Roger Gibbins

Roger (6 September 1955 – ) started at Ambrose Fleming Comprehensive School in September 1966 as one of the first pupils of the new mixed comprehensive intake.

He appeared regularly in the 1969-70 season for Enfield, Middlesex and London Schoolboys before representing England Schoolboys in Jersey.

At the age of 13 he signed schoolboy forms with Tottenham Hotspur FC and in May 1971 he joined the club as a full-time apprentice professional.

He headed the winning goal during extra time in the 1974 FA Youth Cup Final held at Huddersfield Town (see picture above), after the teams had drawn 1-1 at White Hart Lane in the first leg.

Below: Spurs’ FA Youth Cup-winning side of 1973/74 … back row left to right … Noel Brotherston, Roger Gibbins, Ian Cranstone, Pat Welton(manager), Chris Jones, Martin Robinson,Neil McNab … front left to right … Gary Anderson, Ian Smith, Wayne Cegielski, John Margerrison, Andy Keeley, Mickey Stead   

He played regularly for the Football Combination side and appeared in a ‘friendly first team’ game at Cambridge University on 7th November 1972, teaming-up amongst others with Graeme Souness. Spurs won 1-0 thanks to a goal scored by Ray Clarke.

Below: 1973-74 Spurs First & Reserve Squad
Back row, left to right: Phil Beal, Terry Lee, Alfie Conn, Keith Osgood, Mike England, Pat Jennings, Martin Chivers, Pete Collins, Cyril Knowles, Barry Daines, Terry Naylor
Middle row, left to right: Andy Keeley, Joe Kinnear, Ray Evans, Danny Clapton, Wayne Cegielski, Mike Dillon, Chris Jones, John Margerrison, Roger Gibbins, Ian Smith
Bottom row, left to right: Gary Anderson, Neil Brotherston, Neil McNab, Chris McGrath, Jimmy Pearce, Martin Peters, Steve Perryman, John Pratt, Jimmy Neighbour, Ralph Coates, Phil Holder

Read ‘The forgotten story of Spurs famous FA youth cup winning side of 1973/74′ at superhotspur.com.

Read ‘My Interview with former Spurs player Bobby Scarth’ at superhotspur.com.

Bobby played at Spurs in the Youth and Reserve teams during the 1971-73 seasons with Roger. He later played in the Ambrose Fleming team with brother Ray in 1981.

Roger was released from his contract by Tottenham in August 1975 but was quickly snatched up by Division Two side Oxford United, and continued his career with Norwich City (1976), New England Teamen (1978), Cambridge United (1979), Cardiff City (1982,1989), Swansea City (1985), Newport County (1986), Torquay United (1988) and Cwmbran Town (1994).

He appeared in more than 700 National League, Cup and European matches, scoring 78 goals. In addition he played for several non-league clubs including Bath City, Hayes, Merthyr Tydfil and Ambrose Fleming – when he appeared in 3 games during the Autumn of 1978 following his first season with New England Teamen and before he moved on to Isthmian League club Hayes.

Roger made his English Division One debut with Norwich City in August 1976 against Arsenal at Carrow Road with the Gunners coming away with a 3-1 victory. His former PE teacher at Ambrose Fleming, Gerry Ebbage, was in the crowd that day.

His final game for Norwich City was a 3-3 draw at home to Nottingham Forest on 25th February 1978 before he transferred to New England Teamen in Boston, USA.

Roger had 2 summer seasons in the North American Soccer League playing against world-class players – the likes of Franz Beckenbauer, George Best and many others – before he returned to England with Cambridge United in 1979 and later to Wales with Cardiff City in 1982, with whom he became a legend as a player and captain before playing his final game in 1993 and joining the club’s coaching staff.

With the captain’s armband on Roger is playing for Cardiff City at Ninian Park with Eddie Newton looking on (above).

Another day at Ninian Park … Roger (captain of Cardiff City) walks off with Glenn Hoddle (player manager of Swindon Town) , sharing a joke and reminiscing their youth team days together at Spurs (below):

Later he had some successful years assisting his friend Tony Wilcox manage Welsh Premier League side Cwmbran Town.

Roger has played in numerous charity and masters matches since his retirement from the professional game and is currently employed by the Football Association full-time as the West and Wales League manager for the League Football Education programme.

12th April 2021