The Hibernian Historical Trust has announced that club legend Pat Stanton has agreed to become honorary President.
The former player, captain, manager and now club ambassador has been a Trustee since the Trust began in 2004.
As well as being a distant relative of Hibs first captain, Michael Whelehan, Pat is also a great nephew of Jimmy Hendren, who signed for the club in 1911 from Cowdenbeath, only to die prematurely from natural causes during the First World War, while still in his prime.
Born on 13 September 1944, Pat was signed by manager Walter Galbraith from Salveston Boys Club in 1961, before being farmed out to Bonnyrigg Rose. He made a scoring debut for Hibs in a 4-3 away defeat by Motherwell in 5 October 1963, the first of his 397 league appearances for the club.
Quickly establishing himself in the first team, he won the first of his 16 full caps alongside teammate Jim Scott in Scotland’s 3-0 defeat by Holland in 1966. He was a regular member of the brilliant Hibs side of the mid 1960’s, containing players of the calibre of Willie Hamilton, Neil Martin, Peter Cormack, and Pat Quinn, which won the Summer Cup in 1964 under the leadership of manager Jock Stein.
As captain of Turnbull’s Tornados, Stanton led Hibs to a historic League Cup Final victory over Celtic in 1972, two Drybrough Cup successes and of course the famous New Year’s Day victory over Hearts in 1973.
Once described by Scotland manager Tommy Docherty as a better player than the legendary England captain Bobby Moore, Pat was an automatic first team choice at Easter Road until moving to Celtic in exchange for Jackie McNamara in 1976. At Parkhead, he won League Championship and Scottish Cup medals in his first season, but unfortunately was forced to retire prematurely shortly after due to injury.
Pat Stanton scored 51 league goals and 25 in cup-ties during his 13 seasons at Easter Road.
Ian Young, Chairman said “It is an honour that Pat has agreed to become honorary President of the Trust. He has been a key figure in our development in the last 16 years and is highly regarded amongst all at Hibernian and in Scottish football. We look forward to working with Pat in his new role.”
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.
