Jonnyboy
21-04-2020, 07:37 PM
It was the very early days of Hibs.net and I’d been asked by Stu Crowther to give a commentary on the Hibs v Hearts game. In the years ahead, commentaries would be via internet radio but back then it involved me giving my commentary down a phone line so that Stu could let those high speed fingers of his type on his keyboard: the words ending up on the Hibs List. The date was 22nd October 2000 and the events that unfolded are now written into Hibernian folklore. Knowing I was going to be commentating I did a bit of homework regarding stats etc., but the truth is those stats basically disappeared as soon as the match kicked off.
It was the old West Stand and I was ensconced inside the old radio commentary box at the very back. I shared the space with Paul Mitchell who was doing the BBC commentary. Paul’s a good lad, for a Jambo but we respected each other’s space and sat at opposite ends of the box.
I confess I was nervous both about providing Stu with a commentary and the fact that we were facing Hearts as so many times before I’d watched Hibs play them off the park and lose. I was conscious of the fact that we’d only lost one league game prior to kick off whereas Hearts were not at their best having sold a couple of their best players. For our part we had the mesmeric skills of Franck Sauzee and Russell Latapy together with the ‘up and at ‘em Mixu Paatelainen.
The home stands were full and noisy whereas Hearts fans were practising an early form of social distancing. Later they would offer excuse after excuse as to why they didn’t fill the South Stand but at the end of the day, that’s all they were, excuses.
The Hearts line up included Gordon Durie and they had Darren Jackson on the bench. Both had played for Hibs in the past and had been popular but as we all know, popularity goes out of the window on such occasions and both players attracted all sorts of booing.
When the match got under way I started rattling off what was happening. Later, Stu would tell me his wife Linda said it was like being at the match as she listened on loudspeaker! Both sides started cautiously but inside the first ten minutes the visitors scored a trademark Hearts goal when a deflected cross fell nicely for Andy Kirk to stab the ball home. It was another lucky Hearts goal for me to try and forget.
The half wore on and Hearts looked pretty comfortable without really threatening again whilst Hibs just fell short with the final cross or pass. I was starting to worry and it was probably obvious to Stu but just as he was telling me we’d come good, we came good – twice! A ball into the area struck Pressley and fell at the feet of Mixu who smashed it home. I guess those few Hearts fans present would feel how I felt about their goal. Moments later, Zitelli delivered a cross into the box and the ball was headed into the air by a Hearts man. As it dropped, Ulrik Laursen climbed high to knock the ball down to Mixu who bundled it home. The noise was deafening as I cast a look along at Paul Mitchell who shrugged and continued his commentary.
The half time break was interesting as it allowed me to converse with Stu who begged me not to shout so loudly if we scored again. He asked nicely but it wasn’t a promise I could make.
Shooting towards the Famous Five stand, Hibs started brightly and within five or six minutes took a 3-1 lead. Cracking play in midfield ended with Latapy stroking a perfect pass into the path of David Zitelli who had gotten blind side of Presley. David shot, Niemi got something on it as he advanced but couldn’t stop the ball entering the net.
For the next twenty minutes Hibs were magnificent. They were toying with Hearts and no amount of fouling by them could stop Latapy and co. from dominating proceedings. Time for another goal, I suggested down the phone line and as if by magic another goal duly arrived. A ball from Latapy found John O’Neil wide right. John looked up, saw Mixu charging in to the area and played a slide rule ball to the big striker who steered his effort beyond the despairing Niemi. It was all too much for me! I burst through the door of the radio box and screamed my head off in celebration, grabbing the nearest person to me to do that ‘we’ve just scored’ thing. That’s how I first met Nicky who posts on the MB as o’connor’s strip.
Returning to the phone I was mildly chastised for leaving my post but all was forgotten when the majestic John O’Neil latched on to a ball into the box, stepped away from a couple of challenges and smashed the ball high into the net. It was a stunning finish and secured us a 5-1 lead. Minutes later Russell Latapy jinked his way past a couple of desperate lunges at the edge of the box, rolled the ball to Mixu who flicked it back to him and the wee magician fairly smashed a first time volley past Niemi. Most folk rightly concentrate of Russell’s part in that goal but credit must also go to Mixu who although built like a tank had the deftest of touches to set the chance up.
By this time the South Stand was close to empty as Hibs fans howled for a seventh and I reckon in going for that seventh Hibs left the door open a wee bit and Colin Cameron cashed in to make the final score 6-2.
