Humble Stevenson glad he stayed the course with Hibs
● Preparing for his testimonial, the defender reveals there were times he considered walking away
Lewis Stevenson will walk out at Easter Road for his testimonial match next month to be hailed as a club legend.
But the only player ever to have lifted both the League Cup and Scottish Cup decked in Hibernian colours admits that there have been several times throughout his career when he considered chucking it and not only walking away from the Leith club but from football itself.
“There were just times when I wasn’t enjoying it,” he said. “I didn’t think I was giving enough to the team, didn’t think I was doing myself justice. There are ups and downs of football and I’ve had my fair share.
“In football, all you see is the stuff on the pitch. But there is so much off the pitch that does take its toll on you. The club have stuck with me, I’ve stuck with them – and it’s worked out pretty well.”
On the pitch there have been highs, from his debut against Ayr United, in the League Cup, back in 2005 to the winner’s medal and the Man of the Match award when the side won the same competition a couple of years later. Then there was 21 May, 2016, when hoodoos were shaken off and history was made as the club finally won the Scottish Cup.
But in between there have been times of angst and moments that felled him. A player who has always been his own harshest critic, he took cup semi-final losses hard, and agonised all summer after cup final defeats, particularly the 2012 Scottish Cup thumping at the hands of derby rivals Hearts. Relegation was another sore one and, while the nine managers who have come into Hibs in his time in the first team squad have recognised his qualities and team ethic, the stress of proving himself again and again has been a burden.
“There have been times, to be honest, when I’ve thought about jacking football in,” he added. “But I’ve had help from family and friends to stick with it. It’s worked out well, so I’m glad I stuck with it.
“I don’t know what I would have done but there are times when I lost faith. It was probably the worst a couple of years after I came into the team. But, even when I was younger, I never had my heart set on being a footballer. It kind of just happened. It was always a pipe dream, not something I ever imagined I’d be able to do. People believed in me more than I believed in myself.”
Stevenson, who is still just 29 years old, is in the minority when it comes to professional footballers. Not only has he stayed at one club, through thick and thin, he remains selfdeprecating and appreciative of his lot.
“I’ve never taken anything for granted and I never imagined I would be at a club like this for so long. I still have to pinch myself sometimes,” he said. “I doubt myself more than other people. But the last few years are probably the best I’ve had as a player. When you’re enjoying it, you play your best.”
Viewed as a steady influence in the dressing room, he admits there is a part of him that wishes he had the strut and self-belief of the characters who have shared some of the past 12 years with him.
“Even at boys club, I was never like that. I’ve got a wee boy now and I tell him to forget being a defender, because you get no thanks for it. Be a striker, get all the glory! But you can only be who you are. I would love to be the guy who is happy being the centre of attention... or maybe I wouldn’t!”
He will be the star of the show on 9 July when Sunderland come calling. But, while he is grateful for the honour, the thought of leading the team out and being centre stage is prompting some nerves.
“Even though it’s a testimonial it’s still a big game for us so I’m sure the manager won’t be in the frame of mind to be giving me penalties and stuff like that. I probably wouldn’t take one if he gave me it anyway! Even if I don’t enjoy it at the time [due to nerves] looking back I’ll be really thankful.”
Just as he did with his testimonial dinner, he will give half of the proceeds to charity, helping Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), Leith Links and other Hibernian-related Children’s Charities. Typically, he deflects the praise onto others.
“I’m obviously not a Premier League star that earns millions and millions, but you want to give back. People are saying it’s a great gesture from me but it’s a great gesture from the fans because at the end of the day it’s them that are putting their money in and paying for it.”
That sums up Stevenson who replies to comments from managers hailing him with a remark that proves that while he has guaranteed himself a place in the club’s history, he remains humble.
“It is nice but it would be quite nice for someone to say I’m a good player rather than just a good guy!”
But, the fact is, managers have been saying that for years.