What new Hibs book would you want to read?

[MeanwoodHibee]

I like finding out about the history of our club, here are three books I would love to read:

1. A biography of Harry Swan. One of the most important figures in our history. Yet the subject of so many rumours and myths: he was a freemason, he was a sympathiser of Protestant extremists, he wanted to change our name, he wanted us to play in red instead of green, he wanted to ban Celtc for flying the Irish tricolour, he got rid of the harp, etc etc. Rubbish of course. But where can you find out more about his real background, what really motivated him, where his drive and ambition for Hibs came from?

2. A definite history of the whole Duff/Gray takeover, stock market flotation, Mercer bid, Hands Off Hibs, receivership, STF saga. Written by someone who could understand all the financial ins and outs and based on lots of interviews with everyone and anyone who played a part big or small. (Not the deid obviously).

3. A big lavishly produced coffee table book filled with hundreds of fascinating photographs many of which I've never previously seen documenting the whole 150 year history of our club 1875-2025.

Any others anyone else would like to see?
Edit: I think Harry Swan may have been a freemason

 

[Weehibbydrew]

David Forsyth's jotters.

 

[Zab]

I like the idea of coffee table style books about Hibernian. I’d love one that specifically detailed all 100 competitive European fixtures we have played - photos, interviews, team sheets, match reports, interviews with those who took part (where possible).

 

[Doc Shrink]

There’s a ‘coffee table book’ “Hibernian Headlines from 1921, which contains exactly that.
£20 from Costco.

 

[emerald green]

I like finding out about the history of our club, here are three books I would love to read:

1. A biography of Harry Swan. One of the most important figures in our history. Yet the subject of so many rumours and myths: he was a freemason, he was a sympathiser of Protestant extremists, he wanted to change our name, he wanted us to play in red instead of green, he wanted to ban Celtc for flying the Irish tricolour, he got rid of the harp, etc etc. Rubbish of course. But where can you find out more about his real background, what really motivated him, where his drive and ambition for Hibs came from?

2. A definite history of the whole Duff/Gray takeover, stock market flotation, Mercer bid, Hands Off Hibs, receivership, STF saga. Written by someone who could understand all the financial ins and outs and based on lots of interviews with everyone and anyone who played a part big or small. (Not the deid obviously).

3. A big lavishly produced coffee table book filled with hundreds of fascinating photographs many of which I've never previously seen documenting the whole 150 year history of our club 1875-2025.

Any others anyone else would like to see?
Edit: I think Harry Swan may have been a freemason

1) The day I met the bent ref Craig "The Gunt" Thomson and knocked him out.,

 

[Purple & Green]

There’s two books covering sort of number 2 coming out

one is by Colin Leslie specifically about hibs of that era, the other is an auto/biography of David Duff.

 

[Purple & Green]

There’s a cracking book of hibs pictures from 1875-1975 iirc (the dates, there’s definitely a book)

Images of Sport: Hibernain Football Club 1875-1975 (Archive Photographs: Images of Sport) - Paul Lunney: 9780752421704 - AbeBooks

Images of Sport: Hibernain Football Club 1875-1975 (Archive Photographs: Images of Sport) by Paul Lunney - ISBN 10: 0752421700 - ISBN 13: 9780752421704 - The History Press LTD - 2001 - Softcover

www.abebooks.co.uk

(that reminds me there was a picture book from that day, that I've never managed to source)

This one:

A MOMENT IN TIME by John Stephens | Waterstones

Buy A MOMENT IN TIME by John Stephens from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.

www.waterstones.com

 

[Purple & Green]

I like the idea of coffee table style books about Hibernian. I’d love one that specifically detailed all 100 competitive European fixtures we have played - photos, interviews, team sheets, match reports, interviews with those who took part (where possible).

I might take that on, I’ve various book skeletons written out might try to sketch that out

 

[MeanwoodHibee]

There’s two books covering sort of number 2 coming out

one is by Colin Leslie specifically about hibs of that era, the other is an auto/biography of David Duff.

Thanks, I will look out for them.

 

[Zab]

I might take that on, I’ve various book skeletons written out might try to sketch that out

That would be excellent!

 

[Greenmachine]

Read so many book about Hibs and our history over the years...going back to when I was a laddie and got "100 Years of Hibs" as a Christmas present. That book was written and published to commemorate our Centenary.

Biography of Harry Swan would be an interesting read. One of the most significant individuals in our club's great history.

Any book about the Duff/Gray/Mercer takeover era would hopefully have some new information and revelations from that time, because so much has already been written and discussed already.

