Gordon Smith: Lifelong Jambo?

**Septimus** · 30-09-2009 05:44 AM

In a letter today discussing the Hearts Hall of Fame a correspondent claims that Gordon Smith was a Lifelong Jambo. Seems odd. If I remember correctly he came to Hibs from Dundee North End and had started life in the Montrose area.

In these days there was a strange tendency to support your local team.

**Purple & Green** · 30-09-2009 06:49 AM

It's covered in the great mans own words in the book Sunshine on Leith by Simon Pia.

I don't have it to hand, but I think it says yes he was a Hearts fan growing up, but he was a hibby forever after.

**Nakedmanoncrack** · 30-09-2009 06:50 AM

Think he did grow up as a Hearts fan, stretching it a bit to describe him as a life long Jambo. Football players are very rarely real football supporters.

**~~Phil D. Rolls~~** · 30-09-2009 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by Purple & Green

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It's covered in the great mans own words in the book Sunshine on Leith by Simon Pia.

I don't have it to hand, but I think it says yes he was a Hearts fan growing up, but he was a hibby forever after.

Never understood how he came to support Hearts though, was his father from Edinburgh?

**Mickey Edwards** · 30-09-2009 07:39 AM

Always struck me where 2 of our greatest ever greats hailed from....... Smith was from Montrose , Johnstone from Selkirk.....not exactly footballing hotbeds.

**Purple & Green** · 30-09-2009 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by Filled Rolls

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Never understood how he came to support Hearts though, was his father from Edinburgh?

Smith himself was born in Edinburgh - I think the family moved up to Montrose sometime afterwards.

***J-C*** · 30-09-2009 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by Purple & Green

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It's covered in the great mans own words in the book Sunshine on Leith by Simon Pia.

I don't have it to hand, but I think it says yes he was a Hearts fan growing up, but he was a hibby forever after.

A bit like John Robertson but the other way round.

***Viva_Palmeiras*** · 30-09-2009 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by JC50

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A bit like John Robertson but the other way round.

Was funny hearing Robbo talk about who the rest of his family support - George his brother a big Hibee. And perhaps news to some (only me?) Robbos son is a Hibee!. Said he had to wear a hat and moustache to buy him a Hibs strip from the Hibs shop.

You can say what you like about Robbo (and many do) but he spoke out against the Mercer takeover bid and attended the Hands Off Hibs meeting in the Usher Hall. Took balls to stand up against Mercer and his stance IMO.

Sounds like he would have been hounded out the family if he didn't mind!

Still a wee get tho'... Come on Deeks/Stokes get tore into his Derby scoring record.

**--------** · 30-09-2009 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Septimus

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In a letter today discussing the Hearts Hall of Fame a correspondent claims that Gordon Smith was a Lifelong Jambo. Seems odd. If I remember correctly he came to Hibs from Dundee North End and had started life in the Montrose area.

In these days there was a strange tendency to support your local team.

The Merrick's at it, Septimus.

If Smith was a 'life-long Jambo' - and he was far too much of a gentleman to be so - maybe the twonk can explain why he was seen at ER regularly right up to the time ill-health prevented him from attending games?

He had the pub, the 'Right Wing', on Willowbrae Road. So he DID support his local team after all.

As for Robbo - let's not link the sublime Smith with the globular gonk, shall we, guys?

***ACLeith*** · 30-09-2009 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by loko

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You can say what you like about Robbo (and many do) but he spoke out against the Mercer takeover bid and attended the Hands Off Hibs meeting in the Usher Hall. Took balls to stand up against Mercer and his stance IMO.

I played in a charity cricket match in the late-80s, the event was supported by both Hearts and Hibs. Robbo had been transferred to Newcastle shortly before and he honoured his agreement to play to represent Hearts - Tommy McIntyre was our rep.

The programme contained messages of support from both clubs. When Robbo was flicking through the programme and came across WM's message, his face darkened and he pretended to spit on the page! He then joked about not telling the press he had just done that!

If I had known he would come back again to haunt us I would have tried even harder to hit him where it hurts when bowling to him

**McIntosh** · 30-09-2009 10:31 AM

My father and I were in Princesmall when Gordon Smith's son was playing the piano and he saw 'his' hero watching from the gallery. He was so awe struck I had to go over and ask for his autograph!

In quite a long conversation GS talked about his career, the thrill of winning the championship with Dundee his regret at not winning the Scottish cup and his deep and enduring love of Hibs - a real gentleman.

I remember his words distinctly when he said that Hibs "rightful place was at the very top of Scottish football" and that it was "one of the great clubs of World football". As I get older and live outwith Scotland I understand what he meant by greateness not size but contribution, values and its ethos.

In those terms this club we are priviledged to support and be a part of is truly 'great' as was its finest player - a wonderful human being.

P.s My father was in his late sixties at the time.

**Septimus** · 30-09-2009 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by Doddie

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The Merrick's at it, Septimus.

He had the pub, the 'Right Wing', on Willowbrae Road. So he DID support his local team after all.

IIRC the pub sign had four jerseys shown on it all with a 7 on the back. Hibs, Hearts, Dundee and Scotland. Good marketing move!

