Paul Capaldi

Best day ever as a Hibee took place on January 1, 1973. At 2.59pm, I was a 14-year-old Hibs fan eagerly awaiting the start of the Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle.

By 3.09 – when Hibs striker Jimmy O’Rourke scored the opener – I was on my way to witnessing the best-ever win against our nearest rivals. 

By half-time, the score read: Hearts 0 – 5 HIbernian and what had been a packed stadium just 45 minutes earlier was now half-empty as Hearts supporters left in their thousands. 

I can even recall looking around the touchline which was bedecked in all the scarves, hats and rosettes that the Jam Tart fans had thrown towards the pitch in disgust.

As the second half started, Hibernian continued where they left off: laying siege on the Hearts goal. 

Two further goals in the first 20 minutes of the second half had the Hibernian fans chanting: “We want ten”. 

Alas, that was not to be, but a final score of Heart of Midlothian 0 Hibernian 7 (yes, seven!) will linger forever in the memory and ensure that the New Year of 1973 will be my best Ne’er Day ever, no matter how long I live.

As a postscript for the real (Hibs) fans out there, the goalscorers for HIbernian that day were: O’Rourke (2), Gordon (2), Duncan (2) and Alex Cropley.