Billy Gilbert (footballer)

Billy Gilbert

Personal information
Full name	William Albert Gilbert[1]
Date of birth	10 November 1959
Place of birth	Lewisham, London, England
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Playing position	Defender
Youth career
–	Crystal Palace
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1977–1984	Crystal Palace	237	(3)
1984–1989	Portsmouth	140	(0)
1989–1990	Colchester United	27	(0)
1990–1991	Maidstone United	4	(0)
–	Havant Town
–	Whyteleafe
–	Waterlooville
1998–2000	Havant & Waterlooville[3]	14	(0)
National team
1979–1981	England U21	11	(0)
Teams managed
–	Waterlooville (player-manager)
1998–2000	Havant & Waterlooville (player-manager)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

William Albert "Billy" Gilbert (born 10 November 1959) is an English former footballer, born in Lewisham, London, who made more than 400 appearances in the Football League playing as a defender for Crystal Palace, Portsmouth, Colchester United and Maidstone United.^[4] He won 11 caps for England at under-21 level.^[5]

Career

Gilbert began his career at Terry Venables' Crystal Palace, winning the FA Youth Cup twice as part of the so-called "Team of the Eighties" as well as being a key fixture in the side that won promotion to the First Division.^[6][7] Gilbert remained with Palace after their relegation back to the Second Division, winning the 1984 Player of the Year award in his final season at Selhurst Park.^[8]

Gilbert then moved to Portsmouth, spending five years at Fratton Park before moving on again to Colchester United. He also spent a season at Maidstone United,^[4] before playing non-league football for Havant Town, Whyteleafe and Waterlooville.^[1] He managed Waterlooville for a time, then after their merger with Havant Town to form Havant & Waterlooville, he became player-manager of the merged club, leading them to the Southern League Southern Division title in his first season, before departing in 2000.^[9][10]

Honours

Club

Crystal Palace^[11][12]

• Football League Second Division Winner (1): 1978–79
• FA Youth Cup Winner (2): 1976–77, 1977–78

Portsmouth

• Football League Second Division Runner-up (1): 1986–87

Individual

• PFA Team of the Year (1): 1984–85^[13]
• Crystal Palace Player of the Year (1): 1984

References

1. "Player profile – Billy Gilbert". Coludata. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
2. Rollin, Jack, ed. (1990). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1990–91 (21st ed.). Queen Anne Press. p. 198. ISBN 0-356-17911-7.
3. "Total Appearances by Player Billy Gilbert". Havant & Waterlooville F.C. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
4. "Billy Gilbert". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
5. Courtney, Barrie (10 January 2004). "England – U-21 International Results 1976–1985 – Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
6. "Young Eagles Soar". The Football Association. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
7. "'The team of the 80s' ... where are they now?". Evening Standard. 14 February 2003. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
8. "Palace Legends Billy Gilbert". Crystal Palace F.C. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
9. "Board decide Mick and Liam must go". Havant & Waterlooville F.C. 5 January 2004. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
10. "We are the Hawks". Havant & Waterlooville F.C. July 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2009.
11. "Tier Two (Championship) Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk.
12. "FA Youth Cup Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk.
13. "Individual Awards". Coludaybyday.co.uk.

External links

• League stats at Neil Brown's site