Lewis Stevenson interview

[hibee_girl]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/l...-eye-pv2jgb7qv

Good interview from Lewis here.

It’s interesting what he says about negative comments from the fans affecting him.

[Dmas]

Something I’d have thought he’d have gotten used too, can’t read that article as not subscribed but one of if not the most consistent performers for us over a number of years yet there is still a band of fans waiting in the wings to shout him down for one cross hitting the first man, doesn’t matter that he’ll burst a gut for 90mins tearing up and down the pitch battling for everything

[JohnM1875]

Anyone fancy copy and pasting it?

Saying I need to sign up to read the full thing apparently!

[04Sauzee]

Can't read it but im a big fan of his, bump into him a lot where i stay and a nicer guy you will never meet. Love the guy.

[SMAXXA]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Something I’d have thought he’d have gotten used too, can’t read that article as not subscribed but one of if not the most consistent performers for us over a number of years yet there is still a band of fans waiting in the wings to shout him down for one cross hitting the first man, doesn’t matter that he’ll burst a gut for 90mins tearing up and down the pitch battling for everything

I don’t think he gets it that bad to be honest, it’s like anything else people will have players they like and others not so much. On the whole he’s loved and respected by Hibs fans as a genuine Hibs legend imo and that’s what he will remember not the inevitable select fans who don’t rate you as a player

[Hibbyradge]

It has a pay wall and I don't want to give Murdoch any of my money.

I'm sure there will be many who feel the same way so, unless someone copies and pastes the article, a potentially great thread will never reach the heights it truly deserves.

[Pretty Boy]

I find Lewis is probably the player who polarises reaction more than any other.

There are those who have never really rated him and they make sure everyone knows about it. On the flip side there are those who seem very protective of him and every criticism of him is lumped into the pile with those of people who hold the former view. Even criticism that is warranted is often dismissed as 'scapegoating'.

Lewis Stevenson is a Hibs legend as far as I'm concerned and he has given us well over a decade of good service as a fine player. I rate him and will always defend his contribution over the years. I also don't think 'poor Lewy' needs patronised and to be treated as though he has to be sheltered from criticism or, perhaps more accurately, treated as though he is above it.

[Power]

Honest interview, definitely a couple of points to ponder.

FOOTBALL | LEWIS STEVENSON INTERVIEW


Lewis Stevenson: I’ve never liked watching myself play — I’m not exactly easy on the eye
Graham Spiers
December 14 2019, 12:01am, The Times

Stevenson 31, has served under 11 managers at Hibs and seen off ten

When I arrived and sat down yesterday to chat with Lewis Stevenson, we immediately began picking over the election result from the night before, and in particular Labour’s spectacular collapse. Fourteen years ago Stevenson was on the brink of going to Dundee University to study politics before a full-time offer from Hibs came in the way. His father, Brian, is a Labour activist in Kirkcaldy, where Stevenson grew up, and is currently feeling gutted.

“It’s funny, I’ve come in here today to training and no-one among the players has mentioned the election yet,” said Lewis. “I guess that’s football for you.” Stevenson has a left-of-centre world view, which informs much of his charity work, and is a clear deposit from his father.

This perennial Hibs full back just goes on and on down that left flank. It is amazing that Stevenson is still only 31; he sometimes seems to have been featuring in Scottish football’s top flight since Tony Blair was in Number 10, though in fact his breakthrough season was 2006. Stevenson has played under 11 Hibs managers — Tony Mowbray, John Collins, Mixu Paatelainen, John Hughes, Colin Calderwood, Pat Fenlon, Terry Butcher, Alan Stubbs, Neil Lennon, Paul Heckingbottom and Jack Ross — and has seen ten of them off to date.

“I’ve actually got on well with all of them,” he says. “But I think that’s because I tend to keep my head down and do what I’m told. I don’t cause anyone much bother.”

Stevenson is self-deprecating to a point of almost painful modesty. He is the only players in Hibs’ history to have won both a League Cup and a Scottish Cup — he did them nine years apart — and cannot stand watching himself playing in any TV highlights, which he religiously avoids.

“I’d never watched the 2016 Scottish Cup final back until very recently,” he says. “I’ve never liked watching myself playing, even in the good times. I’m not sure why. It’s something to do with my style of play — I’m not exactly easy on the eye.”

Stevenson even insists the Hibs fans must be a bit bored watching him play. “When Hibs sign a new player, any fan wants to see him get in the team and do well,” he says. “You don’t want to see the same guy going up and down the left. You get bored watching the same guy, surely?

“I’ve been here 12 years and I’ve understood the fans’ frustration with me sometimes. Over the years my form has dipped here and there and I’ve known it. But so long as I’m here I think the fans know I’ll give everything I’ve got.”

By his own admission there is something sensitive and maybe even a little fragile in Stevenson’s psyche. He had to learn, he says, to come off social media after being wounded once too often by a comment he read about himself. “Even if I had a great game, and there might be 100 comments saying nice things about me, there would be one or two negative ones that would stick. It was heartbreaking to see what some people were saying about me.

“Maybe I’m too soft. If there are lots of positive things said, it would be the negative ones that would stay with me and bug me. So I stay off social media as much a possible now.

“The mental side of playing football is massive. You need to have confidence as a player; you don’t want to feel like you’ve got to go out on the pitch to prove yourself to some fans who have been hammering you on social media.

“I know footballers today like to interact with each other on social media, but I leave that to others. My advice to any young footballer coming through today would be: ‘Stay off social media as much as you can’.”

