This is how it felt (Napoli 29 11 1967)

[Jonnyboy]

I’m missing my “This is how it feels” gig almost as much as I’m missing the football itself! Inspired by various threads and posts on the MB, I’ve decided to offer up my personal recollections of games from the past, starting with that stunning 5-0 win over Napoli in November 1967. I confess I’ve used some information from other sources, if only to jog my memory but the essence of this offering (and more to come if they’re wanted) is me getting a tad nostalgic!

I was in my mid-teens when Hibs faced what most thought was an impossible task in overcoming a 4-1 deficit against a very talented Napoli. From the Evening News at the time, only manager Bob Shankly seemed upbeat, insisting the tie was far from finished. Italian teams were famous for their Catenaccio approach to games they didn’t want to lose. Essentially, Catenaccio is best described as being the Italian word for sit deep and defend with your life. That’s not a literal translation but that’s what Catenaccio amounted to.

On a misty evening I made my way to Easter Road. I was on my own as my sister had decided that if my 10 year old brother was going, she was taking him and somehow they ended up in the centre stand. No such luxury for me as I fully intended to take up my usual spot under the shelter of the cow shed at the FF end of the ground.

Approaching the stadium I could not believe the crowds outside waiting to gain entrance. I thought to myself that if I joined that queue I’d never get in for the kick off so I sneakily removed my scarf, stuffed it under my jacket and walked to the fans queueing nearest the turnstiles. Ignoring the suspicious glares of many fans I walked towards a guy I barely knew and said in a loud voice “There you are, I’ve been looking for you” before rambling on as he looked at me warily and wondered what the hell had just happened. Anyway, my trick worked and I was in before kick-off, taking my place in the cow shed where singing a general mayhem was pretty much guaranteed.

With the fans in full voice, Hibs exited the tunnel to a huge roar. As I watched the Napoli players it struck me how fit and strong they looked, especially the central defenders. Later they would demonstrate their strength by using their physicality to boot anyone wearing green and white.

Hibs went at them from the start and in just five minutes took the lead in quite stunning fashion. Bobby Duncan robbed the ball from an opponent, strode forward and battered a shot towards goal. When the ball zoomed over the keeper’s head and hit the back of the net the cow shed erupted with bodies flying everywhere. Years later, Pat Stanton told me the players ribbed Duncan about the goal, telling him it was just a poor attempt at a cross but Bobby stuck to his guns and insisted he meant it. I believe him but I’m not sure I agree that he was inside his own half when he hit it! It was probably a good thirty five yards though and as the years passed that distance grew longer in the telling of the story.

In what I assume was an attempt to put Hibs in their place the Italians hacked men down at every opportunity and the Spanish referee Antonio Rigo was a busy man. The visitors clearly didn’t understand the mentality of these Hibs players as every time they were hacked down they got up and went at it again. It was now 4-2 on aggregate and not long before half time the deficit was further reduced when Stein’s shot was not held by goalkeeper Zoff and wee Pat Quinn raced in to fire the ball home, prompting further mayhem behind the goals.

In the second half, Hibs were shooting down their beloved slope and ten minutes in a lovely cross by Alex Scott witnessed Cormack hanging in mid air as he bulleted a header past Zoff. Once the excitement had calmed down it dawned on me that it was now 4-4 on aggregate but that didn’t last long because two minutes after Cormack’s goal, Pat Stanton smashed the ball past Zoff and the Italians promptly lost the plot. Senor Rigo had been a bit lenient to that point but an horrific challenge by Girado on Eric Stevenson saw the Napoli man sent off, and rightly so. Hibs were through now if the visitors failed to score but just to make sure, Colin Stein fired a fifth goal in the dying embers of the game.

What a night, what a result and what a performance. Even my sister was impressed!

Forgive me for not rating the players. They were all a ten anyway!

Hibs: Wilson, Duncan, Davis, Stanton, Madsen, McGraw, Scott, Quinn, Stein, Cormack and Stevenson (Eric, not Lewis).

