Hibs new season kick-off revealed - and it's a hectic start

Hibs made it all the way to the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals last season, losing out to Aberdeen. | SNS Group

Hibs will kick off season 2024-25 with a gruelling journey north and a hectic three-game week, following today’s confirmation of their Premier Sports Cup group fixtures. The Easter Road side will travel to Borough Brigs to face Elgin City on July 13, with a 3 pm kick-off.

Hibs were pitted against Elgin, Peterhead, Kelty Hearts and Queen’s Park in this week’s draw. The format of the rebranded League Cup gives every team two home and two away games in the group stages.

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After the long journey north to the Moray coast, a round trip of almost 400 miles from East Mains, Hibs will welcome Queen’s Park to Easter Road for their first home game of the campaign – a midweek televised tie. The Spiders will travel to Edinburgh on Tuesday, July 16 for a 7.45 pm KO.

Kelty Hearts, the League One side with the reputation for giant killing, will host Hibs – playing their third game in a week - on Saturday, July 20. And the Hibees will round off their group campaign by welcoming League Two opponents Peterhead to Easter Road the following Saturday. Both of those ties are 3 pm kick-offs.

With the five Scottish Premiership teams involved in UEFA competition all given a bye to the last 16, group winners and the three best runners-up will progress from the opening stage. Clubs will be playing for record prize and TV money, following last week’s announcement of a £3.5 million pay-out for the season 2024-26 competition. The new fund, an increase of almost 15 per cent on last year, will guarantee every competing team at least £30,000 – and reward the winners with a whopping £400,000.

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Hibs reached the semi-finals of the competition last season, losing 1-0 to Aberdeen at Hampden. Winners in seasons 1972-73, 1991-92 and 2006-07, the Edinburgh club last played the group stages in season 2022-23, a cursed campaign that saw them lose 1-0 to Falkirk before eliminated after fielding an ineligible player against Greenock Morton.