Ian’s career was dashed by going surfing
A few of Hibs’ top stars are moving on this summer, and that could give young players a chance to make the first team.
They will be out to impress manager Neil Lennon when the squad reassembles for pre-season training.
Fifty years ago, Ian Wilkinson was looking to grab his opportunity with both hands when the Hibees went on tour to Africa.
The 21-year-old had yet to make his firstteam debut, but he was drafted into the squad when Danish defender John Madsen had gone home for the summer.
Unfortunately, Ian didn’t manage a single minute of action during the trip.
One of the most unusual injuries of all time meant he could only watch the games in Nigeria and Ghana.
He recalled: “I was hoping the tour was going to be my big breakthrough.
“But on the second day in Nigeria, we were taken to one of the beach areas outside Lagos. “We weren’t surfing, but were lying on surfboards, riding the waves.
“A big wave came rolling in and sent me spinning head over heels. The board came crashing down on my foot and broke my toe. “That was me out of the tour! “Nowadays an injured player would probably be flown home for treatment, but there was no chance of that happening back then.
“I stayed with the party, but only as a spectator, and the trip was a real eye-opener. “We were staying in a big hotel that was surrounded by a shanty town.
“When you came out of the front door, you were met by young kids walking with their hands out, begging.
“At one point, we had to fly to the north of the country for a match.
“The Belgian pilot announced that the instruments in the cockpit were out of action and we would have to go hedge-hopping. “That meant the plane was only about 300 feet off the ground during the flight. “I remember my team-mate, John Murphy, writing a goodbye note to his mother!”
Being unable to play, there was no chance of Ian collecting a win bonus, but he did get some extra cash.
He went on: “We had a sweepstake on the outcome of the Derby. Sir Ivor won the race and I scooped the pool of Nigerian currency that was almost impossible to spend.”
Ian made Hibernian’s top team for a victory over Hearts in the East of Scotland Shield Final at the end of the 1968-69 season, and his career seemed to be on the up.
He said: “I was then picked to play in defence for a pre-season game against Newcastle United, and kept my place for the League Cup matches and was playing very well.
“Pat Stanton had been out injured and played in front of me when he came back. “Then we had a league match against Ayr United at Somerset Park and there was a straight awap of positions. Pat moved back and I took his place in midfield.
“I spent 45 minutes watching the ball sailing overmyhead.
“Bob Shankly substituted me at half-time and I never played for the first team again.” Ian moved to Raith Rovers in 1970 and spent a season playing for former Rangers’ striker, Jimmy Millar.
He said: “After that spell at Raith, Ronnie Simpson asked me to join Hamilton Accies.
“I had gone part-time by then, and my career in insurance was begining to take off.
Ian, now 71, moved to the Tyneside area and quickly met up with a familiar face.
He said: “I ended up as regional manager for Friends Provident. One of the first people I met when I arrived in the North East was Bobby Moncur.
“I’d played football with him at school and he was able to open a few doors for me.
“I’ve always been quite a lucky guy — except when it comes to surfboards!”