Defender Jonathan Grounds has joined Hibs from Championship side Middlesbrough on loan until January 2011.

Grounds, 22, has already recorded 27 appearances for ‘Boro and has previously enjoyed two loan spells at Norwich.

The left-back – the club’s sixth summer signing – says he is looking forward to his loan move north to Edinburgh.

Speaking to the Hibees official website Grounds said: “I’ve heard a lot about the SPL from the Scottish lads at ‘Boro and I’m keen to get playing for Hibernian. It looks like an exciting league and a great club to be part of.”

Manager John Hughes said: “Jonathan is a talented player we’ve kept tabs on for a while now and I’m delighted to have secured his services, even for a short period.

“He’s young, committed and provides great competition in the team. I’m really looking forward to getting him working with the squad.”

Hibernian have completed the signing of 27-year old Ghana centre-back Francis Dickoh on a one year deal from FC Utrecht.

The player, who began his career at B93 before having spells at Farum and Nordsjaelland, joined Utrecht in 2006. Though he made over 80 appearances in the Eredivisie, the defender has recently lost his place in the Utrecht first team.

Although Dickoh has been capped 13 for Ghana, the player was born in Denmark, and as such will not require a work permit to play for the Edinburgh side.

Speaking to the Official Hibernian website Dickoh said: ”I am really pleased to have signed for Hibernian – a big Scottish club with a great stadium and excellent training facilities.

“As soon as I was taken around the Training Centre, I knew that I wanted to be part of Hibernian and I think Edinburgh is a beautiful city; a perfect place to live.

“I would like to be able to make an impact straight away in the Hibernian team and help the club to challenge for honours.

“I am an ambitious player and want to fulfill my career goals here at Hibernian. The stadium is a great setting for a successful team and I’m very excited about what we can achieve at the club.”

Manager John Hughes welcomed the news that Dickoh was now on board – his fifth signing of the summer transfer window – and believes the centre-half will be a big asset to the Hibees.

Hughes said: “It is great to have signed Francis – he is a quality player who has proven himself in both Denmark and Holland.

“He will bring a good physical presence and experience to our defence. I’m looking for him to be a strong character in the dressing room.

“Francis has been about and played at international level – he can become an important player for Hibernian.”

With the iminent departure of Anthony Stokes, to the lesser greens from the west, Hibs have moved to get ex Falkirk and current Bristol City striker Darryl Duffy on loan to the end of the season.

The 26-year-old former Rangers, Swansea and Hull City hitman, capped by Scotland at B level, links up again with Hibs boss John Hughes, who was his manager at Falkirk.

Earlier today Darryl told the Hibs’ official website: “I am delighted to be joining Hibernian and can’t wait to start training with the boys first thing this morning.

“I obviously know just how big a club Hibernian is, and have been really impressed with the training centre and the completed stadium. I know the gaffer well, and the style he wants to play. I’m just very excited to be back in Scotland and am looking forward to playing in the SPL again.”

Manager John Huges, who is bracing himself to lose Anthony Stokes to Celtic, said: “I know Darryl very well and he’s everything you want at your football club.

“He is experienced, but I also think he’s still got his best years ahead of him, and will give us more options up front. ”He loves getting in behind defenders and has scored goals wherever he has played.

“He’s a great addition to the squad and I’m delighted he’ll be here at Hibernian helping us push on this season.”

Club	Season	Competition	Apps (as sub)	Goals
Carlisle	2009 - 10	League	7 (1)	1
Bristol Rovers	2009 - 10	League	15 (15)	4
		FA Cup	0 (1)	1
		League Cup	2 (0)	2
Bristol Rovers	2008 - 09	League	28 (15)	13
		FA Cup	0 (1)	0
		League Cup	1 (0)	0
Swansea City	2007 - 08	League	12 (8)	1
		FA Cup	1 (3)	0
		League Cup	0 (2)	0
Hartlepool	2006 - 07	League	10 (0)	5
Hull City	2006 - 07	League	4 (5)	0
		FA Cup	0 (1)	0
		League Cup	0 (3)	1
	2005 - 06	League	5 (10)	3
Falkirk	2005 - 06	League	19 (2)	9
		League Cup	2 (0)	0
Falkirk	2004 - 05	League	35 (0)	17
		FA Cup	1 (0)	0
		League Cup	3 (0)	4
Brechin City	2003 - 04	League	8 (0)	3
Rangers	2003 - 04	League	0 (1)	0
		League Cup	0 (1)	0
		Euro Cups	0 (1)	0
Montrose	1999 - 00	League	1 (1)	0
Montrose	1998 - 99	League	1 (0)	0

For more photographs of the new East Stand construction check out the Hibeesbounce Gallery by clicking here.

