IT had been a long time coming, but yesterday Edinburgh turned green and white to welcome home Hibernian with the Scottish Cup, so dramatically won against Rangers on Saturday.
Crowds some 10 deep in places lined the streets from the City Chambers to Leith Links as a gold-coloured open-top Lothian Buses special conveyed the players and staff of the club on a victory parade that Hibs haven’t held for the Scottish Cup since 1902.
Flanked by club owner Sir Tom Farmer, chairman Ron Petrie and the baton-wielding High Constables of Leith, Lord Provost Donald Wilson told the civic reception: “History was made yesterday.”
Such was the cheer he received that Lord Provost Wilson repeated: “History was made yesterday.”
He then joked about there being 32 Lord Provosts since the last time Hibs won the Cup, and quipped “let’s not wait so long for the next time.” He added: “There’s a great buzz in the city and it’s a great day of celebration, a great day to celebrate because at last it’s here.”
There will be repercussions following the pitch invasion and violence at Hampden and yesterday there was a report of fighting in Leith, though some Hibs fans hooted with laughter when told by The National that Rangers fans had started a petition to have them kept out of European football. “Show me a poor loser,” said green-swathed John Clarke, “and I’ll show you a loser.”
No-one at that point knew that Rangers had issued a strongly worded statement attacking Hibs, the SFA, the media, the Scottish Government and particularly First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for failing to condemn the “mayhem and violence” that followed the match.
The statement said: “Rangers finds it incomprehensible that no-one, either from within the Scottish FA or Hibernian Football Club, has condemned Hibernian’s supporters following the violent scenes at the end of yesterday’s Scottish Cup final when Rangers players and members of our backroom staff were physically and verbally assaulted.
“We have not even had the courtesy of any contact whatsoever from Hibernian to ask after the wellbeing of those who were attacked by their club’s supporters.”
It added: “It is to be hoped all of Scottish football will share Rangers’ disgust and any attempts to attach blame to our supporters for the disgraceful and violent behaviour, which led to our players and fans fearing for their safety, will not be accepted or tolerated by this club.”
Not that any one in Edinburgh knew or cared about Rangers and their statement which, very embarrassingly for the Ibrox club, had to be amended after the named journalists proved they were innocent of the charge of playing down the incidents.
As the Hibs contingent boarded the bus outside the City Chambers, there was only joy on the faces of supporters and players alike. It should be recorded that a few sporting souls in the maroon colours of Hearts also joined in the celebrations – but not too many. On the bus, the players who know they have just become football’s equivalent of immortals took selfies and other picturesto create unforgettable memories.
Down the High Street the bus proceeded, and across North Bridge, fans flooding in behind the police vehicles behind the bus as they went.
On Leith Walk itself, fans waited patiently until the police outriders in front of the bus came into sight and a rolling cheer swept down the Walk like one giant wave of sound.
At Leith Links, an impromptu mass rendition of club anthem Sunshine on Leith written by lacked only the presence of sun for perfection as the skies briefly clouded over. The most popular song of the day? “When Hibs go up to lift the Scottish Cup, we’ll be there, we’ll be there.” For many thousands of happy Hibees yesterday, at last the song had meaning.
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