduled opponents were Morton, but they were down to play Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi-final, so Hibs arranged to visit Newcastle for a friendly match at St James’ Park. Young Jimmy O’Rourke scored for the Hibees, and what a thrill that must have been for him, but ex-Hibee stalwarts McNamee and Scott spoiled the party in securing a 2-1 win for the Magpies.

Back on Scottish soil the following week, Hibs travelled to Shawfield on League business. With a team weakened by the absence of the injured Cormack and Stanton, they managed a very creditable 2-2 draw, having gone in at the interval trailing 2-0 through goals from Anderson and Stewart. A second-half recovery allowed Stein and Stevenson to rescue the point.

Another trip through to the west followed as Hibs visited Cappielow to play Morton. In an astonishing first half, the home side hardly managed to get out of their own area as Hibs pummelled them but failed to break through for the vital opening goal. The Easter Road men paid the penalty when, on the stroke of half-time, Allan put Morton ahead from the spot. The second half was a bit more even in terms of possession, but the Greenock defence stood firm and Allan scored a second to seal a 2-0 win.

With four games left in the League, Hibs needed only four more points to be sure of third place. The first of those games brought Motherwell to Easter Road, where Cormack, recovered from injury, and the ever-reliable Stevenson scored in a 2-1 win, Wilson getting a consolation for the visitors.

A visit to Brockville followed, but the Bairns would not make it easy for Hibs as they wanted to ensure staying out of the relegation dogfight at the bottom with Stirling Albion, Motherwell, St Johnstone and Raith Rovers. With O’Rourke in inspired form, Hibs ran out 3-2 winners, thereby achieving their third-place finish with two games still remaining. O’Rourke was a constant thorn in the flesh of the home defence and it was his vicious shot which led to the first goal after keeper Devlin could only parry the ball into the path of the waiting Stein, who gratefully crashed it home. Jimmy scored the second himself with a 30-yard piledriver and then was brought down in the box, allowing Davis to notch his 12th penalty of the season from 14 attempts. Falkirk scored through Graham and Baillie, but in truth the scoreline flattered the hosts who were always second best on the day.

Two home games would see the season completed and the first came against Clyde, with a chance to improve upon the 2-2 draw of a few weeks earlier. The visitors made it difficult for Hibs, but O’Rourke and Davis (pen) gave the home side a 2-1 lead. Hastings scored for Clyde, who pushed hard throughout the second half for an equaliser, but it was not to be. Pat Stanton, fit again, was on the bench, but never got on to the park as manager Shankly decided against any changes during the 90 minutes.

Kilmarnock provided the opposition on the final day of the season, in a game where Joe Davis and Allan McGraw completed a 100 per cent attendance record in the starting line-up. In fact, Joe completed his third such season in a row and what an important player he had proved to be, with his stout defending and superb accuracy from the penalty spot. A great hat-trick from Stein secured a 3-3 draw and Kilmarnock were to be congratulated for contributing to a super game which never lived up to the customary end-of-season tag. A double from Morrison and a solo strike from McLean kept the fans in place until the final whistle.

A good season overall, then, with only the inevitable disappointment in the Scottish Cup offering any real negatives. Third place and qualifying for Europe was a fine achievement and fans would be given another chance to sample the heady nights at Easter Road, witnessed in the fantastic triumph over Napoli and the tactical but entertaining duel with Leeds. A League double over Hearts added to the enjoyment, as did the emergence of a few promising youngsters such as Peter Marinello, John Blackley and Jimmy O’Rourke, although the last named had been around slightly longer on the scene.

Chapter Two

1968/69

Record Sale

An intended tour of North America having been cancelled, Hibs set off instead for Africa, where they would play in five games during late May and early June in Nigeria and Ghana. The first game, on 22 May, saw Hibs line up against a Nigerian Olympic XI in Lagos. The temperature exceeded 100 degrees and the home side had already defeated two English touring sides, Sheffield Wednesday and Blackpool. Although the hosts opened the scoring, Hibs secured a draw with a typical Peter Cormack header, the young striker leaping high above his marker to crash home a cross from Eric Stevenson.

