Players 'supporting' the team they play for

[18Hibee75]

All over the country and the world there are players who claim to support the team they play for and say "it's a dream come true" but then leave as soon as a bigger offer comes in. After speaking about this with a pal, I was wondering if how many of you would leave Hibs to play for Celtic or even a club in the EPL like an Everton or someone.

Personally, I genuinely think that I would stay playing for Hibs as it is the team that I genuinely support through and through. I also feel like most footballers, (maybe bar Darren Mcgregor or a story like his) never really seriously supported a club when they were younger as they would've dedicated every Saturday to playing football, rather than watching their team.

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[Baader]

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All over the country and the world there are players who claim to support the team they play for and say "it's a dream come true" but then leave as soon as a bigger offer comes in. After speaking about this with a pal, I was wondering if how many of you would leave Hibs to play for Celtic or even a club in the EPL like an Everton or someone.

Personally, I genuinely think that I would stay playing for Hibs as it is the team that I genuinely support through and through. I also feel like most footballers, (maybe bar Darren Mcgregor or a story like his) never really seriously supported a club when they were younger as they would've dedicated every Saturday to playing football, rather than watching their team.

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The reality is money talks though and when your career is only ever a bad tackle away from being over - and even at your very best it's likely to end about 30 years before the average man retires - it's not difficult to see why someone offering 3, 4 even 10 times your salary is taken up.

[Sammy7nil]

I would definitely leave for a better team and wages.

I would still support Hibs and there will be plenty time to attend games when I retire with my mega bucks from me BIG move

[18Hibee75]

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The reality is money talks though and when your career is only ever a bad tackle away from being over - and even at your very best it's likely to end about 30 years before the average man retires - it's not difficult to see why someone offering 3, 4 even 10 times your salary is taken up.

I can certainly see the temptation.

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[Baader]

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I can certainly see the temptation.

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Can often mean the difference between having to seek a career after football and not having to worry about money after the boots are hung up. It can't be easy.

Like you say a lot of these guys are playing when we are watching so although they can be fans they're not really comparable to the die hards who attend every week.

[Diclonius]

How many players in our current team (British/Irish) based have known "boyhood" teams? This is who I'm aware of:

Gray: Hearts
Hanlon: Hibs
Fontaine: ?
Bartley: Reading?
McGinn: Celtic
Fyvie: Aberdeen?
Holt: ?
McGeouch: Celtic
Stanton: Hibs?
Handling: Hibs?
McLean: Rangers? (his brother is rumoured to be a former ST holder)
Stevenson: Raith
Boyle: ?
Keatings: Celtic?
Shinnie: Rangers
Forster: ? (born in Gorgie but doesn't support Hearts)
McGregor: Hibs
Humphrey: ?
Graham: ?
Laidlaw: ?
Gallacher: ?
Harris: Hibs?
Cummings: Hearts
Crane: ?
Martin: Hibs?
Allan: ?
Shaw: ?
Insall: ?

[SirDavidsNapper]

I love Hibs but id leave to go to a bigger club on triple the wages 100%

[Killiehibbie]

I'd take the money.

[Kato]

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All over the country and the world there are players who claim to support the team they play for and say "it's a dream come true" but then leave as soon as a bigger offer comes in. After speaking about this with a pal, I was wondering if how many of you would leave Hibs to play for Celtic or even a club in the EPL like an Everton or someone.

Personally, I genuinely think that I would stay playing for Hibs as it is the team that I genuinely support through and through. I also feel like most footballers, (maybe bar Darren Mcgregor or a story like his) never really seriously supported a club when they were younger as they would've dedicated every Saturday to playing football, rather than watching their team.

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Stay at Hibs on £3000 a week or go to Stoke for £40,000 a week?

[jgl07]

I recall reading that when Celtic representatives went around to the home of Kenny Dalglish with a view to signing him, he rapidly ripped all the Rangers pictures from his bedroom walls before they arrived!

[Just Jimmy]

To be honest I'd watch another team every week if they gave me 10 times my salary. I'd still support Hibs but money talks.

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[patlowe]

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All over the country and the world there are players who claim to support the team they play for and say "it's a dream come true" but then leave as soon as a bigger offer comes in. After speaking about this with a pal, I was wondering if how many of you would leave Hibs to play for Celtic or even a club in the EPL like an Everton or someone.

Personally, I genuinely think that I would stay playing for Hibs as it is the team that I genuinely support through and through. I also feel like most footballers, (maybe bar Darren Mcgregor or a story like his) never really seriously supported a club when they were younger as they would've dedicated every Saturday to playing football, rather than watching their team.

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You are right and to be honest I think even Darren would say the same about his boys football days - every Saturday is focused on your own football so the club you support fades into the background somewhat. However, it is a nice narrative when signing for a club to be able to say you support them, and if you have grown up in the local community there are obvious social and emotional ties regardless. You have to look at the bigger picture for players, particularly in Scotland, where for the vast majority the money on offer over a short career is not going to set you (and your family) up for life. However, a move to Rangers/Celtic or beyond could. Feelings for a particular club can't take precedence over a person's career and future financial security IMO, great as it is seeing guys like Griffiths, Daz and Deek line up for Hibs!

[Navids Numpties]

Would 100% take the money. I love my job but if someone was offering me twice the money it's a no brainer and any one who says no is lying. At the end of the day footballers want to do the best for their families and earn more for themselves as well. It is their living after all.