Back in the days before money took over in terms of European club competitions, Hibs had featured in both the European Cup and the Inter Cities Fairs Cup, the first by invitation and the second initially because Edinburgh hosted a Trade Fair and that was a prerequisite for taking part. Additionally they featured in the Cup Winners Cup which may strike some as strange given our abysmal record in our own domestic cup competition but back in the day if the team that won the cup also won the league then the beaten cup finalists would compete in the Cup Winners Cup and that’s exactly how Hibs found themselves in that tournament in season 1972/73, with league and cup double winners Celtic going into the European Cup.

Seeding, qualifying rounds, sectional games and all the other nonsense forced upon the game by the money men were still figments of someone’s imagination and so a straight draw was made for round one and that handed Hibs a tough tie against Sporting Lisbon with the first leg to be played on 13 September in Portugal. Make no mistake, Sporting were considered to be amongst the elite of European clubs and their English manager Ronnie Allan had enjoyed the previous season as he guided his side to a top three finish and of course success in their domestic cup competition.

Prior to setting off for Portugal Hibs had beaten Celtic 5-3 after extra time at Hampden in the final of the Drybrough Cup and had come through their league cup section qualifying for the next round together with a very good Aberdeen side that had finished level on points with Hibs but had accumulated a better goal difference. Additionally, on the Saturday prior to the first leg tie in Lisbon the men from Leith had defeated Hearts 2-0 in a league match at Easter Road with goals from Pat Stanton and Alex Cropley and so the mood in the camp was good as they headed out to the Portuguese capital.

When the flight left Abbotsinch there were three former players in the party as Gordon Smith, Tommy Preston and Willie Clark joined a number of supporters that had decided to follow the team overseas. Unlike nowadays, when fans will turn up in all sorts of foreign places to follow Hibs it was by no means the case back then as budget airlines etc were a thing for the future. Those fans and former players watching from the stand in the Jose Alvalade Stadium were stunned when Hibs ran out of the tunnel at the start of the game wearing a purple and white outfit, the style of strip being the Hibs normal one but with purple instead of green. This was necessary because their hosts also wore green and white strips and as it transpired it would be the only time Hibs ever wore that outfit for a competitive match.

In a cracking and very even game Hibs almost went ahead early but Cropley’s dipping shot came back off a post. Until half time the men from Leith gave as good as they got but couldn’t find a way through the Portuguese defence and after the interval they suffered a double blow in conceding two quick goals to Manaca and Fraguito but they stuck to their task and Arthur Duncan score what might prove to be a crucial away goal as the game finished at 2-1. Some years later Pat Stanton told me “I’d played in a few European ties up to that point and although we lost that game in Lisbon I think it was the best we’d played as a side.”

Ahead of the second leg at Easter Road Hibs enjoyed three straight wins beating East Fife in the league and Dundee United in both the league and the league cup and so the form was good for what would surely be a testing night against Sporting. A crowd of around 26,000 watched on as Hibs ran out wearing all green tops, the white sleeves not in evidence. In those days there was little in the way of pre and half time match ‘entertainment’ in terms of music being blasted out of the PA system and in truth it wasn’t wanted as the home support was more than able to sing and cheered it’s way through the game.

As might be expected the visitors played it tight and it took Hibs a while to break them down but when Alan Gordon rose majestically to crash home a Duncan cross the roof nearly lifted off the old stand. At that point it was 2-2 on aggregate but Hibs had the away goal and should the match finish that way they would progress. Little did anyone know that there was more high drama and goals to come, the first of those on the stroke of half time when the ball deflected off the East German referee and fell kindly for Marinho who quickly squared for Yazalde to slip the ball past Jim Herriot for a shock equaliser.

The second half would prove to be one never to be forgotten for the 26,000 crowd as Hibs set about annihilating their much fancied opponents. Three minutes had passed when Gordon head flicked a through ball into the path of Jimmy O’Rourke who crashed the ball past Damas to make it 2-1. The crowd was still celebrating when another Duncan cross was met firmly by the head of Gordon and the net bulged before Damas could move. Four minutes later the crowd noise grew to a new level when John Brownlie’s superb pass allowed O’Rourke to make it 4-1 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate. Hibs were not finished yet though and ten minutes from the end O’Rourke completed his hat trick by slotting home a penalty after Duncan had been scythed down in the box and with only a couple of minutes remaining Duncan tied defender Manaca in so many knots the defender ended up slicing the ball into his own net.

It was a fantastic performance and a fantastic night to be a Hibby, providing a host of fantastic memories for those like me who were lucky enough to be at Easter Road when Hibs thrashed Sporting Lisbon 6-1.

GGTTH!

The Hibees have been drawn to face either Hungarian side Videoton or  NK Maribor of Slovenia in the third qualifying round of the Europa League.

Hibs are due to play the first leg away from home on Thursday 29th July. The second leg at Easter Road will be played seven days later on Thursday 5th August.

Victory would take Yogi and the lads into a final play-off round where a further win would take them into the group stages of the competition.

One of Hibs greatest European performances came against Videoton in 1989 when, after winning the home leg of their first-round UEFA Cup tie 1-0, they struck three goals without reply in Hungary.

