Hibernian Park
Encyclopedia
Hibernian Park was the home ground of the Scottish football club Hibernian
from 1880 until the club's dissolution in 1891. When the club was reformed in 1892, the club took out on a lease on a site which became known as Easter Road
. Hibernian Park was also located in the Easter Road area
; in fact, it was closer to Easter Road itself than the present stadium because it was on the site of what is now Bothwell Street.
Hibs had played at a variety of grounds from their formation in 1875 until moving to Hibernian Park. Initially they played on the Meadows
, along with all the other nascent Edinburgh clubs. They subsequently moved to grounds in Newington
and Powderhall
, but neither of these were used for more than a year at a time. Having lost the lease on the Newington ground in 1879, the opportunity to acquire a site off Easter Road was too good to miss because it was equidistant between Hibs' two main sources of supporters - the Little Ireland community of the Cowgate
, and the Catholic
population of the port of Leith
.
Hibernian Park was known by the Hibs supporters as The Holy Ground
, in reference to the fact that the club was operated by St. Patrick's Church
in the Cowgate
. Hibs were essentially a sporting arm of the Catholic Church in Edinburgh from their formation until 1891. Hibs supporters still use this moniker for the present Easter Road Stadium
.
Perhaps the most famous game played at Hibernian Park was when Hibs beat The Invincibles
of Preston North End
2–1 in a match described as being the Association Football Championship
of the World
. The ground also hosted one Scotland
international, a 5–1 win against Wales
in the 1888 British Home Championship
, which was the first ever football international played in Edinburgh. Hibs players Willie Groves
and James McLaren
both played in the match, with Groves scoring Scotland's fourth goal.
After the high points of winning the Scottish Cup
, beating Preston and hosting an international, however, Hibs were to suffer a dramatic decline and fall. This was largely precipitated by the formation of Celtic
, who attracted many of Hibs' star players by offering financial inducements in a time when the Scottish game
was still amateur
. As Hibs were operated on a charitable
basis, they were essentially broke despite being one of the most popular clubs in Scotland
. At the same time, Hibs were riven by internal politics relating to Irish Home Rule; a former secretary absconded with a significant amount of funds; and the club inexplicably failed to enter the Scottish Football League
when it was formed in 1890.
The last first team match played at Hibernian Park was a 9–1 drubbing at the hands of Dumbarton
in the Scottish Cup
on 27 September 1890. Hibs had failed to secure the ground lease and building work had already started, which restricted the attendance the ground could hold. Later that season, the building work covered the rest of the park. This was during a period of intense construction work in the area. After the club failed to pay their subscriptions to the Scottish Football Association
in 1891, Hibs were deleted from the membership rolls. Philip Farmer, an ancestor of current Hibs owner Sir Tom Farmer
, played a major role in the establishment in 1892 of a new club, which secured the site that is now known as Easter Road
, on the other side of the railway.
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
from 1880 until the club's dissolution in 1891. When the club was reformed in 1892, the club took out on a lease on a site which became known as Easter Road
Easter Road
Easter Road is a football stadium located in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian . The stadium currently has an all-seated capacity of 20,421, which makes it the fifth-largest football stadium in Scotland. Easter Road is also...
. Hibernian Park was also located in the Easter Road area
Easter Road, Edinburgh
Easter Road is a main road in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It links Leith with Abbeyhill. It is so called as it was originally the 'Easter Road to Leith', ie the road from Edinburgh to Leith which was furthest East. There is no connection to Easter the Christian festival...
; in fact, it was closer to Easter Road itself than the present stadium because it was on the site of what is now Bothwell Street.
Hibs had played at a variety of grounds from their formation in 1875 until moving to Hibernian Park. Initially they played on the Meadows
The Meadows (park)
The Meadows is a large public park in Edinburgh, Scotland, just to the south of the city centre. Largely consisting of wide open grassland crossed by tree-lined paths, the park also has a children's playground, a croquet club, tennis courts and cricket pitches...
, along with all the other nascent Edinburgh clubs. They subsequently moved to grounds in Newington
Newington, Edinburgh
Newington is an area of Edinburgh, Scotland, about 15 to 20 minutes walk south of the city centre, the Royal Mile and Princes Street.It is the easternmost district of the area formerly covered by the Burgh Muir, gifted to the City by David I in the 12th Century...
and Powderhall
Powderhall
Powderhall is an area in the north of Edinburgh, the Scottish capital. It is mainly centred around Broughton Road. Until recently it was best known for its greyhound racing track, which has now closed. The site has been redeveloped for housing and business purposes...
, but neither of these were used for more than a year at a time. Having lost the lease on the Newington ground in 1879, the opportunity to acquire a site off Easter Road was too good to miss because it was equidistant between Hibs' two main sources of supporters - the Little Ireland community of the Cowgate
Cowgate
The Cowgate is a street in Edinburgh, Scotland, located about 5 minutes' walk from Edinburgh Castle, within the city's World Heritage Site. The street's name is derived from the fact that cows were herded down it for Edinburgh's market days in previous centuries .The street is part of the lower...
