Jock Gibson

Jock Gibson

Born in Philadelphia USA in 1898 of Scottish parentage the family moved to Sheffield when he was two and from there back to Scotland where he caught the eye as a tough, uncompromising full-back.

moved to Hull two years later where he came under the tutelage of manager Bill McCracken who was a tactical expert in the ‘offside trap’ which was much copied, stifled the game and eventually brought about a change in the offside rules.

Forming a famed and feared full-back partnership with Matt Bell for seven years a bid of £5000 for his services from top-flight Sheffield United in 1929 was too good to turn down and he enjoyed four years at Bramall Lane in the twilight of his career.

He came to Luton in the summer of 1933 at the age of 35 as a stop-gap replacement for Tom Mackey who was in dispute with the club, but made only three appearances in 1933-34 as Mackey quickly made his peace.

Retiring at the season’s end, Jock worked at Vauxhall Motors as an Inspector and passed away in the town in 1974.