Bobby Gilbert
Encyclopedia
Bobby Gilbert is a former Irish footballer
who played for, among others, Derry City
and Shamrock Rovers
. Gilbert scored in European
competitions for both City and Rovers. As an international he also played for the Republic of Ireland
.
, Jim Crossan
and Matt Doherty
, Gilbert was a member of the Derry City team that overcame F.C. Lyn Oslo in a European Cup tie in 1965. As a result City became the first Irish League team to win a European Cup tie over two legs. In the first leg, played away on 31 August, Gilbert headed in two goals in a 5-3 defeat. However he missed the return leg on 9 September because of injury, but Gilbert’s two goals helped City to an 8-6 aggregate win. Legend has that Gilbert’s injury resulted from a punch in the head he received in a nightclub the night before the game.
game against St. Patrick's Athletic and scored a hat-trick
as Rovers won 9-1. He went onto finish the 1965-66 season as Rovers’ top goalscorer. Together with Liam Tuohy
, Johnny Fullam
, Pat Dunne, Frank O'Neill
, Mick Leech
and Paddy Mulligan
, Gilbert was a prominent member of the Rovers team that dominated the FAI Cup
during the 1960s. He played in three successive finals, finishing on winning side each time. In 1966 they beat Limerick United, in 1967 they St Patrick's Athletic
and in 1968 they beat Waterford United. In April 1966 Gilbert scored three goals in the semi-final of the FAI Cup against Waterford United. He scored once in the original 2-2 draw and then twice in a 4-2 replay. During the summer of 1967, Gilbert also played for Rovers when they went to the United States
and competed as Boston Rovers
in the United Soccer Association
league.
One of the highlights of his time with Rovers came in November 1966 when Rovers came close to knocking, Bayern Munich, the eventual winners, out of the European Cup Winners Cup
. After holding Bayern to a 1-1 draw at Dalymount Park
, goals from Gilbert and Liam Tuohy saw Rovers came back from 2-0 down during the away game. Rovers were winning the tie on away goals when a late goal from Gerd Müller
saw Bayern win 3-2 on the night and progress to the next round. Gilbert scored his fourth goal in European competition the following season in a European Cup Winners Cup
game against Cardiff City
. Gilbert’s goal earned Rovers a 1-1 draw in the home leg. However Rovers subsequently lost the tie 3-1 on aggregate.
Dundalk
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played for, among others, Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
and Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
. Gilbert scored in European
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
competitions for both City and Rovers. As an international he also played for the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
.
Derry City
Together with Jimmy McGeoughJimmy McGeough
Jimmy McGeough is a former Northern Irish football player and manager.His clubs included Derry City, Lincoln and Waterford United....
, Jim Crossan
Jim Crossan
Jim Crossan is a former Northern Irish footballer and footballing manager.Crossan played with Derry City F.C. when they played in the Irish League and later managed them when they began competing in the League of Ireland....
and Matt Doherty
Matt Doherty (footballer)
Matt Doherty, Sr. is a former Northern Irish professional association football player.An attacking half-back, noted for his footwork and passing, Doherty was one of Derry City FC's early stars...
, Gilbert was a member of the Derry City team that overcame F.C. Lyn Oslo in a European Cup tie in 1965. As a result City became the first Irish League team to win a European Cup tie over two legs. In the first leg, played away on 31 August, Gilbert headed in two goals in a 5-3 defeat. However he missed the return leg on 9 September because of injury, but Gilbert’s two goals helped City to an 8-6 aggregate win. Legend has that Gilbert’s injury resulted from a punch in the head he received in a nightclub the night before the game.
Shamrock Rovers
Having already played for Rovers minors in 1958 Gilbert made his senior debut for Shamrock Rovers on 24 October 1965 in a League of Ireland ShieldLeague of Ireland Shield
The League of Ireland Shield is a defunct Irish football tournament which was introduced when the League of Ireland started in 1921 and ran uninterrupted until 1972...
game against St. Patrick's Athletic and scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
as Rovers won 9-1. He went onto finish the 1965-66 season as Rovers’ top goalscorer. Together with Liam Tuohy
Liam Tuohy (footballer)
Liam Tuohy is a former Irish footballer and manager. During the 1950s and 1960s. Tuohy played as an outside left for Shamrock Rovers, Newcastle United, and the Republic of Ireland. In 1959 while playing for Ireland, Tuohy scored the first ever goal in the history of the European Championship...
, Johnny Fullam
Johnny Fullam
Johnny Fullam is a former Irish soccer player.Johnny began his career at Home Farm before signing for Preston North End in 1958. He scored 6 goals in 49 league appearances for Preston. In 1961 he was asked to guest on Shamrock Rovers tour of America on the understanding that he would sign for the...
