12th June 2001
Pre Season Touring
Holidays built around pre-season tours by the Under-18's, the lot of Kenny Millar

WHAT A SEASON! The 6-2 demolition of the Jambos to the Scottish Cup Final, it's been a great year. Fantastic as it may have been we have to look forward now to the new season. Possible new signings and departures, a brand new stand and pre-season tours.

Whilst the lucky Hibees among us have followed the first team to places like Ireland, Denmark and Germany, and now maybe to France (maison de Franck), my holidays with my Mum, Dad and two brothers revolve around the Under 18's fixtures.

Last pre-season was particularly memorable. First up was Innerleithen on a balmy summer's night. Having visited the mining museum in Newtengrange we headed on to uncharted territory in the direction of Innerleithen. After what seemed like hours on a single track road we arrived in plenty of time to take prime position on the grassy banking. Despite constant attention from Innerleithen's midge population there was a good Hibby support and we won comfortably, Donald Park's boys doing the cabbage proud.

When Kenny Millar met Kenny Miller! The author (left)

Next stop was Buckie in the far North, I don't recall any Hibees on view but from our point of view it was good to see the stars of the future pit their skills against the hardened bruisers of the Highland league out to make a name for themselves. The most memorable moment was a clash between our superb young goalie Willie Bauld and their 18 stone centre forward. It looked as if Bauld had smashed his jaw but I think he luckily escaped minus a couple of teeth. Not quite so memorable was the streaker (male unfortunately) who ran the length of the pitch, hopped over the perimeter wall, put his clothes back on and proceeded to watch the rest of the game unmolested!!!!!!

Our travels then took us to Nairn on a Sunday. We just about survived a brief stop in a greasy spoon called 'Bev's Kitchen', not the most eloquent of eating establishments, before eventually finding the ground tucked away near the railway track. I think we escaped with a draw. The results are not important but it was good to see players such as Ryan Harding, Scott Cormack and Gary O'Connor, the latter must have improved quite a bit since I last clapped eyes on him..

A previous Highland encounter saw us visit Keith were a raw 17 year-old boy called Kenny Miller came off the bench to score as a second half sub. Anybody who knows me knows the history between us after that, but I'll save that for another time.

Yes it's pre-season and football is back on the menu, I'm starving for more Sauzee skills and more crunching Jack tackles. Last year on his wedding anniversary my Dad took us, as part of our H'eilan tour, to watch Inverness Caley Thistle against English superstars Mansfield Town in the hope of seeing ex-Hibee Stewart McCaffrey in action. Unfortunately for us he was ruled out through injury. It may have been a poor substitute for the Hibs Under 18's but it was football - the beautiful game. Roll on next season, as my 6-2 video is all but worn out!