Edina Hibs dedicate cup win to Sean Hogg

A GROUP of young football players have dedicated their own Scottish Cup win to a teammate who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

Edina Hibs 15s lift the Scottish Cup at Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium. Picture: supplied

Edina Hibs shaved their heads and wore T-shirts in support of Sean Hogg, as they played their most crucial match of the season against Hutchison Vale on Sunday – just a day after Hibs’ victory.

The under-15s won 3-1, and dedicated their success to 13-year-old Sean, a pupil at Dalkeith High School and a player in the under-14s team, who discovered he had leukaemia just last month.

Sean’s heartbroken family said he had received amazing backing from friends.

Sean Hogg, 13, has been diagnosed with leukaemia. Picture: Neil Hanna

Father Barry Hogg, 42, said: “We are just so overwhelmed, the support Sean has had has been fantastic.

“He’s been feeling left out because the boys won the cup without him being there, but we are all so grateful.

“He’s a very keen football player.”

From a young age, Sean – who is one of eight children – has suffered health problems.

Sean Hogg, 13, has been diagnosed with leukaemia. Picture: Neil Hanna

His family discovered he was more prone to cancer a few years ago, after a nurse informed them that 12 crucial cells were missing from his body.

They were told to watch out for any possible signs of the disease and, ever since, his mother Michelle, 40, has been on alert.

Sean, from Danderhall, had just bought his new football boots ready for a final with his under-14s team when he given the devastating news and rushed to the Sick Kids hospital. He is now undergoing his first course of chemotherapy.

Mr Hogg said: “When Sean was diagnosed our whole world fell apart. We are a close family but this has brought us even closer.

“Sean has coped with it best out of us all to be honest, he doesn’t really show that much emotion.”

Mr Hogg said just a week before Sean was diagnosed, his wife became concerned as he didn’t look his usual self. He was tired all the time and hardly eating.

As soon as she could, his mother rushed him to the doctor.

Mr Hogg added: “Myself and his brothers have all shaved our hair, but for the football team to do it too was absolutely fantastic.

“He didn’t get to go and watch them in the cup final because his immune system has been so low, but the support has really been helping him.”

Sean’s brother, Barry, has recently signed for Berwick Rangers, and his dad said Sean had been hoping to follow in his footsteps.

Despite being Jambos, Mr Hogg said they were pleased at Hibs winning the Scottish Cup at the weekend.

He said: “Sean is a Hearts fan and so are we, but we were delighted to see Hibs win the cup at the weekend.

“It was nice to see our family and friends who are Hibs supporters celebrating, because they’ve never had that experience before.”

Mr Hogg added: “Moving forward we are all going to stay positive, and start doing some fundraising for the charities at the Sick Kids. You don’t realise until you go into a place like that how much more you could do to help.

“We also want people to feel like they can ask us questions. Just because of Sean’s diagnosis, we don’t want people to treat us any differently.”

Willie Sieves, secretary of Edina Hibs Community Football Club, said: “What the boys and coaches have done has been a great gesture and I think Sean is really pleased with the support.”

[e-mail]