Jim Gibson

Jim Gibson

James (Jimmy) GIBSON

Signed by Newcastle United from Linfield in 1959, great things were expected of the big, raw boned forward but he found difficulty in earning a regular first team spot at St James Park making only two appearances in two seasons.

In those days you could earn more money playing non-League than in the wage restricted Football League and so Jimmy joined Cambridge United in 1961 with a club house an added incentive!

Jimmy became a goal machine at the Abbey, netting 65 goals in 145 Southern League appearances, before Luton stepped in to sign him in February 1965 as they attempted to escape relegation to Division Four.

Strangely, the Hatters played Jimmy at wing-half and he failed to score in 32 appearances. He left Luton in 1966 to coach in the USA and passed away in Wisconsin in 2017.