The Ivan Sproule Debate

[Edina Street]

I was going to post a thread named "Hibernian's fastest ever player", and post a poll with Ivan alongside other Hibernian sprinters such as Martin Boyle, Gordon Hunter, Gordon Durie, Gordon Smith, Gareth Evans. However, I have changed the title to "The Ivan Sproule Debate" due to the fact that when I went to get some facts together about Ivan Sproule and what actual speed he could run at, I could find none. In fact, he does not even make the top twenty fastest players in the world in most articles on the internet. I personally think this is just poor journalism.

So, I am going to scrap the Hibernian poll, and instead put Ivan Sproule up against the other fastest footballers in the world, as I genuinely think Ivan Sproule would have been the fastest of all of them.

Fastest footballers ever - According to FootySamba
https://footysamba.com/who-is-the-fa...r-of-all-time/

1. Cristiano Ronaldo- 24.854848 MP/H
2. Adama Traore- 23.4797532 MP/H
3. Gareth Bale – 23.03 MP/H
4. Antonio Rudiger– 22.80432 MP/H
5. Jeremie Frimpong- 22.760827 MP/H
6. Jeremiha ST. Juste- 22.760827 MP/H
7. Mykhailo Mudryk- 22.760827 MP/H
8. Ousmane Dembele- 22.74219 MP/H
9. Mohamed Salah- 22.74219 MP/H
10. Moussa Diaby- 22.692476 MP/H
11. Alphonso Davies- 22.692476 MP/H
12. Darwin Nunez Fastest Speed- 22.68005 MP/H
13. Rafael Leao- 22.68005 MP/H
14. Claudio Caniggia- 22.64 MP/H
15. Federico Valverde- 22.55577 MP/H
16. Erling Haaland– 22.55577 MP/H
17. Karim Adeyemi- 22.4315 MP/H
18. Kylian Mbappe- 22.3694 MP/H
19. Theo Hernandez- 22.30723 MP/H
20. Kamaldeen Sulemana- 22.18295 MP/H

According to FeedMeGoal
‹https://feedmegoal.com/top10-fastest/

1. Arjen Robben – 37 KM/H
2. Alphanso Davies – 36.51 KM/H
3. Kylian Mbappe – 36.08
4. Erling Haaland – 36.04
5. Antonio Valencia – 35.1 KM/H
6. Theo Walcott – 35 KM/H
7. Gareth Bale – 34.7 KM/H
8. Cristiano Ronaldo – 33.6 KM/H
9. Leo Messi – 32.5 KM/H
10. Frank Ribery – 30.7 KM/H

I will post a poll now. Who do you think is the fastest footballer of them all?

[DIXIHIBS]

I must be getting auld...ive never even heard of half these players!!

[cabbageandribs1875]

i didn't realise Haaland was so quick until i saw him sprint in a man city game just a few weeks back

[HibbyAndy]

Gareth Evans was rapid but i think Sproule was quicker


Bellerin was quicker than Henry over a 100 yards apparently

[Bishop Hibee]

Sproule was quick. Other notables for Hibs were Arthur Duncan, Gordon Durie and Didier Agathe.

[Edina Street]

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Sproule was quick. Other notables for Hibs were Arthur Duncan, Gordon Durie and Didier Agathe.

Could probably add Kenny Miller to that list.

But imao Ivan Sproule was on a different list from the rest of the names. Ivan's pace was supernatural.

[Jones28]

His acceleration and pace are like nothing I’ve ever seen in a Hibs shirt.

Fastest player I’ve seen in person.

[DaveF]

Sproule was the fastest player I've seen. He roasted everyone he came up against in terms of speed.

Must admit, I dont recall Durie being overly fast but that might just be my memory.

[007]

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I was going to post a thread named "Hibernian's fastest ever player", and post a poll with Ivan alongside other Hibernian sprinters such as Martin Boyle, Gordon Hunter, Gordon Durie, Gordon Smith, Gareth Evans. However, I have changed the title to "The Ivan Sproule Debate" due to the fact that when I went to get some facts together about Ivan Sproule and what actual speed he could run at, I could find none. In fact, he does not even make the top twenty fastest players in the world in most articles on the internet. I personally think this is just poor journalism.

