Latest news with #Hibernian
Scotsman
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hibs pay tribute to long serving stars as pair depart with SWPL winner statuses
A fond farewell has been bid by Hibs to the players, one after 11 years of service. Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hibs have wished a fond farewell to Shannon Leishman and Lia Tweedie who's long associations with the club have ended. Leishman has said her goodbyes to the team she grew up supporting after 11 successful years and over 150 appearances. She trained with Hibs Women before she was 16 years old and made her senior debut in 2014 versus Rangers, departing with a league winners' medal after nine appearances for Hibs and then spending the second half of the 2024/25 SWPL campaign on loan at Motherwell. She helped guide the Lanarkshire side to a first-ever top six finish and the Scottish Cup Semi-Finals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad That adds to four domestic cups won in Leith, having also played UEFA Women's Champions League football with her childhood club. Head coach Grant Scott has wished Leishman the best for the future. Hibs reaction to long serving player exits He said: 'Shannon has been a dedicated servant to Hibernian over the past 11 years. Coming through our Academy, Shannon has from a young age always set an example for others to follow and her commitment to being the ultimate professional has helped us to many successes over the years. More than all of that, she's a great person whose presence will be missed. We thank her for her contributions and wish her all the best for the future.' It comes after Tweedie's exit was also recently announced. Over two stints at Hibs, the forward won seven trophies in total, including a couple of Scottish Cups and four Scottish League Cups. She made a substitute appearance on the final day of the season against Rangers as league glory was secured. Scott said: 'I want to thank Lia for her outstanding contribution to Hibernian. She is a great person who has deservedly picked up plenty of winners' medals with the Club. 'From coming through the Hibs Academy to performing on the European stage and winning silverware, Lia has always remained a fantastic servant to this Club and will be a big loss to the group – both on and off the pitch. I wish Lia the best of luck with what comes next for her in her career.'
The Herald Scotland
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland keeper welcomes move to more direct Andreattaball style
Andreatta, the former Matildas assistant who succeeded Pedro Martinez Losa in April, saw her new side suffer a narrow 1-0 defeat to Austria at Hampden on Friday night and suffer relegation from the top tier of the Nations League as a result. But the hosts' late fightback – they created a number of scoring chances in the closing stages of their penultimate Group A1 fixture and were unfortunate not to net a late equaliser in – was impressive. Read more: The way those late opportunities were created perhaps gave the supporters who were in attendance a taste of what Andreattaball will be like. Glasgow City goalkeeper Lee Gibson, who pulled off a string of important saves during the course of the 90 minutes and was deservedly named Player of the Match following the final whistle, has certainly noticed a definite shift in emphasis since the 46-year-old has come in. Gibson, who is set to win her 62nd cap for her country in the meeting with the Netherlands in Tilburg on Tuesday evening, acknowledged that some fans, who were used to their heroes playing a patient and possession-based game under Losa, might consider going direct to be 'not pretty'. However, the 33-year-old very much approves of the change and is optimistic that it will help Scotland, who are currently on a desperately disappointing six game losing and seven match winless run, to end their slump in form and become more competitive before they launch their bid to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil in 2027. 'I would say in the first camps we have been in with the new manager we have been a little bit more direct,' she said. 'I think before we played a lot and the build was certainly under pressure. Previously, we tried and keep the ball in the defensive half a lot more than maybe we needed to. 'You can be just as effective being direct. It can take two or three passes and suddenly you're in the other half. We need to try and make sure that when we do build, and we are capable of doing it, we're not putting ourselves into bother and trouble. That is probably something that we've done in the past. (Image: Andrew Milligan) 'We've got players up top that can hold the ball and link. Ultimately, you want to try and get Caroline [Real Madrid playmaker Weir] and Ez [Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert] on the ball. I thought Kathleen [Hibernian striker McGovern] did well holding the ball up on Friday night. As did Kirsty [Rangers forward Howat] and Marth [Spurs striker Thomas] when they came on.' Gibson continued, 'Football's ever-changing. You might have a style of play which means you want to try and keep the ball. But ultimately you need to try and score goals. If that means being direct then so be it. It's easier to get up there. 'We've been working under Pedro for quite a few years. So we have probably tried to play the same way even though there has been a change of manager because it is what you have known. But new coaches will bring fresh ideas and different squad selections and you have to adapt. 'Sometimes being direct is actually the easiest way to get higher up the park. On Friday night we were able to go down the side a couple of times. Within two passes, we were in behind their back line. People might say it's not as pretty, but it's just as effective.' Read more: Andreatta, who admitted she is looking for her charges to be more competitive in their personal duels against the Dutch in midweek, was heartened by Gibson's personal display and envisages the goalkeeper having a key role to play in her Scotland side going forward. 'Lee made some big saves to keep the game competitive,' she said. 'She also activated our vertical game, which is an area we want to improve. We don't want to keep possession for possession's sake, we want to actually break lines more often. She was a part of that as well. 'I saw more of that ability to break lines in the second half against Austria, get into good areas in the final third and create chances from there. That's something we want to keep building on. We will keep reinforcing the position we want from our team in order to get into good areas.'
