I'm glad I moved to centre-back . . . I doubt I would still be playing if I was still a striker

Stewart Fisher
Sports Writer

J OHN ROBERTSON acquired the title of 'The Hammer of Hibs' for the record 27 Edinburgh derby goals he plundered during his career.
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James McPake could lift the cup as captain of Hibs but expects to report for pre-season with Coventry City as his loan ends after the biggest game of his career. Picture: SNS
James McPake could lift the cup as captain of Hibs but expects to report for pre-season with Coventry City as his loan ends after the biggest game of his career. Picture: SNS

This is all rather ironic, considering he was a boyhood fan of Hibernian. However, in one potentially significant way, the ultimate Hearts legend will have planted the seeds of the Tynecastle club's downfall should James McPake today become the first Hibs captain in 110 years to get his hands on the Scottish Cup.

With apologies to Archie Knox, who tried him in the position a few times in reserve matches, it was during Robertson's time as Livingston manager that McPake was converted from striker to the stalwart central defender who has graced the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this season. For the record, the 27-year-old is scathing about his abilities in attack, and feels he probably wouldn't even be playing right now had it not been for his change of position. McPake has only been in his adopted position for five or six years, but he has clearly found his true calling.

"There were a couple of people, but the main one was probably Hearts' biggest-ever legend," McPake said. "He was the one that gave me my chance week in, week out at centre-back. I got on great with him and I'm thankful for him putting me back.

"Thankfully, it's worked because I was never a very good striker, never mind anywhere near good enough to play at a decent level. Most people play their positions all their life, but it is something I'm glad happened because I doubt I'd still be playing. I'm sure he will be the first person hoping I make a mistake on Saturday, but it's his club. He loves Hearts, so it's fair enough. I'm sure I'll speak to him after the game, and hopefully it's me that has got the bragging rights."

McPake has already thwarted Hibs in one Hampden final, even if he was an unused member of the squad and still an aspiring young striker as Livingston upset an Easter Road side who had knocked out both halves of the Old Firm to reach the 2004 League Cup final. Let's just say that taking the open-top bus tour along London Road and into Easter Road might be a bit different from being cheered on by one man and a dog as you savour the roundabouts and dual carriageways of West Lothian.

"I think there were about 40 people there," McPake joked. "No, myself and Ryan Harding were 17th and 18th man on the day, so we were involved in everything except the main bit – playing the game. And it was a great day. Hibs fans will not thank me for saying that but it was a fantastic occasion and it just shows you. We'll probably go in as underdogs and probably rightly so. Hearts are a top-six team and they haven't been beaten in the last 10 derbies, but against Livi, Hibs went in as even more overwhelming favourites than Hearts are on Saturday."

Should McPake become the first Hibs captain since 1902 to lift Scotland's oldest trophy, the image would command a place in Easter Road folklore. It was, after all, a fate which eluded legendary Hibs' sides of the past such as the so-called 'Famous Five' of the late 40s and early 50s. But it is quite possible that the image would also date rather quickly. McPake is one of a number of loan signings at the club, and as mutually beneficial as the temporary arrangement has been for both parties – and although there has been talk of a fee in the region of £100,000 being thrashed out between the two clubs – the central defender will, as things stand, return to Coventry City in the summer for the first day of pre-season.

"I'm contracted to Coventry and I've got another season down there, so unless I hear otherwise I'll be reporting back down there on the July 1," he said. "I've had a great time at Hibs and I've enjoyed every minute of it, but as far as I'm concerned this is my last game for Hibs unless someone tells me otherwise. Maybe a month down the line I'll just be the Hibs captain who lifted the cup – but the cup will stay at the club whether I'm there or not.

"I'm determined to have a future with Coventry because they're my parent club and I have no other option but to go back to them – and I don't mean that in a bad way," he added. "That's where I'll be unless things change – and things do change in football – but at the moment I'm not out looking for it or begging Hibs to try to buy me."

Just gracing Hampden on cup final day is an achievement in itself, considering 12 months ago, McPake had been flattened by a serious back injury. "If you had told me this time last year I'd be playing in the Scottish Cup final in 12 months I would only have believed you because I was so zonked out on painkillers," he said.

McPake raised money for charity when he put up a couple of tickets via Twitter, but has recently found the social networking site too much to cope with. He is trying to ignore the prospect of his being the first Hibs hands to touch the lift the old trophy and break the curse. "I've had to come off it [Twitter] as I can't read the stories any more," he said. "That's what's keeping me awake. It's like having a wee devil and an angel sitting on each shoulder, the devil is trying to show me the cup ... but the angel is trying to keep my mind focused on the game."

Taken from the Herald