The unsung Hibs hero who inspired famous Hearts win just 24 hours after getting out of hospital
Dwight Gayle may have struck the goal that saw Hibs party in Gorgie for the first time in five years. But Josh Campbell has lifted the lid on the unseen Hibee hero who inspired David Gray’s side to a derby victory for the ages.
Much-loved kitman Gavin Gillies fell seriously ill while undergoing surgery in the lead up to Christmas. The jack of all trades has been lighting up Hibs Training Centre since Campbell first walked through its doors 17 years ago. Gillies’ absence was sorely missed in the build-up to the 2-1 Boxing Day win. But he pulled through and was able to leave hospital on Christmas Day.
Twenty-four hours later he was standing at Tynecastle’s away dressing room door – and inspiring his team to a victory that will go down in legend. For Campbell, whose header deflected in off Kye Rowles for Hibs’ opener, it was a first derby win on enemy territory. And as he soaked up the adulation afterwards, the 24-year-old took time to pay tribute to the behind-the-scenes hero.
The midfielder said: “For a Hibs fan, winning there, my first time winning there... amazing! It’s incredible. Seeing the supporters singing your name, it’s just the best feeling in the world. I’m just going to give a shout out to wee Gav who fell really ill last week.
“All the boys were behind him that he would be there on Thursday. And he was there. He got the win. He got the boys through it. I’ve been at Hibs for 16, 17 years. He was there the first day I was there, welcoming me in. And he’s a really big character at the training ground, that man.
“If you come in from a defeat at the weekend then he will lift the spirits right away. Whether he’s singing, whether he’s dancing, bad jokes.
“I’ve heard all the jokes so I just sit and ignore them. But all the new boys get to hear them over and over again. It was bad to hear the news of Gav because he’s massive for us. And when we walked in the changing room and saw him at the door on derby day, it was a real smile for everyone.”
The victory – a third on the spin – makes it four wins from Hibs’ last five games ahead of today’s showdown with Kilmarnock at Easter Road. From lying bottom of the pile, Gray’s side now have eyes on the top six with just five points between them and Motherwell.
Gray had challenged his side to rewrite history by turning the tables on Hearts after a run of just one win in 15 derbies. And Campbell said: “It means a lot when someone like the manager speaks about history because he’s done the best thing in the world. He’s won the Scottish Cup.
“So there’s no better man to hear it from. When people hear it from him, people listen. That’s how we’ve turned this around. The togetherness of the team has always been there.
“We’ve never not been together. It was a bad run of decisions that were going against us. Silly moments from individual people. But when you put that all aside and you move on each week, which we’ve done, we get the rewards that we’re finding now.
“The turning point was when we managed to get the draw against Aberdeen at home. The crowd felt it. We all felt it. We’ve never not been together as a team but we just had a bit of a bad run, bad decisions. Now everyone has seen the rewards from sticking together.“
Hibs’ upturn in form has coincided with Campbell rediscovering his touch. Having dropped out the match day squad altogether just a couple of months ago, the powerful midfielder has been restored in an advanced role for the wins over Hearts and Aberdeen. And he’s thriving in behind Martin Boyle and Elie Youan.
He said: “Every year I’ll come out of the team sometimes because I’ve not been performing, which is fair enough. But I’ll never shy away from working behind the scenes to get back in. The managers put the trust in me to put me back out there. It’s a new position. I’m more box-to-box. But I’m happy to do it as a No.10 because I love being in the box, scoring goals and having chances. I think I’m a threat.”
