Celtic Connections: Stubbs, Stokes and Sunshine Over Leith

Another good performance by the BBC last night as they showed the 2016 Scottish Cup final in which Celtic – eh, sorry, I mean Hibs – won the Scottish Cup. Alan Stubbs looked almost happy, but I would love to know what he said to the linesman that time he was caught by the camera.

But of course, the best player on the field was Anthony Stokes. Both of his goals were well praised by the pundits and he should have had more. And credit where it is due, ex-Celt Kenny Miller also scored a good goal as did our old pal Andy Halliday. It was well into the second half as well… and there have been times in the past when Andy did not last as long as that! So well done Hibs, who this time did not “Hibs it” as the saying went. Aye, all good stuff and the right team won.

Photo: Duncan McGlynn

But I more or less fell in love with Rose Reilly (she is not a bad looking woman) when she told us about the time that she was playing for Italy v England, and they played God Save The Queen, the national anthem of England and Govan. Rose started singing Flower of Scotland under her breath. Well done, Rose! I suspect you are one of ours!

I would have preferred The Soldiers Song or The Red Flag myself, but Flower of Scotland will do for starters. And you were looking lovely last night! Leanne Crichton I have always admired for her punditry, but there was less good news yesterday of Shelley Kerr who apparently has done a Maurice Johnston and joined England! I think that’s you off the Christmas Card list of all those who voted SNP on Thursday, Shelley!

Two patronising young men making silly comments about the Hibs goalkeeper annoyed me. But a Scottish Cup medal on the mantelpiece of Conrad Logan shuts that argument up. A Hibs goalkeeper with a Scottish Cup medal is a rare phenomenon indeed.

And, you cannot really be jealous of Hibs and their supporters, can you? Their knowledge of the words of Sunshine Over Leith was better than some of their players, one has to say. Hibs supporters often amaze me for their resilience. If we think we are taken to the cleaners by Executives and Directors, just look at what Hibs have done to their supporters over the past 150 years!

READ THIS…Celtic FC – Born of Famine and Oppression

Photo: Duncan McGlynn

Was this their best ever day? Possibly, although I recall Smith, Johnstone, Reilly, Turnbull and Ormond. They were all right, as well. And then there was Pat Stanton, a glorious Hibbee in a side which predictably blew everything in the 1970s – but then came to Celtic for a glorious swan song to his career and to win a League and Cup double.

But historical considerations aside, 2016 was one of my better Scottish Cup finals. I would actually put it 41st in my list! Credit where credit is due, and thank you BBC!

David Potter

* BBC Scotland decided against showing any fans of theRangers entering the field of play to confront the Hibs supporters and to protect their players who had all apparently been assaulted according to a statement released by the 2012 version of this footballing monstrosity.

Copies arriving from printers this week…order yours now!

About Author

I am Celtic author and historian and write for The Celtic Star. I live in Kirkcaldy and have followed Celtic all my life, having seen them first at Dundee in March 1958. I am a retired teacher and my other interests are cricket, drama and the poetry of Robert Burns.

Comments are closed.