A Family Affair!
The upcoming match against Hibs looks set to be a special occasion, but for Clyde fan Brian Stevenson it’ll be extra special.
Brian has been a Clyde supporter for thirty years, occasional season ticket holder, Supporters’ Trust member, website member and Clyde View subscriber. However, he hasn’t managed to attend as many matches as usual in recent times as his son, Lewis, has been successfully progressing his own football career at Easter Road.
Having played for a local Fife team – Thornton Colts – from 10-years-old, Lewis signed for St. Johnstone at 13 and then for Hibs at 15. He is currently on the fringes of the Hibs first team squad but made a major mark with his man of the match performance in Hibs’ 2007 CIS Cup win against Kilmarnock. This came only a matter of weeks after becoming a first team regular and when he was just 19.
Lewis’ performances have earned him Scotland Under-21 recognition and this month he was given the honour of taking the Hibs captaincy in a game in his home town, when the Hibees played Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park.
Brian, pictured above with Lewis, spoke to www.clydefc.co.uk about what has turned out to be a hectic pre-season for the family:-
“While Clyde have hosted Rangers and Hibs have faced Barcelona, for me (if not for Lewis!) the BIG pre-season game is Clyde v Hibs. I have seen Lewis once at Broadwood, playing for Hibs reserves against Rangers, but this will be my first opportunity to see him line-up on the pitch with Clyde, albeit for the opposition.
“While most of the family will be at the Hibs end I will take my usual place in the home stand to cheer on The Bully Wee. I have wondered how I will feel if this scenario arose, but at present I have little doubt that I will be rooting for a Clyde win! I hope Lewis plays and performs well though, and I’m sure on the night I might have mixed feelings.
“For me, the Hibs CIS Cup win, with Lewis involved, certainly ranks closely alongside that of Clyde’s Cup defeat of Celtic. A 4-3 victory for Clyde this week, with Lewis bagging a hat-trick for Hibs, would come some way to matching those two!”
Although there will be mixed emotions for Brian on the night, there will be less split loyalties for Lewis, as Brian explained:-
“The first game I took Lewis to was at Stark’s Park to see Clyde play Rovers, when he was 5. We were living in Kirkcaldy so this was a local game for him. He came to a few Clyde games thereafter but I’m afraid to say his head was turned by peer group pressure, first to watch Rovers and a then the hunt for glory in a flirtation with Rangers as his favourite team.
“One of my less impressive acts as a father was the extent to which I joyously celebrated beside a glum and anxious Lewis when the Charlie Nicholas inspired Clyde took the lead against Rangers in that Scottish Cup tie all those years ago. Rangers’ eventual win was probably a just punishment for my negligence and insensitivity regarding the feelings of my young son!
“Lewis has reaped revenge though by being quoted in press, when on Scotland Under-21 duty, that his dad doesn’t come to watch him because he’s too busy watching Clyde! This, of course, is not the case. Well, not entirely. I do try to juggle things to watch both Clyde and Lewis as much as I can. I also have to fit in watching my younger sons, Rory and Euan, playing for their local teams so weekends can be complicated affairs!
“Compared to that next Wednesday will be a breeze, watching Clyde and Lewis at the same time. All I need to sort out is my allegiance on the night.”
Here’s hoping for a good outcome for both father and son on Wednesday.
Don’t forget that all over-65s and under-16s can watch the anniversary match absolutely free! Standard admission for everyone else is £10.
Look out for more information on the events being planned for the evening soon.