Dougie Cromb recalls past battles

***H18sry*** · 24-05-2014 06:48 AM

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/footba...tles-1-3421675 Great read

***LancsHibs*** · 24-05-2014 07:03 AM

Good article, good to hear from Douggie and he's keeping well

***bawheid*** · 24-05-2014 07:11 AM

He's a good man. I remember writing to him as a 12 year old asking him not to move Hibs to Straiton and he sent me back a personal reply.

***DarlingtonHibee*** · 24-05-2014 07:14 AM

True gent, and a great Hibs man.

**Booked4Being-Ugly** · 24-05-2014 07:21 AM

Dougie Cromb is a legend IMO and had a passion for Hibs and football in his time as chairman that is sadly lacking at ER just now.

***hibbybob*** · 24-05-2014 07:26 AM

I occasionally see Dougie around Colinton. He doesn't know me from Adam but always happy to spend a few minutes chatting about the Hibs.

I find it sad that he doesn't attend matches any more.

A really nice guy and a true Hibby.

***Billy Whizz*** · 24-05-2014 07:35 AM

Met him last week at a funeral that he was representing Hibs at.

**#FromTheCapital** · 24-05-2014 07:57 AM

What an excellent read. Dougie was chairman when I first started going to games.

***The Harp*** · 24-05-2014 07:57 AM

I was another who was invited to Dougie's office to chat about some complaint or other I felt strongly about (it must've been so important I've forgotten what it was

).
I found him very welcoming and down to earth. Just a really nice guy who was doing a job at the Club he loved.
Good to know he's still with us and still caring.

**RCNG** · 24-05-2014 08:00 AM

Leeann - Sign him up!

***matty_f*** · 24-05-2014 08:13 AM

Really interesting article, it's fantastic to get an insight into Hibs from someone who ran the club for so long.

***BroxburnHibee*** · 24-05-2014 09:04 AM

He invited me round for a chat as well after I complained about a letter every ST holder in the new FF stand had received following some trouble with away fans in the hospitality section.

Genuinely nice guy and clearly passionate about Hibs.

**smurf** · 24-05-2014 09:13 AM

Fascinating read. Back in 2002 not long after Franck Säuzee was sacked I took my then Mrs to a Chinese acupuncture place up Bruntsfield. I was not looking forward to sitting in the reception waiting but was shocked and surprised to discover Douglas Cromb was working manning the phones! I went with her every week and he opened up quite a lot. Not fair to disclose what he said but he told me Franck Säuzee thought Rod Petrie was not a football man and would be better suited running a steel factory. Douglas impressed me with his love and passion for our club and is a very nice man.

**~~Phil D. Rolls~~** · 24-05-2014 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by Booked4Being-Ugly

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Dougie Cromb is a legend IMO and had a passion for Hibs and football in his time as chairman that is sadly lacking at ER just now.

Cromb was the guy that stuck with Miller when the majority of fans (see various EEN polls) wanted him out. Seems that history has a way of giving people different perspectives.

IIRC his departure saw a new "Hibs minded" regime come in.A year later we were down. We should be careful what we wish for.

**smurf** · 24-05-2014 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by Filled Rolls

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Cromb was the guy that stuck with Miller when the majority of fans (see various EEN polls) wanted him out. Seems that history has a way of giving people different perspectives.

IIRC his departure saw a new "Hibs minded" regime come in.A year later we were down. We should be careful what we wish for.

What "Hibs minded" regime was that? RP joined the board in 1996 and to all intents and purposes was running the show on behalf of Sir Tom then.

**NadeAteMyLunch!** · 24-05-2014 09:47 AM

He reminds me of being so young and just starting out going to the games with my dad. Great times. Gent of a guy

**Pretty Boy** · 24-05-2014 09:49 AM

Am I right in thinking he had a stint as Chairman of Raith Rovers after leaving Hibs?

**smurf** · 24-05-2014 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by Pretty Boy

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Am I right in thinking he had a stint as Chairman of Raith Rovers after leaving Hibs?

He did. Ex Hibs director Iain Breenan also involved IIRC.

**~~Phil D. Rolls~~** · 24-05-2014 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by smurf

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What "Hibs minded" regime was that? RP joined the board in 1996 and to all intents and purposes was running the show on behalf of Sir Tom then.

Tom O'Malley. Have to take your word for it about Petrie, but I find it hard to believe Lex Gold was just there as a gopher.

***Gettin' Auld*** · 24-05-2014 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by Pretty Boy

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Am I right in thinking he had a stint as Chairman of Raith Rovers after leaving Hibs?

