Tickets are going fast for ‘An Evening with Pat Stanton’ at the Usher Hall on Saturday.
Hibs’ legend Pat will be joined on stage by many of his former team mates and opponents to celebrate his 75th birthday with all proceeds going to charity.
Pat was arguably the finest player of his generation and it remains source of annoyance to Hibs’ fans that he only won 16-international caps due to an unwritten policy of selecting Old Firm players to boost the Hampden crowds.
Elegance personified, the ‘quiet man’ had a dominance and leadership on the field which even supporters of rival teams couldn’t help but admire.
Pat won every domestic honour including two Drybrough Cups and a Summer Cup and in 1970 was named Scotland’s Player of the Year. He had the opportunity to move to top English sides such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea but chose to remain with his boyhood favourites and to this day has no regrets.
Steve Archibald and Gordon Strachan will also make an appearance and Pat will be reunited with his long-time friend Sir Alex Ferguson.
Pat was Sir Alex assistant manager at Aberdeen when Aberdeen went on to win the League at Easter Road of all places.
Pat told the Edinburgh Reporter: “Considering that it’s a long time since I played football, for people to put this event on at the Usher Hall is terrific.
“I’m pleased to hear that the ticket sales are going well but it’s not about me, it’s all about raising money for two great charities.
“Steve Archibald, Gordon Strachan and Alex McLeish who were at Aberdeen when I was assistant manager will be there along with (Sir) Alex Ferguson and I think that his presence will help to bring in some people.
“It’s a mark of the man that he immediately agreed to attend after only being asked once. Alex and I go back a long way and I played against him many times for Falkirk, Rangers and St Johnstone.
“With what he has gone on to achieve as a manager people often forget that he was a really good player and could score goals. In fact there was talk of him joining Hibs at one time but the move never happened.
“As you can imagine he was always very competitive. I got to know him well from coaching sessions at Largs when we were players and have been friends ever since.
“When I was forced to retire with a knee injury, I told the Celtic manager Billy McNeil that I was calling it a day and there was a story in the papers. Alex phoned me up and we arranged to meet where he offered me that job as assistant manager.
“I accepted and spent an enjoyable two years there and ironically we won the league title at Easter Road. Coincidentally I also won the league with Celtic there just before I retired.
“Hopefully some of my old team-mates from Hibs will make it. Alex Cropley is coming and he was my favourite player from the team of the early 70s and my old pal Jimmy O’Rourke.
“Jimmy and I both scored when we beat Celtic to win the League Cup which is remarkable since we played together for our school team. Imagine that, two laddies from the same school scoring those goals at Hampden. What made it even more remarkable is that I scored because I didn’t get that many.”
The event ‘kicks off’ at 7.30pm and tickets are still available.
*This event is in support of Children with Cancer and Leukaemia Advice and Support for Parents (CCLASP) registered charity no. SC047235 and also Muirfield Riding Therapy Registered charity no. SC028674*
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.
