Tributes paid after death of devoted supporter and former chairman O’malley
Lifelong fan and former Hibernian chairman Tom O’malley passed away yesterday, following a lengthy illness.
The former head teacher of St David’s RC High School at Dalkeith joined the Hibs board in 1991. He was a staunch supporter of the Hands Off Hibs campaign which eventually thwarted Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer’s attempts to merge the capital clubs and when Tom Farmer completed his takeover of the Easter Road side, O’malley was appointed as one of the directors.
Months later, and much to O’malley’s delight, the club won the Skol Cup final, lifting silverware for the first time in almost 20 years.
He later replaced Lex Gold as chairman after the club was relegated in 1998, telling fans that “there is now one of their own in charge of the club”.
An amiable figure, who was awarded the OBE for services to education, he did stir up some controversy in the wake of that relegation by suggesti ng s uppor t e r s may s e e a season in the second tier as “an adventure” but he was forgiven as the team, under the guidance of manager Alex Mcleish, clinched promotion at the first time of asking.
Just f i ve days af t e r Hibs were presented with the First Division trophy, though, he announced he was stepping down, c l a i ming t hat with t he club’s t op - f l i ght status regained and plans in place for the club’s future, the time was right for him to retire into a “life of relative obscurity”.
Due to ill health he was unable to attend the momentous 2016 Scottish Cup final win but was able to lift the trophy, when the Persevered Tour made a special stop at his home.
Current chairman Ron Gordon said: “I didn’t ever have the pleasure of meeting Tom O’malley, but those who knew him tell me he was devoted to the club and a real gentleman.”