Football Travel: Hibernian Football Club

We pop down to Leith to check on the famous Hibernian FC at Easter Road, the club’s home since 1893. Since writing this post, Hibs has been promoted back to the Scottish Premier League.

In Edinburgh’s northern port district of Leith, celebrated in song so often by local brothers The Proclaimers, the green framework of Easter Road stadium stands out against the melancholy mix of housing and the shimmering Firth of Forth.

It was the 20^th anniversary of the release of largely Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting the week I made my first trip to Easter Road. You may recall the dangerous Begbie in a Hibs shirt, or Renton’s bedroom décor: Hibernian FC given a global stage. [Continues…]

A chilly February night under the lights at Hibernian FC, Leith, Edinburgh

Easter Road Stadium

Leith has gentrified somewhat since the days of Trainspotting, and is even home to the retired Royal Yacht Britannia. Easter Road itself is a tidy, 20,400 all-seater stadium, easily accessible (and visible) from Edinburgh city centre.

Formed by Irish immigrants in 1875, Hibs takes its name from the Latin name for Ireland – Hibernia – which translates as ‘land of winter’. Fitting, given the mercury was flirting with 0°C on the night I witnessed the team play Greenock Morton.

Hibs were second in the Scottish Championship – one rung below the Scottish Premier League – and opponents Greenock Morton sixth with just one win in their last nine matches. But the form book was turned on its head as Hibs’ forward line spurned chance after chance, leaving Morton free to exploit gaps on the break.

Morton’s small travelling support witnessed a surprise 3-0 win, and it could have been more. The atmosphere in the 8,655 crowd was subdued throughout – perhaps due to the temperature and the opponent – but the game was entertaining, if frustrating for home fans.

I paid £22 to sit in the West Stand, but there is more ticket info here.