Forfar Athletic v Hibernian – Previous Encounters

This Saturday’s Scottish Cup fourth round tie between the ‘Loons’ and the ‘Hibees’ will be only the fifth time that the club’s paths have crossed in the long history of the illustrious competition.
In fact for the vast majority of supporters of both sides, unless they are well into their eighties it will be the first time that they have witnessed the two sides battle it out at Station Park.

The clubs were in fact paired together in the same League Cup section at the start of the 2020/21 campaign, but strict covid restrictions meant only club officials, a few volunteers who were assisting with match day duties and a couple of ingenious Hibernian supporters who watched the game perched on a ladder outside the south/east corner of the ground saw David Gray net the only goal of the game for the visitors in the 87th minute.

Back to the Scottish Cup and the first ever competitive meeting between the clubs took place at Easter Road in 1933 with Forfar pulling off an unlikely 2-2 draw. Sadly the Easter Road men ran riot in the replay at Station Park winning 7-3.

Six years later as dark days were on the horizon for all concerned, the sides were paired again in the national tournament, Station Park the venue, 3-0 to Hibernian the final outcome.

Move on ten years and the 1948/9 campaign, a season when the ‘Loons’ won the old style ‘C’ Division gaining promotion back to the full SFL.

Early 1949 saw a strong Hibernian side already boasting three of the soon to be ‘famous five’ up front in Gordon Smith, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormond depart Station Park with a place in the next round secured courtesy of a 4-0 success.

It was in January, 1971 that the two clubs were last paired together in the main cup competition in the land, Saturday January 23rd to be precise, 400 Forfar supporters making the trip to the Capital City.

Hibs were on a high. The legendary Joe Baker had returned to the ranks the previous week, although he was ineligible for the cup tie and Aberdeen had been sent north with a ‘flea in their ear.’

Seven days later the ‘Loons’ were no match for a home side which included Easter Road legends such as John Brownlie, John Blackley, Pat Stanton, Jimmy O’Rourke, Eric Stevenson and Arthur Duncan, the end product an 8-1 home win.

Jimmy O’Rourke netted a hat trick, Kenny Davidson a brace, the other goals coming from Stevenson, Duncan as well as an unfortunate Bobby Hopcroft own goal, Brian McNicoll the visiting marksman.

The Athies side that day included in goal Perthshire opening bowler Ian Beatson whose brother Billy was also on the books, their sister Eve Graham the lead singer of the New Seekers one of the top pop groups of the era worldwide, famous particularly for their smash hit “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing.” Eve visited Station Park on at least a couple of occasions to watch her siblings in action.

Others that wore the Station Park side’s colours that wintry afternoon included Arbroath based fish salesman Eddie Smith, Dennis Milne an old style centre half who had been with Arsenal as a youngster and who worked for some years locally as a joiner at Ramsay Ladders and former Blairgowrie defender Bobby Hopcroft, still a visitor on occasions to see the ‘Loons’ with his great pal and near neighbour to this day Archie Knox.

Up front the line-up included Rab Davis a Fifer who was in his second spell with the club having been the subject of a £5,000 transfer to Nottingham Forest at the conclusion of his first stint and Ian Stewart a mercurial winger who was later to manage Arbroath, Brechin City and Montrose, but much to his personal disappointment never got the opportunity in the ‘hot seat’ at Station Park.

A final wee sad note regarding that day back in January of 1971. Two of the supporters coaches carrying the Forfar contingent to Edinburgh were attacked by hooligans as they left the Leith Walk area, a few windows smashed and a bloody cold trip home.
Those supporters, in fact fans of both sides that day could never have imagined that it would be astonishingly 53 years after before we would meet again on Scottish Cup business but that is the case.

The writer of this article has to admit to slight leanings towards the ‘Hibees’ alongside the ‘Loons’ in his younger day so one can only say roll on 3p.m. this Saturday.