The word legend might be overused in football but in the case of Steve Archibald, it’s entirely appropriate.
His story is one of the most unique in world football and the former Scotland, Hibs, Barcelona, Spurs and Aberdeen player will arrive in the capital to discuss what was behind his winning mentality and success. Ahead of the event I spoke with Steve on Zoom.
He said: “I’m really looking forward to coming to Edinburgh, I’ve never done anything connected with the Fringe. I hope we attract a good mixture of people, it’s the festival so it will hopefully be an international audience as I’ve had an international career. It will be nice to open up the whole thing.”
Archibald enjoyed a successful career at Hibs, he wasn’t just a glamour singing to attract a bigger gate, the signature was more about what he could bring to the club. It was back in 1988 that ‘Archie’ arrived at Easter Road, he had played for some of the biggest clubs in the world such as Barcelona, Spurs and enjoyed a successful tenure at Aberdeen under Sir Alex Ferguson.
At the time Hibs were training in public parks long before the plush training centre was built at Ormiston, East Lothian. “The training at that time, the club didn’t have what they have now that’s for sure but Hibs were professional, I trusted them from the start. I didn’t start with a silver spoon in my mouth, I knew what football was about.
“While Hibs might not have been one of the biggest clubs they were professional with a great history. I looked at the team, it was a young side with some fantastic players such as Andy Goram in goals, John Collins was there at the time, and we had Paul Kane and Gareth Evans. There were a lot of good players around for me to work with, they all had a good player response. I fitted in there well, going to Hibs was pretty easy, the boys were curious, and every second question was about Barca, which is natural of course, I would have been the same if it was me”.
There is one goal that is celebrated to this day among Hibernian supporters, a first Hibernian win at Tynecastle in ten years, going back to November 1988.
Archibald said: “A highlight for me and others was the goal that I scored against Hearts, I can’t remember how long it was but it was the clincher coming towards the end of the game. There was an overhead kick from Paul Kane and a race with Dave McPherson and myself, I got there first and struck it in the net and the fans were cheering. You see it on Twitter, it’s in the hearts and heads of the supporters. I scored a couple against Celtic at Easter Road as well. My overall time was good in Edinburgh, my wife and I were happy, and things were going well on the pitch it was a good experience for me and I think the club as well”.
The player returned to Easter Road last November for the Hanlon Stevenson Foundation fundraiser, Hibs’ most decorated player Laura Kennedy, among a host of legends suggested Archibald still had the best touch on the pitch.
He said: “It was good to be back and see the stadium renovated with the new stand. The pitch is still the pitch and when you get on it the mentality switches back, touch never leaves you. It was nice to be back and see ex-players and be back in Edinburgh, the fans are always very kind”.
An Evening Steve Archibald on 3 August 2023 at this year’s Fringe tickets.edfringe.com
AND a second night has now been added on 4 August – tickets at the same link.
