With Dean Gibson’s team beginning preparations for the new campaign, we are saying thank you and bidding farewell to a number of the first team squad.
Colette Cavanagh, Alexa Coyle, Eve Donald, Ria McCafferty, Amy Muir, Emily Mutch and Lucy Ronald will be moving on from the club this summer.
Everyone at Hibernian Women would like to express thanks to each and every departing player for their efforts and wish them the best in their future endeavours.
Colette Cavanagh
Cav first joined the club from Celtic in early 2019 and quickly settled into life in the capital as she played her part in securing the SWPL Cup that same season. Her impressive technical ability regularly had fans up off their seats, and she became well-renowned for scoring spectacular goals.
Cav leaves the club having been named SWPL1 Player of the Month for September and having secured a place in the inaugural PFA Scotland Women’s Team of the Year.
Alexa Coyle
Alexa joined Hibs this time last year, arriving in Scotland fresh out of college where she was one of the most important players for the University of Montana Grizzlies in her senior year.
Equally capable leading the line or supporting from the wing, Alexa scored Hibs’ first goal of the season on her debut, as she slotted home a penalty against Kilmarnock in the SWPL Cup group stages. Alexa’s biggest goal came at Easter Road, as she opened the scoring against Hearts in a record-breaking Edinburgh Derby with a well-placed header early on.
Eve Donald
An Academy graduate, Eve has spent the last two seasons developing her game on loan at Glasgow Women in SWPL2, where she played a crucial role in the back line of Craig Joyce’s side, as they secured promotion to SWPL1 for next season.
Eve did turn out for the first team during her time at Hibs, playing her part in a 6-0 thrashing of Hearts towards the end of 2020.
Ria McCafferty
A versatile young player, Ria has been utilised in both midfield and defence by Dean Gibson during the second half of the season, with Ria having spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Boroughmuir Thistle.
A product of the Hibs Academy, Ria made her first team debut against Stirling University in April 2019 and made the step up to senior football ahead of the 2020/21 season.
Amy Muir
Amy arrived in Leith during the summer of 2019, having made waves as a young prospect at Rangers – the full back was named the Glasgow side’s Player of the Year in 2019.
Versatile, cool under pressure and threatening in attack, Amy played a huge part in Hibs’ successes during her time at the club. She also received numerous call-ups to the senior national team while at Hibs, which is a testament to her talent.
Emily Mutch
Emily made the switch across Edinburgh from Hearts in 2020, having played in Gorgie for two years, having competed at the Under-19 European Championships during that time.
The young goalkeeper battled well for the starting spot with Gabby English this past season. Emily was crucial in securing points against both Hearts and Celtic in the winter months, saving a penalty in both matches.
Lucy Ronald
Lucy was another addition to Dean Gibson’s squad ahead of the 2021/22 season.
The young midfielder joined the club from Glasgow Women, and would return to the SWPL2 club on loan for the season, as she and Eve Donald helped the club gain promotion to the top flight.
When asked for comment regarding the latest squad update, Dean Gibson said: “I want to thank every player for their efforts at Hibs before and during my time as manager. Like every window, some players will move on for various reasons, but each and every one goes with our best wishes.
“We are forward thinking and plan ahead so the departures are ones we have planned and prepared for and as you will have seen, we have added a good few players to the group. We are extremely excited with the squad we have put together - it feels like the start of a new era and one I’m sure will be a rollercoaster, but we fully expect a successful period with an extremely talented and hard-working squad. We aren’t done either - keep your eyes peeled!”
