Roger Gibbins
Encyclopedia
Roger Graeme Gibbins is an English
former professional footballer. He represented England
at Schools level.
Gibbins, a midfielder, began his career as an apprentice with Tottenham Hotspur
, turning professional in December 1972. He spent a further two and a half seasons at White Hart Lane, but left in August 1975, to join Oxford United
, without making his league debut. He stayed at the Manor Ground for only one season, before joining First Division Norwich City
on a free transfer in June 1976. He gradually established himself at Norwich and started 1977-78 season as a regular in the Carrow Road side. He left Norwich in 1978 after 12 goals in 48 games, to play in the NASL
for the New England Tea Men
(costing £60,000). He returned on a permanent basis to English football in September 1979 when he joined Cambridge United
.
He played 100 games for Cambridge, scoring 12 goals, before joining Cardiff City
on a free transfer in August 1982. He helped Cardiff to promotion in his first season at Ninian Park, but left in October 1985 after scoring 17 goals in 139 appearances, joining local and Third Division rivals Swansea City in a swap deal involving Chris Marustik
. The Swans were in freefall through the Football League and Gibbins left to join Newport County in August 1986, in effect going from one financially troubled club to another. Newport were relegated at the end of the following season, but worse was to come with the club in so much financial trouble that many of the players had to leave.
Gibbins stayed until March 1988 with Newport's relegation from the Football League almost confirmed, joining Torquay United
on a free transfer having played 79 games and scored 8 goals for Newport. He was signed to aid Torquay's push for what would have been a surprising promotion given the turmoil and near relegation of the previous season, but in the end Torquay failed to secure automatic promotion and fell in the first leg of the play-offs.
Midway through the following season, in January 1989, Gibbins returned to Newport County for £10,000, after scoring 5 times in 33 games for the Gulls. The most surprising aspect of this transfer was that Newport could afford a fee. They folded before the end of the season, their Conference
record being expunged, and Gibbins moved back to Cardiff City in March 1989. He played a further 142 games for Cardiff, scoring 7 goals before ending his league career and joining the coaching staff at Ninian Park.
He later worked as assistant manager at Merthyr Tydfil
, working under Colin Addison
. In August 1998 he was appointed player-coach of Weston-super-Mare, before leaving to manage Merthyr Tydfil in March 1999. However, just six weeks into the following season, he resigned from Merthyr when they changed the managerial post to a full-time job. At the same time he held the full-time post working on player education for the PFA and did not want to give this job up.
He was later manager of Cwmbran Town
.
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 footballer. He represented England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at Schools level.
Gibbins, a midfielder, began his career as an apprentice with Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, turning professional in December 1972. He spent a further two and a half seasons at White Hart Lane, but left in August 1975, to join Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
, without making his league debut. He stayed at the Manor Ground for only one season, before joining First Division Norwich City
Norwich 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...
on a free transfer in June 1976. He gradually established himself at Norwich and started 1977-78 season as a regular in the Carrow Road side. He left Norwich in 1978 after 12 goals in 48 games, to play in the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
for the New England Tea Men
New England Tea Men
The New England Tea Men were a soccer team based out of Foxboro, MA that played in the NASL from 1978 to 1980. Their home field was Schaefer Stadium....
(costing £60,000). He returned on a permanent basis to English football in September 1979 when he joined Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
.
He played 100 games for Cambridge, scoring 12 goals, before joining 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...
on a free transfer in August 1982. He helped Cardiff to promotion in his first season at Ninian Park, but left in October 1985 after scoring 17 goals in 139 appearances, joining local and Third Division rivals Swansea City in a swap deal involving Chris Marustik
Chris Marustik
Christopher Marustik is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales international.-Club career:The son of a Czech immigrant, Marustik began his career at his hometown side Swansea City, making his way through the clubs youth system...
. The Swans were in freefall through the Football League and Gibbins left to join Newport County in August 1986, in effect going from one financially troubled club to another. Newport were relegated at the end of the following season, but worse was to come with the club in so much financial trouble that many of the players had to leave.
Gibbins stayed until March 1988 with Newport's relegation from the Football League almost confirmed, 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 a free transfer having played 79 games and scored 8 goals for Newport. He was signed to aid Torquay's push for what would have been a surprising promotion given the turmoil and near relegation of the previous season, but in the end Torquay failed to secure automatic promotion and fell in the first leg of the play-offs.
Midway through the following season, in January 1989, Gibbins returned to Newport County for £10,000, after scoring 5 times in 33 games for the Gulls. The most surprising aspect of this transfer was that Newport could afford a fee. They folded before the end of the season, their 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...
record being expunged, and Gibbins moved back to Cardiff City in March 1989. He played a further 142 games for Cardiff, scoring 7 goals before ending his league career and joining the coaching staff at Ninian Park.
He later worked as assistant manager at Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil F.C.
Merthyr Tydfil Football Club was a Welsh football club based at the Penydarren Park ground in Merthyr Tydfil. In 2010 the club was liquidated and reformed under the name Merthyr Town, which was accepted into Division One of the Western League.-History:...
, working under Colin Addison
Colin Addison
Colin Addison is an English former professional footballer and manager.Addison has managed a wide variety of clubs in the UK, as well as in countries such as Spain, South Africa, Kuwait and Qatar. Notably he was the player-manager of Hereford United during their famous 1971-72 FA Cup run, which...
. In August 1998 he was appointed player-coach of Weston-super-Mare, before leaving to manage Merthyr Tydfil in March 1999. However, just six weeks into the following season, he resigned from Merthyr when they changed the managerial post to a full-time job. At the same time he held the full-time post working on player education for the PFA and did not want to give this job up.
He was later manager of Cwmbran Town
Cwmbran Town F.C.
Cwmbrân Town is a football team based in Cwmbrân, Wales and play in the Gwent County League Division 1, the fifth tier of Welsh Football.- History :...
.