The long and storied history of Hibernian Football Club has been rich with passion but haunted by a single, glaring omission: a Scottish Cup win. For 114 years, generations of Hibs supporters endured near misses, heartbreak, and the infamous curse of the final. In "Hibernian Heroes: The Team that Ended 114 Years of Hurt," acclaimed journalist Isaac Callan delivers a riveting, behind-the-scenes account that brings every moment of the 2016 Scottish Cup Final to life, captivating even the most casual football enthusiast. Callan’s experience growing up in Edinburgh, with Easter Road season tickets in hand, imbues the narrative with an authenticity and emotional resonance that sets this book apart from other football histories.
Isaac Callan’s deft storytelling unravels the agonising lows and euphoric highs that define not just Hibernian, but Scottish football itself. Having penned features and reported on politics, Callan invigorates the genre with a journalist’s scrutiny and a fan’s heart. He draws from exclusive interviews with the squad and coaching staff, offering readers rare insight into tactical meetings, changing room dynamics, and the pivotal moments that shaped Hibernian’s historic triumph. As with classic football literature—think Nick Hornby’s "Fever Pitch" or Hunter Davies’ "The Glory Game"—Callan’s work will stand as a modern touchstone, re-energising the narrative sports genre.
"Hibernian Heroes" intricately details how then-manager Alan Stubbs galvanised a side written off after agonising relegations and last-minute defeats. The book traces the arrival of unexpected hero Conrad Logan, whose semi-final performances became the stuff of legend, and charts Anthony Stokes’s redemptive journey as a nomadic striker whose goals propelled Hibs to immortality. With wit, depth, and a deep-rooted connection to the Hibernian faithful, Callan finds the humanity and hunger inside each player that transformed the team’s destiny.
Ultimately, Isaac Callan’s "Hibernian Heroes" isn’t just a celebration of the 2016 Scottish Cup win—it’s a love letter to football, community, hope, and the persistence that defines the sport. Fans searching for the definitive history of Hibernian FC, epic tales of Scottish football, or even stories of footballing underdogs, will find this richly-researched narrative a must-read. With acclaim already building around Callan’s contribution to football writing, "Hibernian Heroes" is set to join the ranks of the sport’s most beloved books.
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Publisher: Fascinating Selection of Books – A Must See!
Published: May 4, 2026
Price: £19.99
Hardback: 224 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1836804352
Dimensions: 22.2 x 14.4 x 2 (cm)
