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.[1]
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.[2]
Hibernian Park was known by the Hibs supporters as The Holy Ground,[3] in reference to the fact that the club was operated by St. Patrick's Church in the Cowgate.[4][5][6] Hibs were essentially a sporting arm of the Catholic Church in Edinburgh from their formation until 1891.[3] Hibs supporters still use this moniker for the present Easter Road Stadium.[3][7]
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.[8][9][10] 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.[11][12] Hibs players Willie Groves[13][14] and James McLaren[15][16] both played in the match, with Groves scoring Scotland's fourth goal.[12][17][18]
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.[19] As Hibs were operated on a charitable basis, they were essentially broke[19] despite being one of the most popular clubs in Scotland.[19] At the same time, Hibs were riven by internal politics relating to Irish Home Rule;[20] a former secretary absconded with a significant amount of funds;[21] and the club inexplicably failed to enter the Scottish Football League when it was formed in 1890.[22]
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.[23] Hibs had failed to secure the ground lease and building work had already started,[23] which restricted the attendance the ground could hold.[23] Later that season, the building work covered the rest of the park.[24] This was during a period of intense construction work in the area.[25] After the club failed to pay their subscriptions to the Scottish Football Association in 1891, Hibs were deleted from the membership rolls.[26] 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,[27] on the other side of the railway.[27]
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