So, I am going to scrap the Hibernian poll, and instead put Ivan Sproule up against the other fastest footballers in the world, as I genuinely think Ivan Sproule would have been the fastest of all of them.

Fastest footballers ever - According to FootySamba
https://footysamba.com/who-is-the-fa...r-of-all-time/

1. Cristiano Ronaldo- 24.854848 MP/H
2. Adama Traore- 23.4797532 MP/H
3. Gareth Bale – 23.03 MP/H
4. Antonio Rudiger– 22.80432 MP/H
5. Jeremie Frimpong- 22.760827 MP/H
6. Jeremiha ST. Juste- 22.760827 MP/H
7. Mykhailo Mudryk- 22.760827 MP/H
8. Ousmane Dembele- 22.74219 MP/H
9. Mohamed Salah- 22.74219 MP/H
10. Moussa Diaby- 22.692476 MP/H
11. Alphonso Davies- 22.692476 MP/H
12. Darwin Nunez Fastest Speed- 22.68005 MP/H
13. Rafael Leao- 22.68005 MP/H
14. Claudio Caniggia- 22.64 MP/H
15. Federico Valverde- 22.55577 MP/H
16. Erling Haaland– 22.55577 MP/H
17. Karim Adeyemi- 22.4315 MP/H
18. Kylian Mbappe- 22.3694 MP/H
19. Theo Hernandez- 22.30723 MP/H
20. Kamaldeen Sulemana- 22.18295 MP/H

According to FeedMeGoal
‹https://feedmegoal.com/top10-fastest/

1. Arjen Robben – 37 KM/H
2. Alphanso Davies – 36.51 KM/H
3. Kylian Mbappe – 36.08
4. Erling Haaland – 36.04
5. Antonio Valencia – 35.1 KM/H
6. Theo Walcott – 35 KM/H
7. Gareth Bale – 34.7 KM/H
8. Cristiano Ronaldo – 33.6 KM/H
9. Leo Messi – 32.5 KM/H
10. Frank Ribery – 30.7 KM/H

I will post a poll now. Who do you think is the fastest footballer of them all?

This guy! 🤔

[Edina Street]

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This guy! 🤔

Usain Bolt? Perhaps he was faster than Ivan Sproule. But couldn't Ivan have been an Olympic sprinter if he had not chose football? I am sure I read somewhere that he could have been. Can't find the source any more though.

[Glory Lurker]

Never had more faith in a player to win a one on one than I did in Ivan. It wasn't even faith, it was a given - first spell, anyway.

But maybe AOB was faster? The lack of the end result has maybe skewed my thinking?

[Donegal Hibby]

Ivan sproule definitely the fastest player I seen at Hibs . Huns couldn't live with him when he got his hattrick at Ibrox, Scott brown looked nippy enough then too .
https://youtu.be/N5lIvoRWsGo

[cameronw-hfc]

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Usain Bolt? Perhaps he was faster than Ivan Sproule. But couldn't Ivan have been an Olympic sprinter if he had not chose football? I am sure I read somewhere that he could have been. Can't find the source any more though.

The only player I've seen that could rival for pace Ivan was Bellerin when he burst through at Arsenal. He did chose football over 100m sprinting, not really quick now due to injuries but his first few seasons at arsenal he was frightenly quick. I remember one interception he made and he must have made up 40 yards on the boy to get back and make the tackle

Only 40 seconds worth here but before his knee injury he was rapid

https://youtu.be/tVEZMedIaq8

I also think Boyle has lost half a yard of pace from his first knee injury at Hibs but its turned him into a better player. He's still rapid, but I remember his first season he was Ivan like with his pace, was almost unbelievable at times how quick he was, although I think losing half a yard has made him a much better player as he no longer relies on it as much

[Paul1642]

Ivan’s speed was superhuman and easily one of my all time favourites. That list is just lazy and clearly only measures recent players from the top leagues.

