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James Gibbons (footballer)

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James Gibbons
Gibbons warming up at Vale Park in May 2022
Personal information
Full name James Andrew Gibbons[1]
Date of birth (1998-03-16) 16 March 1998 (age 26)[2]
Place of birth Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, England[3]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[4]
Position(s) Full-back
Team information
Current team
 Cambridge United
Number 26
Youth career
2009–2016 Port Vale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2022 Port Vale 111 (3)
2016 → Leek Town (loan) 4 (0)
2022–2024 Bristol Rovers 37 (0)
2024 → Cambridge United (loan) 13 (0)
2024– Cambridge United 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:55, 11 November 2024 (UTC)

James Andrew Gibbons (born 16 March 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back for EFL League One club Cambridge United.

A graduate of the Port Vale youth team, he enjoyed a short loan spell at Leek Town in the 2016–17 season and made his first-team debut at Vale Park in December 2016. He established himself in the first team during the 2017–18 season, and though he found himself frequently overlooked the following season, he managed to regain his first-team place during the 2019–20 campaign. He helped the club to win promotion out of League Two via the play-offs in 2022, before signing with Bristol Rovers in June 2022. He spent the second half of the 2023–24 season on loan at Cambridge United, after which he joined the club permanently.

Career

[edit]

Port Vale

[edit]

Gibbons first joined Port Vale at the age of 11, though by the age of 15 coaches questioned whether he would make it in the game due to his small stature.[5] At the age of 13 he was tasked with collecting donations for the club in a bucket as they battled administration.[6] He went on to turn professional at the club under Rob Page in April 2016.[7][8] He joined Northern Premier League Division One South club Leek Town on a one-month loan on 17 September 2016, and made his debut for the club later that day in a 2–1 defeat to Sheffield.[9] He made a total of five starts for the club.[10][11] He made his senior debut for the "Valiants" as a 60th-minute substitute for Paulo Tavares in a 4–0 victory over Hartlepool United in an FA Cup tie at Vale Park on 4 December 2016.[12] He signed a new one-year contract in May 2017.[13]

He did not make a first-team appearance under manager Michael Brown, but was selected by caretaker-managers David Kelly and Chris Morgan for his EFL League Two debut on 23 September 2017, and was sent off after receiving two yellow cards during what ended as a 1–1 draw at Yeovil Town.[14] New manager Neil Aspin said that "I don't look at him as a young lad, I just look at him as a player. He is a player who deserves to be playing and I am happy with him."[15] He signed a two-year contract extension in November to keep him at the club until 2020.[16] He was sent off for the second time in his career on 12 December, again away at Yeovil, for committing a dangerous challenge; he was handed a four-match suspension. However, Aspin heavily criticised referee Gavin Ward and said, "there is no criticism from me [for Gibbons] in this instance because he is a competitive player and we want to keep that".[17] Gibbons returned to the starting eleven after serving his suspension, and though the defensive line-up changed due to the departures of Gavin Gunning and Tom Anderson he refused to accept any excuses for what he admitted was a decline in the team's form and his performances.[18] He was named as the club's Young Player of the Year at the end of the 2017–18 season.[19]

He started the 2018–19 season in the starting eleven as a right-back and had only teenage loanee Mitch Clark as competition.[20] However, he found himself out of the starting eleven as Aspin felt he was too inconsistent.[21] A hip injury then saw him sidelined for a month.[22] On 29 January 2019, he was sent off for the third time in his career during a 0–0 draw at Newport County, but the club successfully appealed the red card.[23][24] He made the last of his 19 appearances of the season in a 1–0 defeat at Cheltenham Town on 23 February.[25]

He started the 2019–20 season as new manager John Askey's first-choice right-back, ahead of new signing Callum Evans.[26] He did, however, pick up five yellow cards in the league before October and was given a one match suspension, leading to Askey to criticise him for picking up "daft bookings".[27] After a public vote held in December 2019, he was named by The Sentinel as Port Vale's second-best right-back of the 2010s with 27% of the vote, behind Adam Yates (62%) and ahead of Ben Purkiss (11%).[28] On 14 January, he scored his first goal in professional football during a 2–1 defeat at Morecambe.[29] It was revealed the next month that the club had an option to extend his contract beyond the summer.[30] However, he instead signed a new contract to keep him at the club until summer 2022.[31]

