It has been revealed tonight that Hibernian legend Eddie Turnbull has passed away aged 88.
During the late 40’s and 50’s, Turnbull was part of the Hibees all conquering famous Five forward line, that spearheaded a superb Hibs side, that went on to lift 3 Scottish Championships, 1948, 1951 & 1952 and finish Runners-Up on Two occasions - 1950 and 1953, all in a five year period.
Turnbull was the first British player to score a European goal, as the Hibees entered the first ever European Cup/Champions League competition in 1955, scoring against Rott-Weiss Essen of Germany as the Hibees rout their opponents 0-4 in the first leg away from home.
Hibs went on to reach the Semi Final stage of the competition.
He went on to make 350 appearances for the club, scoring 152 goals.
He also played for Scotland at the 1958 World Cup.
Turnbull later revealed in his book that he only made 9 appearances for the national team because he had a falling out with the selectors at the time (Scotland didn’t have a manager, with the team being selected by a committee) and went years without a call-up, despite being part of the best forward line the world has ever seen.
Eddie then moved into management in 1963, when he took over Queens Park, and spent two years with the Hampden club, before being lured north to manage Aberdeen in 1965.
Turnbull built an excellent Aberdeen side, and went on to win the Scottish Cup in 1970, before finishing runners-up in the League in 1970-71.
Many say he built the foundations that Alex Ferguson later used to produce the best ever Aberdeen side, that lifted many a cup and title, as well as two european trophies in the late 70‘s and 80‘s.
Turnbull was lured back to Easter Road as manager in 1971, and built, the best Hibs side outside his own Famous Five side of the 50’s.
Turnbull’s Tornadoes, as they were known, was a side packed with quality like Pat Stanton, Alex Cropley and Alex Edwards to name but a few.
Hibs went on to win the Scottish League Cup in 1972 under Turnbull’s leadership, as well as landing the Drybrough Cup in both in 1972 and 1973.
The Hibees also finished Runners-Up in the Scottish Cup in 1972 and 1979 under his leadership, and runners-up in the Scottish League Cup in 1974.
They also finished 2nd in the title race in both 1974 & 1975.
Eddie was also in charge on that famous day on the 1st of January 1973, as the Hibees travelled across the city, and handed out the biggest derby humiliation that Edinburgh has ever seen, as his side ran out 0-7 winners at Tynecastle.
Turnbull gave up the reigns at Easter Road in 1980, and promptly retired and never returned to football.
Hibernian-Mad would like to take this opportunity to, first of all, thank Eddie for his contribution to the club, one of our greatest ever players and managers.
We would also like to pass on our condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.
R.I.P Ned. - A true Hibernian Legend.