Without any bias I am certain the Sproule was faster than Ronaldo by yards and I bet there have been countless others not in the top leagues to have been faster.

[cameronw-hfc]

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Ivan’s speed was superhuman and easily one of my all time favourites. That list is just lazy and clearly only measures recent players from the top leagues.

Without any bias I am certain the Sproule was faster than Ronaldo by yards and I bet there have been countless others not in the top leagues to have been faster.

Mbappe and Hernandez being so low shows this list up. I think Adama is the quickest on that list followed by those two, it's a strange one. Valverde is absolutely rapid as well

[Mick O'Rourke]

George McNeill from Turnent,! who older supporters here will remember at Hibs in the mid 60s, was a World Professional Sprint Champion.

George disqualified from representing UK in amateur athletic events as he had played sport as a pro (paid)

I know sprint times have got faster since George's day .But he was fast !

He recorded quicker times than the top Olympic runners of that era.
He also beat Olympic champion,the American Tommy Smith
(we older ones remember Tommy's black glove clenched fist at the medal ceremony)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_McNeill_(sprinter)

So George is the fastest man to play for Hibs or any team, apart from Bolt.!

[J-C]

Must be a shout out for Boyle for this, when fit he's one of the most rapid players I've seen, Sproule also.

[J-C]

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George McNeill from Turnent,! who older supporters here will remember at Hibs in the mid 60s, was a World Professional Sprint Champion.

George disqualified from representing UK in amateur athletic events as he had played sport as a pro (paid)

I know sprint times have got faster since George's day .But he was fast !

He recorded quicker times than the top Olympic runners of that era.
He also beat Olympic champion,the American Tommy Smith (clenched fist)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_McNeill_(sprinter)

So George is the fastest man to play for Hibs or any team, apart from Bolt.!

Used to go and see him running the New Years day sprint at Musselburgh race course.

[McSwanky]

If we're pitching Sproule as one of the fastest players of all time, then Alan O'Brien must be off the charts...

Sent from my YAL-L21 using Tapatalk

[Edina Street]

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Sproule was the fastest player I've seen. He roasted everyone he came up against in terms of speed.

Must admit, I dont recall Durie being overly fast but that might just be my memory.

I seem to remember a lot of the old boys that will mostly be dead now, state that watching Gordon Durie run down the right wing brought back memories of Gordon Smith. So he must have been fast.

I do believe Gordon Durie suffered a bad injury whilst at Hibs though, and a lot of people said at the the time he was still good when he recovered, but not quite the same player as he was. Perhaps he lost a bit of pace.

[Mick O'Rourke]

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Used to go and see him running the New Years day sprint at Musselburgh race course.

Indeed J-C
Powderhall dog track before that on NYD event
Run for Fun!!


Sproule ,O'Brien,Durie ?
They woodnae catch George !

[Pretty Boy]

Bizarrely the only player I can recall always seeming to be able to manage Sproule's pace was Aberdeen era Michael Hart.

There was a game against Aberdeen when Calderwood switched Hart to the left of their defence to match up against Sproule and he never got a kick. He was then played on the left the next time we played them.

Sadly he was slower than a week in jail by the time we signed him.

[Edina Street]

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If we're pitching Sproule as one of the fastest players of all time, then Alan O'Brien must be off the charts...

Sent from my YAL-L21 using Tapatalk

If only we had some actual stats to settle this with. Because just like I thought Andy Goram was one of the best goalkeepers in the world whilst still playing for Hibs, and Russell Latapy was one of the best attacking midfielders in the world whilst playing for Hibs, I seriously believe that Ivan Sproule was the fastest footballer in the world whilst playing for Hibs. Though I would like to find some stats to make a definite comparison with other contenders.

[Mibbes Aye]

As mentioned above, Hector Bellerin was ridiculously fast for a spell with Arsenal.

I’m a little disappointed that we don’t seem to be discussing Lewis here though. He is probably past his career-best but he could move at his peak.

