Hibs supporters recall party of the century on anniversary of Scottish Cup parade through Edinburgh

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - MAY 22: The Hibernian FC team celebrate winning the Scottish Cup yesterday against Rangers FC as they parade the Scottish Cup to their fans on an open top bus along Leith Walk on May 22, 2016 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

If that memorable afternoon at Hampden four years ago was the moment Hibs’ dreams came true, then the following day back in Edinburgh was when the magnitude of the achievement started to sink in.

It was estimated that as many as 150,000 supporters lined the streets of the capital on Sunday, May 22, 2016 to salute their Scottish Cup heroes who, 24 hours earlier, had ended the club's 114-year wait for the trophy in the most dramatic of circumstances.

It was a moment many Hibs fans, particularly the older generation, never thought they'd live to see, and the massive cheers that greeted the open-top bus parade from the City Chambers, down the High Street, across North Bridge and then into Leith Walk showed just how much it meant.

On the anniversary of the Sunday parade, we invited Hibs fans to share their memories and die-hard Connaire Wallace from Cockenzie was one of the first to see the players that morning.

"It was a particularly special day for me as I was lucky enough to attend the players sponsor morning," he recalled. "Still drunk from the night before, without sleep, I put the suit on and headed for Easter Road. My first memory was all of the players were late, first in the door was Liam Henderson, wearing a John McGinn facemask chanting, 'We’ve got super John McGinn' to which the whole room burst into a rendition of that song.

"It’s been said on more than one occasion that the cup final parade was almost as special as the cup win day itself and to bear witness to 150,000 supporters lining Leith Walk and Leith Links with a culmination of emotions that I know I’ll never witness again has changed my life forever. That squad of legends will live with me till the day I die.

"Due to the nature of the game, the cup run, the losses in the league cup final and playoff heartache, not to mention the 114-year curse I am absolutely certain that no other clubs fans will ever reach the levels of euphoria that the Hibernian family had that weekend. Nothing can ever beat it."

Another supporter, Ally Farrell, originally from Peebles, revealed he had travelled from London for the occasion.

"Waking up the morning after Hibs won the Scottish Cup was like a dream. Not because it seemed too ridiculous to be true, but because I woke up in a flat next door to Easter Road," he said. "I opened the curtains and there was the stadium. I'd come from London for the match and was supposed to be staying in Glasgow, but somehow I'd ended up sleeping just metres from the Scottish Cup itself.

"The rest of the day is a haze, but it mainly involved: a champagne breakfast, the most beautiful weather, singing my lungs out with strangers in Alhambra bar on Leith Walk wearing a green wig, running around the streets of Edinburgh following our new heroes on top of a bus, and being overcome with emotion on Leith Links where the bus stopped in front of what must have been enough Hibs fans to fill Easter Road three times."

Here are more fans memories:

Graeme Chadwick: "The scenes on that day at the final whistle and the parade the next day will live long in the memories. Delighted I could share it with my dad who had travelled back from South Korea where he was working for the match and all my Hibee mates."

Jennifer Laidlaw: "If I thought the Saturday couldn’t be topped, along came the Sunday. The atmosphere in the streets and pubs was just electric. I still think people were in disbelief. And then the bus arrived. What a moment. An amazing way to end an amazing weekend."

Steven McKenzie: "The parade was incredible. I had watched the whole game again that morning and then headed to meet some mates, down to the pub, then to Leith Links and back to the pub for more celebrating. Leith was bouncing. I just wished I had taken the Monday off work, but I didn't want to jinx it again!"

Darren Shillinglaw: "My wife was going in for a hip replacement but was adamant I was to go to the game (never in doubt). I was running the EH8-HIBS bus so celebrated the best day in history with 60 friends and family... all day and all night at Middletons on Easter Road. Of course I visited my wife at the Royal Infirmary on the Sunday, still in my HIBS gear, shed a tear or two with her and her mum and auntie and the nurses ... before getting back to celebrating up town for the open topped bus. What a weekend."

Neil Henderson: "A wonderful day. My young son Fraser and I travelled from Hamilton by train. It was written in the stars. Been to all Cup finals since 1972. When Stokes scored first I knew the day was going to be special and so it proved."

Kenny Harris: "Glorious sunshine, friends and family on all parts of Leith Walk, THE Cup and a drink or two along the way. Never to be forgotten"

Isla Smith: "Never seen anything like it before. I've never seen such a sea of green and white... it was quite emotional. You could see the pride and happiness on everyone's faces including those amazing players and staff on the bus. Definitely the biggest party Leith and possibly Edinburgh has ever seen."

Lee McLennan: "Never have I been so excited to head down to get a perfect spot on Leith Links with my friends and family and see my team bring that cup home. Memories that will last a lifetime and will never be replicated like that day even if we win it again."

Lauren Gilhooly: "Standing on the corner of Gayfield Square with my family, waiting for the bus to arrive with the Scottish Cup winning team was just amazing. The crowds and streams of people, everywhere you looked a sea of green! Sunshine was definitely on Leith that day!"