Hibernian W.F.C.

Hibernian Women's Football Club is a women's football team based in Edinburgh that plays in the Scottish Women's Premier League, the top division of women's football in Scotland. They were officially integrated as a department of Hibernian F.C. in 2022,^[1] having previously been linked less formally via their community foundation, using the club's training facilities and colours.^[2][3]

Hibernian Women

Full name	Hibernian Women's Football Club
Founded	1997 (as Preston Athletic) 1999 (as Hibernian Ladies)
Ground	Meadowbank Stadium
Manager	Grant Scott
League	SWPL 1
2022–23	SWPL 1, 5th of 12
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours

History

Founded in 1997 by Iain Johnston and Paul Johnston, for the initial two seasons of its existence the club was under the auspices of Preston Athletic.^[4] The name changed to Hibernian Ladies in 1999 and they became one of the leading women's teams in Scotland.^[5] After being temporarily voted out of the Scottish Women's Premier League by its other member clubs in 2005 after officials failed to attend the body's AGM (subsequently downgraded to a warning and small fine),^[6] in 2006–07 Hibs secured a domestic double, finishing the league campaign with a 100% record. The club has won the league championship three times^[7] and then represented Scotland in the UEFA Women's Cup. In that competition they failed to progress beyond the first round in each instance, finishing second twice and third once in the group stage.

 

Hibs' Rhonda Jones with the Scottish Women's Cup trophy in 2010

Hibernian won the Women's Scottish Cup in 2010, for the fifth time in eight years.^[8] The team's success in the national cup competition was in contrast to their male affiliate,^[9] who had not won the Scottish Cup for over a century until their victory in 2016.

In January 2011, six Hibernian players were called into the Scotland women's national football team.^[10] In May 2011 Hibernian beat local rivals Spartans 5–2 in the Scottish Women's Premier League Cup final.^[11]

Hibs won domestic cup doubles in 2016, 2017^[12] and 2018.^[13]

Ahead of the 2020 season, the club was rebranded as Hibernian Women and offered their first part-time professional contracts.^[3] The senior team was fully integrated into the men's club in July 2022, with the youth sides still being run by the Hibernian Community Foundation.^[1]

Stadium

For the 2011 season, Hibernian moved into Albyn Park, Broxburn,^[14] the home of junior football club Broxburn Athletic. The club had previously played its home matches on the training ground of Hibernian F.C. in East Lothian.^[14] Hibs then used Ainslie Park in Edinburgh as their regular home ground for several seasons, but have also played one-off games at Easter Road.^[15][16][17] They moved into the Almondvale Stadium in Livingston for the 2021–22 season.^[16][18]

The team moved into the refurbished Meadowbank Stadium in July 2022, as part of a wider partnership between Hibernian and F.C. Edinburgh.^[19]

Current squad

As of 6 July 2023^[20]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 2 DF   SCO Shannon Leishman 3 DF   SCO Mya Christie 4 DF   SCO Siobhan Hunter 5 FW   USA Jorian Baucom 6 DF   SCO Leah Eddie 7 FW   SCO Abbie Ferguson 8 MF   SCO Michaela McAlonie 9 FW   SCO Eilidh Adams 10 MF   SCO Shannon McGregor 13 GK   USA Katie Fraine 15 FW   SCO Lia Tweedie

No. Pos. Nation Player 16 DF   SCO Ellis Notley 17 DF   SCO Joelle Murray 18 MF   SCO Rosie Livingstone 22 DF   SCO Lauren Doran-Barr 23 MF   SCO Rachael Boyle 24 MF   SCO Tegan Bowie 28 MF   ENG Brooke Nunn 29 FW   SCO Kirsty Morrison 33 DF   ENG Poppy Lawson 44 GK   ENG Nina Wilson

Former players

For notable former players, see Category:Hibernian W.F.C. players.

Managers

• Willie Kirk (2011–13)
• Chris Roberts (2014–17)^[21]
• Kevin Milne (2017–18)^[22]
• Grant Scott (2018–2019; 2023–present)^[23][24][25]
• Dean Gibson (2020–2023)^[26][27]

Achievements

• Scottish Women's Premier League^[7]
  • Winners (3): 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07
  • Runners-up (9): 2002–03, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017,^[28] 2018,^[29] 2019
• Scottish Women's Cup^[30]
  • Winners (8): 2002–03, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2010,^[8] 2016,^[31] 2017,^[12] 2018^[13]
  • Runners-up (4): 2011,^[32] 2013, 2015,^[33] 2019^[34]
• Scottish Women's Premier League Cup^[30]
  • Winners (7): 2004–05, 2007–08,^[35][36] 2011, 2016,^[37] 2017,^[38] 2018,^[39] 2019^[40]
  • Runners-up (5): 2006–07, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2022

European history

Hibernian have participated in six seasons of UEFA competitions.^[41]