Edinburgh Reporter
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
The new-look Ron Gordon Football Festival scheduled for 21 June at HTC
Featuring members of the current Hibs men's and women's squads, and coaching staff – this year, fans have an opportunity to be managed by their heroes whilst raising funds for a wide range of community initiatives. Following on from the mould set by the inception of the Ron Gordon Football Challenge in 2023, this year will allow members of the Hibernian community to play at HTC for the day, with some special guests at the helm of each team. Hibs First Team Captain and HCF Board Member Joe Newell will be there on the day and is confirmed as one of the coaches for the event! The current captain is not alone in making his managerial debut at HTC, with Cadden brothers Nicky and Chris, Jordan Obita, Jordan Smith and Rudi Molotnikov all joining him on the sidelines. The star-studded manager list doesn't stop there, however, with more players, coaching staff and legends expected to be announced by HCF in due course. Proceeds from purchasing a spot in each team will go towards HCF's various initiatives surrounding the Hibernian Community, including: community meals, events for the elderly, mental health support networks, initiatives for New Scots, and community football. 'We are absolutely thrilled to have Joe and the others signing on this year for the Ron Gordon Football Festival,' said HCF Board Chair Steve Smith. 'The work done by the entire team at the Foundation affects the community in such a positive light, and whenever players – current and past – get involved it always allows us to elevate the event and draw more attention to the great work we do. I'm really excited for the day and can't wait to see how the players go with their coaching.' The Ron Gordon Football Festival is named in honour of Hibernian FC's late owner, Ron Gordon. Ron was passionate about the work done by HCF and about providing football opportunities for all, regardless of their background. The structure of the day will follow a slightly different format from previous years. The morning will act as a showcase of HCF's Community Clubs, offering them the chance to play at HTC. The afternoon will then follow the format of a 7-a-side round-robin tournament in which Hibs players past and present will attempt to coach their team to victory. Over the course of the day there will be food trucks and family fun on offer for families and players to enjoy. For more information on the day itself, visit the event page here. Like this: Like Related
The Courier
a day ago
- Sport
- The Courier
Chris Hamilton has say on Neil Lennon staying as Dunfermline Athletic midfielder also pens new deal
Chris Hamilton has revealed he is 'excited' for the future at Dunfermline under Neil Lennon and has promised the Pars will 'have a good go next season'. Hamilton has become the first signing of the new Lennon era at East End Park after penning a one-year contract extension. The former Hearts youngster's previous deal was expiring, but he has been given a vote of confidence by his boyhood club with a fresh agreement. The 23-year-old follows swiftly on from Lennon himself after the Northern Irishman penned a two-year deal to stay as manager. And Hamilton, who played in all but the last of Lennon's seven matches in charge last term, is relishing the opportunity to play again under the ex-Celtic and Hibernian boss. 'It was really good working under the manager,' said vice-captain Hamilton. 'I think you could see the difference in the team from when he came in. 'We were really organised. We were a threat in most games, even though we never scored a lot of goals, and we dominated most games. 'I think his experience helped the group, our young group, a lot. 'Hopefully, moving forward, that can be the same this season. I'm really looking forward to working under him again. He added: 'Hopefully it's an exciting season for the football club. 'As a player, I'm really looking forward to it. As a fan, I'm really looking forward to it. 'I'm excited for the club. It looks positive, it looks on the way up. 'So, hopefully, as players and as a group, we can come back to pre-season, work hard and be ready to have a good go next season, and see where it takes us.' Hamilton joined Dunfermline in 2022 following relegation and helped the club win the League One title in his first campaign. However, after consolidating in the Championship in his second season, 2024/25 proved to be a trying year under three different managers and with the battle to avoid another relegation. The former Arbroath loanee is thrilled he now has the chance to 'right some wrongs' after agreeing his new deal. 'I'm delighted,' he said. 'Obviously I knew for a while towards the end of the season that I was going to be out of contract. And I had a few positive conversations. 'So, I'm glad it's all sorted now and signed and I can get my mind focused on coming in for pre-season and looking forward to that. 'Las season was tough. There were some highs – and a lot of lows. 'But I'm glad that we managed to stay in the league. It was important, really important that we managed to do that. 'And it gives us a chance this year to right some wrongs and really have a go and see where we can get to.'
