The Edinburgh Reporter May 2019

22 SPORT The Edinburgh Reporter
Heckingbottom’s
plans for next year
by John Hislop
tickets to help provide funds for
his ‘warchest’
“When we’re signing players. I’ll
speak about the fanbase a lot with
HIBS’ Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom
is already planning for
pre-season training and the
summer transfer window as he
aims to maintain or improve on
the excellent start that he and
assistant Robbie Stockdale have
had at Easter Road.
When the pair arrived, Hibs were
in eighth place well behind city
rivals Hearts and looking unlikely
to reach the top six.
An impressive run of unbeaten
games saw the club secure a top
six place with two games to spare
and the they ended the third
quarter with a memorable derby
win at Tynecastle which saw
them leapfrog their neighbours.
The Yorkshireman confirmed
that players will come and go
during the break and he revealed
that he will be using the lure of
staying in the capital, along with
the facilities of Easter Road and
the Training Centre to persuade
new signings to come.
He also talked about the Hibs’
fanbase who continue to back the
club in numbers and he is hoping
that they continue to buy season
He told Hibernian media: “I’m
looking at how pre-season is
set up in Scotland and it will be
totally different. We’ll be back
and straight into the League Cup
games. That will be new for me
and it’s something we’re already
planning for.
“Preparation for the transfer
window never stops, regardless
of what time it is in the season.
There are people working away
whose sole focus is on that. We’re
looking at everyone within the
squad and where we want to
improve the team.
"We’ll have players in the
building who stay and fill those
gaps, without a doubt, but we’ll
also be looking to bring them
in from elsewhere if we can get
better options and that’s the
same all season and that’s how it
should be.
“That work’s been ongoing.
People talk about it a bit more
just now because of that time of
year but everyone at this club has
been fighting and working hard
for the team and that hasn’t gone
unnoticed.
anyone coming to the club or for
a look around Easter Road or HTC,
the city.
“You want to come and play
for a big club and a team where
the fans are fully behind you. I
want to speak about that. It’s an
emotional pull you can have for
players.
We know everyone is in a
different financial situation.
“At this time of year it could
be a holiday or a bill that you’re
paying. My guess is most fans
who have bought season tickets,
it’s in their blood. We’ll have
people who are able to automatically
renew and others who
sacrifice other things in their
life to renew to be season ticket
holders at Hibs and it’s appreciated
by everyone.
“We don’t want people to
spend money they don’t have
but we appreciate every little
that everyone does give for the
club, whether it’s season tickets,
buying stuff in the club shop or
supporting charities and foundations
that we run. It’s appreciated
by everyone.”
The Mighty Deerstalker
The Dispatch Trophy
THE countdown is on for the
120th Dispatch Trophy at the
Braids.
Run by Edinburgh Leisure, in
partnership with the Edinburgh
Evening News, for the third year
running, the event is sponsored
by Golfclubs4cash, the Midlothian-based
company that sells
second-hand equipment.
The historic team tournament
begins on May 18, and is held over
five days, running through until
Saturday, 25 May.
Mortonhall are the defending
champions, having triumphed at
the first attempt with a two-hole
win over Tantallon 2 in the final
last May.
SPORTS NEWS IN BRIEF
Running
THE annual Portobello Beach Run, organised by Portobello Running
Club, will take place on Sunday 23rd June 2019.
Times are still to be confirmed as they are tide dependent but
usually some time around midday. There will be a kids race before
the adults race which is 4 miles up and down the beach. Net
proceeds will go to the club's chosen charity for the year which is
Street Fit Scotland.
Football
ALL STAR Events is hosting the 1st Inner City schools football
tournament at The Oriam in Edinburgh on Tuesday 21 May 2019,
from 10.00am until 2.00pm.
The group has been formed by Edinburgh College Year 2 HND
Students.
Sixteen Primary School teams from all over the Lothians will face
each other on the day at The Oriam. During the tournament there will
be two Cups to win based on school team abilities, allowing all levels
of teams to participate. The winning teams will receive a trophy and
all players will take home a participation medal.
This event has partnered with “Sporting Start” which is a charity
that enables young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians to experience
and enjoy sport.
They help individuals and groups who face financial or other
barriers which limit their opportunity to access or participate in
sport. They aim to provide funding support to help with, for example,
coaching, courses, events, facilities and sports equipment.
Limited number of spaces available to primary schools Contact the
organisers on allstarevents.football@gmail.com or on 0131 297 9625.
Anyone for cricket?
The Mighty Deerstalker event is held at Innerleithen with its steep hills proving a challenge to
3000 hardy trail runners headed
to Traquair House, Innerleithen,
in the Scottish Borders, for The
Mighty Deerstalker, the biggest
and the toughest ‘do it in Tweed’
themed night run to be staged
in the UK, when it returned in
force last month with The Double
Stalker, a new character building
two lap option (double distance,
double obstacles and double
1824ft ascent!).
those taking part | PHOTO Rat Race Adventure Sports
Having been forced to cancel the on the challenge of The Mighty
2018 edition due to severe snow Deerstalker. There's not many
conditions, Rat Race Adventure folk that would be so brave as to
Sports were delighted to confirm tackle the cold muddy waters, the
that The Mighty Deerstalker, with dark tunnels and the epic scree
its energy sapping natural and scramble in the pitch black of a
manmade obstacles and lung very chilly March night! This is
busting ascents, was back on an incredible run delivered very
their event calendar in 2019. safely in challenging conditions.
Rob Atkin, Head of Events at We look forward to welcoming
Rat Race Adventure Sports said : back all our rat Racers to the
”Well done to everyone who took Scottish Borders next year.”
The team plays at Roseburn in the shadow of Murrayfield Stadium
MURRAYFIELD-DAFS Cricket
Club have three competitive
Saturday League teams
competing in the East of Scotland
Cricket Association (ESCA)
League.
In 2019 the teams will be
competing in:
MDAFS 1: Championship
MDAFS 2: Division 3
MDAFS 3: Division 5
They also have another team
competing in the ESCA development
league. These matches
which are scheduled for Sundays
are a maximum of 30 overs with
the big emphasis on fun competitive
cricket where everyone gets
a game.
The team plays T20 midweek
friendlies throughout the season
and have a team “The Arctic
Mufties” in the Last Man Stands
competition. Their 1st Team also
competes in a cup competitions,
including the Parks Trophy which
they have won in 3 of the last 5
years.
They have an established
juniors section of the club made
up of both boys and girls between
the ages of 5 and 16.
This is a club which is very
welcoming to new players of
all ages and abilities and they
are looking for new members
now. So if you are looking to play
cricket, or put something back
into the game you have enjoyed
playing, then please get in
contact with them Email cricket@
murrayfield-dafscc.co.uk