Editing Hibernian F.C. (section)

===Foundation and early history (1875–1939)===
[[File:Cowgate, Edinburgh.JPG|thumb|upright|The [[Cowgate]], where Hibs were formed in 1875.]]

The club was founded in 1875 by Irishmen living in the [[Cowgate]] area of [[Edinburgh]].<ref name = "coles">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2BJKzyV3GpSD66swPg6Gr4h/the-football-team-formed-in-the-shadow-of-famine-that-fought-xenophobia-and-raised-money-for-impoverished-immigrants |title=The football team, formed in the shadow of famine, that fought xenophobia and raised money for impoverished immigrants |publisher=BBC |date=21 November 2018 |access-date=22 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122202312/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2BJKzyV3GpSD66swPg6Gr4h/the-football-team-formed-in-the-shadow-of-famine-that-fought-xenophobia-and-raised-money-for-impoverished-immigrants |archive-date=22 November 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The name ''Hibernian'' (deriving from [[Hibernia]], an ancient name for Ireland<ref name ="Origins"/>), the colour green, the [[Celtic harp]] and the [[Irish language]] phrase ''[[Erin go bragh]]'' (meaning ''Ireland Forever'') were adopted as symbols early on.<ref name="ErinGoBragh">{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/page/TimelineDetail/0,,10290~1750533,00.html |title=Erin go Bragh |publisher=Hibernian F.C. |access-date=15 January 2011 |date=11 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716054950/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/page/TimelineDetail/0%2C%2C10290~1750533%2C00.html |archive-date=16 July 2011 }}</ref> Founder Fr. [[Edward Joseph Hannan]] was the first president of the club and Michael Whelahan its first team captain.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.limerickleader.ie/news/sport/643568/the-ballingarry-priest-who-founded-famed-scottish-club-hibernian-fc.html |title=The Ballingarry priest who founded famed Scottish club Hibernian FC |first=Mike |last=Hennessey |newspaper=Limerick Leader |date=24 June 2021 |accessdate=9 June 2022}}</ref> [[James Connolly]], the famous [[Socialism|socialist]] and [[Irish republicanism|Irish Republican]] leader, was a Hibs fan,<ref name = "grass roots"/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Vallely |first=Joanna |url=http://sport.scotsman.com/hibernianfc/God-squad-signs-up-to.2798179.jp |title=God squad signs up to play host to Hibs past |work=Edinburgh Evening News |publisher=Johnston Press |date=4 August 2006 |access-date=22 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226002539/http://sport.scotsman.com/hibernianfc/God-squad-signs-up-to.2798179.jp |archive-date=26 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> while the club were "closely identified" with the [[Irish Home Rule movement]] during the 1880s.<ref name = "crampsey"/> There was some [[Sectarianism|sectarian]] resistance initially to an Irish club participating in [[Football in Scotland|Scottish football]],<ref name = "coles"/> but Hibs established themselves as a force in Scottish football in the 1880s.<ref name ="Origins"/><ref name = "crampsey">{{harvnb|Crampsey|1990|p=27}}</ref><ref name = "grass roots"/> Hibs were the first club from the east coast of Scotland to win a major trophy, the [[1886–87 Scottish Cup|1887 Scottish Cup]]. They went on to defeat [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]], who had reached the semi-finals of the [[1886–87 FA Cup|1887 FA Cup]], in a [[Exhibition game|friendly match]] described as the ''[[Football World Championship|Association Football Championship of the World Decider]]''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jqnq0hIia0cC&q=hibernian+easter+road&pg=PA145|title=Day of the Match: A History of Football in 365 Days|publisher=Boxtree|year=2008|quote=In August 1887, [[Scottish Cup]] holders Hibernian took on [[FA Cup]] winners [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] in a [[Exhibition game|friendly]] at Hibs' [[Hibernian Park|Easter Road]] ground. Posters appeared all over [[Edinburgh]] billing the encounter as 'The Association Football Championship of the World'. Hibernian won the match 2–1 and therefore had the right (whichever way you look at it, as nobody else had bothered to stage such an event) to call themselves the first world champions, beating [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] to it by 43 years.|author=Scott Murray and Rowan Walker|access-date=17 August 2010|isbn=978-0-7522-2678-1}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Mackay|1986|p=40}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Lugton|1999|p=121}}</ref>