**hibs1875aye** · 30-09-2009 11:44 AM

Its well noted the great Gordon Smith was a hearts fan and was due to sign for them, til the Cabbage come in for him. He repaid us by duly scoring a barreload against them

...and I believe, thereafter, was a hearts follower no more. He of course played for them later, and Dundee but, like all clever people, his heart remained at Easter Road.

***Baader*** · 30-09-2009 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by McIntosh

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My father and I were in Princesmall when Gordon Smith's son was playing the piano and he saw 'his' hero watching from the gallery. He was so awe struck I had to go over and ask for his autograph!

In quite a long conversation GS talked about his career, the thrill of winning the championship with Dundee his regret at not winning the Scottish cup and his deep and enduring love of Hibs - a real gentleman.

I remember his words distinctly when he said that Hibs "rightful place was at the very top of Scottish football" and that it was "one of the great clubs of World football". As I get older and live outwith Scotland I understand what he meant by greateness not size but contribution, values and its ethos.

In those terms this club we are priviledged to support and be a part of is truly 'great' as was its finest player - a wonderful human being.

P.s My father was in his late sixties at the time.

Seemed a really good guy. Just a shame there isn't more footage of him in action.

**~~Alicky Ranks~~** · 30-09-2009 12:21 PM

Don't have my copy of Stewart Brown's 'Hibernian Greats' to hand, but in the chapter on Smith he states that when he signed for Hearts after leaving Hibs he was wary of the reaction of the Hearts fans because despite being a Hearts fans as a kid he had long since become a 'fanatical Hibs supporter' due to nearly 20 years at Easter Road.

The letter writers is clearly just a desperate yam hoping to confer some class on his club. An impossible task.

**McIntosh** · 30-09-2009 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by Alicky Ranks

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Don't have my copy of Stewart Brown's 'Hibernian Greats' to hand, but in the chapter on Smith he states that when he signed for Hearts after leaving Hibs he was wary of the reaction of the Hearts fans because despite being a Hearts fans as a kid he had long since become a 'fanatical Hibs supporter' due to nearly 20 years at Easter Road.

The letter writers is clearly just a desperate yam hoping to confer some class on his club. An impossible task.

Little aside about Stewart Brown his nickname in the North Bridge was Stewart Green!

Another good man, very brave in dealing with his final illness.

**--------** · 30-09-2009 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by McIntosh

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Little aside about Stewart Brown his nickname in the North Bridge was Stewart Green!

Another good man, very brave in dealing with his final illness.

IIRC, Stewart covered Hibs for the EEN, and John Ayres covered Hearts.

I must have read just about every word Stewart wrote about the Cabbage in the 1960's and 1970's - a very fine journalist and a very fine man. Every match-day, there he would be, centre-front of the old Main Stand, missing absolutely nothing.

**ancient hibee** · 30-09-2009 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by Doddie

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IIRC, Stewart covered Hibs for the EEN, and John Ayres covered Hearts.

I must have read just about every word Stewart wrote about the Cabbage in the 1960's and 1970's - a very fine journalist and a very fine man. Every match-day, there he would be, centre-front of the old Main Stand, missing absolutely nothing.

And a very good footballers agent(before they existed).

***Kaiser1962*** · 30-09-2009 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by Alicky Ranks

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Don't have my copy of Stewart Brown's 'Hibernian Greats' to hand, but in the chapter on Smith he states that when he signed for Hearts after leaving Hibs he was wary of the reaction of the Hearts fans because despite being a Hearts fans as a kid he had long since become a 'fanatical Hibs supporter' due to nearly 20 years at Easter Road.

The letter writers is clearly just a desperate yam hoping to confer some class on his club. An impossible task.

After all, they did win the war you know!

**--------** · 30-09-2009 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by ancient hibee

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And a very good footballers agent(before they existed).

Aye, I've been told he helped bring a few good players to ER in his day.

A football writer of the old school - in other words he knew football and football people, he knew footballers, and he could communicate his knowledge to the reader clearly and honestly.

Unlike some of the whores with typewriters we have to thole nowadays.

***Kaiser1962*** · 30-09-2009 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by Alicky Ranks

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Don't have my copy of Stewart Brown's 'Hibernian Greats' to hand, but in the chapter on Smith he states that when he signed for Hearts after leaving Hibs he was wary of the reaction of the Hearts fans because despite being a Hearts fans as a kid he had long since become a 'fanatical Hibs supporter' due to nearly 20 years at Easter Road.

The letter writers is clearly just a desperate yam hoping to confer some class on his club. An impossible task.

After all, they did win the war you know!

**--------** · 30-09-2009 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by Kaiser1962

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After all, they did win the war you know!

Well, you should know, Kaiser.

It was YOUR war where they manned the entire Western Front, wasn't it?

***Irish_Steve*** · 30-09-2009 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by Septimus

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IIRC the pub sign had four jerseys shown on it all with a 7 on the back. Hibs, Hearts, Dundee and Scotland. Good marketing move!

Which is now sadly boarded up - cracking pub too

**RickyS** · 30-09-2009 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by Nakedmanoncrack

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Think he did grow up as a Hearts fan, stretching it a bit to describe him as a life long Jambo. Football players are very rarely real football supporters.

I have heard the stories about Gordon being a Yam, but I was surprised when speaking to Tommy Preston that he is a Yam. in his words, he was very proud to be held in high regard by Hibs Fans and what he achieved when a Hibs player but.................when push comes to shove..........he is one of them