[poolman]

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I’m missing my “This is how it feels” gig almost as much as I’m missing the football itself! Inspired by various threads and posts on the MB, I’ve decided to offer up my personal recollections of games from the past, starting with that stunning 5-0 win over Napoli in November 1967. I confess I’ve used some information from other sources, if only to jog my memory but the essence of this offering (and more to come if they’re wanted) is me getting a tad nostalgic!

I was in my mid-teens when Hibs faced what most thought was an impossible task in overcoming a 4-1 deficit against a very talented Napoli. From the Evening News at the time, only manager Bob Shankly seemed upbeat, insisting the tie was far from finished. Italian teams were famous for their Catenaccio approach to games they didn’t want to lose. Essentially, Catenaccio is best described as being the Italian word for sit deep and defend with your life. That’s not a literal translation but that’s what Catenaccio amounted to.

On a misty evening I made my way to Easter Road. I was on my own as my sister had decided that if my 10 year old brother was going, she was taking him and somehow they ended up in the centre stand. No such luxury for me as I fully intended to take up my usual spot under the shelter of the cow shed at the FF end of the ground.

Approaching the stadium I could not believe the crowds outside waiting to gain entrance. I thought to myself that if I joined that queue I’d never get in for the kick off so I sneakily removed my scarf, stuffed it under my jacket and walked to the fans queueing nearest the turnstiles. Ignoring the suspicious glares of many fans I walked towards a guy I barely knew and said in a loud voice “There you are, I’ve been looking for you” before rambling on as he looked at me warily and wondered what the hell had just happened. Anyway, my trick worked and I was in before kick-off, taking my place in the cow shed where singing a general mayhem was pretty much guaranteed.

With the fans in full voice, Hibs exited the tunnel to a huge roar. As I watched the Napoli players it struck me how fit and strong they looked, especially the central defenders. Later they would demonstrate their strength by using their physicality to boot anyone wearing green and white.

Hibs went at them from the start and in just five minutes took the lead in quite stunning fashion. Bobby Duncan robbed the ball from an opponent, strode forward and battered a shot towards goal. When the ball zoomed over the keeper’s head and hit the back of the net the cow shed erupted with bodies flying everywhere. Years later, Pat Stanton told me the players ribbed Duncan about the goal, telling him it was just a poor attempt at a cross but Bobby stuck to his guns and insisted he meant it. I believe him but I’m not sure I agree that he was inside his own half when he hit it! It was probably a good thirty five yards though and as the years passed that distance grew longer in the telling of the story.

In what I assume was an attempt to put Hibs in their place the Italians hacked men down at every opportunity and the Spanish referee Antonio Rigo was a busy man. The visitors clearly didn’t understand the mentality of these Hibs players as every time they were hacked down they got up and went at it again. It was now 4-2 on aggregate and not long before half time the deficit was further reduced when Stein’s shot was not held by goalkeeper Zoff and wee Pat Quinn raced in to fire the ball home, prompting further mayhem behind the goals.

In the second half, Hibs were shooting down their beloved slope and ten minutes in a lovely cross by Alex Scott witnessed Cormack hanging in mid air as he bulleted a header past Zoff. Once the excitement had calmed down it dawned on me that it was now 4-4 on aggregate but that didn’t last long because two minutes after Cormack’s goal, Pat Stanton smashed the ball past Zoff and the Italians promptly lost the plot. Senor Rigo had been a bit lenient to that point but an horrific challenge by Girado on Eric Stevenson saw the Napoli man sent off, and rightly so. Hibs were through now if the visitors failed to score but just to make sure, Colin Stein fired a fifth goal in the dying embers of the game.

What a night, what a result and what a performance. Even my sister was impressed!

Forgive me for not rating the players. They were all a ten anyway!

Hibs: Wilson, Duncan, Davis, Stanton, Madsen, McGraw, Scott, Quinn, Stein, Cormack and Stevenson (Eric, not Lewis).

