Ooh to be a Hibby..

Published on Monday 12 May 2008 10:43

JIMMY STEWART has been supporting Hibs since the early 70s ...

Why are you a Hibs fan? The usual route. My dad was a Hibs fan. From then on I was hooked, you really couldn't beat watching Hibs in the seventies and I was lucky enough to see some of the great Turnball's Tornadoes displays in the flesh during that era. When you've seen football like that you really can't turn back and from then on to this day I've kept up my Hibs addiction. I had the pleasure of presenting Eddie Turnball with a gift at the Northern Irish branch do a couple of years ago. It was an honour. The guy's a god at Easter Road and quite rightly so.

What was your first Hibs game? In 1973. I really can't remember exactly who it was against. But what I do remember my dad buying a boiled egg from the vendor and me telling him it was very hard. Only to be told I hadn't taken the shell off! This was in the days when the old East Terracing was still in place and Easter Road seemed to be a massive ground at time. Here's hoping the new East Stand – whenever that gets put up – does the old stadium justice in terms of atmosphere – and the players can do likewise in terms of performances! In the seventies you were pretty much guaranteed of a Hibs win at Easter Road and, while we've done okay at home this season, it doesn't match up to that.

Who was your first Hibs hero? John Brownlie. To a five-year-old, they were all gods. But Brownlie was the one name that has forever stuck in my mind. I remember deciding one day on my way to school that I'd rather go and watch Hibs train at the Jack Kane Centre. I got there only to be 'encouraged' by the team to get back to school. He was a very exciting player and you never knew when he would be surging forward, supporting the forwards. Had he not broken his leg shortly after the 7-0 win at Tynecastle in 1973 you have to wonder just how good he would have become.

Jimmy's favourite Hibs XI

Andy Goram: Having "The Goalie" and Jim Leighton between the sticks in quick succession was fantastic. We don't get mediocre keepers at Easter Road. We either get a genius or bombscare. Goram was worth a point a game to Hibs.

Willie Miller: A no-nonsense full back who put fear in anyone who played against him. Probably moaned the face off them in the tunnel.

Franck Sauzee: A joy to watch. A legend in many people's eyes. A player of genuine class and fantastic to see him in a Hibs jersey.

Rob Jones: His aerial threat has got us more goals from the back than usual.

David Murphy: Pure class. One of the best left backs Hibs had in many years and he was a threat going forward as well – don't forget his goals at Ibrox and Celtic Park this season.

Ivan Sproule: Played the game from the heart, with amazing pace. Hat trick at Ibrox – enough said.

Guillame Beuzelin: When you need a calm head in a game he is there to deliver and orchestrate the midfield.

Michael O'Neill: He was poetry in motion. Who can forget his goal when we beat Hearts 2-1 at Easter Road in 1994 shortly after ending the hoodoo at Tynecastle?

Lewis Stevenson: Definitely quality and one for the future. Not as involved this season as last but I'm sure he'll become a regular fixture for us. Another product of what must be the best youth football factory in Scotland.

Mixu Paatelainen: A battering ram in front of goal. Every team should have one. It's a shame he can't pull his boots back on now as he did a great job for us in his two spells at the club!

Derek Riordan: In my opinion, the most talented Scottish player in the game today. Some of his finishes for us were just world class. What a shame he is no longer in a Hibs jersey.