Former Hibernian forward Harry McKirdy has confirmed his retirement from professional football at the age of 29. The announcement came via an Instagram post where he reflected on a career spanning over 200 games.
McKirdy wrote, "I didn’t think I’d be writing this six months ago but that’s football and football owes you nothing." He added, "After 14 years in football, it’s time to call it a day...for now anyway." He was released by Crawley Town at the end of the last season, where he scored eight goals, and attended a pre-season camp last summer before deciding to step away.
Career journey and Hibs connection
A product of Stoke City’s academy who began his professional career at Aston Villa, McKirdy joined Hibernian for an undisclosed fee in September 2022. His move to Easter Road followed a stellar season with Swindon Town, where he scored many goals, was named in the EFL League Two Team of the Season and won the club's player of the year award. His time in Edinburgh, however, proved difficult. The forward failed to score in many appearances for Hibs, with the majority of those coming from the substitutes' bench.
Health battle and return
The player's stint was further interrupted by a serious health issue. A routine cardiac scan flagged an abnormality, leading to immediate surgery that sidelined him for six months. He made an emotional return to action in January 2024, receiving a standing ovation from the Easter Road support. After recovering, he had loan spells back at Swindon Town and with Bromley before joining Crawley Town.
Social media and fan perception
McKirdy's time at Hibs was also marked by social media controversies that drew criticism from sections of the support. In May 2023, he posted a picture of a bench with the caption 'Chels. Nina. Golf. Hibs', a post fans interpreted as a parody of Gareth Bale's famous 'Wales. Golf. Madrid' banner and which some saw as prioritising his support for Chelsea. The club officially reprimanded him for his conduct online on that and another occasion. McKirdy always maintained that his allegiance to Chelsea did not affect his commitment to Hibernian.
His retirement closes the book on a journeyman career that began with loans at Stevenage, Crewe Alexandra and Newport County. Hibernian's focus now is on their current campaign, where they sit 10th in the Premiership with seven points from seven games. Their recent form shows one win in their last five matches. The squad prepares for their next challenge, an away fixture against eighth-placed Dundee United on October 10. Fans can check the full schedule on the club's fixtures page and view the current standings.
Background and full detail: The Scotsman Football
