Managers Comments

Saturday’s win over Dundee was our fifth league success. Four of those wins have been at Easter Road with the away victory at Muirton Park. The run has taken us to fifth place in the Premier League. It’s delighted the management team at Easter Road and brought early season joy to you the fans. It’s not that long ago that the experts were saying that things were looking black for Hibs. We have proved what hard work and application can do. But the job is far from over. There is a long way to go in our league campaign but it is nice to have strung a winning run together in the first quarter of the season. The points now in the
bank can act as a springboard for the club in the drive to establish a foothold in European football. Tonight, however, we welcome old rivals Celtic to Easter Road for the second time this season. The Parkhead outfit have triumphed over us in the League and League Cup already this term. But we are determined to make a game of it in front of our own fans. Manager David Hay is keen to ensure that the League Cup trophy remains where it is just now … on the Parkhead sideboard. Celtic lost on Saturday to Aberdeen, and they have now gone six games without recording a win. Everyone in football knows that Celtic are really dangerous on the rebound. But we play them at Parkhead again on Saturday in the League, and our aim is to post a good performance tonight with the weekend in view.

COVER PIC – Arthur
Duncan, back on the scoresheet for the first time this season thanks to his opener against Dundee at Easter Road on Saturday. Scotsman picture.

PAGE 5

BRAZIL SET FOR HIS 200TH GAME

Whole-hearted defender Ally Brazil was due to play his 200th game for Hibs tonight. The 24-year-old player from Currie, Midlothian, was spotted by talent scout John Smart playing for local side Currie Hearts and after two trial games was signed by former Hibs manager Eddie Turnbull in 1976. Brazil jumped at the chance to link-up with Hibs and has never regretted the decision. Ally recalls it took around a season to break through into the first team in which present manager Pat Stanton, and his current assistant John Blackley, plus Arthur Duncan were playing. “Everyone at Easter Road helped me in the early stages,” he said, “and there are a great bunch of lads at the club.” Looking back, the versatile player said his biggest thrill was appearing in the 1979 Scottish Cup final. he final also brought Ally his biggest disappointment for Hibs lost after three games to Rangers. Keeping free of injuries is a top priority but Ally’s big ambition in soccer is to win a cup playing for Hibs. Like all the staff at Easter Road he hopes to help the club into Europe this year, and Ally is looking forward to tonight’s game. “It’s great playing against the top teams and we always
have a good tussle with Celtic.” Ally is married — his wife’s name is Linda — and the couple have a child called Leanne. Hobbies include golf, and Ally has picked up trophies playing in recent local competitions.

Message on the Hibs electronic score board. £10 for an individual message; £5 for a joint message.
Application forms available from Hibs Shop or phone Jack Campbell on 661 7350 for details.

Tonight Opponents

CELTIC
Celtic have come out on top in
two previous meetings with
Hibs this season.
The Bhoys visited Easter Road
on day one of the season and
went away happy with a 2-0
win. |
Hibs then travelled to Glasgow ‘
in the League Cup and suffered a
5-1 defeat with the only moment of
joy coming from Mike Conroy’s
consolation goal.
It’s League Cup business again
tonight and Hibs are determined to
make amends.
Celtic sit on top of the section
with five points from three games.
Their goal tally is impressive,
with 12 scored for the loss of only
three.
I The Celtic line-up bristles with
| international names past and
; present including veteran Danny
,; McGrain, Roy Aitken, Frank
‘ McGarvey, Tommy Burns and
i, David Provan.
I Manager David Hay has been
chopping and changing his strike
(force this season trying to come up
with the right blend.
Recent signings Brian McClair,
‘ bought from Motherwell, and Jim
Melrose, tempted back to Scot
I land from Coventry City, had been
in and out of the line-up.
The stage is set for an interes-
ting 90 minutes whoever gets the
‘ nod from the rival managers.

CAPTAINS CORNER (Jackie McNamara)

Ouch I The last minute
of Saturday’s game
against Dundee was a
painful experience.
As the 7,000 crowd at
the game saw, I ended up
in the Hibs dugout not as
a substitute but head
first.
Although the incident
looked bad I was not
seriously hurt. A dislocated
thumb and bruised shoulder
was the total accident
report from the doctor.
He put the thumb back in
place in the dressing-room
and apart from feeling sore
it did not stop me joining
the party at the Chesser Inn
to celebrate colleague
Gordon Rae becoming the
Pentland Branch “Player of
the Year”.
I felt sore on Sunday
morning but the injury was
my own fault. I let the ball
run away from me and I was off-balance when
tackled.
Anyway, it was great to
collect another two points
on Saturday, and to see
such an enthusiastic crowd
at Easter Road.
VOCAL BACKING
I mentioned last week
just how much your
support means and the
boys remarked again after
the Dundee encounter just
how much they appreciate
the vocal backing. That’s our fifth win in the League and the moral among the boys is sky-high.
Tomorrow, my testimonial year kicks-off in
grand style with a cabaret
featuring Hibs fans Alex
“Happy” Howden and Phil
Clark Jun., at the Hibs
Club, 172 Easter Road. See
you there!

