James Gibbons (footballer)

James Andrew Gibbons (born 16 March 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a full-back for EFL League Two side Port Vale.

James Gibbons
Personal information
Full name James Andrew Gibbons[1]
Date of birth (1998-03-16) 16 March 1998[2]
Place of birth Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent, England[3]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[4]
Position(s) Full-back
Club information
Current team
 Port Vale
Number 2
Youth career
2009–2016 Port Vale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016– Port Vale 81 (1)
2016 → Leek Town (loan) 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 30 January 2021 (UTC)

A graduate of the Port Vale youth-team, he enjoyed a short loan spell at Leek Town in the 2016–17 season and made his first-team debut at Vale Park in December 2016. He established himself in the first-team during the 2017–18 season and though he found himself frequently overlooked the following season he managed to regain his first-team place during the 2019–20 campaign.

Playing career

Gibbons first joined Port Vale at the age of 11, though by the age of 15 coaches questioned whether he would make it in the game due to his small stature.[5] He did however go on to turn professional at the club in April 2016.[6] He joined Northern Premier League Division One South club Leek Town on a one-month loan on 17 September 2016, and made his debut for the club later that day in a 2–1 defeat to Sheffield.[7] He made a total of five starts for the club.[8][9] He made his senior debut for the "Valiants" as a 60th-minute substitute for Paulo Tavares in a 4–0 victory over Hartlepool United in an FA Cup tie at Vale Park on 4 December 2016.[10] He signed a new one-year contract in May 2017.[11]

He did not make a first-team appearance under manager Michael Brown, but was selected by caretaker-managers David Kelly and Chris Morgan for his EFL League Two debut on 23 September 2017, and was sent off after receiving two yellow cards during what ended as a 1–1 draw at Yeovil Town.[12] New manager Neil Aspin said that "I don't look at him as a young lad, I just look at him as a player. He is a player who deserves to be playing and I am happy with him."[13] He signed a two-year contract extension in November to keep him at the club until 2020.[14] He was sent off for the second time in his career on 12 December, again away at Yeovil, for committing a dangerous challenge; he was handed a four match suspension. However Aspin heavily criticised referee Gavin Ward, and said "there is no criticism from me [for Gibbons] in this instance because he is a competitive player and we want to keep that".[15] Gibbons returned to the starting eleven after serving his suspension, and though the defensive line-up changed due to the departures of Gavin Gunning and Tom Anderson he refused to accept any excuses for what he admitted was a decline in the team's form and his own personal performances.[16] He was named as the club's Young Player of the Year at the end of the 2017–18 season.[17]

He started the 2018–19 season in the starting eleven at right-back, and had only teenage loanee Mitch Clark as competition.[18] However he found himself out of the starting eleven as Aspin felt he was too inconsistent.[19] A hip injury then saw him sidelined for a month.[20] On 29 January 2019, he was sent off for the third time in his career during a 0–0 draw at Newport County, but the club successfully appealed the red card.[21][22] He made the last of his 19 appearances of the season in a 1–0 defeat at Cheltenham Town on 23 February.[23]

He started the 2019–20 season as new manager John Askey's first-choice right-back, ahead of new signing Callum Evans.[24] He did, however, pick up five yellow cards in the league before October and was given a one match suspension, leading to Askey to criticise him for picking up "daft bookings".[25] After a public vote held in December 2019, he was named by The Sentinel as Port Vale's second-best right-back of the 2010s with 27% of the vote, behind Adam Yates (62%) and ahead of Ben Purkiss (11%).[26] On 14 January, he scored his first goal in professional football during a 2–1 defeat at Morecambe.[27] It was revealed the next month that the club had an option to extend his contract beyond the summer.[28] However he instead signed a new contract to keep him at the club until summer 2022.[29]

He missed the start of the 2020–21 season after picking up an injury in pre-season, which allowed new signing Zak Mills to begin the campaign at right-back.[30] He then picked up a hamstring injury in his second appearance of the season and was ruled out of action for the first half of the season after undergoing surgery.[31][32][33] He marked his 100th appearance for the club with a return to the starting eleven, in a 5–0 victory over Southend United on 30 January.[34]

Style of play

Gibbons is a right-back, though can also fill in at left-back, and has been described as a "little terrier" by former manager Rob Page.[35] Port Vale youth coach Mick Ede compared his style to that of Mike Pejic, saying that "he plays with a lot of intensity and physicality".[36] His physicality has led to a poor disciplinary record and therefore suspensions, though Gibbons commented that "you are not going to win every tackle so it is going to happen".[37] He is also adept at going forward and delivering crosses.[38]

Career statistics
As of match played 30 January 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale 2016–17[39] League One0010000010
2017–18[40] League Two30030003[lower-alpha 1]0360
2018–19[41] League Two15000004[lower-alpha 1]0190
2019–20[42] League Two32130103[lower-alpha 1]0391
2020–21[43] League Two 4000001[lower-alpha 1]050
Total 81170101101001
Leek Town (loan) 2016–17 Northern Premier League
Division One South		4000001[lower-alpha 2]050
Career total 85170101201051
  1. Appearances in the EFL Trophy.
  2. Appearance/s in the FA Trophy.

