Chris McGowan watched his dad rattle Hibs heroes Anthony Stokes and Derek Riordan for Irvine Meadow 15 years ago. Now the Clydebank defender is hoping to make his own mark at Easter Road when his family embark on a 15-year journey back in time to Leith on Saturday.
McGowan was still a primary school kid when his nearest and dearest took up an entire row of Hibs’ South Stand to watch his old man, also Chris, for Medda in a Scottish Cup defeat in January 2010. This weekend he’ll return to the same stadium, against the same opposition, in the same round of the same competition.
Only this time he’ll be the one lining up for the non-league underdogs – while dad takes his place as a nervous wreck in the stand. It’s the ultimate case of Trading Places and the Clydebank ace is hoping there’s a massive reversal in fortunes too. And don’t for a minute think McGowan isn’t serious about believing the seemingly impossible is, well possible. Not when he was a key man in the Darvel side that dumped Aberdeen in the greatest shock of the famous competition’s history just two years ago.
McGowan, a logistics operator for Spirit Aerosystems in Prestwick, said: “It’s brilliant how the Scottish Cup throws up these stories. I remember going through to watch dad for Medda.
“In fact there’s a photo in Meadow Park and it’s one row of Easter Road filled with all our family. Me, mum, my sisters, papas, gran, uncles, cousins, aunties, everybody! We arranged for a bus to get over to Edinburgh. They’re doing that again this weekend so it’s a nice touch.
“I remember dad and Anthony Stokes having a right good battle that day. You got away with more then and dad definitely liked the physical side of the game! Medda had them rattled for half an hour, hit the post and should have had a penalty. But Hibs got the first goal and took over.
“It finished 3-0 but was a huge occasion. Dad says it’s down to me to get revenge. We’ll see what happens! Hibs are flying right now. It’s like they’ve raised their game ever since the draw because they know Clydebank are coming!
“We’re massive underdogs but never say never. Just look at the Aberdeen game with Darvel. That’s got to be the biggest upset in Scottish Cup history. There’s a couple of other Darvel boys here at the Bankies now – Craig Truesdale and Davie Syme – and we can have a laugh and joke about already having beaten Premiership opposition.
“But everything was in our favour that night. It was at Darvel, small pitch, we got ourselves ahead and they had a goal wrongly chopped off. I still laugh at that now – it was so far onside. The big thing was we were brave on the ball – really good in possession – and that will be important on Saturday again. We are on Hibs’ turf. We are massive underdogs. But who knows?”
Hibs may well be on a seven-game unbeaten run but Gordon Moffat’s Bankies are flying high at the summit of the West Premier – five tiers below David Gray’s side. With former Aberdeen ace Nicky Low and established junior stars like Andy Leishman and Nicky Little in their ranks they have ability. And with over 2200 tickets sold they’ll have a serious backing in Leith too.
McGowan said: “Hibs have got quality international players like Martin Boyle. You’ve got to look forward to that kind of thing. You watch these players on TV and make your mind up on them. But it’s completely different when you are directly up against them. That’s when you realise how good they really are. Hopefully I play and get that chance.”
McGowan senior is 46 now and assistant manager of Ardrossan Winton Rovers. But he’ll be nowhere near his side’s West of Scotland League game against Kilwinning Rangers on Saturday.
He said: “It’ll be a bit strange watching Chris follow in my footsteps. Hopefully he can get us some revenge. I’ll never forget that day 15 years ago. I’ve still got Paul Hanlon’s shirt. Stokes was like a ghost. He wasn’t a big guy, so I could get over the top of him and he was always looking for a foul. But my God he was sharp, quick feet, his movement was incredible.
“The first 20 minutes we were on top, we hit the post and should have had a penalty when their keeper pulled down our striker Richie Barr. But then they got a foothold in the game, big players like Liam Miller that played Champions League with Man U and Celtic, Stokes, Riordan started getting on the ball and then, before you know it, we were one down.
“We gave as good as we got in the first half though and I remember Yogi Hughes was yanking them all in at half-time, manhandling them, and we could hear him giving them pelters. My wee one Kelly-Marie was only one back then and my eldest Kimberley would have been 12. They were all there and will be again to watch Chris this weekend.
“I’ll be nervous, I’m much worse watching Chris than I ever was when I was playing. You kick every ball. That just goes with being a dad I suppose. Fingers crossed they get the bit of luck we never had.”