Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh. 18th January 2025.
It is quite lovely – bits of it – Oscar Wilde
Edinburgh isn’t so much a city, more a way of life… I doubt I’ll ever tire of exploring Edinburgh, on foot or in print – Ian Rankin
This is were the cup gets its charm – when a “wee team” draws one of the “big boys” on their home turf. Players at lower end of the pyramind given a chance to take on the very best in our game, taste the big match atmosphere and dare to dream big. For the fans – a taste of glory, get on the telly and for the chance, just one chance, to be part of a little piece of Scottish football history.
For me, the match was close enough to ride door to door and so I took myself along the cycle path to Alloa, then Dunfermline (stopping for cofffee at Abbot House) and on over the Forth Road Bridge onto the Edinburgh path network and emerging into the city at Haymarket, in plenty of time to make my way through the traffic to Hibs’ Easter Road stadium, home of Hibernian FC since 1893.
No question that the ride had is challenges – the old line through Devilla is a barely-perceptible-but-definitely-there incline for a good few miles, but the glorious crossing of the Forth more than compensated. With a bit of faffing around, I was over 45 miles for the day.
The “Leith San Siro” is one of my favourite grounds, you are close to the action, no pitch-side track and the stands are steep enough to give a good view, and big enough for 20,000. It also sits nestled amongst residential streets, a welcome change from the soulless out-of-town stadia that some fans have to endure.
So to the practicals. £16 for my ticket and a tasty pie, chips and bovril a further £9.95. £25.95, so we’re not in Culter now, Toto, but I’m thinking supporters in England would kill for that deal.
Alas, as is sometimes the way, the plucky underdogs’ bark was silenced pretty early, with Martin Boyle converting in just the 2nd minute. Hibs added a second shortly after the break through Rudi Molotnikov before Boyle added a second on the hour mark. The Hibees were rarely threatened and, while Clydebank can be proud of their efforts, the result wasn’t ever in doubt and it’s Hibs in the hat for the 5th round. They even had the cheek to bring on a 16 year old for his senior debut, Lewis Gillie. Love that – maybe I’ve seen a future star?
This was very much Clydebank’s “big day out”, the chance of taking a top tier scalp and, of course, a wee reminder of when they, or rather the previous iteration of the club (the one Airdrie “bought” in 2002) played at the top level of the Scottish game. Somewhere to where they clearly have ambitions to return. They made the most of it, producing a nice video of what the day means to them and their supporters. It’s worth a watch. There was also a march on Easter Road, which I was sorry to have missed, but I enjoyed being part of their sizeable support (around 2500) on the day. My Stirling Albion scarf being of very simlar colours meant I was indistinguishable from the Bankies, at least outwardly. We also marked the sad passing of Denis Law with a minute’s applause. Glad to be part of the Scottish game on such an occasion.
The ultras (and their incessant drummer) were in full voice, but I can’t say their chants carried much of the humour for which Scottish football is rightly known. Mostly vitriolic abuse of Airdrie and Dumbarton. An exhortation to “get intae the spoon burners” did raise a grin, a reference to the drug issues in this part of Edinburgh. Similarly, the chant “I wanna go home, I wanna go home, Embra’s a sh*tehoose, I wanna go home”, sung oblivious to Clydebank’s well documented limitations as a tourist destination.
The post match celebrations were lengthy, with Bankies’ players and staff, up to and including chair Grace McGibbon coming out to acknowledge the excellent support. I’ve enjoyed my time with them, but the rules say that I’m a Hibee noo, so where to next?
Alan Hutton and Michael Stewart did the honours and I must remember to thank them as, again, I could not have asked for better – a trip to the seaside to see Ayr!
Alas, I didn’t really have time to indulge, but I would have gone to the Iona Bar on Easter Road if I’d had the chance. The Old Eastway Tap is also close by, but much more hipster / craft beer style. The Iona is more my style. I did have a half in the Guildford Arms, but you have to really.
Scottish Cup, 2024-25:
Matches: 6
Goals: 20
Total miles cycled: 136.78
Pies: 3
Grounds visited: 5
In the Hat 
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