From Argentina to Brazil

1978-79 : Champagne On Ice

This season saw a Cup run that took Hibs all the way to the Final at Hampden, where it took two replays for Rangers to beat us by the odd goal in five, an extra-time own goal by Arthur Duncan.  More of that later...

The first game I saw at Easter Road after a long absence was the visit of eventual champions Celtic, on 18th November 1978.  Although I had missed by just 17 days the last European tie at Easter Road for nearly fourteen years, this game was notable for the home debuts of Norwegian imports Isak Refvik and Svein Mathisen .  Refvik in particular was a big hit with the fans, but the game wasn't set up for foreign recruitment in those days, and the pair eventually had to give up waiting for work permits.  A see-saw game ended up as a 2-2 draw, ending with a rasping 20-yarder from Ralph Callachan.

Only a couple of other league matches were worth a mention.  On my first visit to Love Street on 24th March '79, I remember a fine game which was also seen by the legendary Arthur Montford and the Glasgow-TV Scotsport cameras.  After falling behind and equalising twice, we got a surprise winner late in the game, inflicting Saints' first defeat of the year.  Our goals came from Ally MacLeod (a volley on the turn from 15 yards), Tony Higgins (a close-range shot) and Colin Campbell (a diving header from 6 yards).  This was when St Mirren placed 2nd in the Premier League, with a team brought up from the First Division by Alex Ferguson and then managed by Jim Clunie.

The last New Year's derby game for 5 years was postponed because of the weather, to the Wednesday following the St Mirren game.  On a wet & windy night, Ally MacLeod put us ahead with a low shot from 12 yards at the Gorgie Road end.  The Jambos equalised, but before half time we were ahead again when Ralph Callachan caught out keeper Thompson Allan with a high cross from the right which landed in the net.  That was a poor Hearts side, headed for their 2nd relegation, and we did our best to console them with heartfelt renditions of "You're going down again" and "We'll Meet Again, Don't know Where, Don't know When" throughout the second half.

Scottish Premier League Table 1978-79

PldWDLFAPts
1Celtic362169613748
2Rangers361899523545
3Dundee Utd3618810563744
4Aberdeen3613149593640
5HIBERNIAN36121311444837
6St Mirren3615615454136
7Morton36121212525336
8Partick Th3613815423934
9Hearts368721397123
10Motherwell365724338617

More details from www.soccerbase.com

That Cup Run...

The road to the Final started unconvincingly in the 3rd Round on 28th January 1979, with a 1-1 draw away to Dunfermline, who were then in the Second Division.  In the replay on Monday 12th February, Hibs overcame a difficult surface at Easter Road to record a more comfortable 2-0 win.

We were drawn away to Meadowbank Thistle in the 4th Round, but their stadium didn't meet safety regulations (stand too steep?), or maybe Meadowbank wanted a share of the gate receipts from a larger crowd than they could accommodate.  Whatever the reason, the match went ahead at Easter Road, and it looked like men against boys.  Final score 6-0 to the Hibees: even Ally Brazil scored!

The Quarter-Final was at home to the Jambos - Perfect!  A looping header from skipper "Big Dod" Stewart, and a Gordon Rae shot gave us a 2-1 win and a place in the Semis.  A week later we played out a home derby in the league - a dull 1-1 draw which I only remember because I went over on my ankle when Colin Campbell put us in front (we used to jump about on the terracing in them days..), and got it strapped up in the dressing room at half time.

And so to Hampden.  On a miserable Wednesday night fewer than 10,000 souls huddled under the only covering on the terracing - the traditional "Rangers End", of course - but it was worth the journey for those lucky few.  Stevie Archibald took advantage of a fumble by McArthur to put the Sheep in front after 28 minutes, but ten minutes later Gordon Rae finished off a slick passing move by stabbing a hard low cross into the net, and just six minutes after that, and a minute from half time, Ally MacLeod wrong-footed Rougvie to win a penalty, which he converted.  There were a few close calls in the second half, but the Hibees held on to send us home happy.  Apart from "Basher" Rae's finish, the lasting image in my memory is the clouds of dust we kicked up after each goal, as we jumped around on the ageing wooden-sleepers-and-ash terracing.

And so on Saturday 12th May the fans went to Hampden with a fair measure of confidence, as John Greig's side were no world-beaters, despite being odds-on favourites with the bookies.  The crowd of 50,610 had few goalmouth incidents to talk about, though, as the side played a cagey game keeping chances to a minimum.  A late shot by Colin Campbell nearly won it for us, but McCloy turned it round the post.  I also remember the big keeper taking the feet from Campbell as he took the ball past him for a stonewall penalty, but the papers didn't make much of this incident, so maybe I made it up.  There was no extra time, and I missed the first replay the following Wednesday, which also ended goalless after extra time.

The second replay was on Monday 28th, and the Hibs fans in the 30,000 crowd were consigned to the uncovered end (natch) on a typically wet Glasgow night.  Amazingly enough, big Tony Higgins put us ahead in 16 minutes, and we were 'Singing in the Rain'.  However, Derek Johnstone equalised from about a foot out just four minutes from half time - a bad time to lose a goal.  When the same player scored again after 60 minutes, it looked as if we had blown out chances.  But no - not yet anyway:  With just 12 minutes of normal time to go, sub Bobby Hutchinson - only two minutes after coming on for Higgins - won a penalty, and MacLeod put it away with his usual clinical technique.  In extra time, both sides had come close to winning the game when Rangers won a penalty just before the break.  Alex Miller (yes indeed) placed the ball firmly to McArthur's right, but a great diving save turned the ball past and the teams changed ends with the scores level once again.

The final blow came with just 10 minutes to go - after 320 minutes of action - and it was sadly self-inflicted.  Arthur Duncan dived to head clear a dangerous cross from Cooper, but failed to lift the ball over the bar, and McArthur was helpless to stop it from bulleting into the net.

So after a wait of 77 years, chairman Tom Hart had to put the champagne back in storage, where it remains.  At least we had the consolation of knowing that our boys had had a real go in the end.  And surely we were due more luck the following season.  Surely!...


Hibs Cup Final Squad

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