Hibernian Football Club.

Hibernian Football Club (Hibs): Introduction

Hibernian Football Club, commonly known as Hibs, is a professional football club based in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. They are one of the oldest and most iconic football clubs in Scotland, known for their passionate fanbase and contributions to Scottish football history.

Currently, Hibs play in the Scottish Premiership. Staff at the Fanbase wish that the club has great success and that the fans are happy with their team. The club has a storied tradition, with numerous highs and lows throughout their existence. Below is our overview of the club and fans:

Before we continue, here’s a link to the club’s official website.

  • Founded: 1875
  • Location: Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Nicknames: The Hibees, Hibs, The Cabbage and Ribs (a rhyming slang)
  • Stadium: Easter Road Stadium (Capacity: ~20,421)

Hibs was founded in 1875 by members of the Irish community in Edinburgh, particularly by a group of Catholic immigrants under the influence of Canon Edward Joseph Hannan. The name “Hibernian” comes from the Latin term for Ireland. Although initially associated with the Catholic community, Hibernian has long been an open and inclusive club, welcoming fans from all backgrounds.

  • Primary Colours: Green and White
  • Hibs’ traditional home kit features a green shirt with white sleeves, green shorts, and green socks. This colour scheme has been part of the club’s identity since its inception.
  • The club’s crest features elements symbolizing Edinburgh (castle), Leith (ship), and Ireland (harp).
  • Current League: Scottish Premiership (Top-tier league of Scottish football)
  • Over the years, Hibernian has been one of the most consistent participants in Scottish football, often competing in the top tier, although they have experienced relegation and promotion at various points in their history.
  • Hibernian quickly established itself as a force in Scottish football, winning their first Scottish Cup in 1887.
  • League Titles: Hibs won their first Scottish League Championship in 1903. They have won the top division of Scottish football 4 times in their history (1902–03, 1947–48, 1950–51, 1951–52).

Hibs have won the Scottish Cup 3 times. Also, Hibs have won the Scottish League Cup 3 times. With many minor honours and many runner-up medals, the club has a decent history. They also have a pretty full trophy cabinet.

  • The late 1940s and early 1950s is considered the club’s golden era, dominated by an incredible forward line known as The Famous Five: Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull, and Willie Ormond. This period saw Hibs win three league titles in a short span (1948, 1951, 1952), and they were known for playing an attractive, attacking brand of football.
  • Following the Famous Five era, Hibs faced some difficult decades, with inconsistent performances and financial issues. However, the club always remained competitive in Scottish football, regularly challenging for domestic cups and maintaining strong local support.
  • 1980s: One of the low points in their history came in the 1980s when Hibs were almost merged with their city rivals, Heart of Midlothian (Hearts). The club survived this challenge and began rebuilding both on and off the pitch.
  • One of the most emotional moments in the club’s history came on May 21, 2016, when Hibernian won the Scottish Cup after a 114-year drought. They defeated Rangers 3-2 in a dramatic final at Hampden Park, with captain David Gray scoring the winning goal in stoppage time. The victory ended decades of near-misses and heartbreak in the tournament and is celebrated as one of the club’s greatest triumphs.
  • Edinburgh Derby (Hibs vs Hearts): The biggest rivalry for Hibernian is with Heart of Midlothian (Hearts), their cross-town rivals in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Derby is one of the most fiercely contested and historic derbies in Scottish football. The rivalry has produced many memorable moments, and the bragging rights in the capital are highly prized by both sets of fans.
  • Other Rivalries: Hibs also have competitive rivalries with other major Scottish clubs, including Celtic and Rangers, but none are as intense as the Edinburgh Derby.

Over the years, Hibernian has produced and nurtured several notable players and managers who have left a significant mark on the club and Scottish football.

  • Gordon Smith, Lawrie Reilly, Willie Ormond, Bobby Johnstone, Eddie Turnbull (The Famous Five): Legendary forwards who led Hibs during their golden era.
  • Pat Stanton: Club captain and a key figure during the 1960s and 1970s.
  • Derek Riordan: A prolific goal scorer in the 2000s.
  • Leigh Griffiths: Former striker who became a fan favourite.
  • Eddie Turnbull: Former player and manager, who led the team in the 1970s.
  • Alan Stubbs: Managed the team to their historic 2016 Scottish Cup victory.
  • After winning the Scottish Cup in 2016, Hibs continued to build momentum and gained promotion back to the Scottish Premiership in 2017 after a brief stint in the second tier.
  • The club has remained a competitive side in the top division, regularly finishing in the upper half of the league and qualifying for European competitions.

Hibernian has a passionate and loyal fanbase, with a rich connection to the Leith area and wider Edinburgh. The club’s supporters are known for their community involvement, and Hibs fans have a strong identity rooted in their Irish heritage and working-class background.

Supporters’ Groups:

  • Hibernian Supporters Club (HSC)
  • Leith Links Supporters Group
  • Section 43: A group of ultras who aim to improve the atmosphere at Easter Road through displays and chants.

Hibs still reflect their Irish immigrant connection. However, apart from the colours, badge, and name, the club is fast losing this connection. Indeed, with far too many local supporters nowadays, this link is purely historical.

Hibs have made occasional appearances in European competition over the years. The club was the first British team to participate in the European Cup (now the UEFA Champions League) in 1955, reaching the semi-finals. Though their European runs have been relatively modest, the club has had memorable games against continental opposition.

Hibernian Football Club is a cornerstone of Scottish football, with a rich history, a fierce local rivalry with Hearts, and a deep connection to the Edinburgh community. While their success has varied, moments like the 2016 Scottish Cup win have cemented the club’s place in the hearts of their fans, and they remain one of Scotland’s most beloved and respected football institutions.

Hibernian FC banner.

If you are going to promote Hibs the way you want, then look no further than the Football Fan Base. Here, we have the biggest soccer blogs on the internet and we continue to grow. Therefore, go ahead and promote Hibernian here.

If you want us to add or correct the information on this page, let us know and we will do our best.

To complement our massive football blogs here at the Fanbase, we also have a huge football forum. You can enjoy some football banter there while you promote Hibs. But stay legal, please!

We also include the Hibernian Fans Forum within our massive message boards. So, now you have no excuses; head over to the football forum and have your say.

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Tell us all about Hibs because we all want to know. After all, Hibernian is the best team in the world, right?

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