Currie in a hurry to impress gaffer at Hibs

Published on Friday 26 June 2009 10:01

TO kids like Lee Currie, John Hughes was a true local hero, the Leith boy who went on to live the dream by not only playing for Hibs but captaining the side.

Now the 19-year-old is hoping to follow in Hughes' footsteps with the guy he once called Yogi now back at Easter Road as manager.

Like Hughes, Currie has been brought up living within a few minutes walk of Hibs' stadium, hardly a day going past without him dreaming of pulling on a green-and-white shirt.

He took a huge step towards that goal when, along with six others from Hibs Under-19 side, he was handed a first-team contract, their reward at the end of an all-conquering season which saw them complete an unprecedented League and Cup double.

So next Thursday, he'll begin pre-season training under the watchful eye of Hughes, his first aim being to ensure he now addresses the new Hibs boss as "gaffer" rather than the more familiar Yogi.

The midfielder said: "Like me, the boss used to live just five minutes away from Easter Road. He knew my father quite well and as kids we were always bumping into him in the street.

"He was always known to everyone as Yogi, he'd stop and have a chat with us, he was very approachable and would have a laugh and a joke with you.

"Obviously, as Hibs captain he was something of a hero to us and it was great that he'd take the time to stop and speak to young lads.

"Now, I suppose, I'll have to insist he was one of my favourite players although I'm sure he'll have no problems with me saying Franck Sauzee and Russell Latapy were the big stars at that time.

"I used to go to Easter Road to support the team with my dad and brother Daryl and watch the gaffer and the rest of them play although I had my own football with Leith Athletic which took up a lot of my time."

While his own career may still be in its early stages, Currie believes having Hughes as boss can act as an inspiration to both him and lifelong pal Sean Welsh, captain of Hibs' Under-19 side and, like himself, a boy from Lochend with whom he has shared the dream of playing for the club they love.

He said: "I think it's tremendous for us, it lets us see that as local boys there's a chance for us and he'll know it would be that little bit extra special for us and our families if we were to make it.

"We've already seen guys like Andy McNeil and Darren McCormack, who were a few years ahead of us at Leith Academy, play for Hibs and that pushes you on again."

While Hughes has known all about Currie and Welsh for years, the pair know there will be no room for favouritism, the new Hibs boss having impressed on his first day by rattling off not only their names but the others who were promoted a few weeks ago, Thomas Flynn, Ewan Moyes, David Wotherspoon, Kurtis Byrne and Patrick Dean.

Hughes has already challenged the seven to use pre-season training to begin displaying their credentials for realising their dreams, insisting age will be no barrier as he wants them to respect their new team-mates but also aim to "knock them off their pedestals."

However, Currie insisted Hughes' determination to give youth a chance had come as not surprise, pointing out how virtually half the Falkirk team which ended last season had been home-grown.

He said: "We all know it's a huge step up from Under-19 football to play in the first team but it's one we are all determined to make. Reading that the manager wants to see us pushing for a place only gives you confidence.

"We beat Falkirk in the semi-final of the SFA Youth Cup and he was there so hopefully we impressed him that day and can continue to do so every day in training and in any matches we play. Hearing he is determined to put a great emphasis on youth doesn't come as any surprise to me. I bumped into Scott Arfield (Falkirk's young midfielder] on holiday in Ayia Napa last summer when I was there with some of the boys from Easter Road and he was telling us what a good manager he was, that he loved playing for him.

"Scott also told us he wants to play football the right way, passing it about and we all saw how well Falkirk have played in the past few seasons, earning a lot of praise for their style of play.

"I think for all of us young players at Hibs it's also been very encouraging to see so many youngsters being given their chance under the gaffer at Falkirk. It shows that he's prepared to offer you that opportunity if you can prove to him you have what it takes."

Having helped Hibs not only to the League and Cup but the East of Scotland Shield, Currie found his season extended as he joined Wotherspoon, Callum Booth and Paul Hanlon in the Scotland Under-19 squad which competed in the European Elite qualifying round in England, scoring in a 3-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, only for the host nation to edge out the young Scots.

Even so, he can't wait for pre-season training to get underway. He said: "It's exciting times, moving up to the first-team squad and a new manager whom everyone will be trying to impress in place.

"To be honest, Thursday can't come quickly enough for me."