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Scotsman
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Why Hibs title win against all odds meant so much to one-club woman - 'I never thought it would be possible'
Long-serving Siobhan Hunter savours special family memories Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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... A scarf is never just a scarf. Not to anyone raised in the finest traditions of Scottish football. Oh, it may look just like a few dozen others you'd see on any given game day. But each one is unique, courtesy of its association with favourite moments. And, in very special cases, beloved people. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As Siobhan Hunter celebrated one of the most stunning SWPL triumphs of the modern era at Ibrox on the final day of last season, her thoughts inevitably turned to late grandfather Matthew, a man who played such a formative role in her development as a future Hibs star. And she didn't have long to wait for family to provide her with a tangible reminder of his part in the story. Hibernian player Siobhan Hunter. | Ross MacDonald 'My grandad isn't with us any more but there are always special reminders,' said Hunter, the centre-half adding: 'Like on the final day, my uncle had my grandad's Hibs scarf, and he chucked it onto the pitch for me. 'Little things like that just made it so special. Because I know he'll probably be looking down, absolutely buzzing. He took me everywhere, took me training. And all the time he'd stand at the side and just watch the whole time rather than go home. 'So it was really, really nice to still go and obviously do him proud even if he's not here. Because it's a huge family effort when you're a young player, relying on parents and grandparents even just to drive you to training and games. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I'm not sure my Nana was too happy about constantly being at the house and spending money on me! But no, I'm forever grateful for that. And she as part of it, as well. It's not easy as a parent or a grandparent to take you everywhere, you go all over the country and it's hard, it's a lot of money, sacrifice from them, time and whatever. So yeah, I'm forever grateful for them. 'My Nana Jeanette passed just last year, so both are gone now. But there's so many memories you have with the, you kind of live on their memories. You almost do more than you would if they were here. I just feel like they're always here kind of watching from above. It's really nice that I can still make them proud.' Hibs' Siobhan Hunter celebrates at full time after the victory over Rangers at Ibrox that clinched last season's SWPL title. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) | SNS Group Epitome of one-club woman That's a certainty, given the role played by Hunter – now 31 and with a new two-year contract just signed – in helping Hibs claim a title against all odds. As Grant Scott's won big game after big game, including beating Rangers on home soil at the very end of a brutally exhausting campaign, she was right at the heart of the action. And it meant as much to Hunter as anyone at Hibs. Born and raised in Leith, a supporter since she was old enough to join her grandad and dad – also Matthew – in the Famous Five stand, upper, she's the epitome of a one-club woman. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Having spent part of the morning being photographed high up on Calton Hill, overlooking a city that will always be part of her character, she was happy to spend time reflecting on what those early experiences at Easter Road – visible from one of the vantage points – meant to her. 'I loved sitting behind the goal, because you could see the whole pitch,' she said: 'I must have been about six, seven I'd say. And I've just being going ever since; it was just part of my life to be honest. 'I actually grew up in Leith and Craigentinny, Leith Walk. My mum liked to jump houses for some reason, so yeah, a few different houses - but the majority in the Leith area. 'It's quite a story, when you think. Literally born and raised in Leith, playing for Hibs. It was always going to be this club, wasn't it? I know it's easy to say. But no, I never ever looked elsewhere. This is my home, this is my club and there's nowhere else I'd rather be. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I've been here since I was nine. Someone asked me the other day how long I've been here I was like: 'Oh, 21 years …'. It just feels like everything's right here and I wouldn't want to go anywhere else. In the last two years I feel like I've kind of progressed again, I've got the love back that I have for football. 'The support that I've got right now the club is massive and the whole club's doing well right now. There's no reason why I'd want to leave that.' Hibs' Rachael Boyle and Siobhan Hunter lift the SWPL trophy after victory over Rangers at Ibrox on the final day of the season. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group) | SNS Group 'Never thought it was possible' Being a champion helps, of course. Even for someone who had won plenty of Scottish Cup and League Cup honours in the senior game, not to mention a handful of youth titles, that final-day triumph hit different. 'Surreal to be honest,' she said, when describing her emotions since that magical day in Govan, the experienced campaigner rather surprisingly admitting: 'I never ever thought in my time really, I never thought it would be possible. So to do it, probably as well it made it a bit more special because it came later on in my career. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'You know when you're younger, probably the standard wasn't as great so it's a lot harder to do it now. So it just makes it extra special and yeah it was one of the best days of my life.' Pressed on why she had harboured doubts, Hunter said: 'I just felt like we were close but probably not close enough. All the teams around us were kind of pushing on. 'Celtic and Rangers obviously got backing from their clubs which is huge. And the Old Firm is a massive thing, so it did kind of feel like we were getting further away. 'I mean, we were finishing fifth. And fifth to first is completely different so yeah it just seemed a bit too far away. I mean you always have that dream of doing it - but actually doing it is different.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At a time when the SWPL, with the backing of main title sponsor Scottish Power, are working hard to support teams capable of challenging the established order, Hibs winning the title was a Very Big Deal. Officially Good For The Game, even. The dream, of course, is to have a fully professional top division, without part-time clubs battling just to keep up with the full-time pros. With the right commercial partnerships, and SWPL 1 cut from 12 teams to 10 for the new season, things are at least moving in the right direction, 'I think it's great that the league are trying to get as many clubs to be full-time as they can,' said Hunter. 'It would give players the option to move, give youngsters the chance to go full-time football in Scotland. If they do that, the game can only grow.' Title defence begins The hard work of defending their title starts when Hibs host Aberdeen at Meadowbank on Sunday. Although it's been a hard pre-season, including a training camp in the sweltering heat of Florida, those title celebrations seem like they happened just the other night. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Memories of the victory party back at Easter Road certainly feel fresh, Hunter saying: 'It was so nice that the full club were there to celebrate. The men were there, the coaching staff, the academy folk. Being a Hibs fan, I loved celebrating at Easter Road. 'My whole family were on the pitch. I think that's the first time they've been on the pitch. Silly things like that just made it more special, the photos, the videos. 'I look back at them all the time and still probably, to this day, don't believe it. So I need to kind of remind myself of what we did.'
