About Us

Hibernian Football Club was launched during the Daniel O’Connell centenary celebrations at St Mary’s Street Hall in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh on 6 August 1875.

Members of the Catholic Young Men's Society (CYMS) wanted to form a football club and that night, permission was granted by the CYMS chaplain, Ballingarry, County Limerick-born Father Edward Joseph Hannan of nearby St Patrick's Church.

The name chosen for the club was derived from the Latin word for Ireland, “Hibernia”. The motto chosen was “Erin-go-Bragh”, Ireland Forever, and the club badge a harp on a bed of shamrocks. The players were recruited exclusively from the CYMS whose members had to be teetotal and practising Catholics. Co-founder Michael Whelahan, from Kilglass, County Roscommon, was appointed captain.

The first recorded Hibs game took place against Hearts on Christmas Day 1875, and a couple of other Edinburgh teams played Hibs in early 1876. However, initially there was resistance from the Scottish Football Association to what was perceived to be an Irish team participating in Scottish football but by the time season 1876-77 season started, Hibs had joined both the Edinburgh and Scottish Football Associations.

For the first couple of years, games were played at the East Meadows, followed by pitches at Powderhall, Mayfield and Powburn, before a permanent home was leased at Hibernian Park just off Easter Road. It lay roughly where the Hibernian Supporters’ Club premises now lie at Sunnyside, marked by a plaque on the wall of the building.

The Club quickly established itself as a force in Scottish football, winning the Edinburgh Cup and the Second XI Cup in three successive seasons, 1879-81, which allowed the Club – de facto the CYMS - to keep the trophies permanently.

Within 12 years of its being founded, Hibs became the first side from the East Coast of Scotland to win the most prized of all trophies, the 1886-87 Scottish Cup which was secured with a 2-1 victory over Dumbarton.

This was followed by a 2-1 victory over top English side Preston North End in a contest billed as the Association Football Championship of the World. Preston North End would go on to win the English League the following season by 11 points, winning 18 of their matches and drawing the other four.

Throughout the early years, the Club played matches for the benefit of numerous good causes and charities throughout Scotland, irrespective of their religious or political leanings. Hibs were the inspiration for dozens of other clubs to be formed, many of whom adopted the Hibernian name. One of those clubs which chose not to was Glasgow Celtic.

In the summer of 1888, Celtic signed several of the Hibernian players by offering financial inducements at a time when professional football in Scotland was banned. The player loss, together with the Club becoming homeless when the lease on Hibernian Park expired resulted in Hibs ceased operating temporarily in the spring of 1891, a couple of months before Canon Hannan died.

But the Club returned to action within two years at the current site on Albion Road – just on the Leith side of the border with Edinburgh - with a new board of directors, several of whom were members of the Leith branch of the CYMS, based at the Star of the Sea Church. Continuity was assured however with a couple of honorary appointments from the previous committee. They decided that the Club should be open to all, and that it should embrace professional football by joining the Scottish League. Amongst the new arrivals were two ancestors of Sir Tom Farmer who would come to Hibs rescue a century later. Now referred to as Easter Road Stadium, the Hibees have lived here ever since.

The Scottish Cup returned to the Easter Road boardroom in 1902 when Hibernian beat Celtic 1-0 and the following season, manager Dan McMichael led the team to their first league championship.

Football was halted during the first World War and a number of Hibernian players fought in the campaign.

The 1920s is only remembered for back-to-back Scottish Cup final defeats to Celtic in 1923, and Airdrieonians in 1924, and for the redevelopment of the Easter Road Stadium, financed by means of debentures. But by the end of the decade Hibernian were in severe financial difficulty and suffered their first relegation in 1931.

The debenture holders demanded, and were granted, a say in running the Club and Harry Swan, a businessman of some repute, was asked to join the board, becoming the first non-Catholic to hold such a position.

Less than a year later he resigned, accusing his fellow directors of failing to match his ambitions for the Club, but the following year he was again elected to the board, this time as chairman, boldly professing that given 10 years, he would make Hibernian great again.

World War 2 put these plans on hold, although during the conflict a number of top players guested for the Club including Matt Busby who would later manage Manchester United to European Cup glory.

Following the war, Swan led the Club during its most successful period, winning the league three times in five seasons between 1948-52 and reaching the Coronation Cup Final in 1953 only to lose to Celtic at Hampden Park.

The forward line of Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormond was considered to be one of the finest in the land and their attacking style won admiration throughout the world. This resulted in summer tours to Europe and Brazil.

Such was the popularity of the Club at that time that plans were produced to increase the capacity of the stadium to 100,000.

Swan was known as a visionary and his achievements included installing pylon floodlights at the four corners of the stadium.

The floodlights coupled with the Club’s reputation resulted in an invitation to take part in the inaugural European Champions’ Cup which Swan accepted.

Hibernian, the only British team in the competition, defeated German champions Rot Weiss Essen and Swedish champions Djurgaardens before losing in the semi-final to French club, Reims.

The Club later became the first from Scotland to take part in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup with a team featuring the young Joe Baker whose ability was such that he was capped for England as a teenager.

