To Absent Friends: Cup Final Thread

[Jamesie]

Given how the dates have fortuitously fallen, on this Cup Final Eve I find my mind drifting back to memories of the 2016 Cup Final whilst also realising, like many for others I am sure, that I’ll be experiencing my first Hibs Cup Final tomorrow without someone who would normally be sitting alongside me at Hampden.

In my case, that is my uncle James, who I’d attended every Final with since I was an 11 year old in 1991 and who passed away suddenly in May 2018.

If there is any solace in not actually being at Hampden tomorrow, perhaps it comes from the fact that such absences may not be as stark as they would otherwise appear if we were in the stadium.

But I’m sure I won’t be alone in hoping that somehow, somewhere, our absent friends and family will be watching alongside us all tomorrow with the angels high above and hopefully will also see that old trophy once again being held aloft in green and white ribbons :flag:

[He's here!]

That's a lovely post.

I mentioned on the 'if 2016 hadn't happened' thread that I lost a good friend who passed away far too young just months after Hibs finally won the cup and he's very much in my thoughts this week.

[CockneyRebel]

Given how the dates have fortuitously fallen, on this Cup Final Eve I find my mind drifting back to memories of the 2016 Cup Final whilst also realising, like many for others I am sure, that I’ll be experiencing my first Hibs Cup Final tomorrow without someone who would normally be sitting alongside me at Hampden.

In my case, that is my uncle James, who I’d attended every Final with since I was an 11 year old in 1991 and who passed away suddenly in May 2018.

If there is any solace in not actually being at Hampden tomorrow, perhaps it comes from the fact that such absences may not be as stark as they would otherwise appear if we were in the stadium.

But I’m sure I won’t be alone in hoping that somehow, somewhere, our absent friends and family will be watching alongside us all tomorrow with the angels high above and hopefully will also see that old trophy once again being held aloft in green and white ribbons :flag:





Well said sir. There won't be many folk not thinking of someone else tomorrow. All those who never witnessed 2016 and those that have passed since. GGTTH.

[Hibs1969]

My dad who took me to my first game at Easter Road when I was 8 and set me on a 50 plus year love affair with Hibs. He passed away many years ago and never saw us win the cup but my thoughts were with him on that day in 2016 and many times since. He also managed to keep me away from the influence of my mum’s Hearts supporting side of the family and for that I’ll be eternally grateful 💚

[hibee_girl]

My Grandad passed away in March this year. He had a season ticket with me and we attended many finals together including the one in 2016 which I will be forever grateful for 💚

[Bangkok Hibby]

there's a West stand stone which simply says "I was there Dad" brought a tear to my eye when I saw it.

[ozwoody]

Like many others of my generation, I would have loved my father or grandfather to have have seen us win the cup. I consider myself blessed that me, my 2 boys, my daughter,and my new daughter will have all been alive to witness it.
A big ask as my new daughter will be 6 days old

[Coach Jon]

there's a West stand stone which simply says "I was there Dad" brought a tear to my eye when I saw it.

Just 4 words, but so poignant. Hopefully more tears of joy tomorrow.:pray:

[NthCarolinaHibs]

Like many others of my generation, I would have loved my father or grandfather to have have seen us win the cup. I consider myself blessed that me, my 2 boys, my daughter,and my new daughter will have all been alive to witness it.
A big ask as my new daughter will be 6 days old

Congratulations on your new arrival..what a lovely start to a young life, a Hibs win would make 💚💚

[BroxburnHibee]

Luckily my Dad got to see it before he passed. He'll be in my thoughts constantly tomorrow.

[andrew70]

For my grandad. Passed away in 2014. Last words to me were “I’ll make sure Hibs win the cup” he duly did.

I believe it was him anyway 😂

Tattoo in memory of him and the cup win adorns my left arm.

Miss him everyday. For us all tomorrow Hibs, for us all. 💚🇳🇬

[Gmack7]

A good friend who I sat with in 2016 sadly passed ,I'll be having a few beers in memory. GGTTH

[Lago]

My wife Margaret, passed away December 2019, through her I became a hibbie & I'm sure she'll be watching on Saturday.

[London Hibs FC]

Luckily my Dad got to see it before he passed. He'll be in my thoughts constantly tomorrow.

Same on my side. Dad would have been 70 this week. Will be wearing his scarf tomorrow.

[StevieT]

When SDG headed in the winner in 2016 everyone around me was going mental. All I did was sit there and cry that my dad never got to experience us winning the cup. I looked up to the sky and said 'Dad. We've won it!' and the tears flooded out. I will be thinking of him again should we win again. 25 years gone but not forgotten. I have a tattoo on my right arm of SDG kneeling down, arms raised. Above him it says 'to the angels high above' for all of those who never witnessed the great occasion. Below, it just says 'Persevere' and the date.