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘We believed all season': Inside Tottenham's euphoric Europa League victory
Montgomery is still coming to terms with the magnitude of what he has helped Spurs achieve this season. Sacked by Hibernian in May last year, after less than a month as head coach of the Scottish Premiership side, he had other opportunities to continue as a manager – but couldn't turn down the chance to work with Postecoglou, who was one of the first to send Montgomery a congratulatory message after he steered the Central Coast Mariners to an emphatic A-League grand final victory in 2023. The departure of previous assistant Chris Davies to Birmingham City opened up a spot on Postecoglou's staff for Montgomery, who was joined at Spurs by his own long-time lieutenant Sergio Raimundo. Part of Montgomery's portfolio was to look after Tottenham's set pieces, in attack and defence, in tandem with Jedinak, another ex-Mariners legend. But Postecoglou's collaborative approach with his assistants gave him broader scope in terms of adjusting the team's game model and structuring their training sessions, all of which were meticulously planned and reviewed afterwards. It was never easy, though, due to one of the worst injury crises a Premier League side has ever seen, and the incessant noise from the outside questioning everything Postecoglou and his staff were doing. 'It's been a great learning,' Montgomery said. 'It's also been an opportunity for me to grow and support Ange in what was a difficult season, but in the end, an amazing season. 'The media tried to make out that the team never changed the way it played and just never adapted, but that's completely not true. It's difficult to fully adapt when you're making five, six changes every week, we had so many injuries, you know, you've got young players that are just coming in experiencing that level for the first time ... we never abandoned our principles all season. 'We always believed that we could go on and win the Europa League. The players believed in Ange and backed him, even throughout the really difficult times and I think that's a real test of a top world-class manager.' The celebrations, though? An utter madness, and Montgomery was in the thick of it. One of many viral videos from the post-match in Bilbao caught James Maddison leading the players in a chant in his honour, to the tune of Freed From Desire: ' Monty's on fire, your defence is terrified! ' 'The boys were in full force, mate,' he laughed. 'James Maddison, he reminds me a lot of Jason Cummings – that sort of character. He's just a majestic player, a wonderful player, a football brain. Some of the stuff he does, the game he stands still when he gets on the ball, and he just sees things that other players don't see but not only that, he's just a great guy, a proper character. He was trying to get me up on the stage! 'I was always banging on him about taking corners and free kicks and getting him out there to do extra practice and stuff, and you see his stats in terms of the assists that he got through the season, considering he had a couple of injuries as well … he's actually up there in terms of the Premier League's top scorers from free kicks and assists.' Though he only moved to Australia when the Mariners signed him as a player in 2012, Montgomery has become an Australian citizen and appreciates the significance of what Postecoglou is doing for Aussie coaches and the game back home more broadly. The A-League might feel a million light years away from the Premier League, but it is never far from their field of vision. Literally. 'We always watch the A-League,' he said. 'Obviously, the timing of the A-League [in the UK], it's normally when we're having a coffee in the morning, preparing a session, going through all the sort of pre-training stuff. We've always got the A-League on in the coach's office; Ange has all the football on in his office, all the time. We're just immersed in it. 'We try to be real advocates for the A-League, because we know the quality of the players that are in there, and a lot of good young players coming through now. I'm really proud of the fact that we played a part in maybe more coaches now believing in young players and helping to develop them ... that's a great thing to see.' Like Postecoglou and the rest of Tottenham's coaching staff, Montgomery is currently in a state of limbo, waiting for news from above as to whether a managerial change will be made - as has been widely forecast in the English media. However, the Europa League win has changed the atmosphere, and with Postecoglou enjoying the clear backing of the entire dressing room – and, once again, the majority of Spurs fans - moving him on would be an enormous risk. Loading 'I came here for one year already, and it's been an amazing journey,' Montgomery said. 'I've learned plenty – it's probably hard for me to say one thing, but I learned that, yeah, I can coach in the Premier League with World Cup-winners and world-class players. 'In future, I'll definitely be looking to get back into management. That's what I spoke about with Ange in our first meeting. But for now, until we're told otherwise, I'm really looking forward to coaching in the UEFA Champions League next season and continuing to support Ange.'
