Six Hibs Legends Inducted Into Hall Of Fame

Alex Edwards, Tom Hart, Joelle Murray, Suzy Shepherd, Paul Hanlon, and Lewis Stevenson have all been inducted into the Hibernian FC Hall of Fame!

The six individuals were recognised for their outstanding contribution to Hibernian FC and etched their name into the Club’s history books at the official presentation night at Easter Road on Thursday evening (17 October, 2024).

Let’s take a look back at their magnificent time with us:

Alex Edwards

Born on Valentine’s Day in 1946, Alex Edwards was born in Dunfermline and joined Hibs in 1971, but before that, he enjoyed time with his hometown team, Dunfermline Athletic.

Under the mentorship of Jock Stein, a football legend, Edwards made his First Team debut for Dunfermline at an incredibly young age of 16 years and five days. This remarkable achievement, making him the second youngest player to feature in a senior Scottish league match, is a testament to his exceptional talent and potential. Stein’s belief in the philosophy that if a player was good enough, he was old enough was clearly demonstrated in Edwards’ case, leaving a lasting impression on the football world.

Stein gave Alex a taste of European nights as he played young Edwards in a Fairs Cup clash against the might of Spanish giants Valencia in December 1962. Despite only being 16 years old, Alex played his part on the right of the Dunfermline attack in destroying the Spaniards, as the Pars ran out 6-2 winners.

Alex appeared for the Fife side over 200 times before Eddie Turnbull snatched up the promising youngster for £13,000 in 1971.

After a slightly rocky start, Alex soon became a prominent part of the Hibernian attack alongside John Brownlie and Pat Stanton. With Edwards playing a crucial role, the trio was a massively important part of the side that won the 1972 League Cup, a moment of pride for Edwards and Hibs fans.

After playing 215 games and scoring twelve goals, Alex transferred to Arbroath, marking a new chapter in his illustrious career. It was here that he saw out his playing days before retiring from professional football.

Tom Hart

When people talk of Hibernian as pioneers, Tom Hart is invariably mentioned. The Club were already innovators, but during his ownership he established more “firsts” with undersoil heating, shirt sponsorship, and the electronic scoreboard, reflecting someone passionate about the club, always ready to put his hand in his pocket in its interests.

Thomas Gemmell Hart was born into a Hibs family in Tranent, near our current Training Centre. After the Second World War, he used his demob money to establish the successful Hart’s housebuilding firm, sold to Crudens in the early 1970s. He had rigorous standards and valued his good name.

These standards were applied to Hibs when he bought the club from William Harrower in late 1969. A hands on, rumbustious, chairman, Tom always stood up for Hibernian if he felt the club had been slighted, and had an interesting relationship with the SFA, the television authorities, and Eddie Turnbull – his first managerial appointment, who was similarly thrawn.

He always wanted “the best” for Hibs – quite literally, when he decided to sign George Best and fund his mercurial presence at Easter Road.

There was a Hart family commitment – son, Alan, serving on the Board, and wife, Sheila, writing the popular anthem: “Hibernian! Give us a goal!”

Tom’s vision and passion gave supporters the great days of “Turnbull’s Tornadoes” and maintained Hibernian’s position as a leader in Scottish football, before he sold to Kenny Waugh in October 1981. For that he well deserves his place in the Hall of Fame.

Joelle Murray

No player is more synonymous with Hibernian Women than the inspirational figure of Joelle Murray.

Her accomplishments are many, varied and unlikely to ever be bettered. Joelle came through the youth ranks with Hibs Girls and earned a trial with the senior side against Arsenal in a pre-season friendly in August 2003.

Murray impressed sufficiently to be taken into the senior ranks where she learnt from some of the best in the game.

Over the next 21 years, she played her part in winning no fewer than 14 major trophies and is the most decorated player in the Club’s history.

When Laura Kennedy retired in 2012 the armband was passed onto Joelle. She set the standard and grew into the captain’s role in the coming years as she led the girls to six major trophies – the most of any Hibs skipper, male or female.

Joelle is the only ever-present in Hibs Women’s European adventures, having been involved in all six campaigns and every one of our 19 matches in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

In February 2020 she became the first female player to sign professional terms with the Club.

Joelle retired after making her 507th and final appearance for the Club back in May, where she was given a guard of honour by both Hibs and Celtic players as she left the field.

