ERIN Community Trust - Player Of The Year 2000

Everyone a Winner In Trust Awards Ceremony!

Even Hearts Legend's Impromptu Visit A Success!

Saturday May 20th heralded the inaugural ERIN Community Trust Player of the Year Presentation. Held in the Almond Suite, Easter Road, the event was attended by the great, and the good -and even one very specific Hearts legend!

The evening saw the presence of not only the recipients of the awards (Russell Latapy, Player of the Year; Franck Sauzee, Outstanding Achievement Award; Kenny Miller, Young Player of the Year) but the manager, Alex McLeish and his Assistant Andy Watson. Other first team players present included Dirk Lehmann and Shaun Dennis. Chairman Malcolm McPherson was accompanied by fellow directors Stephen Dunn and Erick Davidson.

In a star-studded evening the Trust were represented by Trustees Lawrie Reilly, Keith Wright and Craig Paterson. Former manager Willie McFarlane, was among the guests, as was Grade One referee Martin Clark and top sports physio Derek Campbell. The media were represented by BBC Scotland's Kheredine Idessane and Paul Mitchell, and former STV weatherman turned MSP, Lloyd Quinan.

The Hearts legend will be revealed later.........in the most conspicuous of circumstances!!!!

The evening began early due to the rescheduling of the derby match with Hearts to the following Sunday afternoon. The Awards had been intended to be a huge club end-of-season party , after the original Saturday -scheduled derby date - however, such is Sky's hold on the game that matters were taken out of the club's hands. However, the turnout from the club was commendable given the circumstances and everyone was delighted to hear that, not only Franck and Kenny would be able to join us, but that the manager and other first team players would oblige also.

There was one stipulation , however, concerning Wonder Kid Miller - he had to be home to bed by half nine (Manager's Orders). This meant that Kenny's presentation was undertaken very early in proceedings.......and subsequently, meant that once he had departed, everyone else jumped on the bandwagon cracking jokes about it "being past the kids bedtime!"

Lawrie Reilly presenting Kenny Miller with the award for Erin Community Trust Young Player of the Year 2000

The presentation to Scotland's hottest young talent was made by a real Hibs goal-scoring legend - none other than Lawrie Reilly. Captured for posterity by the Edinburgh Evening News photographer present, Kenny looked delighted but very much the shy, young lad. Lawrie was delighted to be able to hand over a commemorative painting of the West Stand inscribed with "To commemorate the scoring of the last goal in front of the West Stand and on the Easter Road slope. K. Miller, April 22nd, 2000 versus Aberdeen". Kenny was also presented with a gift of his choice - which transpired to be gift vouchers for computer games!!!

The young these days.....as Lawrie might say!

Kenny was happy to pose for photographs and sign autographs before he had to depart and the assembled crowd were delighted to get even a few moments of the young star's time. Meanwhile, Alex McLeish held court and was equally as popular with the masses. Happy to blether to anyone and very obviously a social butterfly, he gladly mingled and made sure he visited every table in the room.

Similarly, Dirk Lehmann was to be commended for taking a very active and positive role on the night - what a super bloke! Franck Sauzee arrived a little later than the rest, accompanied by his wife, parents and other family. In a mini-French invasion, they took up camp at an entire table and seemed to thoroughly enjoy their evening of Scottish Fitba culture. Madame Sauzee caught the eye of many a male in the room, in her chic Chanel suit and elegant ways. Her English seemed actually better than Franck's and so she translated sometimes for him.......she also acted as interpreter for the rest of the French party, none of whom spoke much English. I wonder what is French for "She's out of yer League boys!"

Mr and Mrs Sauzee

The evening proceeded with the presentation, firstly, of the Player of the Year. The recipient, of course, was off on international duty with Trinidad and Tobago, however, manager McLeish had kindly agreed to step in and accept the award, from Trustee Craig Paterson, on Russell Latapy's behalf.

In doing so, he delighted the audience with his unequivocal praise of the player and support for the Trust.

"The Trust is simply amazing. Simply brilliant. The fans are asked so often to put their hands in their pockets - but they do, time and time again because they love this great old club. And it IS a great old club! I couldn't believe it when I heard about it and I was delighted to sign up myself as a member. I hope that the financial support I have seen from my Board, led by the big fella over the there (the chairman), will be continued next season, but any extra money is a super bonus", he delivered.

Continuing, with his tongue in cheek, "So give me the money! Cos I need your money so bad!"

With his usual charm and charisma he had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand - and if there were any left in the room still doubting the benefits of joining the Trust, they were converted by the time Alex had finished his oratory.

The Player of the Year Award was followed up by a special presentation to Franck Sauzee. Franck had originally intended leaving at the end of season 1999-2000, however, has also succumbed to the charms of the manager and has thankfully agreed to stay a further year. The Trust realised when the POTY voting had taken place that people were split almost 50-50 as to who had deserved the accolade. Franck had very much given Russell a real challenge, with people citing his individual tormenting of Hearts and his super goals as reasons. This split in the vote was so significant that the Trust felt it only right that some recognition be made of Sauzee's season AND his super career - everyone also wanted to say Merci! to the gentle giant for saying Oui! to staying one more year......

