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The Salt ‘n’ Sauce Final – Glasgow Prepares

It is perhaps a peculiarly Scottish thing to dub a cup final with a description of a city’s preferred condiments to accompany traditional calorie laden carry out food.

In Glasgow and the west before the final wrapping of a chip supper, one will be asked if one would like salt and vinegar. In Edinburgh it’s salt and sauce. All Scotland is united on the salt thing. We’re unanimous in our callous disregard for the dangers of salt in the diet, but in Edinburgh and the Lothians additional life shortening poisons are provided via water, vinegar, dates, glucose-fructose, black strap molasses, tomato paste, modified cornstarch, salt, orange juice concentrate, onion, spices, tamarind extract, apple juice concentrate, garlic, chili peppers, and mustard flour.

It has to be said that the canny Edinburghers have a tendency to thin down the sauce with vinegar but they also, in my experience are a little more genteel because one usually gets a wee wooden fork to eat the chips with in Auld Reekie.

But what about the fitba’?

Last time Hearts and Hibs contested a Scottish Cup final Queen Victoria was on the throne, Athens was gearing up for the first modern Olympic Games and La Boheme was top of the pops as a new opera. It was March 14th 1896 and the game took place at Logie Green Edinburgh, the only time that the cup final has been held outwith Glasgow.

Around 18,000 watched Hearts lift the cup that day.

The 1896 Scottish Cup Final

Hearts have won the cup seven times and have been runners up six. Hibs have won the competition only twice (the last time in 1902) and have lost nine finals.

Rabbie Burns who died in 1796 was closer to a Hibs cup win than we are today…..

I have a soft spot for both Edinburgh clubs and it is difficult to predict a winner. However in a completely shallow attempt to curry favour with one of my most regular correspondents (Addulamite/Tynecastle) I think Hearts have the better players, and that at full time it will be Hibs who will have had their chips.

I just hope that the game lives up to the billing and that both sets of fans enjoy the final peacefully.

If Edward Hopper had made gifs……

Thank you