I was 14 when I went to that game

It was Quite unbelievable, still don't think you can get a video of this game anywhere

If this happened now you wouldn't get it off every sport channel showing it

What a night

[BILLYHIBS]

Brilliant Jonnyboy as usual

Cannae stand queue jumpers 😁

[greenginger]

Must have been just along from you Johnnyboy.

we stood in front of Joe’s pylon, the floodlight pylon behind Joe Davis at kickoff.

Amazing night.

[Captain Emerald]

Brilliant! I was there, in the cow shed too. My first European night, my first floodlit match, first game without parental control.

[DaveF]

Excellent stuff.

Already looking forward to how you will write up a 0-0 draw under Bertie Auld 😁

[poolman]

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Excellent stuff.

Already looking forward to how you will write up a 0-0 draw under Bertie Auld 😁

Bit harsh that

Think we only had 18 in one season 😁

[ancient hibee]

The only goal Bobby Duncan scored for Hibs.

[hibby6270]

It was my first European game. Certainly the first I remember. I was 9 years old.
Many more European games to come in the years after ‘67. No doubt you’ll be covering some of them in your future TIHIF reports.

[mim]

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The only goal Bobby Duncan scored for Hibs.

I believe he scored 2.
The other was 1970 in the away match in Malmo when Hibs won 3-2.
A European specialist

[iwasthere1972]

I was also there although my memory of it is not great. I was in the east sand with a friend and his dad. Remember leaving the stadium absolutely amazed that we had won by such a large scoreline against a great Italian team and that we were through to the next round. A brilliant night.

[CloudSquall]

Great read! If I'm being greedy I wouldn't mind one or two more of these Retro "This is how it felt" entries

[houstonhibbee]

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Great read! If I'm being greedy I wouldn't mind one or two more of these Retro "This is how it felt" entries

Sounds like there are more in the offing

out of interest why did you take your scarf off to jump the queue

[southern hibby]

My auld mans a jambo. My mums said numerous times she only married him because she was doing her bit for care in the community, but I digress.

My father reckons I ended up a hibs fan as I was brought up until about 5 at Lochend/ dalgety avenue and because of these European games with the Hibs fans signing Hibs Hibs Hibs I started that too. He said he tried to get me to support hearts but it was always Hibs Hibs Hibs.

Wasn’t at these games but if the atmosphere was anything like AEK Athens then it must have been electric.

GGTTH

[Tom Hart RIP]

Spoke to Bobby Duncan last year and of course brought up that goal.
He modestly told me that his first touch had been poor and he overhit the ball so had to sprint before the Naples player intercepted it and he just kicked it as hard as he could. I suspect there was much more to it than that.
I had the best view of the game in the stadium, on the half way line at the front of the 'east upper' section.
I can still picture the goal and am convinced that Bobby got the ball just in front of the dugout and scored from 40 yards.
Best goal I have ever seen anywhere.

[Onion]

Great review of a very special night .

Was too young to go and was in bed sleeping as it was a school night ....until about 11pm when unusually my Dad woke me up. He had no interest in football (a load of long haired louts running about kissing each other). All he said with a faint smile was "Wake up, you can come an watch this".

We both sat there and watched Hibs produce one of the greatest European performances ever. I think even my Dad was a bit impressed .

[HibbyDave]

Great read, cheers Johnny. I think that Napoli had left their star striker (Altafini?) at home as their manager thought that the tie was over after the first leg.

GGTTH

[Roxyhibee]

Great report thanks.

I hope you’ll allow an 8 year olds memory of bits and pieces from that famous night. I distinctly remember me and my dad in a rush as he was late home from work and running down from Fernieside Crescent to try and catch the maroon 49 which would be sitting at the terminus at Old Dalkeith Road. Just as we got there it pulled away but an SMT was just coming down the and he hailed it down. They had more luxurious seats and zipped through the toon faster and I took it as an omen that our green bus overtook the lumbering maroon one after only a few stops. After irritating my dad with loads of questions about how we could win - ‘’3-0, 4-1, - what about 5-2.?” He said something along the lines of “no - it’s going to be hard to even win, but ach you never know” just to shut me up.

Bizarrely, that is one of the parts of the night I remember most - I know we got in on time and were standing very near the front roughly at the halfway point in the East because we had a great view of Bobby Duncan hitting that ball - I’d say he was about 5 yards inside the Napoli half.