Russell had been presented with a vintage black and white framed photo of Edinburgh, and Franck was also lauded with a similar gift. It is no secret that Sauzee has enjoyed sampling the traditional beers and whiskies of our nation whilst here (all very professionally though!) and has developed a fondness for one of two of our products - 70 shilling for starters! So, in addition, Franck was presented with a bottle of Highland Park - which he promptly handed to his father telling him he would love this!

Franck received his presentation from Trustee Keith Wright, who himself was to receive a small surprise later in the proceedings!

On receipt of his award Franck told the audience that it had been "an honour to play for Hibernian" (which he endearingly pronounces "Eeb-er-nian"). He went on, "I may have played for clubs such as Marseilles and for my country, but it truly has been an honour and a privilege to play here. It is a wonderful club and I have very much enjoyed my time here. The atmosphere at the club, the team spirit, is superb. Your city is beautiful and your country is beautiful and I have been made very welcome. I am honoured to receive this award and I hope to help to continue to take this club on to even greater success".

His acceptance speech got a standing ovation and was a true reflection of the dignity and affability that have become his trademarks whilst here.

Graham Spiers, of Scotland on Sunday, this season wrongly accused Sauzee of being a second rate journeyman who had seen better footballing days and was looking for a well-paid easy slide into retirement. At the time, this enraged, as we all know - the people who watch him week in and week out, that nothing could be further from the truth. The genial Frenchman plays with a deadly combination of head and heart. His head sees football on a plane we can't possibly imagine, his heart is very much with this club - a club he openly has fallen in love with.

His displays in a green and white jersey tell it all. The man will be well loved long, long after he is gone, and like Latapy, will be the things our grandchildren's bedtime stories are based upon.

Keith Wright with specially made birthday cake

There was one last thing to be presented at this point in the proceedings - and Keith was not allowed to simply slope back to his seat after presenting Franck with his award, oh no!

There were few in the room that would realise, but Keith had celebrated his 35th birthday that very week. This milestone allowed him to achieve something he perhaps had thought would never happen again - playing for Scotland! Indeed, the national Over-35 squad was, that week, due to fly out to Singapore to take part in the Over 35s World Cup. Keith's birthday allowed him to qualify as the YTS guy in the team and so he was duly selected! To mark this, the Trust surprised him with a birthday cake (and 35 candles which nearly set off the smoke detectors!). Hand made, with "Keith, Keith, Keith" on the back, it was a charming gesture to a player who is still held in the greatest esteem by Hibs fans.

The evening continued with an excellent buffet, followed by the charity auction, hosted by Grade One official Martin Clark. Items in the auction included a signed Dwight Yorke and Russell Latapy top, a framed aerial photograph of Easter Road and a variety of club- related, autographed merchandise.

So where did the rogue Jambo come into proceedings? And who, indeed, was it?

Well, on the eve of a derby, there is one name to remind Hibs fans just how awful losing them can be - yes, you've guessed it, John Robertson............

Just after the auction, yours truly went to look for the DJ - who had disappeared somewhere - and left the Almond Suite, lest he be skulking outside having a sly puff. On walking out into the stairwell, whom should I come face to face with, but one wee Robbo.

Stunned, but not into silence, I hissed "Heck, what are YOU doing here???!!!" to which he replied, "Shh! Don't let on! I'm here at a private party in the Forthview, and don't want there to be any trouble".

I assured him his fears were unfounded as this was a function being attended by the chairman, the manager and players. Remembering that he is great mates with Keith Wright, I said, "In fact , Keith is here. He'd be happy to see you. Why don't you join us for a wee while?"

Still cautious regarding his safety, he said "nah, better not. But it would be nice to see Keith".

I asked him where he was going and he replied by indicating he was going to the toilet!

"Will I go into the Almond Suite and tell Keith you're in the loo? Will I get him to come to speak to you? "I asked.

"Yeah, go on then!" says Robbo and heads for cover. Keith's partner for the evening thought it highly dodgy when I approached Keith to tell him "Wee Robbo is here, he wants a word - and he's waiting in the loo!"

Keith duly went to meet up with his wee pal, grinning all over his face at the absurdity of it all...... Five seconds later, referee Martin Clark, who knows both players well, came flying out of the toilets (unaware of the role I'd played in setting the two former strikers up) and came racing toward me.

"You'll never guess who's in there!" he whispered.

"Oh, I think I might", I grinned.

"I couldn't believe it", he continued "one minute I'm quietly washing my hands the next minute, Keith and Robbo are there having a chin-wag - and I didn't even have to officiate!"

He wandered off, still marvelling at the surreal nature of what had happened.

A while later, the pair emerged from the toilets, Keith obviously having convinced Wee Robbo he'd be safe. Robbo hung around for a while and soon had a queue of Hibees asking for his autograph and wanting to joke with him. For once, and once only this evening, Franck and Alex had been left alone!

And whilst it would be wrong for me to repeat what Robbo said when folk asked him if he was indeed a Hibby..............let's just say he felt right at home!

Malcolm MacPherson, Erick Davidson and Steve Dunn sign up with Erin Community Trust,
with Keith Wright and Craig Paterson looking on.

The evening was a great success and to cap it all the chairman, and directors Dunn and Davidson signed up to the Trust in public. In doing so they each made significant three figure donations to the fund and took much satisfaction in joining up as ordinary Hibs fans, just like everyone else.

Franck Sauzee, was overheard approaching McLeish to ask about the Trust, what it did and what that would mean to Hibs.