Andrew Gibson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Gibson was a Scottish professional footballer
who played as an inside forward
in the 1910s.
he was playing for Strathclyde and was attracting the attention of both Celtic
and Rangers
when he was signed in May 1911 by Southern League
Southampton
. Southampton's new manager George Swift
claimed that Gibson was "the best forward he had seen and would be a thousand pounds man". Swift was Southampton’s first appointment as manager and promptly embarked on a spending spree, signing eleven players in six weeks.
He made his debut on 2 September 1911 at home to Millwall
. Despite scoring twice in a 3–2 victory over Leyton
on 28 October he failed to live up to Swift's high expectations. In March 1912 Gibson was suspended (along with Henry Hamilton
) for a serious breach of club discipline, as a result of which he was placed on the transfer list. He never appeared for the first team again and in September 1912 he was transferred to Leeds City.
At Leeds he made a handful of appearances in the Second Division
before retiring.
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 as an inside forward
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
in the 1910s.
Playing career
Born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
he was playing for Strathclyde and was attracting the attention of both Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
and Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
when he was signed in May 1911 by Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. Southampton's new manager George Swift
George Harold Swift
George Harold Swift was an English footballer who won the FA Cup with Wolverhampton Wanderers, and was later the first secretary-manager of Southampton.-Playing career:...
claimed that Gibson was "the best forward he had seen and would be a thousand pounds man". Swift was Southampton’s first appointment as manager and promptly embarked on a spending spree, signing eleven players in six weeks.
He made his debut on 2 September 1911 at home to Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
. Despite scoring twice in a 3–2 victory over Leyton
Leyton F.C.
Leyton Football Club are an English association football club based in Leyton, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. As of January 2011, they are not in a senior league, after withdrawing from the Isthmian League Division One North...
on 28 October he failed to live up to Swift's high expectations. In March 1912 Gibson was suspended (along with Henry Hamilton
Henry Hamilton (footballer)
Henry Gilhespy Hamilton was an English professional footballer who played as a centre forward for various clubs in the 1900s and 1910s.-Playing career:...
) for a serious breach of club discipline, as a result of which he was placed on the transfer list. He never appeared for the first team again and in September 1912 he was transferred to Leeds City.
At Leeds he made a handful of appearances in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
before retiring.