Persevered : How Hibernian Smashed the Biggest Curse in Football

A “delightfully quirky, witty and exquisitely rendered” account of the Edinburgh football team that won the Scottish Cup—after a 114-year dry spell (Sunday Herald). One hundred and fourteen years and no Scottish Cup for Hibernian. It could be considered the biggest curse in football. Cock-up after near-miss after not-a-hope. Over the years, fans of the rival team Hearts have even tried to get the term “Hibsing it”—to chuck away a vital game from a favorable position—included in the dictionary. Every year would come the mention of 1902, the last time Hibs had won the cup. 1902, when Buffalo Bill was still alive and the bra was newly invented. And then came 2016 and a run all the way to the final at Hampden. Hibs couldn’t finally, at long, long last, win the infernal, blasted thing . . . could they? Aidan Smith takes us on the turbulent journey that was Hibs’ 2016 Scottish Cup Campaign, through a season of peaks and troughs that, despite everything, finally delivered that elusive Cup victory Hibs fans craved for so long.