The 2025/26 season is no ordinary campaign for Hibernian Football Club. It marks a remarkable 150 years since the club’s founding in 1875, and the anniversary is being celebrated in the most fitting way possible: with the return of the green and white hoops.
The decision has struck a chord with supporters. For many, it is more than a strip; it is a statement, a tribute, and a piece of history brought back to life.
A Return to Our Origins
The story of Hibs’ first kits is not as widely known as it should be. Before the now-familiar emerald green shirt became the standard, Hibernian’s earliest sides played in green and white hooped jerseys. To the Irish immigrant community in Edinburgh’s Cowgate who established the club, those hoops weren’t simply colours; they were a badge of pride, identity, and togetherness at a time when both were hard earned.
By reintroducing the hoops for the 150th year, Hibs have connected today’s players and supporters directly with that founding generation. The kit reminds us that the story of Hibernian is about far more than football. It’s about community, resilience, and belonging.
Why the 150th Anniversary Matters
Anniversaries in football can be tricky. Some pass quietly with commemorative badges or one-off events, while others are overshadowed by the pressure of results on the pitch. But 150 years is different. Very few clubs can boast a history stretching back a century and a half. Fewer still can celebrate it with such a proud and unique cultural identity.
The new hoops are more than a design choice; they are a statement of intent. They acknowledge the past, honour the present, and inspire the future.
Identity, Not Nostalgia
It would be easy to dismiss the hoops as a retro gimmick, but that would miss the point entirely. Football shirts are about identity. Celtic have their hoops. Newcastle have their black and white stripes. Ajax have their iconic central red band. These designs endure not because they are fashionable, but because they are timeless.
By reclaiming the hoops, Hibs are embracing a visual language that says: we know where we came from, and we’re not afraid to show it. The hoops are not just about remembering 1875, rather they’re about carrying that story into 2025 and beyond.
A Shirt That Will Be Remembered
This anniversary kit has already captured the imagination of supporters, and it will surely go down as one of the most iconic in club history. It is the kind of shirt that will be worn with pride at Easter Road and away grounds across Scotland. It will be spotted in pubs on Leith Walk, framed in supporters’ homes, and passed down to future generations.
Years from now, fans will recall where they were when Hibs walked out in the hoops for their 150th year. It will become a visual shorthand for an era, a season when the club honoured its roots and gave supporters a tangible connection to the very beginning of the journey.
The Legacy of the Hoops
More than anything, the return of the hoops shows that Hibs are willing to embrace what makes them unique. In an era when football can feel dominated by commercial deals and generic kit designs, this decision feels authentic, bold, and true to the spirit of the club.
Whether Hibs go on to lift silverware this season or not, one thing is certain: 2025/26 will be remembered as the year the club truly honoured its history. The hoops are back, and they should never leave us again.
Charlie
Scottish Football Forums 
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