Latest news with #DarrenMcGregor
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'A lot of improvement' to come from Hibs, says Gray
David Gray said "there's a lot of improvement to come" from Hibernian - but the head coach is "not getting too downhearted" by the pre-season defeat to strikes from the English third-tier side sealed a win at Easter Road in Darren McGregor's competitive action starts on Thursday for Hibs when they face a tough trip to Midtjylland in the first leg of their Europa League second-round qualifier."It wasn't our best, most fluent performance by any means," Gray told Hibs TV. "We all know that. There's a lot of improvement to come."We've got a lot of hard work still to be done and we've got a really good game to look forward to on Thursday."I'm not getting too downhearted by what I have seen. A lot of good work has been done and I'm happy with the fitness levels of the players."On former team-mate McGregor, who is now Hibs Under-19s head coach, Gray added: "It's a special day for Darren and his family. I wish we had a better result for him."But, on the whole, for what he has done for this club, it was a fitting testimonial and I'm delighted to be part of that for him."
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
David Gray not too downhearted despite Bolton defeat
Hibs head coach David Gray admits his players could have been 'better' during yesterday's defeat to Bolton Wanderers at Easter Road. However he was pleased to see former teammate Darren McGregor honoured at his Testimonial Match, and remained buoyant despite the off-day against English League One opposition. Two second-half strikes sealed the win for the visitors as Hibs struggled to impact the game as much as Gray and his coaching staff would have liked. After the final whistle he said: 'It wasn't our best, most fluent performance by any means. We all know that. There's a lot of improvement to come. 'We've got a lot of hard work still to be done and we've got a really good game to look forward to on Thursday. 'I'm really happy with our pre-season, but today I think we can be miles better. We know the areas we can be better in. 'We'll be back in on Monday and we'll need to make sure we are bang at it to improve.' It was a competitive encounter between the two sides, with Steven Schumacher's side offering Hibs a tough, physical test in torrential conditions. According to Gray, the difficulty of the fixture was no different to other pre-season matches so far however, but instead just a different style to play against. 'When you look at all of our games in pre-season, they have all been difficult games. 'The standard of the opposition we have took on, that is all with European games in mind because of the variety in teams you can potentially face. 'Today was more of a domestic challenge we would face week in, week out in Scotland – which is high intensity and very aggressive. 'I'm not getting too downheartened by what I have seen. A lot of good work has been done and I'm happy with the fitness levels of the players.' Gray also touched on Darren McGregor's warm reception at Easter Road, with the current Hibernian Under-19s Head Coach and former Hibs centre-back's service to the Club celebrated with a Testimonial Match. The two defenders both won the 2016 Scottish Cup together, with Gray only having great things to say about his former teammate. 'It's a special day for Darren and his family. I wish we had a better result for him but, on the whole, for what he has done for this Club, it was a fitting testimonial and I'm delighted to be part of that for him. 'As I've said, it is a special day for a special person who has given a lot to this Club. It's his childhood club, the team he grew up supporting and he has spoken very honestly about what this Club means to him. 'He deserves all the praise and accolades he's had over his time at Hibs, because he has certainly left nothing out there for them.' Like this: Like Related
Edinburgh Reporter
2 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Darren McGregor grateful to still be at Hibs
Darren McGregor is 'grateful' to still be at Hibs, 10-years after joining his boyhood heroes. The former Hibs defender, and current Under-19s Head Coach, reached 10 years with the Club this summer and was granted a testimonial for his excellent service to the Club. He watched on at Easter Road Stadium with his family and friends as Hibs went down 2-0 in a competitive encounter to Bolton Wanderers. 'I am really, really grateful,' he told HibsTV. 'I came here as a fan at the age of 29 and I've been lucky enough to stay here for 10 years. 'I've been a player, a mentor and a coach. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to be at a club I've been a supporter of since I was a kid. 'And I'm grateful to still be here trying to influence the next generation and try and get as many younger lads into the First Team as possible.' Daz, who was initially intending to play in match, was able to walk out with the match ball alongside his family, as well as speak on the pitch at half-time alongside a number of fellow Hibs heroes. On a special day for the 2016 Scottish Cup winner, McGregor insisted all that mattered was his family enjoying the occasion and making memories for the years ahead. 'My kids can't quite remember me playing, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing! 'But for them to see the pitch today, to have the strip with my name written on the front of it which is a wee memento for them. 'In years to come, they can always look back and say, 'My Dad got a testimonial at the Hibees'. That is the most important thing for me.' Plenty has changed at the Club since Daz's time as a player at Easter Road, but these changes are all for the better according to the man himself. 'The Club has came on leaps and bounds. You only need to look at the infrastructure. 'You look at the pitch, the stadium, the fan experience, the training ground – which massive investment is being put into, which is largely down to the Gordon family, who have been unbelievably kind and generous to Hibs – so hopefully we can get success, because ultimately that is what you want. 'You want to play European football, win cups and finish as high in the league as you can. I think with this squad, having seen it, there is two players for every position. 'We are definitely in a good place.' Like this: Like Related
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Hibs lose to Bolton in McGregor's testimonial match
Hibernian fell to a two-goal defeat to English League One side Bolton in Darren McGregor's testimonial match at Easter former Hibs defender was unable to play in the game after being involved in a road traffic accident last recruits Josh Mulligan and Jamie McGrath started for David Gray's men in the friendly, which was goalless at the record signing Thibault Klidje also featured after the break, but he could not inspire the hosts to victory as second-half strikes from Amario Cozier-Duberry and Sonny Sharples-Ahmed earned a win for third-tier competitive action starts on Thursday for Hibs, who travel to Midtjylland for the first leg of their in Europa League qualifier.
Edinburgh Reporter
3 days ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Hibs host Bolton Wanderers this afternoon in Darren McGregor's testimonial
Hibs host Bolton Wanderers this afternoon for a pre-season friendly at Easter Road Stadium in Darren McGregor's Testimonial match. The match will kick-off at 2pm and will commemorate McGregor's magnificent service to the Club as both a Scottish Cup-winning defender and as the head coach of the Under-19s side. While McGregor can sadly no longer play in the match, he will still meet supporters inside Easter Road Stadium, and in the hospitality suites, alongside walking out onto the pitch for an interview to thank the Hibs fans for their support. Bolton Wanderers will compete in the English third tier this upcoming season after finishing eighth last season, with a tough end to their 2024/25 league campaign seeing them place two spots outside the promotion play-off positions. Aaron Collins, the Wanderers' 2024/25 top scorer, has since departed for MK Dons, though the English club have brought in Sam Dalby, who Hibs fans will recognise from his loan spell at Dundee United last season. Steven Schumacher's first team squad have played three friendlies so far this summer, most recently defeating Barrow 1-0 just four days after defeating South African outfit Orlando Pirates 2-0 in Marbella, Spain. The last time the two sides met was in a pre-season friendly back in 2007! Steven Fletcher opened the scoring for the Hibees with David Murphy and Abdessalam Benjelloun also on target at Easter Road. Tickets are priced from £10 for adults and £5 for concessions. Please note, all 2025/26 Season Ticket Holders will receive a special discount for this fixture as part of their benefits package. Please note, tickets are only available in the West Stand for home supporters. Like this: Like Related
