Hibs legends farewell tour has me misty eyed but Stevenson and Hanlon decision CAN'T be rushed - Tam McManus
The importance of stalwart duo is not lost on Tam who remembers the effect that the departure of Yogi Hughes and Pat McGinlay had on him as a youngster.
I'm getting heavy summer of 2000 vibes with all this chat about Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson potentially being cut free from Hibs at the end of the season. And I’ll admit it’s getting me just a little misty eyed.
Whether Nick Montgomery has made his mind up on the duo or not - and it’s a decision that cannot be rushed - it’s got me thinking back to when two similar stalwarts of the dressing room were suddenly no longer in our midst. Two footballing father figures to me. Yogi Hughes and Pat McGinlay.
Ironically my first ever start for Hibs coincided with what was the last game for both those Leith legends. It was a derby at Tynecastle in May 2000 and it must be the only time there was ever applause in a dressing room after a defeat to Hearts - because we knew those two giants had just played their last minutes for the club. There were tears shed, it felt like losing a part of the family. You’re talking about two guys that would have bled green and white, were fans’ favourites and were part of the furniture at Easter Road.
As a kid on the ground staff I thought they’d be around forever. Both were massive characters in the dressing room. Yogi in particular. He took a real interest in the young players and was huge in my development at Hibs.
Yogi was as rough and tumble as they come but he genuinely cared. He’d bawl at me in training but afterwards would make sure he explained why. He’d pull me aside and talk through things then say ‘if you can’t handle me shouting at you then how will you cope with 15-20,000 fans?’
Then there was Pat who many fans still say is one of the best players in the club’s history. A guy who just led by example every day. I’m sure Paul and Lewis are exactly the same now. These characters are crucial to the next generation coming through at a club in the way they act in front of and speak to the younger players. That’s what fans don’t see. But time waits for no man as I found out with Yogi and Pat when Alex McLeish decided it was time to bring the average age down.
Of course it’s the manager’s choice. Maybe it is time for them to leave in the summer. If they do then they can both be unbelievably proud of what they have done and achieved in their time at the club. The fact Lewis was on the ground staff when I was still at the club 20 years ago is incredible.
He is four appearances short of 600 for the club and Paul is on 558. Paul has played under 12 different managers and Lewis 14! Every one of those managers has relied on them and that says everything you need to know about the value they bring and their professionalism. They’ve both taken their fair share of stick in that time as well which I’ve found crazy but you can’t question their character because they’ve always bounced back.
Maybe the end will be on their terms if they want to go elsewhere for more regular game time in the twilight of their careers. But it will be one hell of a sad day when they leave the building. Then it’s vital others step up to the plate as leaders.
That decision can wait for now though. Because both Hanlon and Stevenson have a huge part to play as Hibs chase a European spot and Scottish Cup glory. Saturday’s win at Inverness was excellent on the back of a very good second half against Celtic.
It was great to see Chris Cadden back after eight months out injured. I know how it feels to be out the picture and forgotten. It’s horrendous. Nathan Moriah-Welsh looks really good in the middle too. He has energy and legs and all of a sudden Joe Newell and Dylan Levitt look better because they have someone beside them to help cover the ground.
Hopefully Hibs can build on the result when they head to Pittodrie this weekend. Win that and it’s three from three against the Dons in the league and that would be a real statement of intent.