Just three days later, the tourists moved to Kaduna to play Northern Lions and ran out 1-0 winners, thanks to another headed goal from Cormack, the cross this time being provided by Alex Scott. The Nigerian part of the trip ended with Hibs meeting Western Rovers in Ibadan and the tourists took the chance to give youngsters Peter Marinello and John Murphy an outing in a game they won 1-0 when a Stein strike was diverted into the net by a defender.

Moving on to Ghana for the final two games, Hibs met a Ghana select in Accra and lost 1-0 against a very strong team in blisteringly hot sunshine. After the game, manager Shankly entered the home dressing room and, in a gesture which was both well received and appreciated by the home team, told them they were a fine bunch of players and had deserved to win.

The fifth and final game was played in Kumasi. Just prior to kick-off there was a terrible storm, and water had to be swept off the playing surface before the start. A North Ghana XI provided the opposition and Hibs cruised home 2-0 with goals from Stein and a Davis penalty. Highlight of the game was the display put on by Marinello on the wing, and it must have been music to his ears hearing the local fans cheering and clapping at each display of his ball wizardry.

As usual, Hibs kicked off their Scottish season with hopes of improvement from the previous campaign and there was plenty of opportunity to do just that with two domestic challenges, the League Cup and of course the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, to test them. Prior to kicking a ball in anger they arranged two quite difficult friendlies, first against Fairs Cup co-entrants Newcastle at Easter Road and then a quick visit to St Andrews to take on Birmingham City ahead of the League Cup campaign, where they shared a group with St Johnstone, Raith Rovers and Falkirk.

As Newcastle and Hibs lined up on a lovely sunny Saturday in early August, each knew the sides they would face in the opening round of the European competition. Hibs had been drawn Yugoslavian opponents in Olympia Ljubljana, while the Geordies were to face Feyenoord of Holland – both being exceptionally tough ties in their own right.

In a highly entertaining game Newcastle ran out 2-1 winners, big Wyn Davies adding to a Shevlane own-goal and Stein striking for the home side. It was a new-look defence for Hibs after Shevlane had joined from Celtic and the popular John Madsen had decided to return home to Denmark to pursue a career as an architect, Alan Cousin inheriting the No.5 shirt. In that Newcastle game the Scott brothers faced each other: former Hibee Jim was in a Newcastle shirt and Alex wore No.7 for the home side. Alex, as it happens, did not last the full game and was replaced by Peter Marinello.

Three days later, Hibs faced Birmingham City in the Midlands and achieved a very creditable 2-0 win with goals from Cormack and McGraw. In goal for City that day was none other than Jim Herriot, who would later join Hibs.

Now that the friendlies were out of the way it was down to business in the League Cup, and the opening game brought St Johnstone to Easter Road on Saturday, 10 August, to face a Hibs side looking for a decent run in the competition. In the home team was Pat Stanton, newly voted Player of the Year by the Hibs Supporters’ Association in their first-ever award of that accolade. Sadly, the game was marred by a nasty injury to Cormack, who damaged ankle ligaments. That incident seemed to upset the home side, who went on to lose the game to a solitary strike from winger Kenny Aird. A chance to scrape a point was lost when the usually dependable Davis missed from the penalty spot.

Midweek saw Hibs at Stark’s Park facing Raith Rovers, and a single strike from O’Rourke won the points, despite huge efforts from the home side to force an equaliser. O’Rourke’s goal came thanks to his very quick reactions when the Rovers keeper Reid could only push out a cross/shot from McGraw and Jimmy pounced to stroke the ball home.

In those days the reserves were also matched up in a League Cup section of their own with the same opponents as the big team, and it’s worth noting that in each of their 5-1 and 5-2 victories over St Johnstone and Raith Rovers a certain 17-year-old by the name of Alex Cropley got his name on the scoresheet.

