Bobby Gilbert

Football player infobox
playername= Bobby Gilbert


fullname = Robert Gilbert
dateofbirth =
cityofbirth = Dublin
countryofbirth = Ireland
position= Forward
years = 196x-1965
1965-1968
1967
1968-19xx
1970-1971
19xx-19xx
clubs= Derry City
Shamrock Rovers
→ Boston Rovers "(guest)"
Drumcondra F.C.
Dundalk
Shelbourne
caps(goals) =

nationalyears = 1966
1967
nationalteam = Republic of Ireland
League of Ireland XI
nationalcaps(goals) = 1 (0)
1 (0)|

Bobby Gilbert is a former Irish footballer who played for, among others, Derry City and Shamrock Rovers. Gilbert scored in European competitions for both City and Rovers. As an international he also played for the Republic of Ireland.

Derry City

Together with Jimmy McGeough, Jim Crossan and Matt Doherty, Gilbert was a member of the Derry City team that overcame F.C. Lyn Oslo in a European Cup tie in 1965. As a result City became the first Irish League team to win a European Cup tie over two legs. In the first leg, played away on August 31, Gilbert headed in two goals in a 5-3 defeat. However he missed the return leg on September 9 because of injury, but Gilbert’s two goals helped City to an 8-6 aggregate win. [ [http://www.derrycityfc.net/history/legends/fklyn65.php Derry City V F.C. Lyn Oslo] ] Legend has that Gilbert’s injury resulted from a punch in the head he received in a nightclub the night before the game. [ [http://www.derrycityfc.net/fans/comment/viewcomment.php?id=2 www.derrycityfc.net] ]

hamrock Rovers

Gilbert made his debut for Shamrock Rovers on October 24 1965 in a League of Ireland Shield game against St. Patrick's Athletic and scored a hat-trick as Rovers won 9-1. He went onto finish the 1965-66 season as Rovers’ top goalscorer. Together with Liam Tuohy, Johnny Fullam, Pat Dunne, Frank O'Neill, Mick Leech and Paddy Mulligan, Gilbert was a prominent member of the Rovers team that dominated the FAI Cup during the 1960s. He played in three successive finals, finishing on winning side each time. In 1966 they beat Limerick United, in 1967 they St Patrick's Athletic and in 1968 they beat Waterford F.C.. In April 1966 Gilbert scored three goals in the semi-final of the FAI Cup against Waterford. He scored once in the original 2-2 draw and then twice in a 4-2 replay. During the summer of 1967, Gilbert also played for Rovers when they went to the United States and competed as Boston Rovers in the United Soccer Association league [ [http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/history.php www.shamrockrovers.ie] ] [ [http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/match-by-match-guide-to-six-of-the-best-477349.html Rovers and FAI Cup] ] [ [http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dulyjs/strikers/nasl/bos1.html Boston Rovers] ] ["The Complete Who's Who of Irish International Football, 1945-96" (1996):Stephen McGarrigle [http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1851588949] ] .

One of the highlights of his time with Rovers came in November 1966 when Rovers came close to knocking, Bayern Munich, the eventual winners, out of the European Cup Winners Cup. After holding Bayern to a 1-1 draw at Dalymount Park, goals from Gilbert and Liam Tuohy saw Rovers came back from 2-0 down during the away game. Rovers were winning the tie on away goals when a late goal from Gerd Muller saw Bayern win 3-2 on the night and progress to the next round. Gilbert scored his fourth goal in European competition the following season in a European Cup Winners Cup game against Cardiff City. Gilbert’s goal earned Rovers a 1-1 draw in the home leg. However Rovers subsequently lost the tie 3-1 on aggregate. [ [http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/europeanresults.php Shamrock Rovers in Europe] ]

Republic of Ireland

On May 4 1966, while playing for Shamrock Rovers, Gilbert made his one and only appearance the Republic of Ireland in friendly against West Germany at Dalymount Park. The Republic lost 4-0 and Gilbert never won another cap. [ [http://www.soccerscene.ie/sssenior/matchdetails.php?id=105 Republic of Ireland international] ]

Honours

Shamrock Rovers

*FAI Cup
**"Winners" 1966, 1967, 1968: 3

*League of Ireland Shield
**"Winners" 1965-66, 1967-68: 2

*Dublin City Cup
**"Winners" 1966-67: 1

*Blaxnit Cup
**"Winners" 1967-68: 1

*Top Four Cup
**"Winners" 1965-66: 1

Dundalk

*Leinster Senior Cup
**"Winners" 1970-71: 1

References