LEWIS THE LEGEND
Sproule insists Stevenson will be Hibs great like
IVAN SPROULE reckons Lewis Stevenson will be up with the Famous Five if he can make it a fantastic four.
The Hibs hero is already in select company at Easter Road with three winners’ medals in his 15 years in Leith, having won the Scottish Cup, League Cup and the Championship.
Stevenson is out to add another League Cup to his collection to go with the gong he gathered alongside Sproule as a youngster in 2007.
No Hibee has secured similar amounts of silverware since the 1940s and 50s when the Famous Five of Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormond were running riot.
Sproule believes his old pal should be considered a great if he achieves it – even if Stevenson would probably be too shy to admit it.
The ex-Northern Ireland winger said: “It’s brilliant to see Lewis still going strong. It’s some achievement to rack up 500 appearances at one club these days.
“He was just a wee boy when we won the cup in 2007. He was man of the match in the final and rightly so because he was outstanding that day.
“It was funny, after the final whistle the television guys called him over for an interview – but Lewis thought they were shouting across to get someone else!
“That’s the kind of guy he was then and still is now, he couldn’t understand why anyone would want to talk to him.
“He’s such a humble guy and has been that way all through his career.
“I was absolutely delighted Hibs won the Scottish Cup a few years ago. We’d all knew about how long it had been and it was just incredible to see them do it – and for Lewis to be in that side.
“It meant so much to him. He has been at the club during some pretty rough times and it’s great they are enjoying the good times again.
“I hope they can beat St Johnstone and go all the way. Lewis is already in the history books but another winners’ medal would make him a legend.”
Hibs need to get past Saints at Hampden this weekend to set up another final – in a repeat of the semi from 14 years ago. Sproule helped tee up Steven
Fletcher for the opening goal but the Perth men took them to extra time before John Collins’ side eventually came through 3-1 winners.
Sproule said: “It was a tough game against St Johnstone. We knew it would be and they pushed us all the way.
“I remember setting up Fletch for the first goal – what a burst of pace that was!
“But they ended up taking us to extra-time. We just knew we would win though. We were full of confidence and we had a really good side.
“We had the likes of Scott Brown and Steven Whittaker, Fletch up
He was just a boy when we won cup in 2007 and he was man of the match IVAN SPROULE ON LEWIS STEVENSON’S FIRST MEDAL
front, big Rob Jones at the back, David Murphy and young Lewis as either full-back. It was a great blend of youth and experience.”
Hibs sunk the Saints then clobbered Kilmarnock 5-1 in the final in 2007 – and Sproule would love to see a repeat.
He said: “Winning that trophy was probably the highlight of my career.
“There are some things you just never forget, like seeing and hearing thousands of Hibs fans singing Sunshine on Leith – the hairs on the back of the neck were standing up.
“The open-top bus was special as well, watching thousands lining the street, grown men crying. The party afterwards wasn’t bad either! You can’t beat those memories.”
Sproule is hoping for a rerun but is wary of St Johnstone’s class of 2021, despite Callum Davidson’s side struggling in the Premiership in recent months.
He said: “It’ll be another tough game as St Johnstone are a strong side. They have some very good players, like young Ali McCann who has broken into the Northern Ireland squad.
“Hibs will need to be at their best but they are having a good season under Jack Ross and it’s probably fair enough they are now favourites to lift the trophy.
“That’s pressure in itself but they should see it as a big opportunity for them. I’m hoping they can go out and grab it.
“Hibs are my club. My boys will always have Hibs shirts on them and, if you ask what team they support in Scotland, they will hopefully tell you it is Hibernian.”