With only two points from their opening two games, it was important that Hibs got off the mark at home when Falkirk came visiting. Thanks to goals from O’Rourke and Stein, that’s exactly what they did in a 2-0 victory. Cormack was still on crutches following the injury to his ankle, so there was a starting place for Marinello, who taunted and teased the Falkirk defence throughout the 90 minutes with a fine display on the right wing. Although Marinello got the headlines, it is worth recalling the situation surrounding O’Rourke’s goal. Hibs got a free kick and Pat Quinn touched it to Jimmy, who duly lashed it home, only to have referee Wilson insist it be taken again. A repeat performance ensued – including the referee insisting it be taken again! The next attempt was third time lucky for Jimmy as the goal stood on that occasion.

With the first round of matches now complete, the teams faced each other again in a reverse of the opening fixtures, and Hibs travelled to Muirton Park seeking revenge for their opening-day defeat at the hands of St Johnstone. Two cracking goals from Stein, whose exploits were still drawing admiring glances from other clubs, were not enough to win the day as the visitors had to settle for a 2-2 draw after St Johnstone clawed their way back from being 2-0 down with late goals by Aitken and Aird, both engineered from midfield by Saints’ star man, Alex McDonald. Hibs actually finished the game with just ten men after Pat Stanton saw red and was dismissed by referee Tom (Tiny) Wharton.

In game five of the six-game group matches, Raith Rovers arrived at Easter Road in second place behind Hibs and were duly dumped 3-0 by an in-form home side for whom Marinello opened his first-team account with a fine double, Stanton getting the other. Although Rovers arguably did not have any star names in their line-up, with top scorer Gordon Wallace perhaps the exception, they were a very well organised side under the guidance of manager Tommy Walker, and so the 3-0 scoreline was all the more impressive.

Qualification for the later stages was now virtually assured, but Hibs made absolutely certain when they visited Brockville in the final group match and took both points with an impressive 2-0 win, thanks to an own-goal from Doug Baillie and a great headed goal from Cormack, who had miraculously recovered from his recent injury. Over his time at Easter Road, Cormack was to do this repeatedly, confounding the medical men with his quick recovery powers. Making an appearance in the Hibs defence that day was a young John Blackley, who did not look at all out of place as he gave an assured performance at the back.

The draw for the quarter-finals brought Hibs and East Fife together, with the first leg to be played in Methil. Before that, there was the minor matter of the opening League match at Easter Road – against Hearts. The Gorgie men arrived having failed to qualify from their League Cup section, but they were fired up for the game by newly appointed manager John Harvey, who steered them to a 3-1 win. While Stanton struck for Hibs, the visitors took the points with goals from Jim and George Fleming and Danish cap Rene Moller. One ‘weel kent’ face in the Hearts line-up that day was none other than Willie Hamilton, who had previously thrilled the Hibs support with a number of outstanding performances in a green and white jersey.

In what was proving to be a very busy time for Hibs in terms of fixtures, they next travelled to Methil for the League Cup tie, and their power was too much for the second division side as they romped home 4-1 winners, thanks to Stevenson, Stein, Marinello and a Davis penalty. Nelson hit the consolation for the Fifers in what proved to be a pretty one-sided affair.

Losing a derby match hurt as much then as it does at any time, and the Hibs players were still smarting from that setback when they crossed the Forth again the following Saturday to take on Raith Rovers. The hosts set about exacting revenge for their League Cup defeats by running out 2-0 winners against ten-man Hibs, Stein having been sent off rather harshly for apparently back-chatting the referee. The home team scored through Falconer and former Dunfermline inside-left George Judge. While Stevenson hit the bar and O’Rourke had a goal bound shot kicked off the line, near misses count for nothing and Hibs had to face the fact that they would be travelling to Yugoslavia for the first leg against Olympia with no points on the League board.

