With the conclusion of the Play Offs, Hibernian Women's opponents for the upcoming season have been confirmed!
Here’s a rundown of all our opponents and how we fared against them this season.
Aberdeen
The most northerly team in the SWPL, Aberdeen finished the 2022/23 season in 9th place, with 30 points.
Aberdeen have established themselves as a very tough defensive outfit. With the hunt for a full-time manager now on, they will be looking to further assert themselves as a top team in the SWPL.
A comprehensive 3-1 victory for Hibs in the league in October was followed by a 2-0 victory in the Sky Sports Cup a couple of weeks later. A 0-0 draw in March proved how well Aberdeen could perform under pressure.
Celtic
Challenging at the top end of the table until the dying moments, Celtic would finish 2nd in the SWPL with 81 points and a goal difference of +104.
Managed by Fran Alonso, Celtic were successful in the Women’s Scottish Cup – winning the competition after victory against Rangers in a final played at Hampden Park.
A heavy opening day defeat to Celtic, unfortunately, set the tempo for our success against The Hoops last season, as we failed to pick up points against Alonso’s outfit.
Dundee United
While all eyes would understandably be focused on the SWPL title challenge last season, a similar battle was being fought at the foot of the table, as United drew with opponents and nearest challengers Hamilton Accies to secure the safety of 10th position on the season’s final day.
Graeme Hart has led The Tangerines for a couple of years, and their first experience in the top flight ultimately seemed to have proved successful.
We successfully dispatched United 3-1 away from home at the end of August, before going one goal better in December, securing a 4-1 victory at Meadowbank in our final game of 2022.
Glasgow City
City left it late to reclaim their SWPL crown last season, as former Hibee Lauren Davidson scored a last-gasp winner against Rangers to pip two Glasgow rivals to the trophy on an unforgettable final day of the season.
Despite losing all league meetings against Glasgow City last season, Hibernian would see victory in the semi-final of the Sky Sports Cup, winning a memorable affair 2-1 at Petershill Park.
Hamilton Academical
Finishing in 11th place, The Accies secured top-flight football for a 3rd consecutive season as they overcame Gartcairn in the SWPL playoffs.
Managed by Gary Doctor last season, they are now on the lookout for a new head coach, with Doctor stepping down from his position after the playoff campaign. He had managed The Accies since 2014.
Hamilton proved to be comfortable opposition for us last season, as we claimed a couple of 4-0 victories in the league. A more emphatic 8-0 victory was sandwiched between these results in the second round of the Sky Sports Cup, as Crystal Thomas scored a memorable hat-trick.
Heart of Midlothian
Our city rivals proved to be a tough force last season, securing a record 4th place finish in the league.
Led by Eva Olid, the Jambos managed to scrape an unbeaten run together against Hibernian in 2022/23, ending three consecutive 1-1 draws with a narrow victory at The Oriam in the final derby of the season.
However, with a then-record crowd attending the opening derby of last season at Easter Road – we’ll be looking towards our supporters to help break new records this coming season…
Montrose
The top-tier newbies stormed to the SWPL2 title last season, finishing 18 points ahead of 2nd placed Gartcairn.
Managed by Craig Feroz, Montrose secured back-to-back promotions to earn their right to play in the top tier and they will be looking to make their mark in their first SWPL 1 campaign.
This season will see Hibernian clash with the Angus side for the first time in competitive league action.
Motherwell
Managed by Paul Brownlie and assisted behind the scenes by player/coach Leanne Crichton, Motherwell finished in 8th position in the 2022/23 SWPL season.
Facing The ‘Well twice last season, we suffered a 3-2 home defeat in August, before making amends in mid-January, securing a 2-0 victory as Katie Lockwood and Shannon McGregor were on the scoresheet.
Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle recorded a top-six finish in the SWPL last season, securing 6th place with 32 points.
Managed by Thistle player Brian Graham, Partick’s position in the top half came down to the final pre-split fixture, as they secured a 1-0 victory over Dundee United.
Taking 10 points from 4 games against our nearest league challengers proved crucial to consolidating our 5th place position in the SWPL.
Eilidh Adams would score the goal of the season in a 4-0 victory, before Dean Gibson secured a 2-1 win in his final game as Hibernian manager in the final game of the season.
Rangers
The 2021/22 champions would be pegged back quite significantly last season, as they finished 3rd after defeat to eventual winners Glasgow City on the tumultuous final day.
Malky Thomson would leave his position as head coach shortly after, with the club still on the hunt to appoint his successor.
Facing The Blues 6 times last season in all competitions, A couple of narrow 1-0 league defeats was the closest we came to securing points from Rangers. The Sky Sports Cup Final ended in heartbreak with a 2-0 defeat at Tynecastle, followed by a heavy 6-0 defeat in the Scottish Cup.
Spartans
Spartans finished the 2022/23 season in 7th place, securing 54 points – some 7 points ahead of Motherwell in 8th.
Debbi McCulloch’s side would manage to wrangle a 2-2 draw and 2-1 victory out of Hibernian last season. Nor Musafa was Hibernian’s standout on both occasions, scoring a couple of memorable strikes against the red and whites.
