With arguably more ‘high profile’ transfer signings having arrived at Easter Road during the Alan Stubbs reign, Darren McGregor almost slipped in under the radar in the summer, but if they didn’t know his worth before, the Hibs’ fans certainly do now.
Some supporters assumed that McGregor would be a bit part player in the team which contained recognised central defenders such as Paul Hanlon, Liam Fontaine and Jordon Forster, but the lifelong Hibs’ fan’s performances on the field have quickly changed that perception.
McGregor’s consistency and ‘no nonsense’ defending skills won him the Rangers’ fans ‘player of the year’ award last season, so it was surprising when he was released by Mark Warburton, but Rangers’ loss has proved to be Hibs’ gain.
Most observers thought he was heading for the top flight with St Johnstone however when his ‘first love’ came calling then it was no contest and last night’s victory over Hearts has convinced him that he made the right decision.
The after match celebrations from three quarters of the 19,433 sell-out crowd will live in both the players’ and supporters’ memories for a long time as the team completed a lap of honour to the strains of ‘Sunshine on Leith’ and McGregor was quick to praise the long suffering supporters.
After the game a beaming McGregor told the press pack : “It’s well documented I’m a Hibs’ fans and to see the game out and hear the stadium singing Sunshine on Leith was one of the best memories I’ve had in football.
“To be in the team I supported all my life and beating their rivals in the Scottish Cup is a dream come true.
“I am so grateful, after everything I’ve been through with injuries, to have been given this chance. This is my number one moment in football. I can’t think of anything that eclipses it.”
Of course a Scottish Cup press conference at Easter Road requires the obvious question. Can Hibs end the 114 year hoodoo and finally lift the famous old trophy.
McGregor has no doubts. He continued: “The games we have played this season will tell you we can. We have already beaten Aberdeen, Dundee United, St Johnstone and now Hearts as well. So that tells you we can do it.
“Inverness will present a different challenge and they will be difficult but with the talent we have in our squad then we can do it.”
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.
