Latest news with #LeagueCup-winning
Scotsman
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Scarred for life by Puskas, Stanton hopes Hibs make mark in Europe
East Stand officially renamed in honour of former star ahead of Rot-Weiss Essen game Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As a bona fide Hibs legend, Pat Stanton has more than left his mark on the history of Easter Road. But one of his unlikely favourite moments involves a lifelong scar inflicted by one of the greatest ever to play the game. The all-time favourite was back in one of his favourite places on earth tonight as Hibs unveiled the Pat Stanton Stand, putting his name on a stretch of footballing real estate where he and his family once stood to support their heroes. And, inevitably, Stanton's thoughts turned to special nights on the hallowed turf. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We played a friendly against Real Madrid here and that was something,' said Stanton, speaking before tonight's Euro throwback friendly against Rot-Weiss Essen, the former League Cup-winning captain adding: 'You had Puskas and a lot of real good players. That was tremendous. 'I can remember I wasn't long in the Hibs team at the time. I went in for a tackle in the midfield against Puskas. But he came in a bit late - and he went over the ball, and he caught my ankle. 'After the game we were sitting in the dressing room. We beat them that night, we beat them 2-0. 'Sitting in the dressing room after the game, Tom McNiven got the bandages out. I had this cut on my ankle. 'I said: 'Where are you going with that?' He said: 'To sort your ankle, to wipe it.' 'I said: 'No, I don't want anybody to touch that.' He said it needed cleaning. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I said: 'Well, what I want, Tom, is I come from the Niddrie area of Edinburgh. I want to walk along Niddrie Mains Road tomorrow morning and I'll stop strangers and say: 'You know who did this?' 'I've still got the mark on my ankle, still got it. I didn't want anybody to heal it; I wanted to wander about ruining my mother's good carpet!' Juventus tie and local roots Stanton has plenty of highlights to choose from when going back over his career, many of them involving some of the world's most glamorous opposition. But there was always something to keep him grounded. He said: 'I can remember playing Juventus here and I went to retrieve the ball in the enclosure - and the guy handed me the ball. It was a big night that. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The guy lived next door to me. But the part of Edinburgh I came from, I was quite surprised to see him handing the ball back! 'When I first came here, I trained on a Tuesday and a Thursday night. And it was great then when I turned professional. 'But I always found over the piece there was always somebody you could go to and ask for help. Like John Fraser who played here at right-back and centre-forward as well. He would point things out to you after a game, and you'd learn quickly. 'Willie Toner who played with Kilmarnock. When Willie came here for a short spell, he was the same. Big help. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Just as you're about to do something stupid, they would just get you and say look that's not the right way, this is the right way. And the fans have been great to me over the years.' Stanton admitted to getting emotional over the sight of his name up on the rebranded east stand, laughing as he pointed out: 'The only time my name was out there, it was in the referee's book! 'It's tremendous, it really is. I said to my family: 'I'll still talk to you!' But it's great, really terrific. 'I've been here a long time, and you get something like that, and you think of all the lads you played with. It's very humble about the whole thing because it's great. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'My dad came from where Hibs were founded, up in St Mary's Street. Not far from St Patrick's Church up the Cowgate. That's where my dad lived up there. There were a lot of Hibs supporters up there at the same time and that was it. 'I'd pay at the boy's gate, and he'd pay at the adult's gate, but we'd meet inside. Not done it for a while, right enough, but that was what we did. 'My brothers came as well, and we stood in the same bit over the seasons. I can remember my very first game here in the first team. The game was about to start and where I used to stand with my brothers and my dad, I looked over, the corner flag away over there, and just waved to me. 'I tell you, that put pressure on me, from them. It played a big part in our life. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'My dad would be at a loss for words. When you think of all the Hibs supporters over the years and you having the good fortune to play for them and then to see my name up on the stand. I just feel great about the whole thing. It's almost like a fairy tale.' Stanton still hopes to enjoy more glory nights at Easter Road, as he looks forward to David Gray's men competing in the Europa League later this month, saying: 'Yeah, it's a great experience for the players. They've done well. You just keep it going. 'The way we were playing recently, everybody playing for one another. Just keep that going and see how far it takes you.'
