Billy Gilbert (footballer)

Billy Gilbert
Personal information
Full name William Albert Gilbert[1]
Date of birth 10 November 1959 (1959-11-10) (age 52)
Place of birth Lewisham, London, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Playing position Defender
Youth career
– Crystal Palace
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1977–1984 Crystal Palace 237 (3)
1984–1989 Portsmouth 140 (0)
1989–1990 Colchester United 27 (0)
1990–1991 Maidstone United 4 (0)
– Havant Town
– Whyteleafe
– Waterlooville
1998–2000 Havant & Waterlooville[3] 14 (0)
National team
1979–1981 England U21 11 (0)
Teams managed
– Waterlooville (player-manager)
1998–2000 Havant & Waterlooville (player-manager)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

William Albert "Billy" Gilbert (born 10 November 1959) is an English former footballer, born in Lewisham, London, who made more than 400 appearances in the Football League playing as a defender for Crystal Palace, Portsmouth, Colchester United and Maidstone United.[4] He won 11 caps for England at under-21 level.[5]

Gilbert began his career at Terry Venables' Crystal Palace, winning the FA Youth Cup twice as part of the so-called "Team of the Eighties" as well as being a key fixture in the side that won promotion to the First Division.[6][7] Gilbert remained with Palace after their relegation back to the Second Division, winning the 1984 Player of the Year award in his final season at Selhurst Park.[8]

Gilbert then moved to Portsmouth, spending five years at Fratton Park before moving on again to Colchester United. He also spent a season at Maidstone United,[4] before playing non-league football for Havant Town, Whyteleafe and Waterlooville.[1] He managed Waterlooville for a time, then after their merger with Havant Town to form Havant & Waterlooville, he became player-manager of the merged club, leading them to the Southern League Southern Division title in his first season, before departing in 2000.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ a b "Player profile - Billy Gilbert". Coludata. http://www.coludata.co.uk/player.asp?pid=484. Retrieved 7 November 2009. 
  2. ^ Rollin, Jack, ed (1990). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1990–91 (21st ed.). Queen Anne Press. p. 198. ISBN 0-356-17911-7. 
  3. ^ "Total Appearances by Player Billy Gilbert". Havant & Waterlooville F.C. http://www.havantandwaterlooville.net/stats/appsbyall.asp?p=55. Retrieved 7 November 2009. 
  4. ^ a b "Billy Gilbert". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/billygilbert.htm. Retrieved 7 November 2009. 
  5. ^ Courtney, Barrie (10 January 2004). "England - U-21 International Results 1976-1985 - Details". RSSSF. http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng-u21-intres76.html. Retrieved 7 November 2009. 
  6. ^ "Young Eagles Soar". The Football Association. http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFAYouthCup/History/YoungEaglesSoar.aspx. Retrieved 7 November 2009. 
  7. ^ "'The team of the 80s' ... where are they now?". Evening Standard (London). 14 February 2003. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/article-3395609-the-team-of-the-80s-where-are-they-now.do. Retrieved 7 November 2009. 
  8. ^ "Palace Legends Billy Gilbert". Crystal Palace F.C. http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/PalaceLegendsF-J/0,,10323~676749,00.html. Retrieved 7 November 2009. 
  9. ^ "Board decide Mick and Liam must go". Havant & Waterlooville F.C. 5 January 2004. http://www.havantandwaterlooville.co.uk/news.asp?item=161. Retrieved 27 November 2009. 
  10. ^ "We are the Hawks". Havant & Waterlooville F.C. July 2009. http://www.havantandwaterlooville.co.uk/club/history.shtm. Retrieved 27 November 2009. 

External links