Edinburgh boasts a rich and diverse sporting culture, with a proud history in football, rugby, and horse racing. This deep-rooted tradition is best exemplified by the fierce rivalry between Heart of Midlothian FC and Hibernian FC, commonly known as Hearts and Hibs.
Hearts were formed in 1874 on the Royal Mile and are believed to have originated from a group of friends at the Heart of Midlothian Quadrille Assembly Club who had been playing football near the Tron Kirk. The name ‘Hearts’ comes from a troubled period in Edinburgh’s history — the Old Tollbooth, a violent and grim prison on the Royal Mile. The Hearts crest is inspired by the heart-shaped mosaic on the Royal Mile which once marked the entrance to the prison.
Hibs were established a year later in the heart of Edinburgh’s Irish migrant community, Cowgate, sometimes known as ‘Little Ireland.’ The club was founded to offer young Irish men a healthy and sober pursuit, and Hibs paid homage to this heritage with their name—a Latin translation of Ireland—and colours, which continue to be green.
The two teams first met on Christmas Day in 1875, with Hearts winning 1-0 despite missing three key players. Despite some local opposition to the match, which was played on the Meadows, due to Hibs’ close links to Edinburgh’s Irish community, this fixture marked the beginning of a significant sporting rivalry. Since this iconic encounter, the two teams have met more than 300 times across Scotland’s top-flight. The Derby has seen many major footballing milestones and some unique records.
The 1896 Scottish Cup final, played at Logie Green, remains the only time the final has been held outside Glasgow. Hearts emerged victorious, beating Hibs 3-1. The derby also set a record for match attendance outside Glasgow when 65,860 fans packed into Easter Road in January 1950.
Both sides have celebrated remarkable victories over the years, some of which continue to be boasted about today. These include Hibs’ 7-0 thrashing of Hearts on New Year’s Day 1973 at Tynecastle, although Hearts fans might prefer to highlight their 5-1 demolition of Hibs at the 2012 Scottish Cup final.
Today, the two clubs are separated by just three miles — Hearts are based at Tynecastle Stadium in the West and Hibs at Easter Road, situated in the North of the city. Hearts have proved to be the more successful side, winning 150 matches to Hibs’ 102. Although the games are passionate and lively, some suggest that the derby lacks the systemic religious divide found in other rivalries, such as Glasgow’s Old Firm or Croatia’s ‘Eternal Derby’ between Dinamo Zagreb versus Hajduk Split.
The most recent encounter between the two teams ended in a 3-2 home win for Hibs; nevertheless, Hearts sit 6 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, with Hibs 15 points behind in fifth.
“Edinburgh Derby 2006” by Justin Brockie. Original uploader was Franky843 at en.wikipedia is licensed under CC BY 2.0.