STANDS TO REASON
"West Stand" -
Doesn't sound too inspirational, does it?
by Kev GeorgeWHEN
I WAS A BOY AND STOOD BEHIND THE GOALS I never dreamt for one minute
that Easter Road would ever look any different than it did then.
The high banked terrace opposite the old stand, the Dunbar End with
the half-time scoreboard in the top corner and the terrace I stood on,
behind the goals at the foot of the slope. Oh aye, and thousands
and thousands of fans!
Over the years, things changed and I
witnessed the demolition of the old high terracing, the building of a
shelter behind the goals at the foot of the slope and then the
building of a shelter on the East Terracing. Next, I saw barrier
fences going up to stop fans running onto the pitch and, in the 70's,
to stop Arthur Duncan running off it!! Another 'bright' idea was
to install bench seating all over the place, the forerunner to all
seater stadia.
By far the most impressive change,
however, was the creation of two superb new stands, one behind each
goal. These were a huge step forward for Hibs and it wasn't long
before fan power encouraged the Club to look to naming these
Stands. Visitors to many other redeveloped grounds were finding
the likes of the George Fox Stand at Tannadice, The Davy Cooper Stand
at Motherwell and even, ironically, the Willie Ormond Stand at
McDiarmid Park in Perth. Surely, with our fine history, it would
not be difficult to apply worthy names to our new structures?
How things change!
Without much of a fuss, the Famous
Five Stand was named and it is to the Club's credit that the fans'
wishes were listened too on that score. That Stand is located at
the Albion Road end of the ground but its twin, located at the Dunbar
End has only ever managed to be referred to as the South Stand.
Now we have a superb new main stand but so far it has been christened
simply the West Stand whilst directly opposite that, and still waiting
for redevelopment, is the East Stand, the old main terracing.
In the past I have spoken with Club
Director Erick Davidson about this topic and I can assure you that he
is just as keen as the next man to see the stands named, in honour of
some of our famous Hibernian sons. He tells me, however, that
the Club want to do this thing properly in that they would like to
have the signage looking professional and that actually costs quite a
fair amount of money which, at this time, is not available. I
admire his view and agree that the job, when done, should be done
properly but meantime I'd quite like to see the various Stands named
in readiness for that signage.
Of course, the Famous Five Stand
will remain just that. Other names which might be considered for
the remaining stands include The Michael Whelahan Stand - he was a
founder member of the Club; The Canon Hannon Stand - another founder
member; The Willie Groves Stand - the Club's first prolific
goalscorer; The Owen Brannigan Stand - another founder member; The
Farmer Family Stand - John and Philip were founder members whilst Sir
Tom, their descendant, is the current owner; The Pat Stanton Stand -
needs no explanation really and maybe the Turnbull's Tornadoes
Stand. No doubt there are many others worthy of consideration
but whatever the current and any future structures are called I hope
the Club will take a leaf out of its own book and -- ASK THE FANS.
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