Thursday, March 28, 2024
1Hibs fans launch bid to get Sunshine on Leith in charts

Hibs fans launch bid to get Sunshine on Leith in charts

By Rory Reynolds

HIBS-mad fans have launched a campaign to get one of The Proclaimers best-loved hits back in the charts for a special gig to celebrate the anniversary of the club’s rescue.

The Leith duo led the charge during the Hands of Hibs campaign 20 years ago after the club was threatened with a takeover bid from Hearts boss Wallace Mercer.

Now ahead of The Proclaimers’ gig next month at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, fans have pledged to get Sunshine on Leith back in the charts as a big thankyou to the band.

Lifelong Hibs fan Callum Laidlaw – whose dad took him along to the original gig in 1990 – came up with the idea after Rangers fans catapulted Simply the Best into the charts last week.

The 28-year-old’s dad took him along to the band’s special gig at Easter Road 20 years ago, and he’s now keen to get the side’s anthem in the top 40.

The Lloyds bank worker, who lives in Rosyth, said: “I went to my first Hibs match when I was about five and have been going pretty much ever since then.

Fantastic

“I just about remember my dad taking me to the Hands off Hibs campaign when I was eight and seeing The Proclaimers, it was fantastic, that memory stayed with me.

“We’re not trying to get them in the top ten or anything, but the single was No.41 last time, so if we can get it higher than that it’ll be a great achievement.

Callum came up with the idea after the success of Rangers fans in getting the Glasgow sides anthem and Tina Turner hit Simply the Best to ninth place in the charts last week.

He used the club’s fan forums to get the campaign message out, and even had a little celebrity help along the way.

125,000 followers

Callum said: “I emailed Matt Lucas’ press people, because he is a huge Proclaimers fan, they said he was really interested and he’d be happy to tweet the message to his followers on Twitter.

“He’s got something like 125,000 followers, so that’s a huge boost.

“We’ve also got Grant Stott helping us, and I’ve been trying to get hold of Dougray Scott on board as well.

“Me and my dad are both season ticket holders and we go to every game together.

“We’ll be there on the night, and it would be nice if The Proclaimers could say when they’re on stage, ‘we’re back in the charts’ and it would be down to the fans.”

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