, and the Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
population of the port of Leith
Leith
-South Leith v. North Leith:Up until the late 16th century Leith , comprised two separate towns on either side of the river....
.
Hibernian Park was known by the Hibs supporters as The Holy Ground
Holy Ground
Holy Ground may refer to:*The Holy Ground, a traditional Irish song*"The Holy Ground", an album by the Irish singer Mary Black*"Holy Ground", a song from the 2000 album WOW Worship Orange...
, in reference to the fact that the club was operated by St. Patrick's Church
St. Patrick's Church
St. Patrick's Church, or Saint Patrick Church, St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Church or other variations on the name, may refer to:-Canada:* St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church...
in the Cowgate
Cowgate
The Cowgate is a street in Edinburgh, Scotland, located about 5 minutes' walk from Edinburgh Castle, within the city's World Heritage Site. The street's name is derived from the fact that cows were herded down it for Edinburgh's market days in previous centuries .The street is part of the lower...
. Hibs were essentially a sporting arm of the Catholic Church in Edinburgh from their formation until 1891. Hibs supporters still use this moniker for the present Easter Road Stadium
Easter Road
Easter Road is a football stadium located in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian . The stadium currently has an all-seated capacity of 20,421, which makes it the fifth-largest football stadium in Scotland. Easter Road is also...
.
Perhaps the most famous game played at Hibernian Park was when Hibs beat The Invincibles
The Invincibles (football)
In English football, "The Invincibles" has been used to refer to either the Preston North End team of the 1880s, or the Arsenal team of the 2003–04 season...
of Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
2–1 in a match described as being the Association Football Championship
Championship
Championship is a term used in sport to refer to various forms of competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.- Title match system :...
of the World
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
. The ground also hosted one Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
international, a 5–1 win against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in the 1888 British Home Championship
1888 British Home Championship
The 1888 British Home Championship was the fifth edition of the annual international football tournament played between the British Home Nations...
, which was the first ever football international played in Edinburgh. Hibs players Willie Groves
Willie Groves
William "Willie" Groves was a Scottish footballer who played for Hibernian, Celtic, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa and Scotland. He is known for being the very first player to be transferred for more than £100....
and James McLaren
James McLaren (footballer)
James McLaren was a Scottish footballer who played for Hibernian, Celtic, Greenock Morton, Clyde and Scotland. He won three caps for Scotland, scoring one goal and captaining the side once.-References:...
both played in the match, with Groves scoring Scotland's fourth goal.
After the high points of winning the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
, beating Preston and hosting an international, however, Hibs were to suffer a dramatic decline and fall. This was largely precipitated by the formation of Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, who attracted many of Hibs' star players by offering financial inducements in a time when the Scottish game
Football in Scotland
Association football is the national sport in Scotland and highly popular throughout the country. There is a long tradition of "football" games in Orkney, Lewis and southern Scotland, especially the Scottish Borders, although many of these include carrying the ball and passing by hand, and despite...
was still amateur
Amateur sports
Amateur sports are sports in which participants engage largely or entirely without remuneration. Sporting amateurism was a zealously guarded ideal in the 19th century, especially among the upper classes, but faced steady erosion throughout the 20th century with the continuing growth of pro sports...
. As Hibs were operated on a charitable
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
basis, they were essentially broke despite being one of the most popular clubs in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. At the same time, Hibs were riven by internal politics relating to Irish Home Rule; a former secretary absconded with a significant amount of funds; and the club inexplicably failed to enter the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
when it was formed in 1890.
The last first team match played at Hibernian Park was a 9–1 drubbing at the hands of Dumbarton
Dumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
in the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
on 27 September 1890. Hibs had failed to secure the ground lease and building work had already started, which restricted the attendance the ground could hold. Later that season, the building work covered the rest of the park. This was during a period of intense construction work in the area. After the club failed to pay their subscriptions to the Scottish Football Association
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
in 1891, Hibs were deleted from the membership rolls. Philip Farmer, an ancestor of current Hibs owner Sir Tom Farmer
Tom Farmer
Sir Thomas "Tom" Farmer, CVO, CBE, KCSG, FRSE, DL is a Scottish entrepreneur.One of seven siblings in a devoutly Catholic family, in 1964 Farmer founded his own tyre retailing business which he sold in 1969 for £450,000. Farmer "retired" to the United States, but became bored and decided to find a...
, played a major role in the establishment in 1892 of a new club, which secured the site that is now known as Easter Road
Easter Road
Easter Road is a football stadium located in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian . The stadium currently has an all-seated capacity of 20,421, which makes it the fifth-largest football stadium in Scotland. Easter Road is also...
, on the other side of the railway.
See also
- List of host grounds of Scotland home international football matches
- History of Hibernian F.C.History of Hibernian F.C.Hibernian, one of the most prominent clubs in Scottish football, was founded in 1875. The club was named in honour of the Roman name for Ireland and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The club has competed in the top division of Scottish football in all but four seasons since they first gained entry...
- History of Celtic F.C.History of Celtic F.C.Celtic Football Club has a long and illustrious history, having always competed in the highest level of football in Scotland, currently the Scottish Premier League. The club was constituted in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic play home games at Celtic Park, which is the largest...