| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Albert Gilbert [1] | ||
| Date of birth | 10 November 1959 | ||
| Place of birth | Lewisham, London, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) [2] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| – | Crystal Palace | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1977–1984 | Crystal Palace | 237 | (3) |
| 1984–1989 | Portsmouth | 140 | (0) |
| 1989–1990 | Colchester United | 27 | (0) |
| 1990–1991 | Maidstone United | 4 | (0) |
| – | Havant Town | ||
| – | Whyteleafe | ||
| 1992-1998 | Waterlooville | ||
| 1998–2000 | Havant & Waterlooville [3] | 14 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1975 | England Schoolboys | 9 | (1) |
| 1979–1981 | England U21 | 11 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1992–1998 | Waterlooville (player-manager) | ||
| 1998–2000 | Havant & Waterlooville (player-manager) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
William Albert Gilbert (born 10 November 1959) is an English former footballer, born in Lewisham, London, who made more than 400 appearances in the Football League playing as a defender for Crystal Palace, Portsmouth, Colchester United and Maidstone United. [4] He won 11 caps for England at under-21 level. [5]
Gilbert began his career at Terry Venables' Crystal Palace, winning the FA Youth Cup twice as part of the so-called "Team of the Eighties" as well as being a key fixture in the side that won promotion to the First Division. [6] [7] Gilbert remained with Palace after their relegation back to the Second Division, winning the 1984 Player of the Year award in his final season at Selhurst Park. [8]
Gilbert then moved to Portsmouth, spending five years at Fratton Park before moving on again to Colchester United. He also spent a season at Maidstone United, [4] before playing non-league football for Havant Town, Whyteleafe and Waterlooville. [1] He managed Waterlooville for a time, then after their merger with Havant Town to form Havant & Waterlooville, he became player-manager of the merged club, leading them to the Southern League Southern Division title in his first season, before departing in 2000. [9] [10]