Harry Hibbs

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Henry Edward ‘Harry’ Hibbs (May 27, 1906 – April 23, 1984) was a famous goalkeeper for England between the Wars.

Hibbs began his career playing for his local club sides Wilnecote Holy Trinity and Tamworth Castle, who had some torried seasons in the Birmingham and District Football League (the club conceding 164 goals in 1922 and 1923). [1]. Despite this, Hibbs came to the attention of Birmingham City when he was 17 years of age and impressed so much in trials that he was offered professional forms in May 1924. Amongst such club legends as Frank Womack and Joe Bradford, Hibbs became a regular feature of Billy Beer’s side but it was a barren period in the club’s history.

Leslie Knighton’s arrival from Bournemouth in 1928 signalled an improvement in fortunes for both Hibbs and Birmingham. Hibbs was selected for the England national team to play Wales at Stamford Bridge on November 20, 1929 (England won 6-0) and Birmingham went on to gain a place in the FA Cup final in 1931 where they came up against a strong West Bromwich Albion side, losing 2-1. Hibbs went onto the play over 389 games for Birmingham and was selected 25 times for England, becoming a main-stay well into the 1930s. (As an adjunct to this, his cousin, West Brom’s Harry Pearson, was selected to play against Scotland on April 9, 1932).

Hibbs was also part of an F.A. tour to South Africa and made three appearances for the Football League XI. His career with Birmingham came to an end a little while into the start of the Second World War. His testimonial coming against cross-city rivals Aston Villa on April 13, 1940, in the first Wartime benefit game.

In August 1944 Hibbs became coach of Walsall for 7 years. The highlight of this period was the club's appearance in the 1946 Third Division (South) final, in front of 20,000, at Stamford Bridge against Bournemouth and by the team of Ron Crutchley, Duggie Lishman, Reg Foules, ’Nutty' Newman and, goalkeeper, Jackie Lewis. [2].

Hibbs went back to play in goal for Havillands F.C. between February 1953 and the following summer. He then left football altogether before coming back to carry out two managerial stints at Ware Town for the 1960-61 season and Welwyn Garden City for the 1962-63 season.

He died in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.