[Lancs Harp]

Lovely thread

[Chuck Rhoades]

Our good friend Kristof passed away in 2018, aged 26. Full of life character who would have been the life and soul of the prematch build up tomorrow 💚

[IberianHibernian]

Sad but at the same time comforting thread . For all of us following Hibs is a massive part of our lives . For those who live near enough to Edinburgh to go to ER regularly it`s a great opportunity to see family and friends . For those who live a bit further away or who can`t get to ER and / or away matches cause of work / health / family / money etc following Hibs is still massive and often associated with memories of family and friends . Big matches are often an opportunity to see relatives or friends .
In my case , the last time I spoke to my dad was the day after the Livi LC final in 2004 . He wasn`t well enough to go to the game but was happy to see me and knew what being at games meant to me . Tomorrow will be the first SC final I`ve missed in my life after 72 , 79 ( all three ) , 01 , 12 , 13 and 16 . I`ll be one of thousands of Hibbies in the same situation and we`ll all understand that pandemic is more important than football . In a non COVID year I`d be in Scotland waiting for final tomorrow but also visiting relatives and friends . Sadly , I won`t see relatives this weekend or any other and we`ll depend on rules.

[The Harp]

Some very moving tributes on this thread, had a tear in my eye reading some of them.
Here's hoping the players rise to the occasion tomorrow and bring the Cup home again.
'mon the Hibs.

[Gloucester Hibs]

My Dad passed away last summer. He treated my brother and i to hospitality for the 2016 final - best day ever. He’s in my thoughts pretty much every day anyway but tomorrow will be emotional.

[Jones28]

Uncle Allan who didn’t see 2016.

He dreamed of a move to the country, and did so in 2014. After spending less than 2 years in his dream home he passed away.

He was the biggest Hibby I knew. If Hibs lost he didn’t come round till Wednesday afternoon. I’m gutted he didn’t see 2016 but his boy and his grandkids saw it.

[Lancs Harp]

A

[lord bunberry]

My wife Margaret, passed away December 2019, through her I became a hibbie & I'm sure she'll be watching on Saturday.
She definitely will be my friend. Hopefully the boys do the business for both of you tomorrow. ggtth.

[Silky]

Luckily my Dad got to see it before he passed. He'll be in my thoughts constantly tomorrow.

Same with me. My dad was ill but made it Hampden in 2016 and saw something his dad never seen. He sadly passed in 2019 did my father-in-law who was also a big Hibby. My son has my dad's scarf that he took to Hampden that day and will be wearing it tomorrow.
To all absent friends. GGTTH 💚

[ozwoody]

Congratulations on your new arrival..what a lovely start to a young life, a Hibs win would make 💚💚

Thank you for those kind words.cup final morning here,bubs is laying sleeping on my chest and it really hits home how much I would have loved to have had pint with my dad when hibs lift the trophy today

[jgl07]

A word about my late wife Helen who died 16 years ago of cancer. She managed the League Cup final defeat to Livingston in 2004 but no more matches after that due to her worsening condition.

I rarely visit Hibs net these days since it became a nightmare of pop-up windows, but I really wanted to post here.

[G15 Hibs]

Been sitting here tonight thinking about my dear old friends Alf and Tom who passed away in the last 12 months. Both of them a generation, maybe two, older than me who used to go hillwalking with me and my old man when I was a laddie. Lifelong Hibbies who taught me the history of our club on those long walks. I'll be thinking of them again tomorrow.

[Penicuik Hibee]

My dad passed away a couple of years before 2016. He was in his late 80s and had seen some great hibs teams. But he never seen us win the SC. So I feel blessed to have had the best day of my life in 2016 and see us lift the cup. To witness that again would just be incredible. I'm not confident about us winning today, probably because they are our bogey team and I've endured so many bad days at But if we won it again, I don't think I could even put it into words. GGTTH

[ArmadaleHibs]

My family are going into todays final without the single most important reason we all love hibs. My Dad. He passed away unexpectedly this season and I can honestly say it’s the most heart breaking thing ever to experience. Like many of us I consider my dad the greatest of hibbys. Home , away, Europe, he done it all, we done it all, together. I know he won’t be with us in person today, but I know he will be there watching with us. It will never be the same at games without him but we will make the best of it and follow this wonderful club forever as it’s what my dad would want.

To all the lost but not forgotten hibs people 💚⚽️💚

[Jamesie]

A word about my late wife Helen who died 16 years ago of cancer. She managed the League Cup final defeat to Livingston in 2004 but no more matches after that due to her worsening condition.

I rarely visit Hibs net these days since it became a nightmare of pop-up windows, but I really wanted to post here.

Good to hear from you John. Helen was a lovely lady and I can’t believe it’s 16 years - where do the years go? I hope you are well and smiling come 4pm this afternoon! :flag:

[Halmyre Hibee]

My dad passed away in September and lived at Albion Gardens overlooking the West Stand where my sister and I have season tickets. Although he wasn’t a big footy fan he took us both to our first game at Easter Road in 1968 and today I will watch the game with my sister probably over emotional thinking of him and the times he queued for hours to get tickets for big games in the 70’s. God bless you dad for guiding us throughout our lives and making us Hibbies. I’m sure whatever happens today we will shed a few tears. GGTTH.

[Magpie]

Sam Martinez, waited 106 years for us to bring that trophy home and we did just months before he passed away. I’m sure he will be with us in spirit again today.

[One Day Soon]

Sam Martinez, waited 106 years for us to bring that trophy home and we did just months before he passed away. I’m sure he will be with us in spirit again today.

And since I saw your post I’m going to namecheck another Magpie formerly of this parish and now singing with the angels up above. A guy I had a severe political fall out with on the Holy Ground but we then went on to become good friends. Much missed.

[northstandhibby]

For my brother who suddenly took ill and passed away not long after watching his beloved Hibs win the Cup in 2016. Two of his favourite songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE1ct5yEuVY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTVjnBo96Ug