Scottish Premiership
The Warm-Up: Alan Stubbs and Andy Barrowman discuss Celtic vs Hibernian, being put to bed by Wayne Rooney and cup shocks
This week on The Warm-Up, Hibs and Celtic hero Alan Stubbs and former Raith Rovers chief exec Andy Barrowman join co-pilot Steven Naismith and host Gordon Duncan.
Alan tells us all about “looking after” Wayne Rooney in his formative years at Everton and his battle to return from cancer while at Celtic. The guys discuss how Hibernian will fare against Celtic in Sunday’s ‘Alan Stubbs Derby’ and Steven Naismith talks about that Arsenal trial as a teenager. The full episode is available on the Warm-Up YouTube channel and can be found here.
On the show this week –
Scottish Cup Saved My Life
Reflecting on his return from cancer Alan Stubbs said: “The first game that I came back in, was at Hibs, away. Martin had put me on, and I’m dressed, ready to come on and next minute, the whole of the ground stand up, and start to give me a standing ovation and I’m like ‘oh my God, I’m going to lose it here’, lump in my throat, trying to hold back the tears. Then I’ve come on, and worst-case scenario, and I’ve gone and scored! I wasn’t ready, I’ll 100% admit, my scar was still healing but I was just desperate to play. As soon as I was playing and as soon as I felt anyone start to pull me, I could feel the scar start to pull apart. You know when you say sometimes your life is mapped out, and it’s already all planned, it’s weird the way that this was my first game back, Hibs, then years to come, my first managerial job, Hibs, it’s weird the way things fall into place.”
They’ve planted a seed
Ahead of Celtic v Hibernian on Sunday, Alan Stubbs said: “Hibs have got the team nobody really wanted, and everybody wanted to avoid, but the one thing that Hibs have done is that Hibs have planted a seed in terms of beating Celtic a couple of weeks ago. Listen, I think we all know that Celtic are going to be overwhelming favourites, but I really do think that with the form and the confidence that Hibs are in right now, it’s going to be a tough game for Celtic, and Celtic are going to have to be, I think, their best, to come through the game.”
Bet on Celtic vs Hibernian with William Hill. The Bhoys are priced at 1/5 with Hibernian priced at 9/1.
David Gray climbing the ladder with Hibernian
Alan Stubbs said, “It changes the direction of the club. He’s brilliant, Dave’s a great lad. He’s a very unassuming lad, he’s very much the one that will take the back step and let the players take the adulation. He’s one of those guys, I knew that I didn’t have to say anything to the players in general, because I knew Dave would do it for me. It’d be like, ‘Dave listen, I need you to go and sort that’ and he’d go and do it, he had the player’s respect. Dave’s one, he doesn’t have to say anything, because his face will say it!”
Steven Naismith echoed Alan’s comments; “I’ve got to know him on the pro-licence, he has got a confidence, that reserved nature, but he’s got a real confidence and belief, that’s the biggest thing that struck me.”
“I’m no moving to London!”
Reminded about his trial for Arsenal as a teenager, Steven Naismith said; “I met Arsene Wenger, then the kit-man takes me through, c’mon we’ll get you changed, walk into the changing room, Theo Walcott, Ashley Cole, Gilberto Silva, Adebayor and I’m star-struck! I’m actually going to be training with these guys, so then had a few days, it was a brilliant experience, but I remember being down there thinking, they could offer me any contract, I’m no moving to London, it’s far too far away! I just wasn’t ready to move.”
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