TONY Higgins has waited most of his adult life for Hibs to lift the Scottish Cup. Not, though, so the Easter Road club could finally end a barren run in the flagship competition that stretched all the way back to 1902. No, so that people would stop asking him about the epic 1979 final which he represented the capital club in.
Higgins played for Hibs in the cup final with Rangers and two subsequent replays 37 years ago which, after two 0-0 draws and 300 minutes of football, the Ibrox club eventually prevailed in. An Arthur Duncan goal in extra-time in the second replay cruelly ended their hopes of glory. It was, until the weekend, the closest the Edinburgh outfit had come to putting their hoodoo to bed.
“The sense of relief for most Hibs supporters and even for guys like me who are ex-players is massive,” he said. “The big relief for me is that nobody will come back and say ‘what about that final in 1979?’ That is the one we nearly won, the one we came closest in. I am really pleased that Higgins will be discarded from any pre-cup final chat in the forthcoming years.”
Higgins, the former Hibs midfielder, was invited back to the National Stadium on Saturday to take part in the pre-match entertainment with Alex MacDonald, who played for Rangers in the 1979, and to help out with the medal and trophy presentation after the final whistle.
The 61-year-old, who worked for years with PFA Scotland and then FIFPro after hanging up his boots, was disappointed at the scenes which took place after the final whistle as Rangers players were attacked by Hibs fans who invaded the pitch and violent skirmishes involving rival supporters happened all over the park.
However, he was impressed with how Alan Stubbs’s side performed against rivals who had won the Ladbrokes Championship comfortably and were overriding favourites to win and so complete an unprecedented domestic treble.
“What happened after the 90 minutes was disappointing, but I thought it was a great performance,” he said. “Anthony Stokes had an exceptional game. I thought David Gray epitomised the real spirit.
“When Rangers got their second goal people were worried they might dominate the game, but with some great tackling and inspirational running I thought Gray lifted the team. I was delighted in the end that the monkey is off the back.”
“They did it in style. Rangers won the league at a canter and everyone expected them to win. But Hibs have done well against top opposition. Apart from against Ross County in the League Cup final, they have managed to succeed when others have not rated their chances.
“I thought in the first half they were the far better side. In the second half it was far more equal. But when Rangers got the second goal you were thinking ‘is it going to be another cataclysmic 20 minutes?’ I thought they rallied well in the last 20 minutes and got their just desserts.”
Higgins, a member of Eddie Turnbull’s famed Turnbull’s Tornadoes, was honoured to be on hand to help present Stubbs and his charges with their winners’ medals and the trophy.
“Because of the ’79 connection they had myself and Alex MacDonald on hand to help,” he said. “Alex is a great friend of mine who I had many a battle on the park with. We went on to become team mates at Dukla Pumpherston and socialised together for many years. It was great to see him again. It was especially pleasing for me to be part of the celebrations on this historic occasion.”
On the day that PFA Scotland issued a statement backing calls from Rangers for an independent inquiry, Higgins admitted that an investigation would have to be held and disciplinary action would need to be taken. However, he expressed the hope that the players would be able to enjoy their historic achievement after such an inspired performance.
“At the end of the day, the police will assemble the facts and they will have to do what is necessary,” he said. “I think it has largely been based on exuberance and relief after all these years. If Rangers players have been assaulted that is certainly something they have to deal with. If they establish there has been contact with players that is something they have to deal with.
“The Hibs players will concern themselves with the fact the cup has been won at last. The other consequences will be dealt with at a later stage. I think they were so relieved to get the cup.”
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