Paul Gibbs
Encyclopedia
Paul Derek Gibbs is an English
former professional
footballer.
as a youngster, followed by an apprenticeship at Scunthorpe United
. On not making the grade drifted into local football, playing for Gorleston
and later scoring the winner from the penalty spot in the 1994 FA Vase
Final at Wembley for Diss Town
against Taunton Town
. He later played in Norway
and had brief trial spell at Luton Town
, before joining Colchester United
on 6 March 1995.
After 53 league games, in which he scored three goals, and only shortly after appearing at Wembley for a second time in the Auto-Windscreens Trophy
final defeat at the hands of Carlisle United
, he was given a free transfer, joining Torquay United
on 26 July 1997. His Torquay debut came on the first day of the 1997–98 season, a 2–1 defeat away to newly promoted Conference
champions Macclesfield Town
. That season saw Gibbs score seven goals in 41 league games en route to the Division Three play-offs and ultimately defeat in the final at Wembley against Colchester. In just that one season his wing-back partnership with Andy Gurney
resulted in 16 goals between the two of them. Gibbs followed departing Torquay manager Kevin Hodges
to Plymouth Argyle
on 26 July 1998 thanks to the Bosman ruling, though his then girlfriend Helen Chamberlain
of Sky Sports' Soccer AM
fame refused to follow suit and stayed loyal to the Gulls. His Plymouth career started successfully enough, being named in the Division Three team for the 1998–99 season. However, on the final day of the season, Gibbs suffered a broken leg, putting paid to a planned move to Brentford
. Incidentally, the same game in which he broke his leg was the famous Jimmy Glass
game against Carlisle, in which the goalkeeper scored in the 94th minute to keep Carlisle United
in the Football League.
Gibbs began playing again for Plymouth's reserves in March 2000. On 9 May 2000, Gibbs was given a free transfer by Plymouth, and on 18 May he signed for Brentford
on a three year contract. However, Brentford's financial situation in early 2001 saw Gibbs transfer listed.
On 15 March 2002, Gibbs joined Barnsley
on a free transfer. He struggled with injury and in May 2003 underwent a groin operation. On 16 October 2003, Gibbs' contract with Barnsley was terminated. He was linked with Watford
, Bradford City
and Brentford. The latter of these he trained with during November 2003 and played for their reserves against Aldershot Town
. He joined Gravesend & Northfleet later that month, leaving in January 2004.
At the end of March 2004, Gibbs joined Canvey Island
until the end of the season. On 17 July 2004, Gibbs joined Steve Claridge
's Weymouth
on a one-year deal, but in January 2005 returned to Gorleston
, later assisting with the coaching at the club.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer.
Career
Gibbs, a left back, began his career at Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
as a youngster, followed by an apprenticeship at Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
. On not making the grade drifted into local football, playing for Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...
and later scoring the winner from the penalty spot in the 1994 FA Vase
FA Vase
The Football Association Challenge Vase is an annual football competition for teams playing below Step 4 of the English National League System...
Final at Wembley for Diss Town
Diss Town F.C.
Diss Town F.C. are an English football club based in Diss, Norfolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Brewers Green Lane.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...
against Taunton Town
Taunton Town F.C.
Taunton Town Football Club are an English football club based in Taunton, Somerset, England. They compete in the Southern Football League Division One South & West, and play their home matches at their Wordsworth Drive ground which they moved into during the 1953 season...
. He later played in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and had brief trial spell at Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, before joining Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
on 6 March 1995.
After 53 league games, in which he scored three goals, and only shortly after appearing at Wembley for a second time in the Auto-Windscreens Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
final defeat at the hands of Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
, he was given a free transfer, joining Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on 26 July 1997. His Torquay debut came on the first day of the 1997–98 season, a 2–1 defeat away to newly promoted Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
champions Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
. That season saw Gibbs score seven goals in 41 league games en route to the Division Three play-offs and ultimately defeat in the final at Wembley against Colchester. In just that one season his wing-back partnership with Andy Gurney
Andy Gurney
Andrew Gurney is an English footballer. He can play at right back as well as in the centre of defence, central midfield or as a sweeper. He currently plays for and manages of Weston-super-Mare....
resulted in 16 goals between the two of them. Gibbs followed departing Torquay manager Kevin Hodges
Kevin Hodges
Kevin Hodges is a retired English footballer and manager who played as a midfielder, and now works as a coach. He spent the majority of his playing career with Plymouth Argyle of the Football League, where he is the club's all-time appearance record holder...
to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on 26 July 1998 thanks to the Bosman ruling, though his then girlfriend Helen Chamberlain
Helen Chamberlain
Helen Marie Chamberlain is an English television presenter.She previously worked as a holiday camp entertainer and Disc Jockey before working on a variety of radio and television programmes...
of Sky Sports' Soccer AM
Soccer AM
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
fame refused to follow suit and stayed loyal to the Gulls. His Plymouth career started successfully enough, being named in the Division Three team for the 1998–99 season. However, on the final day of the season, Gibbs suffered a broken leg, putting paid to a planned move to Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
. Incidentally, the same game in which he broke his leg was the famous Jimmy Glass
Jimmy Glass
James "Jimmy" Glass is a former football goalkeeper. Glass is remembered for scoring the last-minute goal which kept Carlisle United in the Football League in 1999...
game against Carlisle, in which the goalkeeper scored in the 94th minute to keep Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
in the Football League.
Gibbs began playing again for Plymouth's reserves in March 2000. On 9 May 2000, Gibbs was given a free transfer by Plymouth, and on 18 May he signed for Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
on a three year contract. However, Brentford's financial situation in early 2001 saw Gibbs transfer listed.
On 15 March 2002, Gibbs joined Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
on a free transfer. He struggled with injury and in May 2003 underwent a groin operation. On 16 October 2003, Gibbs' contract with Barnsley was terminated. He was linked with Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
and Brentford. The latter of these he trained with during November 2003 and played for their reserves against Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
. He joined Gravesend & Northfleet later that month, leaving in January 2004.
At the end of March 2004, Gibbs joined Canvey Island
Canvey Island F.C.
Canvey Island F.C, known as the Gulls or Yellow Army, are an English football club founded in 1926 that play in the Isthmian League Premier Division....
until the end of the season. On 17 July 2004, Gibbs joined Steve Claridge
Steve Claridge
Stephen Edward Claridge is an English football player, pundit and coach. He is currently a pundit for BBC Sport football shows including Football Focus and the The Football League Show, whilst also playing as a striker for semi-professional team Gosport Borough.Claridge's career is known for its...
's Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
on a one-year deal, but in January 2005 returned to Gorleston
Gorleston F.C.
Gorleston F.C. is an English football club based in Gorleston, Norfolk. They are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Emerald Park.The club is affiliated to the Norfolk County FA.-History:...
, later assisting with the coaching at the club.
Honours
Brentford- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
runner-up: 20012001 Football League Trophy FinalThe 2001 Football League Trophy Final was the 18th final of the Football League Trophy, the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Football League Second and Third Divisions...