Neilly Gibson
Gibson in Scotland kit, 1895
Personal information
Full name Neil Gibson
Date of birth 23 February 1873
Place of birth Larkhall, Scotland
Date of death January 1947(1947-01-00) (aged 73)
Place of death Larkhall, Scotland
Position(s) Wing half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Larkhall Thistle
1894 Royal Albert
1894–1904 Rangers 157 (12)
1904–1909 Partick Thistle 104 (6)
International career
1895–1905 Scotland 14 (1)
1895–1903 Scottish League XI 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Neil Gibson (23 February 1873 – January 1947) was a Scottish footballer, who played for Rangers, Partick Thistle and the Scotland national team.[1]

Career

Adept at playing in either left or right wing half position, Gibson joined Rangers in 1894 from local Larkhall side Royal Albert, where he had been for only a few months after moving from Junior team Larkhall Thistle. During his time at Ibrox, he won four consecutive league titles (1898–99 (in which the team won all 18 fixtures), 1899–1900, 1900–01 and 1901–02) as well as the Scottish Cup in 1896–97, 1897–98, and 1902–03[2] plus five Glasgow Cups and three Glasgow Merchants Charity Cups.[3]

He moved to Partick Thistle in 1904, where he remained for five years.[4]

He was capped 14 times by Scotland between 1895 and 1905, scoring one goal.[5] Gibson also represented the Scottish League XI 11 times.[6]

Former Hibernian manager Willie McCartney stated that Gibson was "The greatest of my, and any generation following, in Scottish football", Steve Bloomer of Derby County and England described him as "The greatest footballer I ever saw", and Gibson's artistry led Harry Wood to dub him "Pavlova in football boots".[7]

International

International goals

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.[8]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 27 March 1897 Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow  Ireland 2–0 5–1 1897 British Home Championship

Personal life

His three sons, Willie, Neil and Jimmy, were also footballers, the latter a Scottish international.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. ((cite journal)): Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ Rangers player Gibson, Neilly, FitbaStats
  3. ^ Fans Remember Neilly Gibson, Rangers FC, 20 November 2019
  4. ^ Neilly Gibson, ScottishLeague.net, 18 February 2007
  5. ^ "Scotland player Neilly Gibson". London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  6. ^ "SFL player Neil Gibson". London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  7. ^ Rangers The Complete Record, Breedon Books, ISBN 1 85983 481 7
  8. ^ "Neil Gibson". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  9. ^ Hall of Fame | Neilly Gibson, Rangers FC

External links

Rangers F.C. – Hall of Fame
Categories