Former Scottish football star with Roscommon roots has stand named after him

Hibernian FC football legend Pat Stanton, who is a descendant of club co-founder and Roscommon native Michael Whelahan, has been honoured by the Scottish club.

Hibs has honoured the former player by naming one of the stands after him.

Stanton, now 80, made over 600 appearances for the Edinburgh club and won 16 caps for Scotland. He captained Hibs to League Cup success in 1972.

He later served as first team manager in the 1990s and has helped his club in a variety of capacities over the decades.

Stanton is great-great nephew of Michael Whelahan, one of the club’s co-founders.

An emigrant from Kilglass, he and Canon Edward Hannon founded Hibs in August 1875. Whelahan also became the club’s first captain.

The official 'Pat Stanton' stand renaming, which took place yesterday, Thursday, is part of the the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations.

The supporters club also presented Hibs with a bronze bust of Whelahan to celebrate the milestone anniversary.

After retiring as a player, Stanton assisted Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen and went on to manage Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline Athletic and Hibs.

Hibernian FC compete in the Scottish Premiership, the top division of Scottish football.