McKENZIE, Gibby (1938)

Overview

Another of those players who travelled well. Gibby signed for Rangers in 1936 from Pollok Juniors and nine months later he went to Queen of the South he then went on a yo-yo type tour back to Rangers to Queens to Rangers to Queens to Rangers and again to Queens and then a change of scenery when Accies got him after offering the Dumfries club £100 in August 1938.

He settled into a regular spot at right half and when war broke out he continued to play regularly for the club. Among his many games at that time was the Lanarkshire Cup Final in October 1939 and he was one of the team to win 5-1 at Broomfield against the local side.

He assisted East Fife as a guest in May 1943. That same month he turned out for Hibernian in the Roseberry Cup Final against Heart of Midlothian, the latter winning on the toss of a coin after a 1-1 draw. Later in the year St Mirren were keen to sign him when they offered Tom Brady in exchange. Accies asked for a cash deal of £350. Not long afterwards he did go to Renfrewshire, however it was to play for Morton, in November of 1943.

For the start of the new season Dundee had acquired his services and there he stayed until Airdrieonians signed him in October 1947. In January 1949 he returned to the city of Dundee to join United till the end of the season.

August of that year saw him embark on a coaching career, initially at Kilmarnock, where he turned out twice in emergencies for them, before taking over at Cathkin also in a coaching capacity.

He then became player/manager to Berwick Rangers in July 1951, this lasted until October when he was encouraged to travel to Northern Ireland to team up with Bangor City, a spell which lasted 2 years before Linfield took him on as player/coach until June 1955 when he returned to boss Morton.

Back again in Ireland he assisted Portadown and became manger at Glentoran in 1963. Well respected as a coach, particularly with the Irish clubs.

When the Scottish Players Union was inaugurated in 1946, Gibby was one of the ten man Management Committee.

Debut on 13th August 1938 in a Scottish League match away to Hibernian.

Scottish League 26 Appearances

Western League 21 Appearances

Southern League 92 Appearances 4 Goals

Summer Cup 10 Appearances

Summer League Cup 19 Appearances 2 Goals

Lanarkshire Cup 2 Appearances

Accies Career

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