He missed the start of the 2020–21 season after picking up an injury in pre-season, which allowed new signing Zak Mills to begin the campaign at right-back.[32] He then picked up a hamstring injury in his second appearance of the season and was ruled out of action for the first half of the season after undergoing surgery.[33][34][35] He marked his 100th appearance for the club with a return to the starting eleven, in a 5–0 victory over Southend United on 30 January.[36] However, he aggravated the hamstring injury in the penultimate game of the season in May.[37] New manager Darrell Clarke began an overhaul of the playing squad in May 2021 but publicly praised Gibbons and two other existing players (Nathan Smith and Tom Conlon); Gibbons said that hearing such praise from the manager whilst injured "means the world" to him.[38]

Gibbons missed the start of the 2021–22 season with his hamstring injury, returning to fitness at the end of August.[39] With David Worrall now established at right-wing-back in a 3–5–2 formation, Gibbons slotted into the side at left-wing-back and formed "an impressive relationship" with left-sided centre-half Dan Jones.[40] After providing an assist and a goal during a 3–2 defeat at Oldham Athletic on 20 November, it was reported in The Sentinel that "his performances at left wing back have been a highlight of the season so far".[41] After signing veteran left-wing-back Chris Hussey in the January transfer window, Clarke stated that Gibbons would remain an important members of the squad and that he liked to have competition for all positions.[42] However, Gibbons picked up another hamstring injury which saw him ruled out for a few weeks.[43] He returned to action in mid-February and said "I trust my hamstrings now. Hopefully, that is the last of them."[44] Instead he missed a month of action with ankle ligament damage.[45] He started in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium as Vale secured promotion with a 3–0 victory over Mansfield Town; Michael Baggaley of The Sentinel wrote that "[Gibbons] had a fine game... quality player who proved it again when it mattered".[46][47] He was offered a new contract in June 2022.[48]

Bristol Rovers

[edit]

On 22 June 2022, Gibbons joined fellow newly promoted League One side Bristol Rovers on a two-year deal,[49] having turned down the offer of a new contract with Port Vale.[50] Gibbons made his debut at the Memorial Stadium on the opening day of the 2022–23 season as Rovers fell to a late 2–1 defeat to another newly promoted side in Forest Green Rovers.[51] Gibbons played the full ninety minutes in Rovers' first two matches of the season, before a scan revealed a stress fracture in his foot that would rule him out through injury for around eight to twelve weeks.[52] Gibbons' return to first-team action came on 4 October when he came off of the bench in a 2–0 EFL Trophy victory over Crystal Palace U21.[53] He dropped to the bench the following month as manager Joey Barton switched to a back three and preferred Scott Sinclair at right-wing-back.[54]

He missed the start of the 2023–24 season due to injury.[55] In his first appearance of the campaign, Gibbons scored his first goal for the club in a 4–1 EFL Trophy Group stage victory over Cheltenham Town, later scoring an own goal.[56] He made a further 13 appearances for Rovers, including an FA Cup game with Whitby Town in which he set up the opening goal.[57] However, he lost his first-team place under new boss Matt Taylor, with Jack Hunt and Luke Thomas being preferred at right-back.[58] Bristol Rovers released him in June 2024 at the end of his contract.[59]

Cambridge United

[edit]

On 30 January 2024, Gibbons joined fellow League One club Cambridge United on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season, saying that Neil Harris is "a gaffer that I want to play for and work for".[60] He was named in the League One team of the week for his performance in a 4–0 win at Carlisle United on 17 February.[61] He played at right-back, left-back, left-wing back and centre-half during his time at Cambridge.[62] He signed a two-year contract with the club on 25 June.[63]

Gibbons picked up a knee injury in a match against Peterborough United in November and was ruled out of action for three months.[64]

Style of play

[edit]

Gibbons is a right-back, though can also fill in at left-back, and has been described as a "little terrier" by former manager Rob Page.[65] Port Vale youth team coach Mick Ede compared his style to that of Mike Pejic, saying that "he plays with a lot of intensity and physicality".[66] His physicality has led to a poor disciplinary record and therefore suspensions, though Gibbons commented that "you are not going to win every tackle so it is going to happen".[67] He is also adept at going forward and delivering crosses.[68]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 9 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 2016–17[69] League One 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2017–18[70] League Two 30 0 3 0 0 0 3[a] 0 36 0
2018–19[71] League Two 15 0 0 0 0 0 4[a] 0 19 0
2019–20[72] League Two 32 1 3 0 1 0 3[a] 0 39 1
2020–21[73] League Two 11 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 12 0
2021–22[74] League Two 23 2 3 0 0 0 5[b] 0 31 2
Total 111 3 10 0 1 0 16 0 138 3
Leek Town (loan) 2016–17[75] Northern Premier League
Division One South		 4 0 0 0 0 0 1[c] 0 5 0
Bristol Rovers 2022–23[76] League One 28 0 2 0 0 0 4[a] 0 34 0
2023–24[77] League One 9 0 1 0 0 0 4[a] 1 14 1
Total 37 0 3 0 0 0 8 1 48 1
Cambridge United (loan) 2023–24[77] League One 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
Cambridge United 2024–25[78] League One 12 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
Total 25 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 26 0
Career total 177 3 14 0 1 0 25 1 217 4
  1. ^ a b c d e f Appearances in the EFL Trophy.
  2. ^ 2 appearance in the EFL Trophy and 3 appearances in the play-offs
  3. ^ Appearance/s in the FA Trophy.