Her influence continues to be felt at the Club, and she is now part of Grant Scott’s coaching staff.

Suzy Shepherd (Née Robertson)

Suzy is a pioneer in women’s football and has played her part helping the game to grow, develop and thrive in Scotland.

She was with us in our earliest days and was a key player during the trophy-laden days that followed.

A serial winner, Suzy won no fewer than three Scottish Women’s Premier League titles, four Scottish Cups and four SWPL Cups during her two stints with the Club.

She was a no-nonsense defender, a leader, an organiser and a linchpin in Paul and Iain Johnstone’s all-conquering side.

Suzy lived her dream by playing for her childhood heroes and by representing Scotland on the international stage.

When we claimed our first piece of silverware in the women’s game it signalled a shift of power at the top of Scottish football.

We went undefeated en-route to claiming our first league title the following year and in doing so, clinching European football for the first time.

Shepherd made nine appearances, across three campaigns, for us in Europe’s premier competition, the UEFA Women’s Cup – the equivalent of the Champions League today.

Domestically, the silverware kept coming and when captain Claire Smith left, Suzy was the natural replacement and took the responsibility in her stride.

Two more league titles followed before she spent a short stint with Celtic and in 2009 she returned ‘home’.

Women’s football in Scotland is burgeoning thanks to pioneers like Suzy. She continues to be involved as head coach of SWPL outfit, Dundee United.

Paul Hanlon

Academy graduate, Paul Hanlon, has lived the dream of thousands of fellow Hibees.

Born and bred in Edinburgh in 1990, Paul Hanlon is a Hibee through and through. Aged 17, Hanlon made his First Team debut in 2007 – the start of an illustrious career in Hibs green and white.

He asserted himself at the heart of our defence in 2009 and never looked back – cementing his name as one of the first on the teamsheet throughout his 17 seasons with the Club.

Hanlon will forever be fondly remembered for that equalising goal at Tynecastle that kept the Scottish Cup dream alive back in 2016.

He featured heavily in the 2016 Scottish Cup winning campaign – starting the final and writing his name into the history books as the Hibees ended a 114-year wait for Scottish Cup glory.

During his seventeen seasons, Hanlon has been there through the good times and the bad – representing the Club on the European stage, whilst also helping the Club rebuild and gain promotion back to the Scottish top-flight in 2017.

At the age of 30, Hanlon was awarded a first Scotland cap in 2020 featuring in the UEFA Nations League victory over Czech Republic.

His constant availability, professionalism and leadership skills saw him captain the club on numerous occasions before being officially named Club Captain in 2021.

Off the pitch, alongside close friend and team-mate Lewis Stevenson, Paul proudly runs the Hanlon Stevenson Foundation - which has already done so much to help young people in the local area.

Hanlon sits fifth on the Club’s all-time record appearance holder charts with 565 to his name. He left the Club in summer 2024 to join Raith Rovers alongside his defensive partner, Lewis Stevenson.

Lewis Stevenson

Lewis Stevenson will go down as a Club legend and one of the greatest servants of Hibernian FC.

Born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland – Stevenson made the switch to Hibs as a teenager, spending over 20 years with the Capital side.

A product of the youth Academy, Stevenson made his First Team debut in 2005 – the first of 600 games for the Club.

Two years later, at the age of 19 years-old, Stevenson played a key role in the 2007 League Cup winning side that beat Kilmarnock 5-1 at Hampden Park – picking up the Man of the Match award after an exceptional performance in the final.

The committed defender – who was equally comfortable playing in the middle of the pitch – formed a formidable partnership with fellow Hall of Fame inductee Paul Hanlon. The pair constantly set the standards at the Football Club with their exemplary attitude and professionalism both on and off the park.

In 2016, Stevenson cemented his legendary status with the Club – starring in our 3-2 Scottish Cup Final victory over Rangers at Hampden Park. In doing so, Stevenson became the first – and currently – only ever men’s player to win the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup with Hibs.

Recognised at international level – Stevenson received his first, and only, Scotland cap in May 2018 and currently sits fourth on the Club’s all-time record appearance holders list with 600 to his name.

More records tumbled for Stevenson, when he became the Club’s record league appearance holder in February 2023 surpassing Arthur Duncan’s record of 449 league games.

His last game in Hibs green and white came in May 2024, before making the switch to Raith Rovers later that summer.