Back in the days before money took over in terms of European club competitions, Hibs had featured in both the European Cup and the Inter Cities Fairs Cup, the first by invitation and the second initially because Edinburgh hosted a Trade Fair and that was a prerequisite for taking part. Additionally they featured in the Cup Winners Cup which may strike some as strange given our abysmal record in our own domestic cup competition but back in the day if the team that won the cup also won the league then the beaten cup finalists would compete in the Cup Winners Cup and that’s exactly how Hibs found themselves in that tournament in season 1972/73, with league and cup double winners Celtic going into the European Cup.

Seeding, qualifying rounds, sectional games and all the other nonsense forced upon the game by the money men were still figments of someone’s imagination and so a straight draw was made for round one and that handed Hibs a tough tie against Sporting Lisbon with the first leg to be played on 13 September in Portugal. Make no mistake, Sporting were considered to be amongst the elite of European clubs and their English manager Ronnie Allan had enjoyed the previous season as he guided his side to a top three finish and of course success in their domestic cup competition.

Prior to setting off for Portugal Hibs had beaten Celtic 5-3 after extra time at Hampden in the final of the Drybrough Cup and had come through their league cup section qualifying for the next round together with a very good Aberdeen side that had finished level on points with Hibs but had accumulated a better goal difference. Additionally, on the Saturday prior to the first leg tie in Lisbon the men from Leith had defeated Hearts 2-0 in a league match at Easter Road with goals from Pat Stanton and Alex Cropley and so the mood in the camp was good as they headed out to the Portuguese capital.

When the flight left Abbotsinch there were three former players in the party as Gordon Smith, Tommy Preston and Willie Clark joined a number of supporters that had decided to follow the team overseas. Unlike nowadays, when fans will turn up in all sorts of foreign places to follow Hibs it was by no means the case back then as budget airlines etc were a thing for the future. Those fans and former players watching from the stand in the Jose Alvalade Stadium were stunned when Hibs ran out of the tunnel at the start of the game wearing a purple and white outfit, the style of strip being the Hibs normal one but with purple instead of green. This was necessary because their hosts also wore green and white strips and as it transpired it would be the only time Hibs ever wore that outfit for a competitive match.

In a cracking and very even game Hibs almost went ahead early but Cropley’s dipping shot came back off a post. Until half time the men from Leith gave as good as they got but couldn’t find a way through the Portuguese defence and after the interval they suffered a double blow in conceding two quick goals to Manaca and Fraguito but they stuck to their task and Arthur Duncan score what might prove to be a crucial away goal as the game finished at 2-1. Some years later Pat Stanton told me “I’d played in a few European ties up to that point and although we lost that game in Lisbon I think it was the best we’d played as a side.”

Ahead of the second leg at Easter Road Hibs enjoyed three straight wins beating East Fife in the league and Dundee United in both the league and the league cup and so the form was good for what would surely be a testing night against Sporting. A crowd of around 26,000 watched on as Hibs ran out wearing all green tops, the white sleeves not in evidence. In those days there was little in the way of pre and half time match ‘entertainment’ in terms of music being blasted out of the PA system and in truth it wasn’t wanted as the home support was more than able to sing and cheered it’s way through the game.

As might be expected the visitors played it tight and it took Hibs a while to break them down but when Alan Gordon rose majestically to crash home a Duncan cross the roof nearly lifted off the old stand. At that point it was 2-2 on aggregate but Hibs had the away goal and should the match finish that way they would progress. Little did anyone know that there was more high drama and goals to come, the first of those on the stroke of half time when the ball deflected off the East German referee and fell kindly for Marinho who quickly squared for Yazalde to slip the ball past Jim Herriot for a shock equaliser.

The second half would prove to be one never to be forgotten for the 26,000 crowd as Hibs set about annihilating their much fancied opponents. Three minutes had passed when Gordon head flicked a through ball into the path of Jimmy O’Rourke who crashed the ball past Damas to make it 2-1. The crowd was still celebrating when another Duncan cross was met firmly by the head of Gordon and the net bulged before Damas could move. Four minutes later the crowd noise grew to a new level when John Brownlie’s superb pass allowed O’Rourke to make it 4-1 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate. Hibs were not finished yet though and ten minutes from the end O’Rourke completed his hat trick by slotting home a penalty after Duncan had been scythed down in the box and with only a couple of minutes remaining Duncan tied defender Manaca in so many knots the defender ended up slicing the ball into his own net.

It was a fantastic performance and a fantastic night to be a Hibby, providing a host of fantastic memories for those like me who were lucky enough to be at Easter Road when Hibs thrashed Sporting Lisbon 6-1.

GGTTH!

For more photographs of the new East Stand construction check out the Hibeesbounce Gallery by clicking here.

The Hibees have been drawn to face either Hungarian side Videoton or  NK Maribor of Slovenia in the third qualifying round of the Europa League.

Hibs are due to play the first leg away from home on Thursday 29th July. The second leg at Easter Road will be played seven days later on Thursday 5th August.

Victory would take Yogi and the lads into a final play-off round where a further win would take them into the group stages of the competition.

One of Hibs greatest European performances came against Videoton in 1989 when, after winning the home leg of their first-round UEFA Cup tie 1-0, they struck three goals without reply in Hungary.

After weeks of speculation on the Bounce, Hibernian today announced the arrival of defender Michael Hart to Easter Road.

The Preston North End full back has signed under freedom of contract, after the English club released him earlier today.