, Pat Dunne, Frank O'Neill
Frank O'Neill (Irish footballer)
Frank O'Neill is a former Irish footballer who spent most of his career at Shamrock Rovers. As an international he also played for the Republic of Ireland.-Early years:...
, Mick Leech
Mick Leech
Mick Leech was an Irish professional football player who made his name with Shamrock Rovers in the 1960s.He was signed by Paddy Ambrose and Liam Tuohy for Rovers in September 1966 from junior side Ormeau. He spent 6 weeks in the reserves before he made his first team debut against Dundalk at...
and Paddy Mulligan
Paddy Mulligan
Patrick Martin "Paddy" Mulligan is a retired Irish footballer who played mainly as a right-back.Mulligan started his senior career playing for Bohemians in 1963. However after only two games he signed for Shamrock Rovers in December 1963...
, Gilbert was a prominent member of the Rovers team that dominated the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
during the 1960s. He played in three successive finals, finishing on winning side each time. In 1966 they beat Limerick United, in 1967 they St Patrick's Athletic
St Patrick's Athletic F.C.
St Patrick's Athletic Football Club is a football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Founded in 1929, they are based in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore and play their home matches at Richmond Park. They have won the League of Ireland title 7 times and...
and in 1968 they beat Waterford United. In April 1966 Gilbert scored three goals in the semi-final of the FAI Cup against Waterford United. He scored once in the original 2-2 draw and then twice in a 4-2 replay. During the summer of 1967, Gilbert also played for Rovers when they went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and competed as Boston Rovers
Boston Rovers
Boston Rovers were a United States soccer team that competed in the United Soccer Association league in 1967. The team was based in Lynn, Massachusetts and played their home games at the Manning Bowl. The USA league was actually made up of visiting club teams from Europe and South America...
in the United Soccer Association
United Soccer Association
The United Soccer Association is a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. All the teams in the league were imported...
league.
One of the highlights of his time with Rovers came in November 1966 when Rovers came close to knocking, Bayern Munich, the eventual winners, out of the European Cup Winners Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1966-67
The season 1966-67 of the European Cup Winners' Cup football club tournament was won by Bayern Munich in an extra time final victory against Rangers F.C....
. After holding Bayern to a 1-1 draw at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
, goals from Gilbert and Liam Tuohy saw Rovers came back from 2-0 down during the away game. Rovers were winning the tie on away goals when a late goal from Gerd Müller
Gerd Müller
Gerhard "Gerd" Müller is a former German football player and one of the most prolific goalscorers of all time.With national records of 68 goals in 62 international appearances, 365 goals in 427 Bundesliga games and the international record of 66 goals in 74 European Club games, he was one of the...
saw Bayern win 3-2 on the night and progress to the next round. Gilbert scored his fourth goal in European competition the following season in a European Cup Winners Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1967-68
The season 1967-68 of the European Cup Winners' Cup football club tournament was won by A.C. Milan final victory against Hamburger SV, the fourth West German finalist in four years.-First round:-First leg:---------------------Second leg:...
game against Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. Gilbert’s goal earned Rovers a 1-1 draw in the home leg. However Rovers subsequently lost the tie 3-1 on aggregate.
Republic of Ireland
On 4 May 1966, while playing for Shamrock Rovers, Gilbert made his one and only appearance the Republic of Ireland in friendly against West Germany at Dalymount Park. The Republic lost 4-0 and Gilbert never won another cap.Honours
Shamrock Rovers- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
- Winners 1966, 1967, 1968: 3
- League of Ireland ShieldLeague of Ireland ShieldThe League of Ireland Shield is a defunct Irish football tournament which was introduced when the League of Ireland started in 1921 and ran uninterrupted until 1972...
- Winners 1965-66, 1967-68: 2
- Dublin City CupDublin City CupThe Dublin City Cup is a defunct Irish football tournament which was played for by all League of Ireland sides . It ran from 1933 and ran uninterrupted until 1973. In season 1975/76 it was revived and played for by sides who did not reach the League of Ireland Cup quarter finals...
- Winners 1966-67: 1
- Blaxnit CupBlaxnit CupThe Blaxnit Cup, is a defunct club football competition which featured teams from both football associations on the island of Ireland, in a similar format to the current Setanta Cup...
- Winners 1967-68: 1
- Top Four CupTop Four CupTop Four Cup was a football competition played between the top four clubs in the League of Ireland from 1956 to 1974.-Final Results:1955/56 - Shamrock Rovers F.C. 1 - 0 Waterford F.C.1956/57 - Evergreen United 2 - 1 Drumcondra F.C....
- Winners 1965-66: 1
Dundalk
- Leinster Senior CupLeinster Senior Cup (football)The Leinster Senior Cup is an association football cup competition organised by the Leinster Football Association. It contested by the top League of Ireland sides based in the province in Leinster along with four Leinster Senior League sides and the two Leinster Junior Cup finalists. The Cup was...
- Winners 1970-71: 1