Season	Competition	Round	Opposition	Score
				First Leg	Second Leg	Aggregate
2004–05	UEFA Cup	First Qualifying Round	ŽNK Maksimir	5–0
		First Qualifying Round	KFC Rapide Wezemaal	3–2
		First Qualifying Round	ZFK Masinac Classic Niš	1–5
2006–07	UEFA Cup	First Qualifying Round	RCD Espanyol	1–4
		First Qualifying Round	KÍ Klaksvík	2–1
		First Qualifying Round	FCF Juvisy	0–6
2007–08	UEFA Cup	First Qualifying Round	SV Neulengbach	3–4
		First Qualifying Round	Gol Częstochowa	4–1
		First Qualifying Round	Mayo Ladies League	8–0
2016–17	Champions League	Round of 32	Bayern Munich	0–6	1–4	1–10
2017–18	Champions League	Qualifying Round^[42]	Swansea City	5–0
		Qualifying Round	WFC Zhytlobud-2 Kharkiv	1–1
		Qualifying Round	CFF Olimpia Cluj	1–1
2019–20	Champions League	Qualifying Round	Tbilisi Nike	3–0
		Qualifying Round	Cardiff Met.	2–1
		Qualifying Round	Pomurje	2–1
		Round of 32	Slavia Praha	1–4	1–5	2–9

References

1. Hibernian take women's side under club ownership, BBC Sport, 7 July 2022
2. . Hibernian FC. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2011. The Club continues to support girls and women's football through the Hibernian Ladies and Girls Football Teams.
3. "JOELLE MURRAY FIRST TO AGREE PART-TIME PRO CONTRACT WITH HIBERNIAN WOMEN". Hibernian FC. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
4. . Scottish Women's Premier League. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2011.
5. "History". Hibs Ladies FC. Retrieved 20 February 2011.^{[permanent dead link]}
6. Johnston can smell the team spirit as Hibs Ladies beat ban, The Scotsman, 1 August 2005
7. Schoggl, Hans (30 April 2010). "Scotland (Women) – List of Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
8. "Women's Scottish Cup glory for Hibernian". BBC Sport. 14 November 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
9. MacKenzie, Roddy (15 November 2010). "Hibernian women again show the men way to Scottish Cup success". The Herald. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
10. . Hibernian Girls & Ladies FC. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
11. "Five-star Hibs lift League Cup". Women's Soccer Scene. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
12. Southwick, Andrew (26 November 2017). "Hibs hammer Glasgow City to 3–0 win Scottish Cup final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
13. Southwick, Andrew (4 November 2018). "Scottish Women's Cup final: Hibs 8–0 Motherwell". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
14. "Ladies Set For Big Kick Off". Hibernian F.C. official website. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
15. Southwick, Andrew (4 October 2017). "SWPL: Hibernian beat Celtic to narrow gap on Glasgow City". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
16. McLauchlin, Brian (20 September 2021). "Hibs hope for record crowd at first women's Edinburgh derby at Easter Road". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
17. Herrall, Jack (29 September 2021). "Hibernian Women create new domestic crowd record as they beat Hearts 3-0 in derby". www.bbc.co.uk/sport. BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
18. "Hibernian Women to Play Home Games at Tony Macaroni Arena". hibernianfc.co.uk. Hibernian FC. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
19. McPartlin, Patrick (11 July 2022). "Hibs announce formal partnership with FC Edinburgh with Hibs Women set to benefit from tie-up". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
20. "Women's First Team". Hibernian FC. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
21. "Bristol City Women: Chris Roberts arrives as coach from Hibernian Ladies FC". BBC Sport. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
22. McGlade, Neil (26 March 2018). "Kevin Milne explains his shock resignation as Hibs Ladies boss". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
23. "GRANT SCOTT APPOINTED HIBERNIAN LADIES' HEAD COACH". Hibernian FC. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
24. "Grant Scott Appointed As Hibs Women Manager". Hibernian FC. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
25. "Grant Scott returns to Hibernian Women as team manager on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
26. "DEAN GIBSON APPOINTED HIBERNIAN LADIES HEAD COACH". Hibernian FC. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
27. "Hibernian: Dean Gibson to step down as manager of SWPL side". BBC Sport. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
28. "Glasgow City beat Hibs to wrap up 11th successive SWPL title". BBC Sport. 12 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
29. "SWPL: Glasgow City beat Spartans to claim 12th title in a row". BBC Sport. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
30. Schoggl, Hans (24 September 2010). "Scotland (Women) – List of Cup Winners". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
31. "Scottish Women's Cup: Hibernian win final on penalties against Glasgow City". BBC Sport. 6 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
32. "Glasgow City add Scottish Cup to league trophy". BBC Sport. 13 November 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
33. "Scottish Women's Cup final: Glasgow City 3–0 Hibernian". BBC Sport. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
34. Dewar, Heather (24 November 2019). "Scottish Women's Cup: Glasgow City 4-3 Hibernian". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
35. "Hibernian v Queens' Park – Premier League Cup Final". Match report archives. Spartans W.F.C. 11 November 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
36. Gavin Madeley (10 November 2007). . The Pink. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
37. . Vavel. 16 June 2016. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
38. Southwick, Andrew (21 May 2017). "SWPL Cup: Hibernian cruise to victory over Celtic to retain trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
39. Southwick, Andrew (20 May 2018). "SWPL: Hibernian thrash Celtic 9–0 to win third Women's Premier League Cup in a row". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
40. "Hibernian 0–0 Glasgow City: Hibs retain SWPL Cup 4–2 on penalties". BBC Sport. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
41. "Hibernian Edinburgh LFC – Results". Football Data. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
42. "Hibs knocked out of Women's Champions League after draw with Cluj". BBC Sport. 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.

External links

• Official website