During the 1960s, Hibernian regularly enjoyed unforgettable nights of European football hosting top clubs including Barcelona, Roma, Porto, Napoli, Leeds and Liverpool under the lights at Easter Road; the highlights being the defeat of Barcelona 3-2 after drawing 4-4 in the Camp Nou; and the demolition of Italian League leaders Napoli 5-0 (pictured above), with the world’s best goalkeeper Dino Zoff between the sticks, having lost the away leg 4-1.

It is still one of the biggest ever reversals of fortune in the history of European competition.

One of Hibs managers during this time was Bob Shankly, elder brother of Liverpool legend Bill. Top players from the period included Peter Cormack and Peter Marinello, both of whom later saw success with Liverpool and Arsenal respectively. Pat Stanton emerged a major influence on the pitch during this period.

For a short period the inimitable Jock Stein, who would go on to unprecedented success with Celtic, managed Hibernian to Summer Cup success and orchestrated the 2-0 defeat of the legendary Real Madrid in a friendly at Easter Road in October 1964.

The next period of success at Hibernian was masterminded by former member of the Famous Five, Eddie Turnbull who was appointed manager in July 1971. Turnbull built a wonderful attacking side nicknamed the Tornadoes which is revered to this day. Players from that era included Jimmy O’Rourke, Alex Cropley, Alan Gordon, Alex Edwards, Eric Schaedler, Arthur Duncan and Johns Blackley and Brownlie.

The team went on to win the League Cup in December 1972, defeating Celtic 2-1 at Hampden, the Club’s first major cup triumph in 70-years.

The Tornadoes also lifted two Drybrough Cups in successive years and inflicted rivals Heart of Midlothian’s biggest ever home defeat, 0-7 on New Year’s Day 1973.

During the Club’s centenary year, 1975, the team was captained by Pat Stanton – a direct descendent of Hibernian’s first ever captain, Michael Whelahan.

During Turnbull’s tenure, Hibernian locked horns with European giants Juventus, Sporting Lisbon, Hajduk Split and Liverpool again in the UEFA Cup and reached the 1979 Scottish Cup Final – narrowly losing to Rangers in a second replay.

Another player from the era to find success subsequently was Des Bremner, who won a European Cup Winner’s medal with Aston Villa in 1982.

Relegation arrived the following season however despite the signing of former European Footballer of the Year George Best (pictured below).

Edinburgh Bookmaker Kenny Waugh took over from previous owner Tom Hart and redeveloped the stadium by reducing the size of the east terracing; this followed the building of a roof over the north stand in the late 1960s, creating the shelter known as both the Cowshed and the Cave.

Waugh subsequently sold his shares which led to a series of events culminating in a hostile takeover bid by Heart of Midlothian Chairman Wallace Mercer.

It took a supporters’ campaign from a group known as Hands off Hibs led by Kenny McLean to fight off the bid and Leith businessman Sir Tom Farmer eventually bought the Club.

Coincidentally, as mentioned above, Sir Tom’s grandfather and great uncle had been instrumental in saving the Club 100 years earlier.

The following year, manager Alex Miller led Hibernian to their first silverware in almost 20-years, beating Dunfermline 2-0 in the final of the Skol/League Cup, having disposed of Rangers in the semi-final.

Waugh subsequently sold his shares which led to a series of events culminating in a hostile takeover bid by Heart of Midlothian Chairman Wallace Mercer.

It took a supporters’ campaign from a group known as Hands off Hibs led by Kenny McLean to fight off the bid and Leith businessman Sir Tom Farmer eventually bought the Club.

Coincidentally, as mentioned above, Sir Tom’s grandfather and great uncle had been instrumental in saving the Club 100 years earlier.

But one trophy eluded the Club, the Scottish Cup.

Final defeats to Aberdeen in 1946, Clyde in 1958, Celtic in 1972 and Rangers in 1979 were followed by another to Celtic in 2001.

Back-to-back defeats to Hearts and Celtic in 2012 and 2013 added to the frustration and worse was to follow in 2014 when the Club suffered another relegation following a play-of defeat to Hamilton Academical.

Terry Butcher was replaced as manager by Alan Stubbs who built an impressive side with shrewd buys including David Gray and John McGinn.

Then on 21st May 2016, Stubbs’ side finally won the Scottish Cup beating Rangers 3-2 in the final with two goals from Anthony Stokes and a 92nd minute header from David Gray. The fans’ rendition of the Proclaimers “Sunshine on Leith” at the end of the game is recognised by the football world as one of the best anthems of all time.

An incredible 150,000 people took to the streets of Edinburgh to cheer the team during their open top bus victory parade the following day.

Stubbs left for Rotherham and was replaced by Neil Lennon who led the Club back to the top flight and brought European football back to Easter Road, facing sides from Greece, Norway, Denmark and the Faroe Isles.

In 2019 Ron Gordon became Hibernian’s majority shareholder when he bought the shares of Sir Tom Farmer and the then Chairman, Rod Petrie. Sadly Sir Tom and Rod both passed away in 2025.

Ron developed a long-term vision and plan for the Club based on creating sustainable success on and off the pitch through improved commercial performance.

His vision aimed to deliver consistent sporting success, a better match day experience for fans, and a Club rooted in its community.

Sadly Ron passed away in February 2023 but his family retains control of the Club.

After a few changes of manager in the last few years, David Gray, the hero of the 2016 Cup success, was appointed to the role in June 2024.