Ernest Gillibrand

Ernest Percival Gillibrand (27 August 1901 – 1976) was an English footballer who played predominantly as a centre forward, but could also play at outside forward. He had a somewhat nomadic career, representing no fewer than 12 different clubs. During his career, Gillibrand played over 500 matches and scored in excess of 500 goals in the Manchester Football League. While playing for Hyde United, he set a league record of 87 goals in one season. He had a short spell as a professional player in the early stages of his career, and made two appearances in the Football League for Nelson.[1]

Ernest Gillibrand
Personal information
Full name Ernest Percival Gillibrand
Date of birth (1901-08-27)27 August 1901
Place of birth Prestwich, England
Date of death October quarter 1976 (aged 75)
Place of death Macclesfield, England
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position(s) Centre forward / Outside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1920–1921 Northwich Victoria
1921–1922 Glossop
1922–1923 Aston Villa 0 (0)
1923–1924 Nelson 2 (0)
1924–1925 Rossendale United 38 (17)
1925–1926 Manchester North End
1926 Stalybridge Celtic
1926–1927 Buxton
1927–1929 Denton United
1929–1930 Hyde United (87)
1930–1931 Denton United
1931 Buxton
1931–1935 Droylsden
1935–1936 Ashton National
1936–1937 Stalybridge Celtic
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Football career

As a youth, Gillibrand played for Hugh Oldham Lads and Compstall. In the 1920–21 season, he joined Northwich Victoria of the Cheshire County League. He subsequently played for Glossop before signing for Football League side Aston Villa as an amateur in March 1922. Two months later, he was awarded a professional contract but he failed to break into the first-team and the club at the end of the 1922–23 season.[2] In August 1923, Gillibrand joined Third Division North outfit Nelson on a free transfer. After spending the first few months in the reserve team, he made his Nelson debut on 29 December 1923 in the 1–1 draw away at Blackpool. Gillibrand made his second and final Nelson appearance in the following match, also against Blackpool, on 5 January 1924.[3]

After leaving Nelson, Gillibrand returned to non-League football with Rossendale United. He spent just over one season with Rossendale before joining Manchester North End in October 1925. Gillibrand went on to play for several other clubs in the Manchester Football League over the following seasons, including Stalybridge Celtic and Buxton.[2] In 1929 he signed for Hyde United. During his single season with the club, Gillibrand scored a total of 87 goals, setting a new record haul for the Manchester League.[4] He then had short spells with Denton United and Buxton prior to joining Droylsden in 1931. Gillibrand spent four seasons at the Butcher's Arms Ground, scoring a total of 275 goals in all competitions.[5] In November 1934, he made his 500th appearance in the Manchester League,[2] and scored his 500th league goal the following month in a match against his former club, Denton United.[4] Gillibrand was awarded a testimonial match by Droylsden in March 1935, but left the club at the end of the 1934–35 campaign. He ended his career with spells at Ashton National and Stalybridge Celtic, where he was manager of the reserve team.[4]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888–1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 101. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  2. Dykes, Garth (2009). Nelson FC in the Football League. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-905891-29-0.
  3. Dykes, Garth (2009). Nelson FC in the Football League. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 77. ISBN 978-1-905891-29-0.
  4. Siddall, David (1991). Droylsden FC 1892–1952: The First Sixty Years.
  5. "The Other Side". Cambridge United FC. 22 January 2008. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2011.
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