On This Date In History

[Seven Tattoos]

21 years ago today, Saturday 21 December 1985, Hibs 1-1 huns. On a bitterly cold day the Strathaven Hibs drove through and sat in the CowShed behind the goal. The crowd was much smaller than the earlier meeting back in August (given in the press as 11,000, Bobby S will presumably have the correct figure) and, of course, the East Terracing now had its roof. Seated not far from us were a couple of Celtic fans who, presumably, had come to abuse huns as their game with Motherwell had been postponed (it would form one of their victories that helped them overhaul hertz four months later).

With about five minutes gone Hibs, heading down the slope, almost took the lead; Eddie May rocketed a header that was flying for the top corner before a youthful giraffe managed to nod it clear. I'll never forget the look of determination on Eddie's face and that of concentration on McPherson's.

Seated near us was an old guy with his son or grandson and a typically inept performance from Benny Brazil was causing him concern. I think he spoke for all of us when he remarked that Brazil 'must have an IQ of phuckin' nil'!

Shortly before half-time the huns took the lead through a wonder goal by Davie Cooper, a player you had to admire for his skill with Rangers and Scotland, even if you hated his archetypal hun-ness. And then shortly after that you could see Roughie holding an invader up in the back of the net. It was reported in the Daily Retard the following week that the thug in question's girlfriend was pregant and so he got drunk and 'in a moment of madness' tried to assault Roughie. I ken who ma money would have been on in a pagger!

The second half also witnessed a mass arrest of 'over boisterous' huns, one in particular (who had gone to the trouble of dressing like Santa) achieved his Warholian 15 nanoseconds of fame as the Sunday Mason deemed it newsworthy enough for a full page feature.

With about 20 minutes a cross from the right (Main Stand side) was turned in by Joe Tortolano for his first goal for the club and a point was ours. That same Sunday Mason gave Roughie 9 out of 10 and claimed the huns would have won handsomely had it not been for our keeper. The hun with a typewriter in charge had not attneded the same match as me. Still annoys me now the type of shite these clowns write.

As a postscript, after the game, we (me, Dad and Grant) briefly met the suspended Gordon Durie, who I idolised at the time. Shall we say something of my innocence died that day as he didn't seem too keen to spend time with 14 and 12 year old supporters and didn't sign an autograph. He came across as full of himself and big-headed. Subsequent interviews in the media have strengthened that view.

He also was wearing a pair of wanky grey poofboots that were fashionable at the time.

Aye, I hate huns.