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View Full Version : One for the auld yins ... Paddy Ward?



The Harp
06-06-2011, 05:07 PM
I’m wondering if any of our older posters have any memories of Paddy Ward?
I remember being at games in the 50’s (usually the more important games away from home IIRC) when Paddy would make his way onto the pitch at half time wearing a Hibs top and sporting a green and white bowler hat. His accomplice, who I think was his laddie, would stand in goal and Paddy would place the bowler hat on the penalty spot and attempt to kick it past the ‘goalie’ and into the net. It was very much light hearted, unofficial entertainment and always seemed to go down well with the fans. Although on one occasion against Rangers I’m pretty sure he had to be given a police escort when the Huns were baying for his blood.
I don’t have any photos of Paddy’s antics, and my memory’s fading fast so if anyone has any recollections of him, I’d be delighted to hear of them.
The last time I saw Paddy would have been in ’63 when we played two games against Morton in the league cup semi final and he travelled through with the St Giles branch. He was pretty much down on his luck at that stage, but what a character! :aok:

Brizo
06-06-2011, 06:53 PM
Great story.

My dad tells of an away game at Ibrox in the 50s where a Hibs fan ran onto the pitch and into the centre circle where he went :not worth to the Rangers support. They went totally mental.

Probably the same man .... unless there were two mad Ibrox pitch invading hibbies in the 50s :greengrin

brog
06-06-2011, 07:30 PM
I remember Paddy but not as well as I would like to! I'm sure I saw him well into the 60's. I remember the scarf, the bowler & I think a rattle. Not sure about a strip, if so it would have been homemade as replicas did not exist in those days. An incredible character indeed & mostly allowed to do his thing in those more tolerant days.

The Harp
06-06-2011, 08:21 PM
I've always intended to check old Evening News match reports on film at central library to see if Paddy gets a mention - must get around to doing it one of these days. Would be good to get a photo of him 'entertaining'.:greengrin