Today’s entry is an unusual one because it is short (not a lot of info on the player) and because, up to this morning, I didn’t know who Bob Gibson was.
On a list punctuated by so many famous names, it feels strange for me to talk about the most prolific Lincoln City strikers and not actually know one, especially one who played in the Second Division for us, but that is today’s entry.
Remember, this is post-war strikers, and only based on their Football League scoring ratio.
Bob Gibson, 0.47 goals per game
Bob Gibson is not a household name. He barely played 100 senior Football League matches, and only the likes of Malcolm Johnson and Gary Parle are likely to recall him. However, his goalscoring exploits are not to be sniffed at, and it gives me immense pleasure to bring to the pages of this site a man whose name is perhaps not as well known as some strikers who were much worse.
Born in Ashington, Gibson had a modest early career with a spell at Hull City in 1949/50, his only exposure to the Football League. He drifted out of the league with Ashington before being brought to the club in 1951 by Bill Anderson, as understudy to Andy Graver. He had also been offered terms by Newcastle United, but chose to come to City.
He made his debut in August 1951, but played just twice at number ten before picking up an injury and being replaced by Roy Finch. He then played just once prior to January, but when he finally arrived, he exploded. He smashed eight in 14 matches, including a winner against Gateshead (1-0), a brace against Rochdale (2-0) and a winner on the final day of the season as we beat Barrow 2-1, and lifted the Division Three North title.
He was then used sparingly, with just four outings in 1952/53, with two goals, and in 1953/54 there were four outings and one goal. March 6th, 1954, brought a strange quirk to his story – he appeared on the losing side in a Football League game for the first time.
In 1954/55, he punched hard again, filling in after Graver left the club. He’s been his deputy for his entire career, which was unfortunate given Graver’s legendary status. He netted seven in 14 matches, including a brace at Anfield in front of 31,800 fans as we won 4-2. He appeared on the final day of the season against Port Vale, but left the club that summer.
He joined Midland League club Peterborough United, and kept up his remarkable record with 51 goals in 55 outings, before heading back up north. His Imps Football League record stood at 43 games and 20 goals.
It feels to me like Bob Gibson would be much better known had he not played second fiddle to arguably the greatest striker ever to play his trade at Sincil Bank.
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