Hibernian Ladies have confirmed the appointment of Chris Roberts as first team coach following the departure of Willie Kirk.
Roberts steps up after serving as assistant coach to Kirk for the past four years and during that time he helped Hibernian Ladies to a League Cup success, three other Cup Final appearances plus a runners-up finish in the league last year.
Roberts contributes a wealth of experience to the Club with previous spells at Boroughmuir Thistle, Scotland Women under-19s, and with the Scottish FA South-east U14 regional performance squad. He has also coached with Scotland Universities and is currently a Scottish FA Development Officer in Edinburgh.
Roberts says he is eager to move into his new role and to help the Hibernian Ladies to achieve success.
He told the club website: “It’s an honour to continue my work at such a fantastic club. My role has changed slightly but the target remains the same: to be the best in Scotland and keep pace with the game across Europe.
“Hibernian Ladies are very ambitious, and I am ambitious too. The Club has a rich history in the Scottish game and a lot of potential. I’m pleased to be part of the team that will work to release that potential.”
Rounding out the new management team are the appointments of Claire Ditchburn as first team assistant coach and Alfie Smith as club coach coordinator.
Ditchburn has experience as player – having left Hutchison Vale to take up the post as Assistant Coach with Hibernian – and as coach with Sunderland FC, City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish FA Southeast U16 regional performance squad.
Smith has six and a half years with the Hibernian Girls & Ladies FC coaching the u15s, u17s and Ladies Development Squad.
Next home fixture for Hibernian Ladies is on Sunday, 17 August, 14.00, at Albyn Park in Broxburn where they will take on Aberdeen Reserves.
Photograph by Hibernian FC Website
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
