I always knew this ground as Recreation Park, and I want to keep it like this! Alloa won the Second Division Championship in 1922, and Willie Maley (then President of the Scottish League) unfurled the flag for them at Recreation Park, and anything that is good enough for Willie Maley is good enough for me!
Well, Hibs won this one, but if I were a Hibs supporter, I don’t think I would be doing cartwheels down Leith Walk to celebrate! Frankly, the standard was not great, although there was enough to keep me watching,(well, you need to get your money’s worth out of that Premier Sports subscription!) but the goals were all dreadful ones, and some of the chances that Hibs missed had to be seen to be believed!
But I am glad Hibs won because there is more chance of them beating – er-anyone else in the semi-final or final! Alloa deserve a lot of praise and it was nice to see Peter Grant as well – a fatter faced Peter Grant than we remember him.
Goodness, is it now quarter of a century since he played that Cup final against Airdrie, badly injured but still determined to win the 1995 Scottish Cup which we craved so much? And then there was the 1989 Scottish Cup final where he was accused of delivering a right hook on a Rangers player. Fancy anyone saying that about Peter! No! He was just swinging his arm as he ran! Mark Walters’ face just happened to be in the way. I seem to remember Darren Jackson as well (when he played for Hibs) making similar false accusations!
Jack Ross possibly did not do his chances of getting the Celtic job any good last night But what about Peter, if things ever go pear-shaped? Certainly committed, knows the club, loves the club! In truth, he was not the best player we ever saw but he had really bad luck to be at Parkhead when the club was not best run – and that is putting it mildly!
So, Hibs for the League Cup! Well done to the Saints of Perth as well! Let’s hope the other Saints do well tonight!
David Potter
