Johnny Gibb

Name: John Turnbull Gibb
Born: 15 August 1861, Belfast
Died: 21 March 1923, Belfast 
Height:
Weight:

Position: Forward

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Representative Honours: Ireland: 10 Full Caps/2 Goals (1884-1889); Co. Ulster Representative; Co. Antrim Representative.

Club Honours: (with Wellington Park) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1883/84; (with Cliftonville) Irish Cup Winner 1887/88.

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Club Career: 

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA.Cup	Other
Wellington.Park	-	-	Amateur	-	-	-
Cliftonville	-	-1887	Amateur	-	-	-
TOTALS	-	£0		-	-	-

Biography:

Johnny Gibb first took to rugby as a pupil at Royal Belfast Academical Institute and continued his career with the oval ball with the York Road club, who were connected with Northern Railways. He took to the kicking game around 1883, joining Wellington Park where he played alongside his brother, Albert. His talents were quickly recognised as he was selected for the County Antrim eleven that faced Down in December 1883.

Ten times capped, and three times captain of Ireland, Johnny Gibb was an early star of Irish football. A member of the Wellington Park team crushed 5-0 by Distillery in the 1884 Irish Cup Final, he scored the winner in the 1888 final for Cliftonville in a 2-1 win against the same opposition.

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Gibb scored twice in nine game for Ireland, consolation goals late in an 8-2 defeat by Scotland in 1885. A month thereafter he played a key role as Ireland took a two goal lead against Wales, his "agency" setting-up the opener on twenty-three minutes. "Some smart passing" by the Welsh saw them have the game "all their own way" in the second half as they turned a 0-2 deficit into an 8-2 victory.

In March 1887 when Everton visited Belfast, Gibb guested for them and scored the opener in a 2-1 win over Ulster FC at Ballynafeigh. 

Gibb joined Cliftonville after Wellington Park were dissolved in 1887. He was listed as Cliftonville's club secretary and a commercial traveller in the 1920s. When he died in 1923 the flag at0 Solitude was flown at half mast.

The first Irishman to score for Everton?

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If you have any further information on Johnny Gibb, please contact NIFG.

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Ireland Cap Details:

1. 26-01-1884 Scotland H L 0-5 BC
2. 09-02-1884 Wales... A L 0-6 BC
3. 28-02-1885 England. A L 0-4 BC
4. 14-03-1885 Scotland A L 2-8 BC 2 Goals
5. 11-04-1885 Wales... H L 2-8 BC
6. 20-03-1886 Scotland H L 2-7 BC
7. 05-02-1887 England. A L 0-7 BC
8. 19-02-1887 Scotland A L 1-4 BC
9. 12-03-1887 Wales... H W 4-1 BC
10. 09-03-1889 Scotland A L 0-7 BC

Summary: 11/2. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 9.

Ulster Representative Match Details:

1. 07-02-1885 Leinster H L 0-1

Co Antrim Representative Match Details:

1. 26-12-1883 Co. Down. H W 6-0 (announced)
2. 26-12-1884 Co. Derry H D 2-2
3. 01-09-1888 Canada .. H L 2-6 1 Goal
4. 26-12-1888 Co. Derry H D 4-4