In a downpour which lasted the entire 90 minutes, Hibs struck top form and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners with goals from Stevenson and Stein either side of half-time and an own-goal by Soskic when he headed past his own keeper from a Marinello cross. Although only 4,000 fans turned out to watch, Hibs were well treated: there was a civic reception on the morning of the game and each player was presented with a club pennant from their opposite number prior to the kick-off.

The following Saturday it was back to League duty when Falkirk visited Easter Road, and things looked bleak for the Hibees as the Bairns led 2-1 with just minutes left to play. The home side had scored early through Cormack, but strikes from Young and Graham put manager John Prentice’s side ahead until Cormack took a hand in proceedings by snatching a late equaliser and soon afterwards charging into the box, only to be pulled down as he looked set to get his hat-trick. A penalty was awarded and Davis did the needful to earn two precious points as the team struggled with their fitness following the tiring trip to Yugoslavia.

Given that they had strolled the first leg against East Fife in the League Cup quarter-final, Hibs looked racing certainties to overcome the Fifers in the second leg. When Stein and Stevenson put them two up it was time to celebrate the semi-final place that the team had won. Even a goal from Waddell to make the score on the night 2-1 to Hibs and 6-2 on aggregate could not dampen the joy in the dressing room.

On the following Saturday, Hibs travelled to Firhill, where a buoyant Partick Thistle side outgunned them 2-1 in a tousy affair on a very wet pitch. The conditions seemed to take their toll on the Hibees, for whom games were coming thick and fast. O’Neill and McKinnon breached the Hibs defence, while Stein struck the consolation for the visitors. Although form in the League Cup and Fairs Cup was good, two points from four starts in the League was pretty poor. Thankfully, Hibs had a three-goal cushion going into the second leg against Olympia, and so panic did not set in when Popidova gave the visitors a shock lead. Two second-half penalties from Davis won the game and Hibs finished with a comfortable 5-1 aggregate victory.

Those two goals had taken Hibs to a total of 48 scored in Europe, and it was fervently hoped that the draw for the next round would give them the chance to hit the half century. Meanwhile, however, domestic competitions took precedence for the next seven matches and that run started with a home League fixture against Airdrie. At this early point in the season, Airdrie were sitting mid-table, having won two and lost two of their games to date. A rampant Hibs side set about them from the first whistle and goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie was a busy man throughout the game, picking the ball out of the net no fewer than five times as Stein (2), Cormack, Scott and Davis (pen) gave Hibs a nap hand. Defender and ex-Hibee Derek Whiteford struck for the visitors, who also had Jim Black in their side – Black later playing in the Turnbull’s Tornadoes side of the early 1970s.

With League form taking a lift from the crushing of Airdrie, Hibs were next at Tynecastle to face Dundee in the League Cup semi-final. It was a truly memorable night for players and fans alike, but especially for Allan McGraw.

The game was finely balanced at 1-1 with 15 minutes left, Stein having scored for Hibs and McLean for Dundee, when McGraw took a heavy knock just below the knee and had to limp off. Hibs had already used their one allowed substitute, O’Rourke replacing Quinn, and so McGraw decided to return to the play, heavily strapped up. He was simply trying to ensure that Dundee had to mark him and so would not benefit from the extra man. In the last minute, with the referee readying himself to take the game into extra time, Stevenson swung in a corner and the ball found its way to McGraw some eight yards out. Astonishingly, the Hibs number six somehow managed to thrust his heavily bandaged knee at the ball and knock it past Ally Donaldson in the Dundee goal. Pandemonium broke out both on and off the park as all realised that Hibs were going to the final, and McGraw was carried off the park shoulder-high by his team-mates.

