AIRDRIE SNUBS HIBS FOR COWDENBEATH!


or, why is there a photo of De La Cruz's Villa shirt here?

read on for an explanation.....

(click on the photos for a larger version)

Did you hear the one about the fans from Arsenal, Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Stranraer, Falkirk, Watford, Rangers and Manchester City who all joined me to watch the mighty Hibees beat Dundee Utd in a 3-2 thriller? No? Read on�.

It all started a few months ago when a colleague at work, Gareth Airdrie (pictured below looking worryingly comfortable in full stag disguise) started to organise his stag weekend in Edinburgh.

Gareth Airdrie, Aston Villa fan and stag for the weekend

  

An Aston Villa fan, Gareth had in his possession a purple Hibs top from the 70s which his dad had given him, so he was keen to watch Hibs with 34 of his family, friends and workmates - that�s us � we work as Air Traffic Controllers at the London Terminal Control Centre on W (for Whisky) Watch. However, Gareth discovered that one of his relatives hailed from Cowdenbeath so his family and friends went over to see Cowdenbeath grind out a 0-0 draw with Montrose. Mind you, they did help the coffers of the Blue Brazil by boosting the crowd to a grand total of 229!

If they�d only come with me to Easter Road along with 12 of my workmates they would have seen an exciting game with Hibs taking the lead twice, only for an improving Dundee Utd team to equalize twice, before Gary Smith scored the winner in the 90th minute. (At this point, with Aberdeen close behind Hibs in the chase for 3rd spot and a UEFA Cup place, colleague Gary Quigley, who must be commended for supporting Aberdeen despite being born and brought up in Glasgow, was heard to shout �Aw Naw!� or something like that!

 
The day had started in earnest when Watford fan Andy Legge and I flew up Saturday lunchtime to meet up at The Three Sisters Pub in the Cowgate with the rest of the Easter Road posse, some of whom were nursing hangovers from the previous night�s debauchery, including Andy Carratt who wore my Hibs tartan scarf all day (apart from when 2 local �lassies� performed an interesting dance with it later in City Nightclub � but that�s another story - see photo at bottom of page). As can be seen from the photo on the right, the green theme started with a drink called a �Fat Frog� which involved a concoction of vodka and WKD. That consumed, I decided they needed a dose of Hibby culture so we jumped into taxis and headed off to the Cabbage n Ribs. The pub duly obliged with several Hibs songs (I had provided song sheets!) and even Rangers fan Andy �Happy� Gilmore got into the spirit by (reluctantly) wearing my Hibs scarf. See picture below

"Fat Frogs" were the start of a Green Day
Shock News! Rangers fan spotted wearing Hibs Scarf in Cabbage n Ribs! I said earlier that we jumped into taxis � most of us did, but 3 of our party didn�t manage to find one so decided to walk straight to Easter Road. Their navigation consisted of aiming for the distant floodlights � unfortunately they found themselves at an empty stadium � Meadowbank! To save their embarrassment I won�t name the individuals.

Having decided to enjoy a bit of comfort at the game, we found our table in the Edinburgh Club. On seeing Jim O�Rourke, who asked me to pass on his regards to Brian Rogan, our Chairman, I tried to explain his legendary status to the rest of my colleagues. Andy Carratt and Jim then seemed to get on like 2 long lost mates, which continued during the game as they were sitting next to each other in the West Stand.

 

The London Hibs table at the Edinburgh Club

Jim O'Rourke,Hibs legend, points out Hibs players to the uninitiated
Jim O'Rourke signed Andy Carratt's ticket Jim even signed Andy�s ticket! By halftime (1-0) the pre-match drinks were starting to kick in and I rashly made the promise of buying everyone a whisky if Hibs won the game. Suffice to say a deal was done with our waiter and 13 nips were waiting for us after the game! Again, no names, but some of our party�s stomachs weren�t ready for spirits (still hungover) and, of course, I offered to help stop the Scottish water go to waste!
Old schoolmates Andy Gilmore & Ivan Sproule catch up Andy Carratt with 2 girls from Rock Steady
Ivan Sproule wandered over to our table to have a chat with schoolmate Andy Gilmore.  
Neil Lake (in Gareth's stag disguise) gets friendly with Rock Steady As can be seen from the photos above & left, the Rock Steady security girls were more than happy to pose for my English friends.
God's right hand man, and God :o)

Me (Mike Inglis) & Tony Mowbray plan next year's European Adventure!
I also added another photo of me with Pat Stanton to my collection plus one with Tony Mowbray when we exited the ground. I think I spluttered something to him about Hibs probably losing the game if Bobby Williamson had still been in charge!
Neil Lake tries to convince 2 girls outside ER that he's not gay Raffle prize member Paul Speirs and his better half
Left, Neil Lake, in YMCA biker gear, tries to convince 2 girls he's not gay (Lawyer's note - he isn't!) Paul Speirs was in the Edinburgh Club with his better half courtesy of winning the raffle at our Burns Night Supper

Cheer up Gary - there's always next year (This text will be changed if Aberdeen finish 3rd!)

 "I love your Scottish birds!"
My scarf was about to be used in a very interesting dance :o)

Aberdeen fan Gary Quigley "celebrates" Hibs winner in the last minute :o)

  

"Are you Supermodels?"

New Hibs fan Andy Carratt and my Hibs tartan scarf
As I said, my Hibs tartan scarf remained around Andy Carratt�s neck for most of the evening and as you can see contributed to his success on the chat-up front. "Are you Supermodels?" he was heard to say. Andy Carratt, who wore my Hibs tartan scarf all day kept telling me all night, "Mike, I love your Scottish lassies!"

I think everyone had a good day, and although they were drunk for most of the time, all promised to come to our Burns Night Supper 2006! I'll hold you to that lads!

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