For a while Stevenson was almost taken for granted by Hibs: shunted from position to position and never knowing if his recurring one-year contracts were going to be renewed. He smiles at the memory of it, and that bus queue of Hibs managers. “Someone once called me ‘Polyfilla’ because I was being put here, there and everywhere in the team: right back, centre mid, left back, left mid. And there were times when I thought, ‘I’ve got to the end of my career here, it’s maybe better for me to move away’.

“There were times when Hibs were forever giving me one-year deals, and I’d get to March or April and still be wondering if I was going to get a new contract. I never bothered with an agent, it just wasn’t me.

“But these last five or six years have been a lot more stable. I feel strong, I feel fit, I don’t miss many training sessions. I’ve probably played my best football as I’ve got older. Plus, for all that they might be bored watching me, my rapport with the Hibs fans now is probably as good as it’s ever been.”

It has all been quite a joyride for the quiet kid from Kirkcaldy. “I was meant to go to uni back in 2005. That summer I went on an end-of-school trip to Magaluf with some pals, but when I came home there was a contract offer on the table for me from Tony Mowbray.

“I was just this wee lad from Fife. When I first came down here and walked through the doors of Easter Road I never imagined that 13 or 14 years later I’d still be here.

“Garry O’Connor, Derek Riordan, Steven Fletcher, Gary Caldwell were all here. I was a wee kid walking in and saying ‘wow!’ On any international break back then there would be five or six Hibs lads away. It was incredible.”

Stevenson vowed to himself that, when his testimonial game came round two years ago, he would give half of the proceeds to charity. He spoke to a friend, Graeme Cadger, about it, out of which came his charitable work with Paul Hanlon through the Hanlon Stevenson Foundation.

“I always wanted to try to help people in a small way. I gave away half my money from my testimonial, but I still had some money left over. So we decided to start something — the foundation — where I could carry on trying to help. Paul felt the same so we decided to club together.

“We give money out to different charities in the Edinburgh area. The idea is to give under-privileged kids the chance to play football, given that nowadays it can cost 50 quid a month for a kid to play at a sports club. It didn’t seem fair to me that traditional working class kids were being priced out of the game.

“Right now we help two charities in Edinburgh: Helping Hands and Street Soccer. We are currently funding a coach for Street Soccer for the whole year. I’m not boasting about it or anything, it’s just something I want to do.”

[JohnM1875]

He really is some man!! What an absolute legend!

[BS44]

A proper man who puts the rest of us to shame.

[Eyrie]

Makes you appreciate as a person even more.

[green day]

LS and PH are, and continue to be, great players for us.

That they occasionally have poor matches or dips in form is understandable and forgiveable.

Their achievements at Hibs and what they are doing for charity is fantastic.

[LithgaeHibby]

Incredible guy. Don't know if I've ever heard a footballer being so modest and self-deprecating.

[O'Rourke3]

Nice interview. Great guy. Club Legend.

[KWJ]

They deserve the upmost respect from the Hibs fans for what they've achieved.

[weecounty hibby]

Great guy and if there really is such a thing as Hibs class Lewis is it

[blackpoolhibs]

I was not his biggest fan in his early days, but he grew on me and its fair to say he became my favourite player of recent seasons.

He is probably coming towards the end of his time as a first team regular, although it wouldnt surprise me if he kicked on again and proved me wrong.

A legend.

[sleeping giant]

Absolute living legend.
What a man.

[Bostonhibby]

Great professional and a wonderful servant to our club. Delighted he's one of us. Always been a fan of Lewis.

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

[wookie70]

This forum might night like the phrase Hibs class but Lewis oozes it from every pore. A true legend in many senses and on different levels and my favourite ever Hibs player.

[Shrekko]

It’s a shame he doesn’t seem to really realise what he means to the club and fans. Can’t believe he doesn’t think his style is easy on the eye - he’s not swashbuckling but is very comfortable on the ball and neat and tidy.

Think his recent performances prove there’s more in the tank - really good player and excellent person!

[calumhibee1]

Absolute legend.

[Fergos]

One word - Legend.

GGTTH

[stoneyburn hibs]

Great read, legend.

[CraigHibee]

he is a top guy and a loyal servant, would love to see him staying at us for his full career

[Hi Heid Yin]

Lewis is indeed a legend.
It took me years to truly appreciate what he brought to our side and I was, for a good while, vocal in my criticism of him, but only ever on Hibs.Net, never at a game.
Now, I admire, respect and appreciate him for his 100% effort, commitment and professionalism...plus, he genuinely has one of the most endearing personalities going.
His conduct both on and off the park is first class.
He truly is a wonderful ambassador for our beloved club.

[el hibs]

Legend.

[Smartie]

It may not come naturally to him but he really needs to give himself a break.

There is a very good reason why he’s held in such high regard by the Hibs fans.

[Jonnyboy]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

It may not come naturally to him but he really needs to give himself a break.

There is a very good reason why he’s held in such high regard by the Hibs fans.

He’ll never change now. I had the good fortune to interview him on the pitch as the team paraded the CIS Cup around ER and when I asked him how he felt having been voted man of the match he said he was stunned even to be here as he wasn’t even the best player in his school football team!

He’s a lovely and very grounded laddie and deserves all the plaudits he gets 👍

[cmcd]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

I find Lewis is probably the player who polarises reaction more than any other.

There are those who have never really rated him and they make sure everyone knows about it. On the flip side there are those who seem very protective of him and every criticism of him is lumped into the pile with those of people who hold the former view. Even criticism that is warranted is often dismissed as 'scapegoating'.

Lewis Stevenson is a Hibs legend as far as I'm concerned and he has given us well over a decade of good service as a fine player. I rate him and will always defend his contribution over the years. I also don't think 'poor Lewy' needs patronised and to be treated as though he has to be sheltered from criticism or, perhaps more accurately, treated as though he is above it.

Well said