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rangers 0-1 Hibernian: What the league-winning players said
Hibs defender and goal scorer Linzi Taylor tells BBC Scotland: "It doesn't feel real, I don't think it will for a number of days. It's what we've been working for all season. "A lot of people wrote us off but we knew what we had in the changing room and we knew if we stuck together then anything was possible and I think it's safe to say we were daring to dream. "It's unbelievable for the club, for everyone involved, this group of players deserve it. It's a collective, the club has given us the backing and we've shown them what we can do. "Hibs centre-back Siobhan Hunter tells Sky Sports: "Probably at the start nobody thought it, which makes it even sweeter. It was a dream."We had a couple of results where we slipped up but when it counted we stood up for one another. It's so special I can't put it into words."Hibs full-back Lauren Doran-Barr tells HibsTV: "It's surreal. I'm so proud and it's nothing less than we deserve. "I can't believe we're going to playing Champions League football. It's such an amazing opportunity for us to showcase what we can do on that stage."Hibs midfielder Ciara Grant tells HibsTV: "So many people didn't think we'd be able to go the whole way but we proved we can and everyone is buzzing."Everyone put in every ounce of effort, it was absolutely roasting so its just class and it's such a nice feeling to do it the way we did it."
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Can Hibs best Rangers to win most surprising title in Britain?
SWPL finale: Rangers v HibernianWhere: Ibrox Stadium When: Sunday 18 May Time: 12:00 BSTCoverage: Watch live on the BBC Sport website, app & iPlayer, listen on BBC Sounds & BBC Radio Scotland If Hibernian get the draw they need against Rangers on Sunday to clinch the Scottish Women's Premier League crown, it would arguably be the most surprising title win in Britain this predicted Grant Scott's side would be in this position before a ball was kicked in August - needing just a draw at Ibrox to become champions for the first time since 2007 and first in the professional term, Hibs were fifth, a huge 36 points behind eventual winners Celtic, and Rangers, who lost out on goal this season, up against better-funded Glasgow sides with more winning and international experience, Hibs have been the most consistent team over 31 games and surprised everyone with their 32, though, is where it is all on the line. Treble-chasing Rangers are three points behind and the only side who can stop Hibs, and in turn claim the title themselves - on goal difference - with a the third season in a row the SWPL will be decided on the final day, and if this campaign is anything like the last two the tension it will go right to stoppage Rangers head coach Jo Potter said: "It's looking tasty". Can Hibs take final step? After Hibs' 4-2 victory over Celtic on Wednesday, defender Siobhan Hunter - a one-club woman who has supported Hibs all her life - went over to the cameras captured her fist-pumping and roaring and urging the small band of supporters at Meadowbank to turn up the noise to celebrate getting to the final day with a three-point passion and togetherness has been a mark of Hibs' season, as was the fact Caley Gibb, Michaela McAlonie and were like the walking wounded in the closing stages of that huge victory, before eventually being hauled from the Bowie was named as a substitute despite her foot being in a protective - who had cup success during his first spell at Hibs from 2018 to 2019 - has added to a squad of academy graduates players from around the SWPL who have shone at other clubs and built a strong among them is Kathleen McGovern, who has scored a remarkable 31 goals in all competitions since her summer move from Hearts and been rewarded with a maiden Scotland call has been ably supported by academy graduate Eilidh Adams, who has 27 for the campaign. The pair have scored 49 of Hibs' 89 goals in the the other end, they have conceded the second-fewest goals, which has contributed to their excellent record against the other five professional teams in the have taken 28 points from a possible 45 so far against Rangers, Glasgow City, Celtic, and Hearts. That's five more than Rangers have after all that work, taking the final step could be the hardest one of all. Will Rangers make Ibrox advantage count? Hibs have beaten Rangers twice already in the league this season, while the third meeting was a Rangers steamrolled Hibs in the second half of the Sky Sports Cup final in March, winning obvious difference that day was the game was played at Fir Park, on a big grass pitch, whereas the league meetings were all on artificial surfaces, as nearly every game is in the have decided to play this final game at Ibrox, to try to use their own fans but also the wide Ibrox surface to their Potter and Scott have said it will allow Rangers to stretch the game more and get their considerable attacking weapons into the has been their strength this season, having scored an astonishing 139 goals in 31 games - by far the most in the league - as they have swatted aside the division's inferior Wilkinson has 39 alone in the league, as many as four SWPL sides as a whole. So can Rangers use the pitch to maximise space for their potent forwards? It is not always as simple as last time they played at Ibrox, Potter says they "let themselves down" as they were beaten 1-0 by Glasgow City on 30 seasons ago they were also beaten 1-0 by City when they had the chance to win the title on the final day at it is about handling the pressure. Who can step up and deliver when everything is on the line?Should Glasgow City defeat Hearts in their last game, whoever does not win the league between Rangers and Hibs will drop to third - and miss out on going into the Champions League would at least have the consolation of a Scottish Cup final next week, but the league is the big target and their hopes of a first ever Treble are at really is all or nothing. Tasty indeed.