Honours

[edit]

Port Vale

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Retained List 2016-17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  2. ^ "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2020/2021". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. ^ Baggaley, Michael (12 November 2017). "Neil Aspin pleased to have local lads in his in-form Port Vale side". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Port Vale FC Player Profiles". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 20 August 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ O'Hara, Conor (17 October 2019). "James Gibbons told at 15-years-old that he 'might not be big enough' to play football". Port Vale F.C. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  6. ^ Mashiter, Nick (27 May 2022). "From bucket collection to play-off glory – Port Vale's James Gibbons aiming high". The Independent. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  7. ^ Baggaley, Mike (26 April 2016). "Vale hand professional contracts to Dan Turner, Harry Pickering and James Gibbons". The Sentinel. Retrieved 15 July 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ Baggaley, Michael (26 May 2022). "James Gibbons talks about his pride in reaching Wembley with Port Vale". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  9. ^ Baggaley, Mike (17 September 2016). "Port Vale: James Gibbons makes debut for Leek Town". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  10. ^ "Latest news from Leek Town FC". Leek Post & Times. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  11. ^ Baggaley, Mike (6 January 2017). "The lowdown on Port Vale's loan deals". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 7 January 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ "Port Vale v Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 4 December 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  13. ^ Baggaley, Mike (23 May 2017). "Port Vale: James Gibbons signs new contract". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  14. ^ Baggaley, Michael (23 September 2017). "Micky Adams watches Port Vale's 1-1 draw at Yeovil". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  15. ^ Baggaley, Michael (20 October 2017). "Neil Aspin says Port Vale's James Gibbons is playing beyond his years". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  16. ^ Baggaley, Michael (10 November 2017). "Port Vale defender James Gibbons signs new contract". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  17. ^ Baggaley, Michael (14 December 2017). "Port Vale boss Aspin says football is being ruined as Gibbons gets four-game ban". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  18. ^ Baggaley, Michael (15 February 2018). "Port Vale's Gibbons not looking for excuses as he aims to recapture best form". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  19. ^ Baggaley, Michael (28 April 2018). "Tom Pope makes history at Port Vale player of the year awards". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  20. ^ Baggaley, Michael (20 August 2018). "James Gibbons makes case for defence as Port Vale prepare for Carlisle United". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  21. ^ Baggaley, Michael (9 September 2018). "Port Vale boss Neil Aspin explains decision to leave out James Gibbons". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  22. ^ Baggaley, Michael (18 October 2018). "Port Vale's James Gibbons hoping for call up after frustrating few weeks". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  23. ^ Baggaley, Michael (30 January 2019). "Newport 0, Port Vale 0 report: Battling Vale earn point but Neil Aspin may leave". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  24. ^ Baggaley, Michael (31 January 2019). "Port Vale win appeal against James Gibbons' red card". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  25. ^ Sherwin, Phil (19 May 2019). "From local heroes who impressed to lost boys: Port Vale class of 2018/19 rated". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  26. ^ Baggaley, Michael (14 August 2019). "'He's started the season very well' - Port Vale praise for young defender". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  27. ^ Baggaley, Michael (1 October 2019). "John Askey considers Port Vale options after James Gibbons is ruled out". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  28. ^ Baggaley, Michael (30 December 2019). "Results revealed as Port Vale fans select right back for Team of the Decade". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  29. ^ "Morecambe 2-1 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  30. ^ Baggaley, Michael (10 February 2020). "Port Vale reveal option to keep key defender". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  31. ^ Baggaley, Michael (13 March 2020). "James Gibbons signs new Port Vale deal". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  32. ^ Baggaley, Michael (16 September 2020). "Port Vale fitness news on James Gibbons and David Amoo". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  33. ^ Baggaley, Michael (7 October 2020). "Port Vale trying to sign right back after James Gibbons' injury". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  34. ^ Baggaley, Michael (16 October 2020). "Port Vale: Conlon award, Gibbons and Cullen latest and Salford strengthen". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  35. ^ Baggaley, Michael (11 November 2020). "James Gibbons on fighting back from injury and pride in Port Vale". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  36. ^ Baggaley, Michael (30 January 2021). "Port Vale injury latest on Gibbons, Montano, Amoo and Brisley". