Pioneers

First Scottish club to play under floodlights

On 7 November 1951, Hibernian FC played in the first game in Scotland to be staged under floodlights, a 5-3 friendly victory against Stenhousemuir at Ochilview.

First Scottish Club to instal pylon style floodlights

The Club was also the first in Scotland to have the iconic pylon style floodlights situated at the four corners of the pitch.

The floodlights were installed by a local company, Miller & Stables, who would construct similar leaning gantries in many other Scottish grounds.

These lights were first used in a friendly against Hearts in October 1954 and two years later the team reciprocated and opened the lights at Tynecastle.

An unofficial floodlight league featuring Manchester City and Newcastle was arranged and an number of friendless were arranged against touring clubs including Vasco da Gama.

Having these floodlights were one of the reasons that the Club was invited to take part in the inaugural European Champions Cup in 1955.

Hibernian were the first Scottish club to tour Brazil

In 1953 Hibernian were invited to represent Scotland in a tournament organised by the Brazilian FA involving Brazilian sides Botafogo, Corinthians, São Paulo, and Vasco da Gama; Uruguay’s Fluminense; Club Olimpia of Paraguay; Sporting CP of Portugal.

Hibernian were drawn in the Rio de Janeiro mini-league at the Maracanã Stadium against Botafogo, Fluminense, and Vasco da Gama.

The game against Vasco da Gama ended 3-3 with Hibernian’s goals coming from Eddie Turnbull and a double from Lawrie Reilly.

Reilly was on target again in the 3-1 defeat to Botafogo and the final game ended  in a 3-0 defeat to Fluminense.

Vasco da Gama would go on to beat São Paulo in the final.

After the tournament Botafogo attempted to sign Gordon Smith and Lawrie Reilly, with club chiefs telling the players: “Name your price and we’ll pay it.” Both declined the offer.

Despite the results, the team left a lasting impression in Brazil. Ahead of the 1970 World Cup, a “football encyclopaedia” was printed in Brazil containing a whole chapter devoted to Hibernian, the team’s style of play, and tactical diagrams, with reference to the Famous Five.

First British Club to play in European Champions Cup

The idea of a European Champions Cup came from French sportswriter Gabriel Hanot and due to their reputation abroad Hibernian was invited to represent Scotland despite having finished in fifth place in the league.

16 teams took part in the inaugural tournament and Hibernian beat German champions Rot Weiss Essen and Swedish champions Djurgaardens before losing to Rheims in the semi-finals.

 Many including the late Lawrie Reily believe that had the tournament started when the Famous Five were at their peak then the first name on the trophy would have been Hibernian.

That tournament also included a number of firsts. Eddie Turnbull became the first British player to score in Europe when he netted against Rot Weiss Essen in Germany.

Jock Buchanan became the first British player to score a European goal in Great Britain.

Hibernian also took part in the first European match in Glasgow. Djurgaardens were unable to play at home due to the severe winter in Sweden so they chose Firhill as their home ground.

First Scottish Cup to play in Inter Cities Fairs Cup

Hibernian were also the first Scottish club to take part in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup which took place over two years.

First round opponents Lausanne withdrew from the tournament which meant a second round against Barcelona. A 4-4 draw at the Camp Neu was followed by a 3-2 victory at Easter Road.

The both semi-final ties against Roma ended all square, 2-2 at Easter Road and 3-3 in Rome. Had the away goals rule been in operation Hibernian would have qualified for the final but instead a playoff took place in Italy and Roma progressed to the final.

First club in the UK to embrace shirt sponsorship.

In 1977 Hibernian signed a deal with manufacturers Bukta.

The shirt had Bukta displayed on the chest with the Bukta logos down the sleeves.

TV broadcasters threatened not to cover Hibernian games and as a result the club was forced to design an alternative kit without the name which was used in the 1979 Scottish Cup final.

First club in Scotland to instal undersoil heating

In 1981 Hibernian installed under-soil heating which paid off when Manchester United visited Easter Road on boxing day 1981.

The game ended in a 1-1 draw with 17-year-old Willie Jamieson scoring for Hibernian against a United side managed by Ron Atkinson contained England captain Bryan Robson.

Other notable friendless included a 6-3 victory over Celtic in a game remembered for a hat-trick from Ally Brazil.

First club in Scotland to have an electronic scoreboard.

Previously every club including Hibernian had a scoreboard which involved someone physically placing the scores onto the board against a letter contained in the matchday programme.

In the early 1980s the electronic scoreboard was installed on the roof of the ‘Cowshed’ seated enclosure where the Famous Five stand is now.

The initiative was not deemed a success and only lasted a few seasons.

First Scottish club to be listed on the stock market.

On 3^rd October 1988 an advert appeared in that day’s Scotsman offering anyone who so desired “an opportunity to share in Hibernian’s future”. Hibernian FC, it declared, “are going public”.

The minimum investment was set at £198 and many fans bought shares.

It was pointed out that shareholders would not have a say in the day-to day management of the Club but would be able to attend an annual general meeting and vote on major decisions requiring shareholder approval.

More than 1,700 supporters took up the offer, raising an estimated £1.6 million.

Edinburgh Hibernian PLC went into liquidation in 1991 when Sir Tom Farmer reconstituted the Club and provided fans equivalent shares in the new format.