Today Hibs defeated their second tier rivals to win the Scottish Cup at Hampden, to end a wait of 114 years.
Their performance was magnificent; passionate, aggressive, committed, often poetic and the ending was all very beautiful, in spite of the spin the media will put on it.
This was the result Scottish football’s wider community wanted, because Hibs are a club that has been through a lot of turmoil this season and last.
They earned a day like today; it’s been coming for a long time and Alan Stubbs earned it for the way he’s behaved this season, with fantastic dignity even at the most difficult times.
The Hibs fans deserve it most of all; the wait for a day like today has covered so many miles some must have thought they’d never reach the end of it.
114 years, friends. Can you even imagine it, as Celtic supporters?
114 years without a Scottish Cup.
That hoodoo was broken, and it was broken in style, with a shining performance and in particular from one of our own, Anthony Stokes, who scored twice and raised his game with a magical display that left the opposition defence at sixes and sevens.
I know how Hibs fans feel about today.
I count a number of them as close personal friends,
I’ve known some of them for many years and lived with two when I was a university student. They and their people always made me feel welcome and their disdain for certain other clubs was something they wore on their sleeves. Paul Blair will be enjoying this occasion in Japan where he now works; get pissed big man, have a good one. Michael Brock will be unconscious by ten! He’ll wake up tomorrow with no memories, but they’ll be happy ones!
Love and respect to both of you, brothers.
Oddly, I was at Hampden the last time Hibs got to the Scottish Cup final, when they were hammered 5-1 by rivals Hearts.
I was working as a steward, and I had my spot on the segregation line where I watched grown men cry as they were taunted by jubilant foes.
They will be crying again right now with a very different emotion, and I wish them all a belter of a day.
This isn’t a gloating piece about their hapless opposition.
That’ll most definitely come, sometime tomorrow probably.
Tonight I intend to have a good drink and toast a very nice end to the Scottish football season, Brendan Rodgers and big Alan Stubbs.
This is me taking some time out to wish the Hibs fans well as they celebrate a much deserved, earned, and long awaited victory.
It’s been a long time coming.
You guys are the only people who’s timing was better than that of the Celtic board this weekend!
Well done one and all, and respect from the green half of Glasgow.