References
  1. "Retained List 2016-17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  2. "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2020/2021". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  3. Baggaley, Michael (12 November 2017). "Neil Aspin pleased to have local lads in his in-form Port Vale side". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  4. "Port Vale FC Player Profiles". www.port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  5. O'Hara, Conor (17 October 2019). "James Gibbons told at 15-years-old that he 'might not be big enough' to play football". www.port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  6. Baggaley, Mike (26 April 2016). "Vale hand professional contracts to Dan Turner, Harry Pickering and James Gibbons". The Sentinel. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  7. Baggaley, Mike (17 September 2016). "Port Vale: James Gibbons makes debut for Leek Town". The Sentinel. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  8. "Latest news from Leek Town FC". Leek Post & Times. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  9. Baggaley, Mike (6 January 2017). "The lowdown on Port Vale's loan deals". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  10. "Port Vale v Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 4 December 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  11. Baggaley, Mike (23 May 2017). "Port Vale: James Gibbons signs new contract". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  12. Baggaley, Michael (23 September 2017). "Micky Adams watches Port Vale's 1-1 draw at Yeovil". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  13. Baggaley, Michael (20 October 2017). "Neil Aspin says Port Vale's James Gibbons is playing beyond his years". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  14. Baggaley, Michael (10 November 2017). "Port Vale defender James Gibbons signs new contract". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  15. Baggaley, Michael (14 December 2017). "Port Vale boss Aspin says football is being ruined as Gibbons gets four-game ban". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  16. Baggaley, Michael (15 February 2018). "Port Vale's Gibbons not looking for excuses as he aims to recapture best form". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  17. Baggaley, Michael (28 April 2018). "Tom Pope makes history at Port Vale player of the year awards". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  18. Baggaley, Michael (20 August 2018). "James Gibbons makes case for defence as Port Vale prepare for Carlisle United". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  19. Baggaley, Michael (9 September 2018). "Port Vale boss Neil Aspin explains decision to leave out James Gibbons". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  20. Baggaley, Michael (18 October 2018). "Port Vale's James Gibbons hoping for call up after frustrating few weeks". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  21. Baggaley, Michael (30 January 2019). "Newport 0, Port Vale 0 report: Battling Vale earn point but Neil Aspin may leave". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  22. Baggaley, Michael (31 January 2019). "Port Vale win appeal against James Gibbons' red card". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  23. Sherwin, Phil (19 May 2019). "From local heroes who impressed to lost boys: Port Vale class of 2018/19 rated". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  24. Baggaley, Michael (14 August 2019). "'He's started the season very well' - Port Vale praise for young defender". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  25. Baggaley, Michael (1 October 2019). "John Askey considers Port Vale options after James Gibbons is ruled out". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  26. Baggaley, Michael (30 December 2019). "Results revealed as Port Vale fans select right back for Team of the Decade". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  27. "Morecambe 2-1 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  28. Baggaley, Michael (10 February 2020). "Port Vale reveal option to keep key defender". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  29. Baggaley, Michael (13 March 2020). "James Gibbons signs new Port Vale deal". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  30. Baggaley, Michael (16 September 2020). "Port Vale fitness news on James Gibbons and David Amoo". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  31. Baggaley, Michael (7 October 2020). "Port Vale trying to sign right back after James Gibbons' injury". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  32. Baggaley, Michael (16 October 2020). "Port Vale: Conlon award, Gibbons and Cullen latest and Salford strengthen". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  33. Baggaley, Michael (11 November 2020). "James Gibbons on fighting back from injury and pride in Port Vale". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  34. Baggaley, Michael (30 January 2021). "Port Vale injury latest on Gibbons, Montano, Amoo and Brisley". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  35. Baggaley, Mike (29 April 2016). "Port Vale: Scouting report on new signings Dan Turner, James Gibbons and Harry Pickering". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  36. Baggaley, Mike (29 April 2016). "Port Vale: Port Vale youngster James Gibbons compared to Mike Pejic". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  37. Baggaley, Michael (27 September 2019). "James Gibbons praises Port Vale's fans as they snap up Leyton Orient tickets". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  38. Baggaley, Michael (12 January 2018). "Port Vale's James Gibbons aiming to set record straight against Yeovil". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  39. "Games played by James Gibbons in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  40. "Games played by James Gibbons in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  41. "Games played by James Gibbons in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  42. "Games played by James Gibbons in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  43. "Games played by James Gibbons in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
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