RIP Mr Turnbull

Eddie Turnbull 1923-2011

A sad day for Hibernian Football Club and for Scottish football, as the club and fans marked the passing of Eddie Turnbull, one of the last two remaining members of the "Famous Five" forward line of the late 1940's and early 50's, the most successful period of the club's history. Only Lawrie Reilly now survives. Mr Turnbull - as everyone called him - had a very successful spell as manager of Aberdeen before returning to Easter Road to manage Hibs from 1971-79. He was as a strong-minded character, never afraid of speaking his mind; he once said that he had fallen out with everyone he had ever met in his life.

Although he scored 150 goals for his club, and brought trophies to Easter Road as both team captain and manager, he will be remembered by most younger fans for the legendary 1973 New Years derby game when "Turnbull's Tornadoes" beat their Edinburgh rivals Heart of Midlothian 7-0 at Tynecastle. Today however was a day to briefly put rivalries aside and celebrate an extraordinary contribution to Scottish football by a quite extraordinary man, the like of whom Scottish football will not see again.