Hibernian F.C. Reserves and Academy

In addition to their first team competing in the Scottish Premiership, Hibernian F.C. also maintain further teams for younger age groups playing in competitions such as the Scottish Challenge Cup and the Scottish Youth Cup within the club's academy.

Hibernian Reserves

Ground	Hibernian Training Centre East Lothian
Chairman	Ron Gordon
League	SPFL Reserve League (withdrew)
2018–19	3rd
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Competitions

In the early 1950s, reserve teams were incorporated into the third tier of the senior Scottish Football League, with Hibernian 'A' taking part for six seasons of the arrangement.^[1][2][3] Hibs fielded a team for many years in various separate reserve competitions culminating in the Scottish Premier Reserve League, which was abandoned in 2009. An under-20 side then took part in the SPFL Development League until it was disbanded in 2018 – Hibs were its final champions. An SPFL Reserve League was set up in its place, but Hibs intimated at the end of its first season (2018–19) that they would withdraw from the Reserve League to play a variety of challenge matches.^[4] They later entered a small league (under-21 plus three overage) along with three other Scottish clubs and Brentford and Huddersfield Town from the English leagues.^[5]

Prior to the introduction of the Scottish Premier League in 1998, the Under-20s previously competed in the youth league administered by the Scottish Football League. Since 2015 it has been possible for the Hibs academy to participate in the UEFA Youth League by the Under-17 side winning the previous season's league at that age group. This was first achieved in 2022, and Hibs defeated Norwegian side Molde FK on penalties in the first round of the 2022–23 competition.^[6] They then progressed through the second round by a 3–1 aggregate score against French club Nantes, earning a tie with Borussia Dortmund in the knockout phase.^[7][8]

For the 2016–17 edition of the Scottish Challenge Cup, Under-20 teams of Premiership clubs were granted entry to compete against adult teams for the first time in the modern era. As Hibs were in the second tier that season, it was their senior team who entered the competition. Hibs under-20s first entered the Challenge Cup in the 2017–18 edition, losing 2–1 to Elgin City in the first round.^[9]

Academy background

Hibs' main area of recruitment is the Lothian and Borders region around Edinburgh which has a population of around one million. They face a constant battle with rivals Heart of Midlothian to sign the most promising youngsters in the area. In the past both Hibs and Hearts have signed many players from youth club Hutchison Vale.^[10]

In 2016 the Investors in People Silver Award was bestowed on the Hibernian Academy for its work with the young people connected to the organisation.^[11]

In 2017, the Hibernian academy was one of eight across the country designated 'elite' status on the introduction of Project Brave, an SFA initiative to concentrate the development of the best young players at a smaller number of clubs with high quality facilities and coaching than was previously the case.^[12][13]

Although the official home of the academy teams is the club's training centre near Ormiston, the Under-20 matches usually take place at lower league stadia: Ainslie Park in Edinburgh, home of Spartans F.C. is used most frequently, and fixtures have also been played at the indoor Oriam facility which was the official venue for the reserves in the 2018–19 season.^[14]

U20 Development squad

As of January 2023

Note: Several players on the list have either made first team appearances for Hibs, or have been loaned to other SPFL clubs; however they can still be selected for Development League fixtures whenever available to play.^[15][16]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 26 GK   ENG Tom Carter 31 GK   SCO Murray Johnson — GK   SCO Freddie Owens 41 DF   SCO Jacob Blaney 36 DF   BEL Allan Delferrière 55 DF   SCO Owen Hastie — DF   USA EJ Johnson 37 DF   SCO Oscar MacIntyre 34 DF   NIR Kyle McClelland 50 DF   SCO Josh McCulloch 24 DF   SCO Darren McGregor 42 DF   ENG Kanayo Megwa

No. Pos. Nation Player 47 MF   SCO Murray Aiken 48 MF   SCO Robbie Hamilton 30 MF   NOR Runar Hauge 49 MF   SCO Jacob MacIntyre — MF   SCO Reuben McAllister 51 MF   SCO Rudi Molotnikov 54 MF   SCO Harry Wright — MF   LBY Malik Zaid — FW   SCO Ethan Laidlaw 39 FW   SCO Josh O’Connor 52 FW   SCO Alfie Smith

