Hibs 150th anniversary season which began full of promise finally petered out to a fifth-place finish.
A successful summer transfer window saw the squad size vastly reduced and a number of quality players arrive including John Mulligan from Dundee, Jamie McGrath from Aberdeen, Raphael Sallinger from, TSV Hartberg, Miquel Chaiwa from Young Boys, Dan Barlaser on loan from Middlesbrough, and hugely experienced Scotland international defender Grant Hanley from Birmingham City.
Thibault Klidjé also signed from Luzern for a record fee.
During pre-season Hibs player German side Rot Weiss Essen in a friendly to mark the 70th anniversary of their European Champions Cup tie and before kickoff, the East Stand was officially renamed in honour of Hibs legend Pat Stanton.
Credit: Ian Jacobs
The previous season’s third place would normally have guaranteed group stage European football, but Aberdeen’s shock Scottish Cup victory meant Hibs were drawn against Midtjylland in a Europa League qualifying game.
After their narrow defeat Hibs entered the Conference League in the third qualifying round.
They were drawn against Serbian club Partizan Belgrade and progressed to the play-off round by winning 4–3 after extra time.
Highlight of the night was Kieron Bowie’s wonder goal which subsequently won the goal of the season award although it would easily have won the goal of the century had that acolade been available.
Hibs came back from 2–0 and 3–1 down in the play-off round against Polish side Legia Warsaw but a stoppage-time equaliser and an extra-time winning goal won the tie for Legia.
After that match David Gray said he was “immensely proud” of the team, which he believed had produced the best performance of a Hibs side in European competition during his lifetime.
So Hibs started the league campaign full of confidence and a 2-1 victory over Dundee at Dens Park heightened expectation.
However, a run of six draws followed by a last-minute defeat to high-flying Hearts at Tynecastle brought everyone back down to earth.
Three successive victories over the festive period, including a 3-2 win over Hearts cheered up the fans although they looked enviously across the city and watched their rivals deservedly lead the league.
Having qualified for Europe meant Hibs entered the League Cup at the last 16 stage and a victory over Livingston set up a quarter final tie against Rangers. A 2-0 defeat at Ibrox however ended hopes of a trip to Hampden.
Similarly, a 1-0 defeat to Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup ended prospect of silverware.
The January transfer window saw Bowie move to Italy for a reported £6m and Klidje join Danish Superliga club Randers FC on loan.
Felix Passlack, Ante Suto and teenagers Dale Scarlett, Kai Andrews and Owen Elding arrived as Hibs set their sights on a second successive top-six finish.
This was achieved with games to spare.
The first game after the split however ended in a 2-1 defeat to Hearts after Sallinger and Passlack were sent off.
That result left Hibs with a mountain to climb to reach fourth place and although Gray’s men managed to claw back Motherwell’s lead to one point, a final day defeat at Easter Road ended that ambition.
Highlights of the season included victories at Celtic Park and Ibrox, the first time Hibs had won at both grounds in the same season since John Blackley’s side did more than 40-years ago.
McGrath was voted Fans’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year with Mulligan voted Young Player of the Year at the End of Season Awards ceremony.
Rosie Livingstone won the Women’s Player of the Year and Women’s Goal of the Season awards.
Duncan Reid won the Staff Member of the Year and Joseph McGrath won the Academy Player of the Season.
And finally, Martin Boyle picked up a Special Recognition Award for his services to the Club.
