Biography
Scottish utility midfielder Kenny Gilbert joined the Tigers in January 1996 on loan from Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen, shortly after Dean Windass had made the reverse trip to the Granite City. Gilbert made the move permanent in the 1996 close season and was a useful support player capable of playing in several positions, scoring his only City goal in a 1-1 draw at home to Cardiff City in late October 1996. After a year with the Tigers he returned north in February 1997 for personal reasons.
Born in Aberdeen, Kenneth Robert “Kenny” Gilbert played his teenage football for local junior side Northfield FC and from June 1988 the Aberdeen junior team. In December 1989 Gilbert was selected to play for Scotland’s Schoolboys XI and made appearances against Italy in May 1990, Ireland in October 1990 and Switzerland in November 1990. During the summer of 1990 he toured Canada with Northfield FC and wrote articles about his experiences for the local newspaper.
In September 1990 he switched to Aberdeen East End then signed professional terms for SPL side Aberdeen in June 1991 – during the remainder of 1991 Kenny was touted as one of the club’s most promising talents, making an impression in the Dons’ reserves side and attracting international recognition. Despite this early promise and twice being selected for the first team squad in a September 1993 European Cup tie against Icelandic side Valur, Kenny never made a first team appearance during his five years at Pittodrie prior to his loan move to Hull in January 1996.
In February 1997 Gilbert signed for Ross County, beginning a six year association with the club that would see back to back promotions at the turn of the century and four goals in 183 appearances in all competitions. In July 2003 he was forced to retire from the professional game due to an eye injury – having damaged the eye and lost sight after grit under a contact lens caused an infection, he played on for a season before his eye sustained further damage when struck by a football. Ross County played a benefit game for Gilbert in November 2004 against Glasgow Rangers, by which time he was player and assistant manager at junior side Deveronvale and working as an insurance salesman.
In July 2007 Gilbert returned to the Scottish League, joining Third Division side Elgin City as player/assistant manager and making 38 senior appearances in one and a half seasons. Leaving Elgin in January 2009, Gilbert returned to Deveronvale where he played until his second retirement in June 2010 while also working with an ex-colleague selling football kits. Later in 2010 he began a second career working in the international oil industry.
During his early years at Aberdeen Gilbert was selected for Scotland’s under-age teams – in November 1991 he was selected for Scotland’s Under-17 squad, playing against Northern Ireland in November 1991 and three matches against Spain, France B and France in a May 1992 tournament. He rose to Scotland’s Under-18s in October 1992, playing once against Finland.
Details
Nationality: Scotland
Date/Place of Birth: 8 March 1975, Aberdeen
Hull City First Game: 13 January 1996, Rotherham United H (League Division 2), 20 years, 311 days old
Hull City Final Game: 8 February 1997, Cambridge United A (League Division 3), 21 years, 337 days old
Clubs
Aberdeen East End (1990-1991), Aberdeen (1991-1996), Hull City (1996, loan), Hull City (1996-1997), Ross County (1997-2003), Deveronvale (2003-2007), Elgin City (2007-2009), Deveronvale (2009-2010)
Hull City Record
Career: 36 apps, 1 goals
Kenny Gilbert| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995/96 | 6 (7) | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1996/97 | 15 (4) | 1 | 0 (1) | 0 | 1 (0) | 0 | – | – | 1 (1) | 0 |