TEAMS

HIBERNIAN
Alan Rough
Alan Sneddon
Erich Schaedler
Ally Brazil
Willie Jamieson
Jackie McNamara
Ralph Callachan
Willie Irvine
Bobby Thomson
Arthur Duncan
Gary Murray
Brian Rice
Mike Conroy

CELTIC
Pat Bonner
Danny McGrain
Graeme Sinclair
Roy Aitken
Tom McAdam
Murdo MacLeod
Davie Provan
Brian McClair
Frank McGarvey
Tommy Burns
Jim Melrose
Mark Reid
Paul McStay

SEE WHAT THE HIBS SHOP OFFERS

Only three home matches remain between now and Christmas. So David Brown thought the time was right to remind fans just what the Hibs Shop under the Easter Road stand has to offer. Come along and see the super selection of gifts for all ages in the shop
which is open from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Monday to Friday and all-day Saturday on match days.

On sale are badges, 50p, bracelets, 75p, scarves from £1,50, slipovers from £3,75 and pullovers from £5.50, both in club colours and with a badge. Club replica jerseys (all sizes) from £8.50 and track suits (all sizes) from £15.50. Shop early to avoid disappoint-
ment!

Eleven players have their kit sponsored but 14 remain to be snapped-up. Act now. Cost is £100. Details from Jack Campbell,
commercial manager.

SPONSOR PLAYER
CENTRAL BRANCH ALAN ROUGH
CENTRAL BRANCH GORDON RAE
CENTRAL BRANCH GARY MURRAY
NEW FIFTY CLUB JACKIE McNAMARA
BONNYRIGG SUPPORTERS’ BRANCH BRIAN RICE
EGLINTOIM HOTEL PAT McCURDY
ANVIL BAR. BONNYRIGG KEVIN McKEE
THE VILLAGE INN. LEITH WILLIE IRVINE
ST GILES BRANCH ERICH SCHAEDLER
PETER POLLOCK GRAHAM HARVEY
THE TORPHICHEN ARMS ALAN SNEDDON

10 YEARS AGO

Wednesday, October 24,1973. Leeds United v. Hibernian. U.E.F.A. Cup.
Result (0-0).
Leeds United — Harvey; Madeley, Cherry; Bremner, Ellam, Yorath;
Lorimer, Clarke, Jones, Bates, F. Gray. Subs. Jordan, O’Neill, Mann,
Davey, Shaw.
Hibs – McArthur; Bremner, Schaedler; Stanton, Black, Blackley;
Smith, Higgins, Gordon, Cropley, Duncan. Subs. Edwards, Hazel,
O’Rourke, Munro, Robertson.
Hibs won a lot of admirers with their display against Leeds United in the
first leg of their U.E.F.A. Cup tie at Elland Road. Their plan to attack the
English League leaders raised quite a few eyebrows among the media
representatives and Jimmy Hill had nothing but praise for the Scots display.
Changed days indeed!
Leeds, with four Scots on the park, and one on the bench, were hot
favourites and the crowd at the start was around the 25,000 plus mark.
Using two wingers — Bobby Smith and Arthur Duncan — Hibs exploited
the lack of mobility in the Leeds full-backs, and were unlucky not to gain a
winning lead. Their best chance came in the last minute when Arthur
Duncan, for the umpteenth time sped past Madeley, and crossed into the
middle. Alan Gordon dummied the ball and Tony Higgins, with the goal at
his mercy, huudod over when it appeared easier to score.
The big man made amends throughout the 90 minutes by his whole-
hearted display which left Leads skipper Billy Bremner a clear second best
in their tussles.
In the second-half Leeds brought on Joe Jordan and their young winger
O’Neill to provide a service for the new Scotland leader, but the Hibs
defence held firm and kept taking the game to Leeds.
The large Hibs support were a credit to the club and Scotland.
By RIKKI RAGINIA and RICHARD F. WHITE