‘Lifting the cup for Hibs would have been special’ says Kevin Thomson

Back in 2006, Thomson was given the armband at the Easter Road club, and many pundits felt the then 21-year-old could be in a for a long spell as skipper of his boyhood heroes.

But a fallout with new manager John Collins saw him stripped of the captaincy in January 2007 shortly before he moved to Rangers for £2 million. Now with Middlesbrough, where injuries have restricted his appearances over the past two seasons, Thomson will be at Hampden to support Hibs rather than leading them out.

“Tony Mowbray made me captain before he and I moved on,” said Thomson, “and it was a proud day in my career when I first marched Hibs out. It was an Intertoto cup game, but I can’t remember their names now – some Lithuanian team, I think.”

Actually they were Latvian. Led by Thomson, Hibs thrashed FC Dinaburg of Latvia 5-0 in the second round first leg and 3-0 away for an 8-0 aggregate – an auspicious start to a captaincy that might have continued had Thomson stayed at Hibs.

He regrets missing the capital city’s biggest-ever derby match: “In my career I have been lucky to win a few medals, but playing on Saturday and getting my hands on a trophy for Hibs would have been a very special day for me and all my friends and family who are all big Hibs fans.

“My father used to take me when I was younger, and there would have been no prouder moment for him than to see me lift the cup for Hibs, so the second best for him is going to support the team.

“My career has had different circumstances and unfortunately I missed the boat with Hibs. I just wish them all the best.

“It’s been well-documented how long it has been since they got their hands on the trophy. The players will be champing at the bit at the chance to make themselves club legends.

In Saturday’s bumper 24-page Scotsman Sport pull-out, the latest interviews, features and exclusives from the Hibs and Hearts camps ahead of the all-Edinburgh Scottish Cup final.

“Regardless of who you’re playing, getting your hands on the trophy would be really special but it makes it a bit more prestigious that it is a derby. There would be no sweeter way for the boys and the fans to win it by beating their arch rivals.” Thomson is a great believer in that old adage about form books going out the window for derbies: “The gambling man would look at Hearts who have had a far more successful season than Hibs, who have had to battle against relegation for much of the season. The form is pointing in the direction of Hearts but in all derbies and cup finals across the world it is often down to the toss of a coin, with the team that gets that bit of luck, that rub of the green on the day, getting the result. If Hibs have the stars shining down on them then fingers crossed, it could be a really good day for them.”

Thomson will be among a coterie of former Hibs players from his time at Easter Road who will be supporting their former club at Hampden – Scott Brown, Steven Whittaker and Steven Fletcher are all pencilled in for a trip to Glasgow’s south side. “I was talking to Scotty five minutes ago, and I always meet Whitty when I come back up the road,” said Thomson. “They’re probably my closest pals. Scotty was asking where I was watching the Champions League final after the game so we’ll probably meet up to watch that.

“When you first come through at a club you have a special bond at that club and you like to see it doing well. You have that for every club that you play with, but it makes it that bit more special when you play for the club you supported as a boy. I’ve got my tickets sorted, I’m taking my dad and a few friends, and I’m raring to go. I’m just hoping the sun is going to come out.”

Thomson’s career has stuttered along at Middlesbrough and it has adversely affected his international prospects, as he readily admits.

Thomson, now 27, said: “I need a good summer and good pre-season and next season everybody down there will see the best of me.

“I am humble enough to realise that I have not played a lot of football recently, but I was a big part of Craig Levein’s plans when he first got the Scotland job so it’s been hard missing out on playing for my country as it’s something I have always desired to do.

“What I need to do is concentrate on getting a good run of games for my club and I’m pretty sure the Scotland call will come.”

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