 

[GibbytheHibby]

I’d love a fly on the wall book, spilling the beans on some fallouts. Probably need to wait a few minutes ears for all of that. Petrie pushing Hughes (inc. selling Bamba before the derby), Lennon’s tantrums, chair throwing and dyke-gate; JCs egomania…….. Leigh’s long walk home after fisticuffs with Pat

 

[Purple & Green]

Any book about the Duff/Gray/Mercer takeover era would hopefully have some new information and revelations from that time, because so much has already been written and discussed already.

How do I word this....

The problem is that there are still forces suppressing the free discussion of the key players version of events.

 

[SlovSam]

One man dominated Hibs for the best part of 25 years and knows where everyone single body is buried.

Straitongate I , Straitiongate II, The Great Adventure/ £10million of debt, Lochend Butterfly, The Fat Malky and the noble Sauzee, selling "the Twins", negotiating with agents and bungs, boardroom tussles, behind the stand demos, Butcher, Backpass and bringing in Dempsey, turning down many outside offers to sell Hibs, being sometimes hated, often despised but always respected and finally the end of an era and selling his own 10% once Mr Farmer decided that Ron was to be the way ahead.

I think his tears were genuine on the cup final video but what a story 'The Dear Leader" could tell.✌

 

[1875]

Biography of Harry Swan would be an interesting read. One of the most significant individuals in our club's great history.

I would love to read that book. Over the years, Slov Sam, Kenny McM ex of this parish and myself have worked hard to dispel some of the myths around the great Harry Swan.

 

[Purple & Green]

One man dominated Hibs for the best part of 25 years and knows where everyone single body is buried.

Straitongate I , Straitiongate II, The Great Adventure/ £10million of debt, Lochend Butterfly, The Fat Malky and the noble Sauzee, selling "the Twins", negotiating with agents and bungs, boardroom tussles, behind the stand demos, Butcher, Backpass and bringing in Dempsey, turning down many outside offers to sell Hibs, being sometimes hated, often despised but always respected and finally the end of an era and selling his own 10% once Mr Farmer decided that Ron was to be the way ahead.

I think his tears were genuine on the cup final video but what a story 'The Dear Leader" could tell.✌

Curiously, there is a nominee shareholding of exactly 10%, that is absolutely resistant to it's true ownership being revealed.

Strange.

The old board however sanctioned that shareholding so it was explicitly approved by STF and TDL prior to selling to the Americans.

 

[Purple & Green]

I would love to read that book. Over the years, Slov Sam, Kenny McM ex of this parish and myself have worked hard to dispel some of the myths around the great Harry Swan.

So would I, a lot has been written already about him already and further information is a forensic task. From memory he was born in 1896 and died in 1966. It's probably running out of time to speak to anyone alive who knew him. From that side, I think the podcast side interests me....I think there's so much hibs historical info that could be recorded before it's lost forever.

 

[1875]

Curiously, there is a nominee shareholding of exactly 10%, that is absolutely resistant to it's true ownership being revealed.

Strange.

The old board however sanctioned that shareholding so it was explicitly approved by STF and TDL prior to selling to the Americans.

The names on that block suggest its Tom Farmer and Rod Petrie.

 

[Purple & Green]

The names on that block suggest its Tom Farmer and Rod Petrie.

I think it might be the case that RP can't hold shares directly in the club while he has the role at the SFA.

 

[1875]

I think it might be the case that RP can't hold shares directly in the club while he has the role at the SFA.

I am sure his family can.

 

[emerald green]

Read so many book about Hibs and our history over the years...going back to when I was a laddie and got "100 Years of Hibs" as a Christmas present. That book was written and published to commemorate our Centenary.

Biography of Harry Swan would be an interesting read. One of the most significant individuals in our club's great history.

Any book about the Duff/Gray/Mercer takeover era would hopefully have some new information and revelations from that time, because so much has already been written and discussed already.

Got this book, but cannot for the life of me find the dust cover for it!

 

[Alberta Hibee]

Got this book, but cannot for the life of me find the dust cover for it!

I have it too but the dust cover is lost in time somewhere.
Christmas highlight that year was the book and a scarf, unfortunately the last presents my father bought me before he passed.
1975 is a long time ago.

 

[Hibee Kev]

Would also love to read a detailed, impartial account of the Duff/Gray era and the Mercer takeover. This was around the time I started taking an interest in Hibs and going to games. That said, I do feel I know a lot of the key details from here on the Bounce!

Another “reveal all” book detailing the Petrie years (ideally by the man himself) would be great, but can’t see that happening until more time has passed, if it happens at all.