Mismanagement over the next few years led to Hibs becoming homeless and the club temporarily ceased operating in 1891.<ref name = "crampsey"/> A lease on the [[Easter Road]] site was acquired in late 1892 and Hibs played its first match at Easter Road on 4 February 1893.<ref name="New Beginnings">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/page/TimelineDetail/0,,10290~1750639,00.html|title=The Origins of Hibernian – Part 12|date=11 August 2009|publisher=Hibernian F.C.|work=Hibernianfc.co.uk|access-date=22 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927103314/http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/page/TimelineDetail/0,,10290~1750639,00.html|archive-date=27 September 2009|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Despite this interruption, the club today views the period since 1875 as one continued history and therefore counts the honours won between 1875 and 1891, including the 1887 Scottish Cup.<ref name = "m256"/><ref name = "hibs honours"/> The club were admitted to the [[Scottish Football League]] in 1893, although they had to win the Second Division twice before being elected into the First Division in 1895.<ref name = "crampsey"/>

A significant change at this time was that players were no longer required to be members of the Catholic Young Men's Society.<ref name = "grass roots"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7YVCwNJW1A8C&q=hibernian+edinburgh+catholic&pg=PA339 |author=Stephen Dobson and John A. Goddard |title=The Economics of Football |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=2001 |access-date=16 August 2010 |isbn=978-0-521-66158-4 |quote=Edinburgh Hibernians were founded as the first [[Roman Catholic|catholic]] club in 1875. In its first incarnation, only catholics were permitted to play for Hibernian, but when the club was reconstituted in 1893 the ban on protestants was lifted.}}</ref> Hibs are not seen today as being an Irish or [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] institution, as it was in the early years of its history.<ref name = "forgotten Irish">{{Cite journal|last=Kelly |first=John |title=Hibernian Football Club: The Forgotten Irish? |journal=Sport in Society |date = May 2007|volume=10 |issue=3 |pages=514–536 |doi=10.1080/17430430701333950 |s2cid=143084869 }}</ref><ref name = "jambo experience"/> For instance, the [[Celtic harp|Irish harp]] was only re-introduced to the club badge when it was last re-designed in 2000. This design reflects the three pillars of the club's identity: Ireland, Edinburgh (the [[Edinburgh Castle|castle]]) and [[Leith]] (the ship). Geography as well as ethnicity and religion shapes the modern fan base of the club, with Hibs drawing most of their support from the north and east of Edinburgh.<ref name = "campbell history"/><ref name = "Jewel">{{Cite news|author-link=Graham Spiers |last=Spiers |first=Graham |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article2797038.ece |title=Edinburgh derby is the jewel of game in Scotland |work=The Times|publisher=News International |date=3 November 2007 |access-date=4 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811235342/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article2797038.ece |archive-date=11 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/3148651.stm |title=New capital groundshare plan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 August 2003 |access-date=22 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031011080259/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/3148651.stm |archive-date=11 October 2003 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Hibs had some success after being reformed, winning the [[1901–02 Scottish Cup|1902 Scottish Cup]] and their first [[List of Scottish football champions|league championship]] a year later. After this, however, the club endured a long barren spell. The club lost its placing in the league and were [[promotion and relegation|relegated]] for the first time in 1931, although they were promoted back to the top division two years later. The notorious Scottish Cup drought<ref name = "Cup of woe">{{Cite news |last=Black |first=Jim |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2251647,00.html |title=Hibs' Cup of woe adds to strife of Reilly |work=[[The Observer]] |date=3 February 2008 |access-date=22 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416212524/http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2251647,00.html |archive-date=16 April 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> began as they reached three cup finals, two in consecutive years, but lost each of them.