Brown: 'I hated Sunshine On Leith, now I can't wait to hear it again'

Thursday 17 May 2012

Billy Brown slammed the Hampden dressing-room door shut to drown out the Hibs fans bringing Sunshine On Leith to their last cup final win in 2007.

Billy Brown: 'I'm at the end of a roller-coaster season'

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This weekend, he is desperate to stay out on the pitch and lap up The Proclaimers' terracing anthem at the end of a first Scottish Cup success in 110 years for the long-suffering Easter Road club.

Five years ago, Brown was Kilmarnock No.2 to long-time sidekick and Hearts legend Jim Jefferies when Hibernian beat the Rugby Park men 5-1 in a CIS Insurance Cup final that gave Hibs their first trophy in 16 years.A spine-tingling rendition of Sunshine On Leith amid emotional celebrations brought tears to the eyes of John Collins, who only two months before had lost his father Norrie, and the remarkable scenes will live long in the memory for those bedecked in green and white that day.But for Brown, and the losing Kilmarnock squad, the boisterous singing was anything but music to their ears as they sought sanctuary deep in the bowels of Hampden.The ode to Hibs' heartland was given another airing after their semi-final victory over Aberdeen last month, now Brown is hoping to hear it again on SaturdayThe 61-year-old said: "Surely after 110 years Hibs deserve it to be their day. I remember that defeat to Hibs. I remember Sunshine On Leith blaring out at the end. When we beat Aberdeen in the semi-final I told Pat [Fenlon, the Hibs manager] to stand with me and listen to it. It's a really emotive song. The last time I heard it before that was in that League Cup final with Kilmarnock. We'd been gubbed 5-1 and I had turned on my heels and was heading down the tunnel."I closed the dressing room door but I could still hear it. It wasn't a pleasant experience that day but I hope to hear the song being sung on Saturday. It really impressed Pat I think. He had never heard that before – he listens to the Wild Rover! It was fantastic and I'd love to hear it again."Should Hibs upset the odds and defeat Hearts, installed as favourites following a better league campaign and a run of 10 derbies without defeat, it is thought Brown – who triumphed with Hearts in 1998 – will make history as the only man to win the cup with both halves of the divide.It would be a fittingly surreal ending to a season that began with Brown as assistant to Jefferies at Hearts, and has included Brown's role in helping relegate his old pal, now Dunfermline manager, to the first division.If that successful fight against the drop was bitter-sweet taste for Brown, the one-time Motherwell and Raith Rovers defender has also talked of mixed emotions at seeing his former club set up the first all-Edinburgh Scottish Cup final since 1896 with their win over Celtic last monthHowever, given his shock removal from Tynecastle in August, Brown – a childhood Hibs fans – insists there will be no doubting his loyalty come the intensity of the battle at Hampden on Saturday."Since I left Hearts to come to Hibs, I have been stopped constantly by people in the street and so on. Not in a bad way by anybody I have to say. Hearts and Hibs fans have been great with me, I've had no complaints. That may change if we win on Saturday. I didn't choose to leave Hearts, we were unceremoniously dumped. It looked as though we in the process of building a decent team again."But it wasn't to be and I was offered the chance to come to a massive club. I didn't think twice about joining Hibs. I could never have dreamed of an all-Edinburgh final and me being on the Hibs side of things, yet here I am at the end of a roller-coaster season."I've been through everything, even up until last week with the whole relegation issue with Jim and Dunfermline. I could be the first person to win the cup with both Edinburgh clubs, I don't think anyone has done it ever before."

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Brown: 'I hated Sunshine On Leith, now I can't wait to hear it again'

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