Swanson fulfils dearest wish of an absent friend by joining Hibs
IT seems perverse that the fulfilment of a childhood dream should be tinged with such a profound sadness. Growing up on the streets of Leith, this certainly wouldn’t have been how Danny Swanson imagined it panning out.
After various attempts to engineer a move to the club he supports, the lifelong Hibernian fan will finally get his wish next season, with Swanson already having agreed terms on a pre-contract switch from St Johnstone.
But, as he pulls on the famous green-and-white jersey and prepares to run out at Easter Road to make his debut, Swanson will be fighting back the tears as he does so.
All because of a man who had been badgering him to sign for Hibs for years; an absent friend who, tragically, won’t be there to actually see it happen.
Shaun Woodburn regularly made the five-minute walk between Swanny’s Bar in Leith — a pub owned by Swanson’s dad, John, which is drenched in Hibs memorabilia — and Gladstone’s Bar.
But, as he did so on Hogmanay last year, he suffered injuries in an alleged disturbance and later died. Friends since their school days, Swanson was deeply affected by the trauma of such a devastating loss.
‘I lost my friend Shaun on Hogmanay,’ reflects Swanson. ‘It was a really difficult time.
‘He was always saying to me: “Come on, sign for Hibs!”. That had a big part to play in my decision. I’m just glad I have the chance to do it for him.’
Suspended for this Sunday’s visit of Rangers to McDiarmid Park, Swanson has now played his final game for St Johnstone — and he couldn’t really have scripted it any better.
After an ill-fated six-month spell at Hearts in season 2015-2016, man-of-the-match Swanson created the winning goal for Tommy Wright’s men in a 1-0 victory over the Tynecastle side.
He can laugh about his bad experience in Gorgie now, but those six months left him as frustrated as he has ever been in his career. It was also a personal minefield.
‘I gave an interview at the time saying that all of my family were Hearts fans, but I want to say on the record that it definitely was not true!’ he says. ‘You’ve got to get the fans onside, don’t you?!
‘I have never been a Hearts fan in my life. I think my granny is, but that’s it.
‘I have been slaughtered enough by the Hearts fans. It is all part of the game. You give it out, you take it.
‘I can’t wait for the derbies next season. They will be nervous times, but I’m looking forward to them.
‘I have been to a lot of them and it’s not been great for Hibs. The ones I used to go to, it wasn’t nice.
‘I texted Alan Stubbs before I signed for Hearts in 2015. I had also phoned Tommy Wright to try and get something sorted, but it never happened.
‘I was excited to sign for Hearts, but I tried to get Hibs. Alan Stubbs said no, so I ended up going to Hearts and I played really well… not!’
With 15 goals this term, Swanson will finish as St Johnstone’s top scorer in a season which has seen them clinch European football and a record points haul in the top flight.
Citing manager Wright as a major influence, the 30-year-old winger said: ‘The gaffer has resurrected my career, there’s no doubt about that.
‘I’ll be honest, I didn’t have the bottle to tell him I was leaving at first. I was really nervous.
‘We’d had a lot of chats about me staying, but it never really materialised.
‘In fairness to St Johnstone, they offered me a really good deal. Money-wise, it was above and beyond what I expected.
‘I have played some of my best football under Tommy.
‘He was joking actually because he has brought me back to St Johnstone twice after moves elsewhere didn’t work out.
‘So he was saying I better make it work at Hibs because he can’t do it a third time!
‘I was a bit sad when I was sitting with the boys in the changing room after the Hearts game. It was emotional and I wasn’t expecting it.
‘I wasn’t sure what to expect really. It’s the first time it has happened like that.
‘The fans were great, considering I had already signed for another team. They stuck by me and I’m glad I helped them get into Europe.
‘It has been a big decision for me. I have really enjoyed my football here. It was only because it was Hibs.
‘I did have other options and I was wanting to sign here. But, once Hibs came for me, I changed my mind right away.
‘I have a great relationship with Tommy but, ever since I was a wee boy, I have wanted to play for Hibs. That’s never changed.
‘I have turned them down a couple of times to try and play at the highest level in England but I always felt I was destined to end up there.
‘Thankfully it has happened.’