Scottish Sun
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Unseen moment Aberdeen hero finally gets in Scottish Cup trophy lift pic after 18 YEARS of trying with unique footage
IT was a day to remember for everyone associated with Aberdeen on Saturday as they lifted the Scottish Cup after a 35-year wait. And one of their heroes got in on the celebrations after an 18-year wait of his own. 3 Aberdeen ended their 35-year wait for a Scottish Cup against Celtic on Saturday Credit: Alamy 3 A former Dons star who was working as a pundit for the game was spotted taking in the trophy lift 3 Andrew Considine watched his old side finally get over the line Credit: Kenny Ramsay Andrew Considine spent almost his entire professional career at Aberdeen, making his first-team debut in 2004/05 and only leaving to join St Johnstone in 2022. He cemented himself as a Dons hero with 484 appearances over the course of those 18 years. He was part of the League Cup-winning side of 2014, but never managed to lift the Scottish Cup at Pittodrie, losing out in the 2017 final to Celtic. He joined Saints just a year after their sensational double-winning season, but retired at the end of last campaign having never got his hands on the famous old trophy. But Considine finally got his moment to celebrate when his old side got over the line in Saturday's penalty shootout victory over the Hoops. The 38-year-old was at Hampden, working as a pundit for Premier Sports alongside former Celts stars Charlie Mulgrew and Neil Lennon. And new 'pitchside perspective' footage from Premier Sports has shown Considine standing right next to the Dons squad as they lifted the trophy in the Hampden stands. He can be seen videoing the trophy lift before turning the camera to get himself in shot, then putting his phone away to applaud the cup winners. Considine is also a cult hero for the Scottish national team, despite only making three appearances for his country. That's after old footage resurfaced when he was called up for the first time in 2020, showing the defender dancing in drag and singing Baccara's pop hit 'Yes Sir, I Can Boogie' during his stag do in 2015. Aberdeen fans react to historic Scottish Cup win The song was subsequently adopted as one of the Tartan Army's anthems in the two Euros which Scotland have since qualified for. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BBC News
20-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
George Eastham: Memorial service held for Stoke City legend
Former Stoke City players have paid tribute to club legend George Eastham at a memorial service to celebrate his and ex-players gathered at Stoke Minster to pay their respects to Eastham, who died in December at the age of 88.A member of England's victorious 1966 World Cup squad, the midfielder famously scored the winning goal in Stoke City's 2-1 League Cup final win over Chelsea in who had also played for Newcastle United and Arsenal, made 194 appearances for The Potters before retiring in 1974. Following the service, which was organised by the Stoke City Old Boys Association, people gathered in the Stanley Matthews Lounge at the Bet365 Conroy, who scored The Potters' other goal in the 1972 final, told BBC Radio Stoke: "I was absolutely thrilled with how that service went. It had everything."He said the fans' memories of Eastham was an example of a "special bond" between players and supporters."It's reminding people of the history and heritage of the club – it's so rich," he added. Conroy said Eastham would be missed, describing him as a "nice and gentle man"."He never offended anybody and he was nice to be around," he Smith, who was also a part of the 1972 League Cup-winning side, said Eastham was an "incredible" player."The fellow was an exceptional footballer. He had a brain which was way ahead of his time," he said. Smith also spoke of Eastham's involvement in a landmark 1963 court case that improved players' freedom to move between clubs and reformed the transfer market."When you look at his history and what he did for professional footballers, every footballer now should be bowing down to George Eastham," he said."Absolutely incredible the man was, from the beginning to the end." Ex-Stoke player Mark Stein said Eastham was "part of the Stoke folklore", adding that he "set the standard" for the game's future."That [1972] team was one of the legendary teams of the Stoke generation," he Alf Ramsey, Eastham made 19 appearances for England between 1963 and 1966, scoring twice. He was eventually awarded a World Cup winners medal in 2009 following a campaign to reward all members of the was awarded an OBE for services to football in 1973, a year before he retired, and was Stoke's manager from March 1977 to January 1978. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