Aye, i think he was their charman when we were relegated and faced them in the First Division.

**Capt Mainwaring** · 24-05-2014 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by smurf

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He did. Ex Hibs director Iain Breenan also involved IIRC.

Both great Hibees. Ian Brennan ran the Bonnyrigg Branch Supporters Bus for years and as passionate Hibee you were ever likely to meet.

**trev the hat** · 24-05-2014 11:25 AM

I remember going down pre season one year to pick my season ticket seat in the old North (main) stand upper with my auld man & Cromb was showing people around the seats they were picking. A personal touch which I fondly remember & shows why it's so important to fans to have a Chairman / Owner who actually supports the club themselves.
A cracking read & thanks for posting.
Here's to you Douglas

**theonlywayisup** · 24-05-2014 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by Capt Mainwaring

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Both great Hibees. Ian Brennan ran the Bonnyrigg Branch Supporters Bus for years and as passionate Hibee you were ever likely to meet.

Did Ian Brennan run a shop in Gorebridge? If it is the guy I'm thinking about, I have not seen him for ages. Over twenty years. He had a 0-7 back page proudly hung up in his back office.

**ekhibee** · 24-05-2014 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by The Harp

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I was another who was invited to Dougie's office to chat about some complaint or other I felt strongly about (it must've been so important I've forgotten what it was

).
I found him very welcoming and down to earth. Just a really nice guy who was doing a job at the Club he loved.
Good to know he's still with us and still caring.

I was almost the same. I was at a Hibs v Celtic game and at that time sat in the FF. The hospitality seats used to be there and McAvennie was there giving tight to the Hibs fans, standing up, turning to them and making gestures. That cause a few fans threw pies at him etc, and in the paper on Monday Cromb made a long statement about the disgraceful behaviour by Hibs fans. I was annoyed about this, McAvennie had clearly provoked the fans in the stand he was in, and opposing 'diginitaries' have a responsibility to behave at opposing teams grounds. I wrote to Cromb expressing my annoyance, and to give the guy credit he wrote back, apologizing and said he fully accepted what I was saying. I don't usually write to the club about things like that and hadn't expected to get a reply. But Cromb showed that he truly cared what the fans think, and the fact he took the trouble to reply seems a million miles away from the kind of reply, if any, that I would have received from the current board.

**Soldiersteve** · 24-05-2014 04:04 PM

I remember buying a ST in the old shop in ER one year,maybe 1990.
Dougie was manning the shop and had a chat.

**HibeesLA** · 24-05-2014 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by ekhibee

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I was almost the same. I was at a Hibs v Celtic game and at that time sat in the FF. The hospitality seats used to be there and McAvennie was there giving tight to the Hibs fans, standing up, turning to them and making gestures. That cause a few fans threw pies at him etc, and in the paper on Monday Cromb made a long statement about the disgraceful behaviour by Hibs fans. I was annoyed about this, McAvennie had clearly provoked the fans in the stand he was in, and opposing 'diginitaries' have a responsibility to behave at opposing teams grounds. I wrote to Cromb expressing my annoyance, and to give the guy credit he wrote back, apologizing and said he fully accepted what I was saying. I don't usually write to the club about things like that and hadn't expected to get a reply. But Cromb showed that he truly cared what the fans think, and the fact he took the trouble to reply seems a million miles away from the kind of reply, if any, that I would have received from the current board.

I seem to remember him actually coming into the FF stand after that and engaging with supporters before the game. Took a lot of stick from everyone, but stood there for a while and chatted to anyone who approached.

***Kaiser1962*** · 24-05-2014 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by Soldiersteve

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I remember buying a ST in the old shop in ER one year,maybe 1990.
Dougie was manning the shop and had a chat.

Met with him in Lauder in June 1990 and could hardly see him across the table for smoke.

Decent guy and pleased to see him still going well.

**~~Peevemor~~** · 24-05-2014 06:37 PM

I remember when the tickets went on sale for some semi or final (I can't remember which), Hibs had handed out vouchers at the previous home match which guaranteed you a ticket. All you had to do was post your voucher(s) with a cheque and the tickets would be sent. Obviously nobody trusted this system and everyone turned up in person when the tickets went on sale, resulting in a humongous queue on ER. Dougie Crombe and Kenny McLean snr. walked the length of the queue chatting away to everyone and tried to convince us that there was no need to stand in a queue. I don't think they managed to convince anyone, but it showed a human touch that I think was appreciated by everyone there.

Changing the subject, I used to love going to the old shop in the main stand - you never knew who was going to serve you or who'd be hanging about having a chat.