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Saturday's victory could be the catalyst for future Hibs success…

SATURDAY'S SCOTLAND WIN AT HAMPDEN FROM A POSITION OF UNDERDOGS is one that Hibs have found themselves in on many occasions over the past number of years, especially when coming up against the Old Firm and, at times, our city rivals Hearts.  The fact that the national side were able to go out and do themselves justice as well as pick up a vital win in the Euro Championship play-off double header is not only testament to the way that relatively inexperienced, at that level, players can bind together to form a team but shows just what having a crowd solidly behind you for the duration of a game can do for the players.

Talking to a few people who were at Saturday's game brought out one common theme - the fantastic atmosphere.  Indeed, two fans I spoke to at lunchtime today stated that they had never experienced an atmosphere like it, particularly since the stadium was redeveloped.  Reading the Hibs.net messageboard and particularly the comments of those that were unable to go or those that opted to watch the game on television, it's evident that this atmosphere was not only contained to the stands but certainly found it's way into, and out of TV sets around the country.  When you consider that this was a crowd backing a team that was given no chance by many just a few short weeks ago, you have to be impressed by the way that the Tartan Army stick by their team.  But why does this not fee back to the stands at the various league clubs that supply the national side?

Hibs fans created their own special atmosphere at Hampden (hibs.net)

Well, that's where I simply cannot provide an answer.  It's incredible to think that not one Hibs player was involved in Saturday's match yet at least dozens of Hibs fans made their way to Hampden to cheer on players who were, in football terms, total strangers to them.  As I, and others have been discussing on these pages over the last week or so, the club has launched an ambitious but not unrealistic campaign to help bring fans back to Easter Road in the first instance with the aim of starting to recreate that atmosphere so readily found at Easter Road in generations past.  To those that say that it won't be possible to do that in a modern football stadium, watch a replay of Saturday's game is what I'd say.  Hampden was slated on it's completion for many things, including the lack of atmosphere that it would have.  Ask anyone there in the stands, or on the pitch, on Saturday and I'm sure you'll hear a very different story.

While the senior team were winning against the odds and setting themselves up for a glorious victory, or defeat depending on your viewpoint, the Under 21 side were falling at the first hurdle in their play off match with Croatia.  Despite Tam McManus being given a start in his preferred position up front, the Scotland side were unable to take anything from the game and will go into the return leg at Easter Road on Tuesday down by two goals.  Tickets are still available for tomorrow's game with adults being charged £5 and children just £2.  Tickets are on sale from Safeway stores in advance although there will be a cash gate on the night.

Meanwhile, Hibs.net understands that former Hibs favourite and current Falkirk manager John Hughes' ambition of leading his side into the SPL next season could rest once again with Falkirk Council.  Work is well underway on the impressive new stadium at Westfield on the outskirts of the town however the council has thrown a major spanner in the works.  Despite being given approval for retail units in one of the stands previously, something that was to enable Falkirk to meet the cost of the stadium construction, the club have now been told that they will not be able to have these open on a regular basis.  This stems from a decision to give planning permission for extensions to the existing refinery works and associated developments, a decision which will see the safety 'blast zone' taking in the site of the new stadium.  As a result, the companies, which include BP, that are looking to extend their facilities have lodged objections to the current Falkirk FC plans.  How this matter, and probably as importantly when, this matter is resolved is bound to be a very interesting one indeed and one that I hope does not stop Falkirk appearing in the top flight next year should they earn that right legitimately.