Hibs’ Head Coach Jack Ross has revealed that the club intend replicating the noise of the crowd during the behind closed door games at Easter Road after experiencing Celtic’s matchday procedure last weekend.
Kilmarnock visit the capital this afternoon for the opening game of the 20/21 Premiership season and supporters will only be able to watch the game via Hibernian TV.
Banners and cardboard cut outs of fans will adorn the East Stand, opposite from where the cameras are situated.
Coverage starts at 2.30pm and will feature broadcaster David Tanner along with former striker Tam McManus and women’s captain Joelle Murray. Regular commentator Cliff Pike will describe the action.
Speaking ahead of the game Ross said: “We are planning to do the crowd noise, I thought it was okay when they did it at Parkhead when we played Celtic in the friendly the other day. A few of the ‘oohs’ and the ‘aaahs’ were out of sync, but the general background noise worked well and I think it helped the players. It’s not as loud as it would be if there was a real crowd inside the ground, but I think it does add a bit to the game and helps the players.
“I’m happy for us to do it at Easter Road and I’m sure it will be up to every other club with what they want to do. The biggest thing for us will be not having fans in the stadium, because the pre-season games we have had have felt different. I don’t think we will ever get used to it because the atmosphere from the supporters is a huge part of our culture and our football. Having that noise in the stadium helps the game and it will be missed.
“Players won’t be able to use the excuse of not hearing me now, although there will be less room to say things that are inappropriate. When the players are on the pitch they are fine, but there are a lot of things that are different – from getting into a stadium and where to go once inside. But having the pre-season games home and away helped with that because we got a feel for what it’s going to be like.”
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.
