Hibs host Hearts this weekend in the Premiership and both sides will be on the lookout for a hero to turn the game in their favour. The opportunity is there for someone in green and white to end his side’s disappointing run in the Premiership whereas in Hearts colours a player is waiting to help set up what would be a third win of the season over their capital rivals.
One player who knows what it is like to make a difference in an Edinburgh Derby clash is Neil Janczyk who sealed his place as a favourite with Hearts fans back in November 2002.
With the Jambos trailing to a first half Mixu Paatelainen goal an 18-year-old Janczyk made an 9 minute substitute appearance to turn the game on its head and turned defeat into a win by creating goals for Kevin McKenna and Phil Stamp.
It is an appearance that Janczyk remembers fondly as he recalled: “That Hibs and Hearts game was a good while ago but I suppose you could say I made quite an impact. I came on for the last few minutes at Easter Road when Hearts were losing 1-0. I set up two goals and we ended up winning 2-1.”
“It is a very good memory and I know that the Hearts fans were pleased with it at the time and hopefully still are now.”
Janczyk added: “I suppose that short period and using my left foot twice to good effect secured me a piece of history with them. I played a few more games but nothing as high profile as that one.”
Back then the game was a battle for fourth place however this Sunday’s contest is very different with Hearts already relegated and Hibs, whilst in seventh place, are in danger of sliding down the table further after a disappointing run of only one win in 14 games.
“I never thought at that time that the two of them would ever leave the top flight,” said Janczyk before adding: “Hearts were regularly in Europe then and doing well in Europe. Hibs were also a decent side and now one of them is going down and the other one is scrapping to stay up.”
“The Edinburgh Derby was a great game to play in and even warming up as a substitute you were lifted by the crowd. It is probably not as big as a Rangers v Celtic game but it is not far away from it.”
After making 25 appearances Janczyk left Hearts in 2005 for St. Johnstone and after a two year spell there he headed for Brechin City where he played over 100 times in 5 seasons.
It was then off to East fife for the now 31 year old before joining Berwick Rangers in 2012. After dropping out of the starting eleven at Shielfield Janczyk jumped at the chance to move to Clyde in January.
The midfielder said: “I had worked with Jim Duffy up at Brechin and was pleased to join up with him in January. I had been at Berwick for a year and a half and was not playing as much as I would have liked. I am at a stage of my career where I want to be playing every week.”
“The gaffer picked up on the fact that I was not in the team and brought me here and I have enjoyed it ever since I have been here.”
Janczyk also has an important game with the Bully Wee this Saturday as he explained: “I have a big match with Clyde this Saturday, in fact it is a massive one for us. If we win it we have secured our place in the Play-Offs and possibly even third place in League 2. That would be a big achievement for this club.”
“We have a good side here and there are young players breaking through that have a good future in front of them. Kieran MacDonald and Scott Ferguson are boys that are getting tipped for the top and they can go higher, in fact they could go full time if they keep working hard.”
Janczyk enjoys his role as the elder statesman as he said: “We will need to see what happens in the summer but hopefully they will be Clyde players for a while yet. I am enjoying playing alongside them and I am enjoying my role as an older head in the team and passing on my experience.”
And if they secure the Play-Offs can Clyde be promoted Janczyk was asked and he replied: “I am of the opinion that it is not just a case of having done well by getting there. When you are in the Play-Offs, well anything can happen. I have been there before with Brechin City and Berwick Rangers and know that it can come down to a very fine line between success and failure.”
Last season the Borderers were on the wrong side of that fine line as Janczyk advised: “We were one nil up at East Fife last season in the second leg when we gave away a penalty. Marc McCallum saved it however the ball hit our player Kevin McDonald on the knee as he rushed in to clear and flew into the back of the net.”
“There was nothing he could do about it and East Fife went on to win in extra time.”
Ironically Janczyk’s former Black and Gold chums could be in the Play-Offs for a second season and he said: “Berwick could still catch us and make the Play-Offs but we have to forget about the sides chasing us and secure our place. If we finish third we will face Annan and we have a decent record against them although they did win the last game."
“You would probably prefer to face a team from your own league as opposed to East Fife or an Arbroath side that have picked up again.”
As for the weekend Janczyk was asked how he saw see his first and last sides doing and he replied: “Our game is big this weekend however it is probably not as big as the Hearts and Hibs game. It is a huge game as Hearts can really drag Hibs into trouble.”
“I would imagine everyone that supports Hearts would enjoy that especially after all the hype in the last game about Hibs relegating Hearts.”
“I will be watching it and no doubt I will reflect back to my involvement in an Edinburgh Derby at Easter Road. I will be watching it on the TV and hopefully I will be watching it with a Play-Off place for Clyde secured.”
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