On Saturday, Lewis Stevenson became the first player this century to play 200 games for Hibs in a single spell.
The last player to do so left the club over 16 years ago (answer at the bottom of the page) although Derek Riordan, Ian Murray and Garry O’Connor also made the 200 club but needed two spells to do so.
The versatile Fifer looked to have the world at his feet when he was awarded the man of the match award as Hibs won the League Cup in 2007, but since then the fortunes of the club have deteriorated to the extent that he even considered quitting the game.
He said: “On the most part I’ve enjoyed it. It’s been a lot of hard work and it’s been up and down, but it’s nice to get to 200 games. I’ve been told I’m the first in a long time to reach that milestone, so it’s a good achievement. I don’t look into things like this too much, but it was nice and people were coming up to me and saying ‘well done’, which makes a change.
“I’ve had a few niggling injuries and a loss of form where I felt I couldn’t do anything right. I was fed up with the game – not just at Hibs. I was beginning to think about things after football. But I kept my head down and dug in and it’s worked out so far. Hopefully there’s plenty more games to come.
“After a loss of form and a few defeats, you hate going to the shops. People look at you as if to say you’re p***. It is hard but it probably gave me that kick up the backside to try and prove them wrong. There have been a few of those moments. Mostly after cup finals and when we’ve gone on bad runs of form. It’s one of those things that you have to grind through.”
Stevenson was handed his debut by Tony Mowbray and since then played under six other managers without ever getting an extended run, but after playing right back then left back under Pat Fenlon earlier this season, the arrival of the new manager saw him return to his favoured left midfield position.
“I would probably say we have underachieved though. It is one of the biggest clubs. it’s got a good fan base and everything’s in place now. But we’ve not done it on the pitch, which is the most important thing.
“We’ve got a great chance now. We’ve got a great squad; we’re going in the right direction. The manager has started off well and everyone’s behind him, so hopefully there’s some good times to come. He’s not come in with any pre-conceived ideas about anyone. He’s given everyone a chance and I’ve been one of the lucky ones that got to start the first game, and I’ve been keeping my place.”
(The last Hibs player to play 200 games for the club in a single spell was Darren Jackson)
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
