Pat McGibbon
Encyclopedia
Patrick Colm "Pat" McGibbon (born 6 September 1973 in Lurgan
, County Armagh
) is a former Northern Ireland international football
er. His regular position was at centre-back.
He is currently managager of Newry City
having previously been assistant manager at Monaghan United and manager of his hometown team Lurgan Celtic
.
club, Portadown
, signing a professional contract with them in 1991, aged just 18. A year later, he was signed by Manchester United
for £100,000. He made his debut for the Red Devils in a League Cup
tie against York City
in September 1995; unfortunately, United lost the match 3–0 and McGibbon was sent off. McGibbon made no further appearances for United, despite being named on the substitutes bench a number of times, and was loaned out to Swansea City and Wigan Athletic
during the 1996-97 season.
During his time at Manchester United, he was issued with the number 21 shirt, which after his departure was worn by a more significant player - Henning Berg
.
McGibbon made ten appearances for the Latics during his loan spell at Springfield Park
, and even scored the goal that guaranteed Wigan's promotion to Division Two. Wigan signed McGibbon on a permanent deal in the summer of 1997, paying Manchester United £250,000 for the defender's services (a fee which would eventually rise to £380,000).
In his five years at Wigan, McGibbon made over 150 appearances and scored 11 goals for the Latics. However, he was granted a transfer request in 2001, and began to fall out of favour with manager Paul Jewell
towards the end of his tenure at the Lancashire club. In February 2002, he was loaned out to Scunthorpe United
for two months with a view to a permanent deal. However, McGibbon could not agree personal terms with Scunthorpe, and he returned to Wigan. Nevertheless, he was released that summer, and was soon picked up by Tranmere Rovers
, managed by McGibbon's former boss at Wigan, Ray Mathias
.
However, McGibbon only stayed at Tranmere for a month, and moved back to Portadown in September 2002. Two years later, he signed for Glentoran
and picked up an Irish Premier League winner's medal in his first season there. McGibbon did not complete a second season at The Oval, as he retired from professional football to go back to his physiotherapy business in Portadown in March 2003. Injury was originally cited as the reason for McGibbon's retirement, but after he went on record with major criticisms of the Glentoran board, it became apparent that there were deeper reasons for his departure.
McGibbon made only seven appearances for the senior Northern Ireland team
in a very on-off five-year international career. He also made five appearances for the Northern Ireland B team, highlighting his status as very much a fringe player in the national set-up.
Lurgan
Lurgan is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town is near the southern shore of Lough Neagh and in the north-eastern corner of the county. Part of the Craigavon Borough Council area, Lurgan is about 18 miles south-west of Belfast and is linked to the city by both the M1 motorway...
, County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
) is a former Northern Ireland international football
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...
er. His regular position was at centre-back.
He is currently managager of Newry City
Newry City F.C.
Newry City is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1923, is based in Newry, County Down and plays its home matches at The Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
having previously been assistant manager at Monaghan United and manager of his hometown team Lurgan Celtic
Lurgan Celtic F.C.
Lurgan Celtic is an intermediate, Northern Irish football team based in Lurgan, County Armagh, and plays in IFA Championship 2. Its home ground is Knockrammer Park...
.
Career
McGibbon began his career at his local Irish Premier LeagueIrish Premier League
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
club, Portadown
Portadown F.C.
Portadown F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club was founded in the late 1880s and joined the Irish League in 1924. It is based in Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park...
, signing a professional contract with them in 1991, aged just 18. A year later, he was signed by Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
for £100,000. He made his debut for the Red Devils in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
tie against York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
in September 1995; unfortunately, United lost the match 3–0 and McGibbon was sent off. McGibbon made no further appearances for United, despite being named on the substitutes bench a number of times, and was loaned out to Swansea City and Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
during the 1996-97 season.
During his time at Manchester United, he was issued with the number 21 shirt, which after his departure was worn by a more significant player - Henning Berg
Henning Berg
Henning Stille Berg is a Norwegian former football player. He played as a central defender or right-back.He is one of only three players to have won the Premier League with two different clubs, the others being Ashley Cole and Nicolas Anelka .-Club career:Born in Eidsvoll, Berg played for...
.
McGibbon made ten appearances for the Latics during his loan spell at Springfield Park
Springfield Park (Wigan)
Springfield Park was a multi-purpose stadium in Wigan, England. It was the home ground of Wigan Athletic F.C. until the club moved to the new JJB Stadium after the 1999 season. At its largest, the stadium held 40,000...
, and even scored the goal that guaranteed Wigan's promotion to Division Two. Wigan signed McGibbon on a permanent deal in the summer of 1997, paying Manchester United £250,000 for the defender's services (a fee which would eventually rise to £380,000).
In his five years at Wigan, McGibbon made over 150 appearances and scored 11 goals for the Latics. However, he was granted a transfer request in 2001, and began to fall out of favour with manager Paul Jewell
Paul Jewell
Paul Steven Jewell is a former English footballer who is currently the manager of Ipswich Town.His playing career started with Liverpool before moving to Wigan Athletic and then a ten-year spell with Bradford City...
towards the end of his tenure at the Lancashire club. In February 2002, he was loaned out to 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....
for two months with a view to a permanent deal. However, McGibbon could not agree personal terms with Scunthorpe, and he returned to Wigan. Nevertheless, he was released that summer, and was soon picked up by Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
, managed by McGibbon's former boss at Wigan, Ray Mathias
Ray Mathias
Raymond "Ray" Mathias is an English football coach and former player. He has spent most of his career in the lower leagues of English football. He was appointed Interim Manager of Stockport County on the 9th March 2011 until the end of the season, when County were relegated from the Football...
.
However, McGibbon only stayed at Tranmere for a month, and moved back to Portadown in September 2002. Two years later, he signed for Glentoran
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
and picked up an Irish Premier League winner's medal in his first season there. McGibbon did not complete a second season at The Oval, as he retired from professional football to go back to his physiotherapy business in Portadown in March 2003. Injury was originally cited as the reason for McGibbon's retirement, but after he went on record with major criticisms of the Glentoran board, it became apparent that there were deeper reasons for his departure.
McGibbon made only seven appearances for the senior Northern Ireland team
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
in a very on-off five-year international career. He also made five appearances for the Northern Ireland B team, highlighting his status as very much a fringe player in the national set-up.