The word legend is perhaps bandied around too often by football fans and it’s probably fair to say that not every player the tag is attached to, actually deserves it.
That certainly can’t be said of Jimmy O’Rourke, a Hibernian legend in every sense of the word.
Small in stature compared to many of the defenders he faced, Jimmy had the heart of a lion and his stocky build meant he was rarely, if ever, outfought.
He was a player who instinctively knew where the goal was and he had that rare knack of being in the right place at the right time. In today’s market, he would be worth millions.
The free-scoring partnership that he forged with the mercurial Alan Gordon in Eddie Turnbull’s legendary Tornadoes team was testament to his ability.
He was one of those players that even opposition fans appreciated, though never as much as the Hibs fans who bestowed him with the honour of his own song.
“Jimmy, Jimmy O’Rourke, everyone knows his name,” regularly rang round Easter Road - sung to the theme tune from the then kid’s TV programme 'Rupert the Bear'.
Jimmy was involved in so many memorable games for the Hibees throughout his 12-year spell at the Club, but his goal in the 1972 League Cup Final - that secured our first trophy since the days of the Famous Five - stands above them all.
Or does it? With a seven-goal away victory over our city rivals also a stand out - along with six hat-tricks that same season - who could choose? Also throw in several stunning European nights under the Easter Road lights and it’s fair to say there’s no shortage of glittering moments from Jimmy’s Hibs career to choose from!
However, all good things come to an end and you could have bet your bottom dollar that when Jimmy left Hibs to join St Johnstone in 1974, he’d come back to haunt us.
Sure enough, a few weeks into the 1974/75 season, with Hibs unbeaten and top of the league, he returned to Leith as the Saints captain. Jimmy, of course, had to toss the coin for choice of ends with his long time Hibs teammate and old Holy Cross Academy school pal, Pat Stanton.
Hibs, as everyone knows, always liked to shoot down the old Easter Road slope in the second half of games but Jimmy wasn’t going to let that happen!
Then, to rub salt in the wound, he went on to score the Saints winner. However, even whilst doing so, his love for Hibs still shone through and he refused to celebrate his goal to any extent.
It’s fair to say that the angels high above have just gained a striker that would have arguably walked into almost any team in Britain and maybe even further afield back in the early 1970s.
We will always be grateful that he graced the hallowed Easter Road turf in his prime.
