Vivian Gibbins

Who was Vivian Gibbins?

William Vivian Talbot Gibbins was an English amateur footballer who played as a striker.

Born in Forest Gate, London Gibbins joined West Ham United in 1923 and made his debut as an amateur on 26 December 1923 against Aston Villa, creating the only goal of the game for Billy Moore. He did not decide to begin playing permanently for the club until the 1927-28 season. He became the first unpaid West Ham player to top the club's scoring charts in 1930-31, with 18 league goals.

Gibbins also played for Clapton, and won the FA Amateur Cup with the club in 1924 and 1925. Whilst registered with Clapton, he made two England appearances, both against France, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory on 17 May 1924 and once on 21 May 1925. Gibbins went off injured after 35 minutes of the latter game; Freddie Fox also went off after 75 minutes and England finished with nine men, but managed to hang on to win the game 3-2. Gibbins worked as a schoolmaster and was one of the last amateur footballers to feature for England.

He transferred to Brentford on 19 February 1932, but left at the end of the season. He had spells at Bristol Rovers and Southampton before joining Leyton, where he was a losing FA Amateur Cup finalist in 1934.