30-year-old Hart has signed a 2-year-deal at Easter Road, and along with fellow summer recruits Edwin De Graaf and David Stephens, is likely to feature against Dunfermline this coming Saturday. (click here for ticket info)

The former Aberdeen and Livingston defender revealed he is thrilled to be heading back to his native Scotland and says that he is excited about the next chapter of his career.

Speaking to the official Hibernian website Hart said: “I’m really pleased to sign for Hibernian – it is a club that keeps progressing and I’m delighted to become a part of that.

“My aim is to play regular first team football and I’ve played the majority of my career at right-back, so hopefully I can help the team out in that position.

“John Hughes is a manager I’ve admired for a long time with his enthusiasm for the game and his ambitious nature.

“But he didn’t need to sell Hibernian to me because the prospect of playing Europa League football in a new-look stadium is really exciting.”

John Hughes made his second signing of the summer after landing Wales U-19 centre back David Stephens from Norwich City for an undisclosed fee and expects him to see first team action this season.

Stephens made only one first team appearance – in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy last October – and spent the last few months of last season on loan to Chris Sutton’s Lincoln City.

Speaking about his move North the towering 6” 4 stopper said to the Official Hibernian website: “I am really pleased to have agreed a move to Hibernian; it is an ambitious club with top-class training facilities and a first class stadium.

“I’m still learning my trade at the moment, but Hibernian has a track record of promoting young players into the first team and this was a great attraction for me.

“I’m confident that when I do get an opportunity I will seize my chance. I’m excited to be here and especially so given that the opening Europa League match is only a few weeks away.

“It is a big move for me and I’ve been really impressed with the Club and with Edinburgh; it seems like a great place to live and I just want to achieve all my goals at Hibernian.”

Yogi, also speaking to the official site said: “David is a player with tremendous potential – he already has a good physical presence and appears much more mature than his age would suggest.

“I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen from him so far and I’m sure he will have a part to play at first team level over the course of the season ahead.

“David has also got international experience with Wales at under-17 and under-19 level and has all the attributes to be a success here at Hibernian.”

The ‘classic’ home kit follows a very clean and traditional kit outline, with a white collar and sleeves surrounding the emerald green body with bottle green inserts, white shorts and solid green socks with white PUMA flashes.

The pictures also show the new numbers, letters and short numbering which will be mandatory across the SPL from next season.

The new home kit will be available to pre-order from 9am on 17 June, and available for purchase in-store from 9am on 24 June.

A product of the Feyenoord Youth Academy De Graaf, speaking to the official Hibernian website, had this to say on his arrival at the Leith San Siro;

“I am delighted to be joining a Club with such a great set-up and fantastic history. I had a lot of options available to me this summer, but having seen the Training Centre, the Stadium and having spoken to the Manager, I was really excited about the prospect of coming to play in Edinburgh with Hibernian. I’m keen to get settled in Edinburgh and to start training with the boys in July. I know how the Manager wants our team to play football and it is great to have Europa League football to look forward to at the start of the season.”

Manager John (Yogi) Hughes had this to say on his first summer signing;

“Edwin is a real gem of a signing, and brings a wealth of footballing experience at the highest level, having played regularly in the Eredivisie, and in the UEFA Cup over the past couple of seasons.

He is a powerful box-to-box player, who loves getting forward. His physical presence and leadership qualities will be great assets for the team as we look forward to our European campaign and the start of the SPL season. I can’t wait to get him involved at the Training Centre and in our pre-season games.”

The 27-year-old worked under John Hughes at Falkirk before leaving to join Rangers in the summer of 2007.

Gow appeared only twice for the Ibrox side and spent time on loan at Norwich City and Blackpool before making a permanent move to Plymouth last year.

However, he has failed to make an impact at Home Park and has scored just twice in his time there.

The former Rangers, Motherwell, Inverness and Killie keeper has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at Easter Road after being released by Celtic.

Brown will now fight it out with Graeme Smith, Graham Stack and Yves Ma-Kalambay for the Hibs number one spot and his arrival will cast doubts over the futures of the latter pair.

Yogi, speaking to the official Hibernian website, was delighted at signing the 28-year-old, and said: “Mark is a proven goalkeeper at this level and I am delighted to have secured a player of his calibre.

He’s still got his best years ahead of him, and having another keeper of Mark’s standard at this Club is ideal for me – I want competition throughout the team, and we now have a pool of very talented keepers who will compete for that No 1 jersey. I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

Mark Brown said: ”I’m delighted to be joining Hibernian. From the training centre, through to the way the team is playing and the way the Manager and the Club go about their business, it is obviously an exciting place to be at the moment.

I know I will be competing for the jersey with some excellent goalkeeping talent already at the Club, but I’m ready and prepared to work as hard as possible to get into the team. I can’t wait to start training with the boys.”

The fifth round of the Scottish Cup draw was made this afternoon, and the Hibees will meet Edinburgh City or Montrose.

Hibs currently sitting third in the SPL, disposed of Ayrshire Junior side Irvine Meadow 3-0 in the Fourth Round.

A possible clash against neighbours Edinburgh City who play at Meadowbank Stadium is sure to whet the appetite of the minnows and also Hibes fans looking for a Fifth Round Edinburgh Derby.

The full draw is as follows and will be played on the weekend of 6th or 7th February;

Dunfermline v Morton or Celtic

Forfar or St Johnstone v Dundee Utd

Hibernian v Edinburgh City or Montrose

Livingston or Dundee v Ayr Utd or Brechin City

Raith Rovers or Airdrie v Aberdeen

Kilmarnock or Falkirk v Inverness CT or Motherwell

St Mirren v Hamilton Accies or Rangers

Ross County or Inverurie v Albion Rovers or Stirling Albion