Liverpool fan Callum Wright delivers 'best song in football' tribute to Hibs support after career high
Midfielder insists attention turned to Aberdeen test immediately
It’s hard for any Liverpool fan to look beyond arguably the most famous anthem in sport. While Callum Wright may have grown up dreaming of walking out at Anfield to hear You’ll Never Walk Alone being sung with gusto, however, the Hibs midfielder cannot look past his current club’s contender for best song in football.
Describing Sunday’s Sunshine on Leith sing-along at Hampden as his best moment in football, no small claim for a player who has enjoyed a couple of title triumphs AND a starred in a cup win against his boyhood heroes, the midfielder admits that the entire scene took him by surprise. No matter how many videos you watch, there’s nothing to compare with being on the pitch, facing the Hibs support and basking in the glory of a Proclaimers love song that has taken on new life since being adopted by Easter Road diehards.
Sunshine on Leith versus You’ll Never Walk Alone
“It's amazing, and I do think it’s the best,” said Wright, the 26-year-old adding: “I'm a Liverpool fan and You’ll Never Walk Alone is an amazing way to start a game.
“But when you get Sunshine on Leith after a big victory in the derby, in a semi-final at Hampden, it puts even more on it. You don’t get it every week, we've had disappointing results, so to get that nice result and that nice feeling was amazing.
“Obviously the result helps. If you lose the game it's a nightmare of a day, so the whole experience of it, the moment of Sunshine on Leith with the fans, was so powerful, I didn't expect it to be that powerful.
“I'm sure it was even more powerful for people like Jason Kerr, who's from here. So it was just amazing.
“I won a couple of leagues - and it didn't compare to that feeling at the end of that game. So hopefully we can back it up again in the final, and create more memories.
“I couldn't put it into words really. I didn't expect it to be that good. Best thing I've felt in football, best moment I've had in football. And that's winning in a couple of leagues as well.”
‘Beer and music’ message a shock to players
Back in the squad and able to come off the bench in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final win over Hearts at Hampden, Wright played in the first game under new manager Marink Reedijk before the change of training intensity prompted a minor groin strain. The Dutch coach has been working his charges hard over the six weeks since his arrival, including dropping a day off from the regular rota.
When Reedijk was filmed telling his players ‘I want music, I want beer, I want everything …’ in the aftermath of Sunday’s win, then, it came as no little shock to the guys who had been put through the mill, Wright admitting: “We just had a good laugh in the changing room after that. Everyone was buzzing.
“We were surprised by the manager saying that, because he's relentless with us, he's really tough with us. But obviously everyone was just really happy. I think we needed it, I think the coaching staff needed it, the fans needed it. So as I say, we had a good night, and we were working hard the next day we were in.
“Straight away we came in, come in here, got on the grass and the first thing was, forget about the weekend. The first thing the manager said was: ‘We need to move on to this weekend now and have a good week.’”
‘We needed a change’ - Wright on Reedijk
Explaining his own recent injury, Wright revealed: “I think it was just a new change in load when the new manager came in and he got used to a new schedule again. It was pretty intense, and obviously it caused a little niggle on my groin having a shot in training.
“But we thought it was worse than what it was and it ended up only being a little 10 day or two weeker. So it was good to be back for the semi-final.
“Oh, it's been tough. It's been completely different to what we were doing. It's very intense.
“Everything's short, sharp, counter pressing when you lose the ball. Intensity when you're off the ball. As I say, it's just changing load and changing the demand of your body.
“It's obviously good. Obviously when you've got a change in manager, something's went wrong. So we obviously needed a freshen up and we needed a change. So new ideas and new messages are good for everyone.
“It'll bring the best out of some players and it might not for others. But as I say, as a team, it seems like it's bringing the best out of us. And hopefully we can start bringing results.
“I've had it before with, funnily enough, when I was at Plymouth with a manager who came from the Belgian league too. And it was very similar messages in terms of counter pressing when you lose the ball and after the position on the pitch.
“So I enjoyed it under that manager and I'm enjoying it under this manager now. As I say, back fit now so hopefully I can stay fit and try and bring something to the team.”