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  37. ^ Baggaley, Michael (1 May 2021). "Port Vale manager on Gibbons injury and Grimsby defeat". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  38. ^ Baggaley, Michael (24 May 2021). "James Gibbons' injury update and message to Port Vale fans". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  39. ^ Baggaley, Michael (23 August 2021). "Port Vale update on Gibbons and Taylor ahead of friendly". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  40. ^ Baggaley, Michael (27 September 2021). "Port Vale talking points ahead of early-season promotion test". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  41. ^ Baggaley, Michael (22 November 2021). "Port Vale's James Gibbons issues determined Walsall message". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  42. ^ Baggaley, Michael (13 January 2022). "Darrell Clarke makes Port Vale position clear about James Gibbons". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  43. ^ Baggaley, Michael (28 January 2022). "Port Vale confirm Gibbons recovery timescale after hamstring injury". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  44. ^ Baggaley, Michael (21 February 2022). "Gibbons talks injury return and Port Vale competition for places". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  45. ^ Baggaley, Michael (5 March 2022). "Port Vale confirm Tom Conlon and James Gibbons injury blow". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  46. ^ a b Aloia, Andrew (28 May 2022). "Vale beat 10-man Mansfield to reach League One". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  47. ^ Baggaley, Michael (28 May 2022). "Port Vale player ratings from Wembley win over Mansfield". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  48. ^ "Port Vale FC 2021/22 retained list". Port Vale F.C. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  49. ^ "James Gibbons signs for Rovers". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  50. ^ "James Gibbons to Leave Vale Park". Port Vale F.C. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  51. ^ "Bristol Rovers 1–2 Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  52. ^ "James Gibbons: Bristol Rovers defender faces 12 weeks out with stress fracture in foot". BBC Sport. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  53. ^ "Match Report : Rovers 2–0 Crystal Palace U21s". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  54. ^ Baggaley, Michael (9 December 2022). "James Gibbons focused despite Port Vale reunion at Bristol Rovers". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  55. ^ Hargraves, Daniel (11 August 2023). "Bristol Rovers 'will be ready for Barnsley,' says Andy Mangan". Bristol Live. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  56. ^ "Match Report | Rovers 4–1 Cheltenham". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  57. ^ "James Gibbons Joins Cambridge on Loan". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  58. ^ Hargraves, Daniel (29 January 2024). "James Gibbons closing in on Bristol Rovers exit on loan to League One rivals". Bristol Live. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  59. ^ "Bristol Rovers issue 2023/24 Retained List". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  60. ^ "James Gibbons joins on loan". www.cambridgeunited.com. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  61. ^ @SkyBetLeagueOne (19 February 2024). "🌟 The Team of the Week, provided by @WhoScored! #EFL" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  62. ^ Baggaley, Mike (25 April 2024). "Straight talking as Vale look to Cambridge and beyond". Valiant's Substack. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  63. ^ "James Gibbons: Cambridge United sign defender on permanent basis". BBC Sport. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  64. ^ Apicella, Liam (14 November 2024). "U's defender sidelined for '10 to 12 weeks' with derby injury". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  65. ^ Baggaley, Mike (29 April 2016). "Port Vale: Scouting report on new signings Dan Turner, James Gibbons and Harry Pickering". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  66. ^ Baggaley, Mike (29 April 2016). "Port Vale: Port Vale youngster James Gibbons compared to Mike Pejic". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  67. ^ Baggaley, Michael (27 September 2019). "James Gibbons praises Port Vale's fans as they snap up Leyton Orient tickets". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  68. ^ Baggaley, Michael (12 January 2018). "Port Vale's James Gibbons aiming to set record straight against Yeovil". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  69. ^ "Games played by James Gibbons in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  70. ^ "Games played by James Gibbons in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  71. ^ "Games played by James Gibbons in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  72. ^ "Games played by James Gibbons in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  73. ^ "Games played by James Gibbons in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  74. ^ "Games played by James Gibbons in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  75. ^ "PlayerStats - LeekTownSE". leektown.net. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  76. ^ "Games played by James Gibbons in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  77. ^ a b "Games played by James Gibbons in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  78. ^ "Games played by James Gibbons in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
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