Biography
Scottish right back Alex Gibson joined the Tigers in March 1950 from Clyde and slotted straight into Raich Carter’s first team in the midst of a poor run of form that saw City’s challenge at the top of the Second Division falter. Gibson retained his place at the start of the 1950/51 season but by early October 1950 Wilf Hassall, who had been injured for eighteen months, returned to the first team and Alex was dropped. He played just once more for the Tigers, a March 1951 2-1 defeat at Birmingham, and left the club in the 1951 close season.
Born in Glasgow, Alexander Rose Gibson began his playing career with junior side Arthurlie in the later years of World War Two after being selected as a schoolboy international for Scotland. He joined Clyde in August 1943 and spent seven years at Shawfield as The Bully Wee’s first choice right back. His time at Clyde pinnacled in April 1949 when he played in the Scottish Cup Final against Rangers, which Clyde lost 4-1. By November 1949 he had requested a transfer and was dropped to the reserves prior to his move to Hull City.
In July 1951 Gibson joined Stirling Albion and the loyal right back and captain spent nine years at Annfield Park, winning Scottish Second Division title medals in 1953 and 1958 before retiring in 1960. He returned in the Glasgow area and died in Clydebank in April 1993. Gibson’s son Johnny was a professional footballer that played on the right wing for Celtic, Stirling Albion and Partick Thistle, for whom he played in the 1969 Scottish League Cup winning side. In 2019 Alex’s grandson Grant sponsored Stirling Albion’s junior team kit with the name of his Callander fish shop, his two boys having been selected by the club’s youth system.
Details
Nationality: Scotland
Date/Place of Birth: 25 January 1925, Glasgow
Hull City First Game: 18 March 1950, Leeds United A (Division Two), 25 years, 52 days old
Hull City Final Game: 24 March 1951, Birminghan City A (Division Two), 26 years, 58 days old
Clubs
Arthurlie (1942-1943), Clyde (1943-1950), Hull City (1950-1951), Stirling Albion (1951-1960)
Hull City Record
Career: 21 apps, 0 goals
Alex Gibson| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949/50 | 9 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1950/51 | 12 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |