The Ron Gordon 24 Hour Football Challenge

This is an amazing opportunity to don the Hibee colours and take to the first team training pitch at Hibernian’s training centre in Ormiston. You’ll play 11-a side football for at least an hour under the direction of first team players and a few Hibs Legends. After an hour, new players will be brought on ensuring the match keeps going non-stop for 24 hours!

Our late chairman Ron Gordon vision for the football club was to make an impact on and off the pitch. All funds raised from the event will help pay for community lunches for those struggling most with the cost-of-living crisis.

Over 100 elderly people, families, lone parents, and registered disabled will be supported each week with the provision of hot lunches served in the stadium for a whole year.

When and where will the event take place?

The game kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 24 June, and ends 3pm on Sunday 25 June at the Hibernian Training Centre, Ormiston Road, Tranent, EH35 5NG.

What Will the Event Look Like?

In addition to the Football Challenge, we will be hosting a family fun day on Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Our entertainment area will feature bouncy castles and games for kids, food and light refreshments, and a stage for our DJ and live bands. Try your luck at our crossbar challenge and other skills challenges, or just have a kick about on our free pitch.

All players will have access to water and soft drinks and a 24-hour food kitchen.

All players will receive a special edition green or white football top to wear for the Challenge, and a goodie bag of special Hibee treats from our sponsors.  Your name will also appear – for all time – on HCF’s website as a participant in the inaugural challenge!

Cost

Event Registration fees are £15.

As this is a fundraising event, we ask all players to do their best to help us raise what they can on our JustGiving fundraising page.  We’ll help you set-up a JustGiving fundraising page once you sign up to the event.

There are reduced fees for kids, with Event Registration fees costing £10. As well as that, kids have a reduced fundraising target.

How to get involved:

Players can pick a one-hour slot over the 24 hours that suits them best. Please note that times are allocated on a first-come first-served basis, with registration open until all places are filled. You can register more than one player at the time of booking, if you want to play with a friend or as part of a group.  All abilities and ages are welcome, although you should be fit enough to play 11-aside for a minimum of an hour.

If you would like to take part for more than 1 hour, please let us know by stating the times you would like to play in the “Additional Information” box below. We ask that you raise a £100 target per hour. However, there’s no need to pay an additional £15 registration fee for any extra hours that you play.

Please note – Players must be aged 16 or over, unless booking one of our dedicated kids slots between 10am and 12 noon on Sunday June 25^th.

The following Kids age groups can take part in the challenge:

2010’s and 2009’s – 10am Sunday 25^th

2008’s and 2007’s – 11am Sunday 25^th

Why should you take part?

1. The opportunity to play Football at our state-of-the-art facilities at the Hibernian Training Centre.
2. All teams will be managed by Hibs Legends – both past and present players of our Men’s and Women’s first teams.
3. Help Hibernian Community Foundation provide community lunches from the stadium for a whole year.
4. Honour the life of Ron Gordon, the late Chairman of the Hibernian Football Club.
5. An engaging and fun social day out, with the chance to meet and play with family, friends, and other club supporters.

Prizes for Fundraisers

We’ve got a host of prizes for our most creative and successful fundraisers!

The highest fundraiser will receive 4 seats in the director’s box to watch a Category B home fixture in the 23/24 season, a tour of Hibernian Training Centre, and a meeting with the first team squad.

For everyone who raises £100, you will receive:

• The opportunity to play in our inaugural Ron Gordon 24-Hour Football Challenge.
• A goodie bag containing Hibernian merchandise.
• First offer of acceptance to take part in next year’s event.

If you raise £250 or more:

• All of the above
• 2 tickets to a pre-season friendly game.

If you raise £500 or more:

• All of the above
• A 23/24 Hibernian FC First team replica shirt

In Memory of Ron Gordon 

Hibernian’s late Executive Chairman, who passed away in the early hours of Tuesday 21 February simply exuded enthusiasm. More than that, he instilled it in those he met. 

Enthusiasm for a cause; enthusiasm for a venture; enthusiasm for his beloved football club; enthusiasm for life. Ron never dwelt on the negative when a positive was there to be taken. “I love it!” was one of his most oft-used phrases. 

It was a quality that helped drive his successes in life, and a quality he prized in others. And it is a consistent thread that has run through the flow of tributes from within Scottish football. Ron, despite his relatively recent involvement with our Club and with Scottish football, was tireless and optimistic in his desire to bring improvement and success for both. 

His vision aims to deliver consistent sporting success, better match day experience for fans, and a Club rooted in its community. He wanted, he said, fans to be proud of their club on and off the pitch. 

Ron will be missed by everyone at Hibernian Community Foundation.