I’d love to say I recall all the goals and other bits of the game but I’m afraid to say I can only remember the exotic colour of the Napoli strips under the floodlights and of course the general carnage in our little crowd of my uncles and others as every goal went in - but significantly, it was the first time I’d witnessed the power of football as I watched normally sensible, reliable, grown men jump about like wee laddies hugging each other.!

[Bostonhibby]

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Bit harsh that

Think we only had 18 in one season

Those were the days, 100% committed to keeping the point we started with, you could hear the booing properly as there wasn't much of a crowd.



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[bigwheel]

What a great thread. Thank you JB !!

[Bostonhibby]

Deleted Duplicate

[ACLeith]

Superb JB. Was I at the game? Yes and no! Wednesdays nights was night school night, so given the result of the 1st leg I went to James Gillespie's at the Meadows, but ran all the way to ER after the class finished, I was very fit in those days, couldn’t run from there TO the Meadows now!

Back then the gates were opened about 30 minutes before the end so got in FOC without any problem. Managed to squeeze into the top of the old East, asked someone the score and was told 2-0. Not long afterwards we scored (given when I got in, I reckon it was a bit later than in your “report” JB) then the 4th and 5th and one of their guys sent off.

So 3 goals and a sending off at no cost and a game in the next round against DLU – that’s value for you.

So was I a part-time supporter for not giving up night school or an uber fan for running all the way through the city streets to the game? Both I reckon! (And I passed my night school exams at the end of the year )

But what a great idea for a thread. Barcelona Feb 1961 next? (I did attend ALL of that game! )

[Bostonhibby]

Great idea Jonnyboy.

Definitely wasn't at the game but got the programme with quite a few autographs on it, going to have a look at it today

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[PeeJay]

Excellent report JC of a magical evening – brings back so many memories – I was only 11 at the time, my mum had bought me a new Hibs scarf and cap for my birthday, so that was it’s first outing. Remember the evening so clearly as if only yesterday, caught the bus on Captain’s Road, bought my programme at top of Easter Road and one of them rosette’s you used to get (?), went round and stood on the old East terracing, there was a great atmosphere that evening, my first real view of a really good foreign team and then I almost lost my cap in the general mayhem after Duncan’s amazing goal went in! We had a really good team back then, if a bit inconsistent.

Great pity that we can’t find footage of this game anywhere on YouTube or wherever – the “youngsters” on here don’t know what they are missing.

I'd like the Leeds game next please ...

[BILLYHIBS]

Napoli made the big mistake of leaving the brilliant Brazilian Altafini at home not sure if he was injured rested or just the fact they were over confident

Big mistake

[Bostonhibby]

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Napoli made the big mistake of leaving the brilliant Brazilian Altafini at home not sure if he was injured rested or just the fact they were over confident

Big mistake

Yep, he came on against us in his "twilight" years for Juventus in the UEFA cup, think we were ahead at the time, looked his age but one of the best individual strikers I recall seeing at ER, won the game for them.

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[BILLYHIBS]

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Yep, he came on against us in his "twilight" years for Juventus in the UEFA cup, think we were ahead at the time, looked his age but one of the best individual strikers I recall seeing at ER, won the game for them.

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Yip!

Pace to burn for one so old

I think we were 2-1 up and lost 4-2

[Bostonhibby]

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Yip!

Pace to burn for one so old

I think we were 2-1 up and lost 4-2

Just read about it to refresh my memory

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[gbhibby]

Was at the game, I was six years old and in the old enclosure. I ended up sitting in the TV platform as I could not get to the front of the enclosure due to the big crowd. STV filmed the game. I went mental when Bobby Duncan scored and was ejected from the TV platform as I nearly knocked one of the cameras over. I do not remember a lot about the game so this my father's memories from the game.

[.Sean.]

Brilliant read. What songs did the support song back then? For anyone round about my age it’s hard to imagine what a day at the football/ atmosphere was like back then, in what ways is it comparable to these days or was it different in any way?