Honours

Reserves

• SFL Division C (North-East)^[1]
  • Winners: 1949–50
  • Runners-up: 1952–53, 1954–55
• Scottish Reserve League^[a][17]
  • Winners: 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49
• Scottish Reserve League Cup^[17]
  • Winners: 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1965–66
• Scottish 2nd XI Cup^[17]
  • Winners: 1884–85, 1938–39, 1945–46, 1946–47

Youth

• Scottish Youth Cup
  • Winners: 1992, 2009, 2018^[18]
  • Runners-up: 1990, 1991
• SPFL Development League^[b]
  • Winners: 2008–09, 2017–18,^[19] 2021–22^[20]

Notes

1. Includes the Scottish Reserve League 1945–1949, the Scottish (Reserve) League 1955–1975, the Scottish Reserve League 1975–1998 and the Scottish Premier Reserve League 2004–2009. Any wins in the Scottish Football Alliance (1918–1939) or the SFL Division C (1949–1955) are listed separately. Any wins in the SPL Under-21 league (1998–2004) are listed in the Youth section.
2. Since 1998; also known as the Scottish Premier Under-18/Under-19/Under-20 League, SPFL Under-20 League. and CAS Elite Under-18 League

Former reserve/youth team players

This list focuses on the players who have graduated through Hibernian's academy, and have made at least 50 first team appearances, since the inception of the SPL in 1998. This includes a group considered a "golden generation", who helped Hibs to Scottish League Cup finals in 2004^[21][22] and 2007^[23] (the latter of which they won), and most of whom went on to play for Scotland.^[24][25] Many other of the club's earlier notable players also came through the youth system. Players currently at Hibs in bold.

As of July 2020

Kenny Miller Tam McManus Ian Murray Garry O'Connor Derek Riordan Scott Brown Steven Whittaker Kevin Thomson Steven Fletcher Kevin McCann

Lewis Stevenson David Wotherspoon Paul Hanlon Jordon Forster Alex Harris Danny Handling Jason Cummings Sam Stanton Oli Shaw Ryan Porteous

References

1. Scottish Football League C Division overview, Scottish Football Historical Archive
2. Scotland - Final Tables Third Level 1924-2004, RSSSF
3. Hibernian Reserves Football Club History Database
4. "Reserve League update". Hibernian FC. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
5. Celtic and Rangers join new cross-border reserve competition along with Aberdeen and Hibs, Daily Record, 16 September 2019
6. McPartlin, Patrick (5 October 2022). "Hibs defeat Molde on penalties after 2-2 draw to advance in UEFA Youth League". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 6 October 2022.
7. McPartlin, Patrick (2 November 2022). "Hibs stun Nantes to set up UEFA Youth League play-off against one of Europe's big guns". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
8. Delaney, James (8 November 2022). "Hibs handed tough Borussia Dortmund tie in Uefa Youth League". STV Sport. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
9. "Challenge Cup: Annan beat Celtic U20, Dundee United see off Cowdenbeath". BBC Sport. BBC. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
10. "Famous Hutchie Players". Hutchison Vale Community Sports Football Club. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
11. "Academy awarded 'Investors in young people' award". Hibernian FC. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
12. "Project Brave: Scottish FA confirms eight-club academy elite". BBC Sport. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
13. "SFA confirms Project Brave academy placings". The Scotsman. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
14. "SPFL Reserve League fixtures" (PDF). SPFL. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
15. "Development Squad". Retrieved 10 January 2022.
16. "Development Squad". 27 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
17. Senior competition winners, Scottish Football Historical Archive
18. Crawford, Kenny (26 April 2018). "Scottish Youth Cup final: Hibernian beat Aberdeen 3-1". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
19. "Hibs clinch the SPFL Development League title". Edinburgh Evening News. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
20. McPartlin, Patrick (30 May 2022). "Hibs confirmed Under-18 league champions and will play European football next season". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
21. "Livingston lift CIS Cup". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 14 March 2004. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
22. Moffat, Colin (20 April 2004). "Few Hibees will mourn Williamson". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
23. Lindsay, Clive (18 March 2007). "Kilmarnock 1–5 Hibernian". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
24. Hardie, David (20 July 2011). "Defender of Hibees' new gems". The Scotsman. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
25. "The Hibee golden generation ... out-of-work Derek Riordan still training with Livingston". Daily Record. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2017.

External links

• Youth System background at Hibs.org.uk - 2005 article
• Hibernian U20 at Soccerway