After weeks of speculation on the Bounce, Hibernian today announced the arrival of defender Michael Hart to Easter Road.

The Preston North End full back has signed under freedom of contract, after the English club released him earlier today.

30-year-old Hart has signed a 2-year-deal at Easter Road, and along with fellow summer recruits Edwin De Graaf and David Stephens, is likely to feature against Dunfermline this coming Saturday. (click here for ticket info)

The former Aberdeen and Livingston defender revealed he is thrilled to be heading back to his native Scotland and says that he is excited about the next chapter of his career.

Speaking to the official Hibernian website Hart said: “I’m really pleased to sign for Hibernian – it is a club that keeps progressing and I’m delighted to become a part of that.

“My aim is to play regular first team football and I’ve played the majority of my career at right-back, so hopefully I can help the team out in that position.

“John Hughes is a manager I’ve admired for a long time with his enthusiasm for the game and his ambitious nature.

“But he didn’t need to sell Hibernian to me because the prospect of playing Europa League football in a new-look stadium is really exciting.”

John Hughes made his second signing of the summer after landing Wales U-19 centre back David Stephens from Norwich City for an undisclosed fee and expects him to see first team action this season.

Stephens made only one first team appearance – in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy last October – and spent the last few months of last season on loan to Chris Sutton’s Lincoln City.

Speaking about his move North the towering 6” 4 stopper said to the Official Hibernian website: “I am really pleased to have agreed a move to Hibernian; it is an ambitious club with top-class training facilities and a first class stadium.

“I’m still learning my trade at the moment, but Hibernian has a track record of promoting young players into the first team and this was a great attraction for me.

“I’m confident that when I do get an opportunity I will seize my chance. I’m excited to be here and especially so given that the opening Europa League match is only a few weeks away.

“It is a big move for me and I’ve been really impressed with the Club and with Edinburgh; it seems like a great place to live and I just want to achieve all my goals at Hibernian.”

Yogi, also speaking to the official site said: “David is a player with tremendous potential – he already has a good physical presence and appears much more mature than his age would suggest.

“I’ve been impressed with what I’ve seen from him so far and I’m sure he will have a part to play at first team level over the course of the season ahead.

“David has also got international experience with Wales at under-17 and under-19 level and has all the attributes to be a success here at Hibernian.”

It has been a while since we created a wallpaper for you to download and enjoy. This one has no actual meaning but it does have a very fresh look and is perfect for summer with it’s fizzy feeling. It comes at you in the usual flavours of 1990 x 1200, 1440 x 900, 1024 x 768 and the iPhone size so you can look at it all the time. You’re welcome to download and pass it on to Hibees around the globe.  Enjoy.

Fresh Green – 1990 x 1200
Fresh Green – 1440 x 900
Fresh Green – 1024 x 768
Fresh Green – iPhone/iPod Touch

and if you don’t like that or just want a completely different look there are lots of others to download from the past;

Harp, Ship and Castle – 1990 x 1200
Harp, Ship and Castle – 1440 x 900
Harp, Ship and Castle – 1024 x 768
Harp, Ship and Castle – iPod/iPhone

Zouma – 1990 x 1200
Zouma – 1440 x 900
Zouma – 1024 x 768
Zouma – iPod/iPhone

Embossed Crest – 1990 x 1200
Embossed Crest – 1440 x 900
Embossed Crest – 1024 x 768
Embossed Crest – iPhone/iPod

Cartoon ER – 1440 x 900
Cartoon ER – 1024 x 768
Cartoon ER – iPhone/iPod

Choose Hibs – 1440 x 900
Choose Hibs – 1024 x 768
Choose Hibs – iPod Touch/iPhone

Kit out the computer Home – 1440 x 900
Kit out the computer Home – 1024 x 768
Kit out the computer Home – iPod Touch/iPhone

Kit out the computer Away – 1440 x 900
Kit out the computer Away – 1024 x 768
Kit out the computer Away – iPod Touch/iPhone

Leith San Siro – 1440 x 900
Leith San Siro – 1024 x 768
Leith San Siro – iPod Touch/iPhone

Out of this world – 1440 x 900
Out of this world – 1024 x 768
Out of this world – iPod Touch/iPhone

GGTTH – 1440 x 900
GGTTH – 1024 x 768
GGTTH – iPod touch/iPhone

Feel the Passion – 1440 x 900
Feel the Passion – 1024 x 768
Feel the Passion – iPod Touch/iPhone

The ‘classic’ home kit follows a very clean and traditional kit outline, with a white collar and sleeves surrounding the emerald green body with bottle green inserts, white shorts and solid green socks with white PUMA flashes.

The pictures also show the new numbers, letters and short numbering which will be mandatory across the SPL from next season.

The new home kit will be available to pre-order from 9am on 17 June, and available for purchase in-store from 9am on 24 June.