Hearts v Hibs women derby set to be played at Tynecastle

Hearts are aiming to attract another bumper crowd to the women’s Edinburgh derby – by announcing that the return match will be played at Tynecastle Park next month.

Hibs' Rachael Boyle and Hearts' Mariel Kaney during the SWPL match between Hibernian and Hearts at Easter Road. Picture: Paul Devlin / SNS

The Gorgie club have followed the example set by Hibs earlier in the season by announcing that tickets for the SWPL1 match on Wednesday, December 15 will be free of charge. Kick-off is 7pm.

The Capital sides smashed the record attendance for a women's club match in Scotland at the end of September when 5,512 were at Easter Road for the derby, which Hibs won 3-0.

That surpassed the previous record of 3,123, set in the 2019 Scottish Women's Cup final between Hibs and Glasgow City.

Hibs limited their tickets for that match to 6,000, but it is understood Hearts have no plans to put a limit on tickets as things stand.

Hearts women last played at Tynecastle Park in late 2019, setting their own record home crowd for a women’s match as they secured the SWPL 2 title and gain promotion into SWPL 1.

Hibs are currently fourth in SWPL1, while Hearts moved off the bottom last weekend.

Without a league match on Sunday, Hearts ran out 2-0 winners against Glasgow Girls in a closed-doors friendly, the goals coming from Eilidh Begg and Holly Aitchison.

Meanwhile, Hibs have been reflecting on the end of their SWPL Cup domination following Sunday’s 2-1 semi-final defeat by Celtic.

They lifted the trophy four times in a row from 2016, recording 20 cup wins and scoring 82 goals in the competition during that time.

Hibs have another Edinburgh away to Spartans at Ainslie Park in the SWPL1 this Sunday, while Hearts travel to Partick Thistle.

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