Toronto City

[HerbDailly]

Came across this today, apparently there was an attempt at setting up a north American league in 1967.
They had everything set up ready to go, stadiums, TV contract and what have you, but didn't have time to recruit players, so they imported teams to play the first season out and give them time.

Turns out Hibs were one of those teams! Toronto City finished 3rd of 6.

Can anyone flesh this out a bit? How did this work with our seasons?



https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240402/bac8b0d533944742d5a35fb76e453a92.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240402/926763e1473efea46dbe892aac698ac6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240402/b8df4814373b0ca89f454c769e029cd8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240402/81ad5e54bdebdb2888db8cd8741ecc8a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240402/cb4eaf744ef9411108ec0f6b1441128c.jpg

[SaulGoodman]

Looks like the games were played in May, June and July.

Glad we got Toronto.

[Green Reaper]

Looks like the games were played in May, June and July.

Glad we got Toronto.

Photo here

[greenginger]

Looks like the games were played in May, June and July.

Glad we got Toronto.

Toronto owner Steve Stavro, sounds like some character from the Good Fellows. :greengrin

[number9dream]

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/david-hardie-when-the-hibees-became-toronto-2443579

Some good recollections from Pat Stanton...

[Feed McGraw]

Remember this well as an 11 year old boy. Was so much more interesting than the usual close season tours, I can remember logging all the results & scorers etc. :greengrin

[The Harp]

Wasn't at any of the games, but can remember the tournament taking place. Have a programme in the attic from one of the games Hibs took part in.

[Forza Fred]

Willie Hamilton got a silver salver for man of the match in one game, but it wouldn’t fit in his bag.

Nae bother..he just bent it in half and made it fit!

Seem to remember along the lines that we had to beat Stoke to progress, but the players were a bit fed up being away so long, and the game duly ended up a 1-1 draw..meaning a return to Edinburgh.

Canada certainly impressed Willie Hamilton who was a Bricklayer to trade pre fitba days….he ended up emigrating there, where unfortunately he died at a pretty young age.

[leithsansiro]

That’s actually a really cool story. Thank you for sharing it as it’s something I’d never had a clue even happened and I enjoyed reading about it. I wonder why Hibs and the others were chosen and if others had said no. As good as we are (obviously) there’s others clubs who would’ve been more “box office” to be stand-in teams.

Plus, Im intrigued by the whole American sports team naming conventions. I wouldn’t want it here to replace existing teams but it makes me wonder what “franchises” would get called. The Edinburgh-what’s? Any suggestions?

[WeAreHibs]

That’s actually a really cool story. Thank you for sharing it as it’s something I’d never had a clue even happened and I enjoyed reading about it. I wonder why Hibs and the others were chosen and if others had said no. As good as we are (obviously) there’s others clubs who would’ve been more “box office” to be stand-in teams.

Plus, Im intrigued by the whole American sports team naming conventions. I wouldn’t want it here to replace existing teams but it makes me wonder what “franchises” would get called. The Edinburgh-what’s? Any suggestions?

The Edin Burgers would seem appropriate for our stateside friends.

[HerbDailly]

That’s actually a really cool story. Thank you for sharing it as it’s something I’d never had a clue even happened and I enjoyed reading about it. I wonder why Hibs and the others were chosen and if others had said no. As good as we are (obviously) there’s others clubs who would’ve been more “box office” to be stand-in teams.

Plus, Im intrigued by the whole American sports team naming conventions. I wouldn’t want it here to replace existing teams but it makes me wonder what “franchises” would get called. The Edinburgh-what’s? Any suggestions?I was really surprised to find it, I can't even remember what I was reading about. You'd think something so unique would be celebrated as part of our history. Maybe next year I suppose.

It would surely have to be the Edinburgh Castles. Or Edinburgh Rocks.

[hibsbollah]

I was really surprised to find it, I can't even remember what I was reading about. You'd think something so unique would be celebrated as part of our history. Maybe next year I suppose.

It would surely have to be the Edinburgh Castles. Or Edinburgh Rocks.

I remember someone suggesting Edinburgh Executioners in the old 2000AD scifi comic letters pages back in the day. Always stuck with me as a good sports franchise name, historically accurate in terms of the rate we’d despatch witches and catholics up at the Tron with a swift blade to the neck back in the day. Might intimidate the opposition. Oakland raiders style insignia n aw.

[green.oracle]

Willie Hamilton got a silver salver for man of the match in one game, but it wouldn’t fit in his bag.

Nae bother..he just bent it in half and made it fit!

Seem to remember along the lines that we had to beat Stoke to progress, but the players were a bit fed up being away so long, and the game duly ended up a 1-1 draw..meaning a return to Edinburgh.

Canada certainly impressed Willie Hamilton who was a Bricklayer to trade pre fitba days….he ended up emigrating there, where unfortunately he died at a pretty young age.

Fred, I think the willie Hamilton silver salver was a different year (post season tour).

There is an excellent book by Ian Thomson (An Aberdeen fan who lives in USA) called the Summer of '67. This explains the whole tournament in full.

[HerbDailly]

I remember someone suggesting Edinburgh Executioners in the old 2000AD scifi comic letters pages back in the day. Always stuck with me as a good sports franchise name, historically accurate in terms of the rate we’d despatch witches and catholics up at the Tron with a swift blade to the neck back in the day. Might intimidate the opposition. Oakland raiders style insignia n aw.Edinburgh Harps

[xyz23jc]

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/david-hardie-when-the-hibees-became-toronto-2443579

Some good recollections from Pat Stanton...

Magic! :thumbsup: