Football crazy

My 11- year-old, Hib s-mad, younger grandson has never once experienced the pain of defeat in games against capital arch rivals Hearts – or, for that matter, Rangers. Considering the anguish I have experienced over the decades watching my team suffer many derby day defeats, I found this fact astonishing when he told me. There has indeed been a seismic shift in the fortunes of the capital’s clubs.

Coming back hoarse and exhilarated from Hibs’ latest derby success at Easter Road late on Tuesday night my wife asked me when I was going to grow up. She had a point.

I reminded her of Bill Shankly, the Scots boss of Liverpool, who famously remarked when his wife told him ‘’ You would think it was life and death...’’ “Life and death? Football is much more important that that!’’

ALEXANDER MCKAY New Cut Rigg, Edinburgh