Vivian Gibbins
Encyclopedia
William Vivian Talbot Gibbins (10 August 1901 in Forest Gate
, London
– 21 November 1979 in Herne Bay, Kent
) was an English
amateur
football
er who played as a striker
.
Viv joined West Ham United
in 1923 and made his debut on 26 December 1923 against Aston Villa
, creating the only goal of the game for Billy Moore
. He didn't decide to begin playing permanently for the club until the 1927-28
season. He became the first unpaid West Ham player to top the club's scoring charts in 1930-31
, with 18 league goals.
Gibbins also played for Clapton
, and won the FA Amateur Cup
with the club in 1924 and 1925. Whilst registered with Clapton, he made two England
appearances, both against France
, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory on 17 May 1924 and once on 21 May 1925. Gibbins went off injured after 35 minutes of the latter game; Freddie Fox
also went off after 75 minutes and England finished with nine men, but managed to hang on to win the game 3-2. Gibbins worked as a schoolmaster and was one of the last amateur footballers to feature for England
.
He transferred to Brentford
on 19 February 1932, but left at the end of the season. He had spells at Bristol Rovers
and Southampton
before joining Leyton
, where he was a losing FA Amateur Cup finalist in 1934.
On 7 September 1932 he became the first player to be flown to an English football league game.
1934 saw Gibbins join Catford Wanderers, where he played until his retirement in 1939.
He became headmaster of Harold Road school in West Ham, retiring in the early 1970s, but continued to keep his interest in the game alive by watching local schools football and making the occasional visit to Upton Park
.
Forest Gate
Forest Gate is a residential area in the London Borough of Newham, 7 miles northeast of Charing Cross. It is bordered by Manor Park to the east and and to the west lies Stratford town centre. The northern half of the busy Green Street runs through it.-History:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
– 21 November 1979 in Herne Bay, Kent
Herne Bay, Kent
Herne Bay is a seaside town in Kent, South East England, with a population of 35,188. On the south coast of the Thames Estuary, it is north of Canterbury and east of Whitstable. It neighbours the ancient villages of Herne and Reculver and is part of the City of Canterbury local government district...
) was an English
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...
amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
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 who played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Viv joined West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in 1923 and made his debut on 26 December 1923 against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, creating the only goal of the game for Billy Moore
Billy Moore
Billy Moore may refer to:*Billy Moore , Australian rugby league footballer*Billy Moore , Welsh dual-code rugby player*Billy Moore , English footballer-See also:...
. He didn't decide to begin playing permanently for the club until the 1927-28
1927-28 in English football
The 1927–28 season was the 53rd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which Dixie Dean scored an astounding 60 goals in 39 league appearances for Everton – 58.8% of their seasons total .-Honours:...
season. He became the first unpaid West Ham player to top the club's scoring charts in 1930-31
1930-31 in English football
The 1930–31 season was the 56th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Of note this season was Manchester United's record of the worst start in a major European league – they lost their first twelve games of the season and went on to be relegated....
, with 18 league goals.
Gibbins also played for Clapton
Clapton F.C.
Clapton F.C. is an English association football club, who play in Forest Gate, in the London Borough of Newham, England.Founded by W.R. Davis at a meeting in his father's house at 11 Queensdown Road, Clapton in August 0f 1877. Downs F.C. started playing on Hackney Downs. They changed their name a...
, and won the FA Amateur Cup
FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when The Football Association abolished official amateur status.-History:...
with the club in 1924 and 1925. Whilst registered with Clapton, he made two 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...
appearances, both against France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory on 17 May 1924 and once on 21 May 1925. Gibbins went off injured after 35 minutes of the latter game; Freddie Fox
Freddie Fox
Frederick Samuel "Freddie" Fox was an English football goalkeeper....
also went off after 75 minutes and England finished with nine men, but managed to hang on to win the game 3-2. Gibbins worked as a schoolmaster and was one of the last amateur footballers to feature for 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...
.
He transferred 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....
on 19 February 1932, but left at the end of the season. He had spells at Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
and 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...
before joining 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...
, where he was a losing FA Amateur Cup finalist in 1934.
On 7 September 1932 he became the first player to be flown to an English football league game.
1934 saw Gibbins join Catford Wanderers, where he played until his retirement in 1939.
He became headmaster of Harold Road school in West Ham, retiring in the early 1970s, but continued to keep his interest in the game alive by watching local schools football and making the occasional visit to Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
.