I recall a home game against Rankgers, a few years back now where Lewis starting deep in his own half, absolutely bombed it up the wing supporting an attack, ending up in their box or thereabouts. The Huns won the ball back and immediately counter-attacked down their right. Having just sprinted the length of the pitch in one direction, Lewis did it all over again, racing Nicky Clark the other way.

I think the ball went out or ended up with the keeper and Lewis just stopped, hands on hips, leaning forward, taking massive gulps of air, looking like he had been hit in the stomach with a sledgehammer. Ten or twenty seconds later and he was off and running again...

[Donegal Hibby]

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George McNeill from Turnent,! who older supporters here will remember at Hibs in the mid 60s, was a World Professional Sprint Champion.

George disqualified from representing UK in amateur athletic events as he had played sport as a pro (paid)

I know sprint times have got faster since George's day .But he was fast !

He recorded quicker times than the top Olympic runners of that era.
He also beat Olympic champion,the American Tommy Smith
(we older ones remember Tommy's black glove clenched fist at the medal ceremony)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_McNeill_(sprinter)

So George is the fastest man to play for Hibs or any team, apart from Bolt.!

He certainly was fast , another one I've been checking up on . Thanks Mick 👍.
https://youtu.be/GjYlwCZPiY4

[J-C]

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Indeed J-C
Powderhall dog track before that on NYD event
Run for Fun!!


Sproule ,O'Brien,Durie ?
They woodnae catch George !

Still holds the world 120yd record.

[Edina Street]

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George McNeill from Turnent,! who older supporters here will remember at Hibs in the mid 60s, was a World Professional Sprint Champion.

George disqualified from representing UK in amateur athletic events as he had played sport as a pro (paid)

I know sprint times have got faster since George's day .But he was fast !

He recorded quicker times than the top Olympic runners of that era.
He also beat Olympic champion,the American Tommy Smith
(we older ones remember Tommy's black glove clenched fist at the medal ceremony)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_McNeill_(sprinter)

So George is the fastest man to play for Hibs or any team, apart from Bolt.!

Thanks for that. Another player I have never heard of whom we can award an accolade to.

Hibernian's hardest ever man - John McNamee
Hibernian's fastest ever man - George McNeill

I still suspect that Ivan Sproule at his peak would dispute this though.

[ancient hibee]

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George McNeill from Turnent,! who older supporters here will remember at Hibs in the mid 60s, was a World Professional Sprint Champion.

George disqualified from representing UK in amateur athletic events as he had played sport as a pro (paid)

I know sprint times have got faster since George's day .But he was fast !

He recorded quicker times than the top Olympic runners of that era.
He also beat Olympic champion,the American Tommy Smith
(we older ones remember Tommy's black glove clenched fist at the medal ceremony)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_McNeill_(sprinter)

So George is the fastest man to play for Hibs or any team, apart from Bolt.!

George could have given them all a start. He usually had to in his races.

[Soldiersteve]

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I seem to remember a lot of the old boys that will mostly be dead now, state that watching Gordon Durie run down the right wing brought back memories of Gordon Smith. So he must have been fast.

I do believe Gordon Durie suffered a bad injury whilst at Hibs though, and a lot of people said at the the time he was still good when he recovered, but not quite the same player as he was. Perhaps he lost a bit of pace.

Does nobody else think Peter Marinello was super fast?

[greenginger]

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George McNeill from Turnent,! who older supporters here will remember at Hibs in the mid 60s, was a World Professional Sprint Champion.

George disqualified from representing UK in amateur athletic events as he had played sport as a pro (paid)

I know sprint times have got faster since George's day .But he was fast !

He recorded quicker times than the top Olympic runners of that era.
He also beat Olympic champion,the American Tommy Smith
(we older ones remember Tommy's black glove clenched fist at the medal ceremony)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_McNeill_(sprinter)

So George is the fastest man to play for Hibs or any team, apart from Bolt.!

I remember George McNeill and Arthur Duncan having a 100yard spring challenge at a pre season fun day at Easter Road in the early 80’s .

Arthur got a 20 yard start handicap but George beat him easily without getting out of first gear

Of course George was a fully trained professional sprinter by then , big difference from a fast footballer.