Another point regarding that game is often forgotten in the excitement of recalling McGraw’s heroics: Stein’s goal in the semi-final was to be his last for the club. Stein was scheduled to appear before the SFA to receive sentence for his sending off at Stark’s Park some five weeks earlier. It seemed likely that a suspension would be issued, keeping him out of the League Cup final against Celtic due at the end of October. As it happened, the suspension was duly applied, but a fire at Hampden Park caused the postponement of the final. By the time it was played the following April, Colin Stein was long gone.

After the euphoria of that Tynecastle victory Hibs next travelled to Shawfield to face Clyde. In a game somewhat spoiled by a howling gale, they got a creditable 1-1 draw, Hood scoring for the Bully Wee and Cormack replying for Hibs. A week later, Kilmarnock were the visitors to Easter Road and they arrived in good recent form, having secured a 3-3 draw at Ibrox, so Hibs would have their work cut out to win the points. As it turned out, the Hibees struck good form that day and but for the heroics of the visitors’ keeper, Sandy McLaughlin, the home side would have won by more than just the solitary goal scored by Cormack.

When Dundee United arrived at Easter Road the following Saturday they were sitting second behind Celtic in the League, although just three points ahead of Hibs, who were only 11th. It was still early enough in the season for no real gaps to have yet developed, although promoted Arbroath were propping things up at the bottom with just one point from seven starts. For the third game in succession, Cormack struck the only Hibs goal and with Cameron scoring for United the game finished at 1-1.

Scottish football was rocked in the coming week as Rangers raided Easter Road and took top scorer Colin Stein to Ibrox in a record-breaking transfer between two Scottish clubs, the Glasgow side shelling out £100,000 for his signature. The Hibs support was stunned and speculation began as to whether the management might sign a replacement or simply try to bring someone through from the reserves. In the meantime, the Hibees travelled to Love Street and it’s possible the players were also affected by the Stein transfer as they turned in a dismal display in losing 3-0 to their hosts, Adamson (2) and Kane punishing slack defending.

The timing of the Stein transfer could not, it seemed, have been worse as Hibs prepared to travel to Ibrox to take on a rampant Rangers side. Lokomotive Leipzig were due at Easter Road just five days later for a Fairs Cup tie. Bob Shankly moved quickly to bridge the gap left by Stein’s departure and signed Joe McBride from Celtic for a nominal fee. McBride was an acknowledged goalscorer, but had been troubled with injuries throughout his career and many Hibs fans doubted the manager’s wisdom.

The game at Ibrox was a nightmare for Hibs. Although they played relatively well, they crashed 6-1, with salt being rubbed in the wounds when Stein scored a hat-trick. Johnston, Henderson and Persson completed the rout, but at least newcomer McBride got off the mark by scoring Hibs’ only goal on his debut.

Hardly the best preparation for Shankly’s men as they set about trying to focus on the upcoming tie against their East German opponents – who, as it happens, were struggling a bit domestically, their lack of a proven goalscorer being the main problem. On a crisp November evening, the home support got its first look at new striker Joe McBride. For those present it was the start of a love affair: all thoughts of Colin Stein evaporated as Joe scored all three goals in a cracking 3-1 victory. Naumann scored for the visitors, but even the loss of a precious home goal in Europe could not dampen the enthusiasm of the Easter Road fans as they streamed out after the game discussing their new goalscoring hero.

If McBride thought he had won the hearts of the home fans with his three-goal home debut he must surely have been entitled to add their souls when Morton visited the following Saturday. The former Celt went one better and hit four in the 5-0 win. Three starts and eight goals was a great way to kick off his spell in the green and white of Hibernian, and Shankly deserved credit for recognising that McBride still had goals in him.

The return game with Leipzig was the following midweek. Despite a quite arduous journey in getting there, including an eight-hour delay in Amsterdam and a 125-mile bus trip once they reached East Germany, they recorded a fantastic 1-0 win, with Grant ensuring a 4-1 aggregate victory. The journey back was little better as their intended departure from East Berlin was cancelled due to fog and they had to travel through the border checkpoint into West Germany, where they boarded a flight to London and from there to Edinburgh.