Once he’d finished his summary for the BBC I had a chat with Paul Mitchell whom, I have to say, was the consummate professional in delivering his commentary and comments after having watched his team being totally humiliated.
In the years ahead I’d do a good few commentaries for Hibs TV and whilst I invariably enjoyed them and still miss them if truth be told, it’s the 6-2 one that will live with me forever.
It was the old West Stand and I was ensconced inside the old radio commentary box at the very back. I shared the space with Paul Mitchell who was doing the BBC commentary. Paul’s a good lad, for a Jambo but we respected each other’s space and sat at opposite ends of the box.
I confess I was nervous both about providing Stu with a commentary and the fact that we were facing Hearts as so many times before I’d watched Hibs play them off the park and lose. I was conscious of the fact that we’d only lost one league game prior to kick off whereas Hearts were not at their best having sold a couple of their best players. For our part we had the mesmeric skills of Franck Sauzee and Russell Latapy together with the ‘up and at ‘em Mixu Paatelainen.
The home stands were full and noisy whereas Hearts fans were practising an early form of social distancing. Later they would offer excuse after excuse as to why they didn’t fill the South Stand but at the end of the day, that’s all they were, excuses.
The Hearts line up included Gordon Durie and they had Darren Jackson on the bench. Both had played for Hibs in the past and had been popular but as we all know, popularity goes out of the window on such occasions and both players attracted all sorts of booing.
When the match got under way I started rattling off what was happening. Later, Stu would tell me his wife Linda said it was like being at the match as she listened on loudspeaker! Both sides started cautiously but inside the first ten minutes the visitors scored a trademark Hearts goal when a deflected cross fell nicely for Andy Kirk to stab the ball home. It was another lucky Hearts goal for me to try and forget.
The half wore on and Hearts looked pretty comfortable without really threatening again whilst Hibs just fell short with the final cross or pass. I was starting to worry and it was probably obvious to Stu but just as he was telling me we’d come good, we came good – twice! A ball into the area struck Pressley and fell at the feet of Mixu who smashed it home. I guess those few Hearts fans present would feel how I felt about their goal. Moments later, Zitelli delivered a cross into the box and the ball was headed into the air by a Hearts man. As it dropped, Ulrik Laursen climbed high to knock the ball down to Mixu who bundled it home. The noise was deafening as I cast a look along at Paul Mitchell who shrugged and continued his commentary.
The half time break was interesting as it allowed me to converse with Stu who begged me not to shout so loudly if we scored again. He asked nicely but it wasn’t a promise I could make.
Shooting towards the Famous Five stand, Hibs started brightly and within five or six minutes took a 3-1 lead. Cracking play in midfield ended with Latapy stroking a perfect pass into the path of David Zitelli who had gotten blind side of Presley. David shot, Niemi got something on it as he advanced but couldn’t stop the ball entering the net.
For the next twenty minutes Hibs were magnificent. They were toying with Hearts and no amount of fouling by them could stop Latapy and co. from dominating proceedings. Time for another goal, I suggested down the phone line and as if by magic another goal duly arrived. A ball from Latapy found John O’Neil wide right. John looked up, saw Mixu charging in to the area and played a slide rule ball to the big striker who steered his effort beyond the despairing Niemi. It was all too much for me! I burst through the door of the radio box and screamed my head off in celebration, grabbing the nearest person to me to do that ‘we’ve just scored’ thing. That’s how I first met Nicky who posts on the MB as o’connor’s strip.
Returning to the phone I was mildly chastised for leaving my post but all was forgotten when the majestic John O’Neil latched on to a ball into the box, stepped away from a couple of challenges and smashed the ball high into the net. It was a stunning finish and secured us a 5-1 lead. Minutes later Russell Latapy jinked his way past a couple of desperate lunges at the edge of the box, rolled the ball to Mixu who flicked it back to him and the wee magician fairly smashed a first time volley past Niemi. Most folk rightly concentrate of Russell’s part in that goal but credit must also go to Mixu who although built like a tank had the deftest of touches to set the chance up.
By this time the South Stand was close to empty as Hibs fans howled for a seventh and I reckon in going for that seventh Hibs left the door open a wee bit and Colin Cameron cashed in to make the final score 6-2.
Once he’d finished his summary for the BBC I had a chat with Paul Mitchell whom, I have to say, was the consummate professional in delivering his commentary and comments after having watched his team being totally humiliated.
In the years ahead I’d do a good few commentaries for Hibs TV and whilst I invariably enjoyed them and still miss them if truth be told, it’s the 6-2 one that will live with me forever.