[Since90+2]

If a club , and any club for that matter , offered me 5 times the wages that Hibs were offering me I would sign for them in a heartbeat. At the end of the day its a career and it would not stop me from supporting the club my playing career finished in your mid 30s.

[Andy74]

I think I'd draw the line at playing for Rangers. Maybe Hearts too.

[The Sundance Kid]

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How many players in our current team (British/Irish) based have known "boyhood" teams? This is who I'm aware of:

Gray: Hearts
Hanlon: Hibs
Fontaine: ?
Bartley: Reading?
McGinn: Celtic
Fyvie: Aberdeen?
Holt: ?
McGeouch: Celtic
Stanton: Hibs?
Handling: Hibs?
McLean: Rangers? (his brother is rumoured to be a former ST holder)
Stevenson: Raith
Boyle: ?
Keatings: Celtic?
Shinnie: Rangers
Forster: ? (born in Gorgie but doesn't support Hearts)
McGregor: Hibs
Humphrey: ?
Graham: ?
Laidlaw: ?
Gallacher: ?
Harris: Hibs?
Cummings: Hearts
Crane: ?
Martin: Hibs?
Allan: ?
Shaw: ?
Insall: ?

Fontaine is a Crystal Palace fan, Bartley's Arsenal, Holt I'm guessing is Carlisle, Handling was a Rangers fan growing up, Boyle and Shinnie I think were both Aberdeen fans, Forster was definitely a Celtic fan, think Graham is as well and Shaw is a Hibee. Don't know about the rest

[Since90+2]

Scott Martin is from Glasgow so dont imagine he is a Hibee.

[The Sundance Kid]

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Scott Martin is from Glasgow so dont imagine he is a Hibee.

Pretty sure he's a Celtic fan going by his Twitter

[Barney McGrew]

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Scott Martin is from Glasgow so dont imagine he is a Hibee.

He's a Septic fan.

Fyvie and Boyle both grew up as Aberdeen supporters.

[seanoheimhin]

Thought I'd read somewhere Martin Boyle's family were jambos?

[HiBremian]

Simple calculation. Sign for Hibs as a teenager, as my value rockets agree to a 4 year contract at the age of 20. Sign a 4 year deal for Barcelona at age 22 on £100k a week, netting Hibs a juicy £8m transfer fee. Stash away 50% of my post-tax earnings, let the contract run down, and sign again for Hibs on a free at 26 when I'm at the peak of my powers. Live off the pension pot I've created at Barca for the rest of my life and become a Hibs legend. Oh, and never have to buy a pint again. :-)


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[snooky]

Steve Bull ..... end of story.

[BSEJVT]

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I think I'd draw the line at playing for Rangers. Maybe Hearts too.

As did my son and I

When he was a young boy Hearts asked him to train with them and before I could even say no he did!

I was also asked to get involved with coaching their youth teams about 15 years ago and declined.

I couldn't face the thought of someone I had helped develop helping them in any shape or form

[Diclonius]

Updated.

Gray: Hearts
Hanlon: Hibs
Fontaine: Crystal Palace
Bartley: Arsenal
McGinn: Celtic
Fyvie: Aberdeen
Holt: Carlisle
McGeouch: Celtic
Stanton: Hibs?
Handling: Rangers
McLean: Rangers? (his brother is rumoured to be a former ST holder)
Stevenson: Raith
Boyle: Aberdeen
Keatings: Celtic?
Shinnie: Aberdeen
Forster: Celtic
McGregor: Hibs
Humphrey: ?
Graham: Celtic
Laidlaw: ?
Gallacher: ?
Harris: Hibs?
Cummings: Hearts
Crane: ?
Martin: Celtic
Allan: ?
Shaw: Hibs
Insall: ?

[lyonhibs]

For the right offer to a club outwith Scotland, I'd be off in a shot.

Otherwise, no way.

[bigwheel]

As soon as you become a professional footballer, it becomes your career, your job....you will have a different relationship with the game than any fan...they don't go to "training" they go to "work".

All of them have to do the best to play at the highest level they can and to secure their future through their earnings as much as possible....

No professional player at Scottish level can afford to turn down 3-5+ times this earnings from any club, Scotland or anywhere else...it's their duty to their family and themselves.

Anyone who says they wouldn't leave Hibs for any other club is dreaming. When it's a job you won't think like that...also don't forget when Hibs are finished with you, they won't care that you were a fan....


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[cabbageandribs1875]

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Stay at Hibs on £3000 a week or go to Stoke for £40,000 a week?

it's a real toughie eh

[snooky]

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As soon as you become a professional footballer, it becomes your career, your job....you will have a different relationship with the game than any fan...they don't go to "training" they go to "work".

All of them have to do the best to play at the highest level they can and to secure their future through their earnings as much as possible....

No professional player at Scottish level can afford to turn down 3-5+ times this earnings from any club, Scotland or anywhere else...it's their duty to their family and themselves.

Anyone who says they wouldn't leave Hibs for any other club is dreaming. When it's a job you won't think like that...also don't forget when Hibs are finished with you, they won't care that you were a fan....


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Exactimondo. Business is business - both ways (unfortunately).

[ancient hibee]

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Stay at Hibs on £3000 a week or go to Stoke for £40,000 a week?

This is why we're missing sitters.Too many personal problems occupying their brains.

[WeeRussell]

Not going to pretend I'd serve my whole career at Hibs if I had all the talent in the world.

I can 100% guarantee I would never sign for Rangers though.