Nigel Gibbs

Turning professional in the First Division

Gibbs turned professional on 20 November 1983. Three days later, he made his Watford debut in a UEFA Cup third round home match against Sparta Prague at the club's stadium, Vicarage Road. He also played in the away fixture, in front of 38,000 spectators. Faced with snowy conditions in Prague, Watford were eliminated 7–2 on aggregate. Gibbs made his first Football League appearances in Watford's final three First Division games of 1983–84, including as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Arsenal. However, he was not selected for the 1984 FA Cup final. Gibbs, now 18, returned to the reserves for much of the following season. Watford's first-team struggled, failing to win any of their first nine league games. Although his first start of the season ended in a 2–0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers, Gibbs retained his place for 10 of the remaining 11 matches, experiencing only one further defeat. Continuing in this vein, 1985–86 saw Gibbs establish himself as the team's first choice right-back. He missed only two games all season, both of which resulted in defeat for Watford. His first goal came on 5 April 1986 in a 4–1 home victory over Newcastle United, while he also played in a 5–1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season. Gibbs' consistency helped him to third place in the voting for the club's Player of the Season award. After suffering a foot injury at the start of 1986–87, Gibbs was restricted to 18…

Considerably shorter than the average footballer at 5 ft 7in, Gibbs made up for his physical disadvantage with positional play, determination, accurate tackling, and staying on his feet. Although a defender, his lack of goals (7 in 491 appearances) and reluctance to get forward were often remarked upon. Gibbs refuted the suggestion that he didn't attack enough, while former managers Roeder and Taylor both considered Gibbs to be an excellent crosser of the ball when he did venture forward. He scored his first professional goal during his 59th game. By comparison, Gibbs' long-term successor at right-back, Lloyd Doyley, scored his first professional goal on his 269th appearance.

After retiring, Gibbs served Watford as a coach for three years, initially working with the reserve and youth teams, and later as an assistant manager. During this period he oversaw the development of players such as Ashley Young, Lloyd Doyley and Hamer Bouazza, and helped Watford to a Premier Reserve League win in 2002–03. Following Ray Lewington's sacking in March 2005, Gibbs briefly managed Watford on a caretaker basis, although his reign did not include a single game. Following the appointment of Aidy Boothroyd, Gibbs left Watford in July. Having had a formal connection with the club since the 1970s, he felt that his departure had been "very poorly handled". In 2006, Gibbs received his UEFA Pro Licence, which means he can manage any football club in England on a full-time basis. At the beginning of the 2006–07 season, Gibbs joined the management team at Reading, where his initial responsibility was working with the younger players at the club. Further Premier Reserve League success followed in 2007, and Gibbs was promoted to the role of assistant manager in 2009–10. On the penultimate game of the season, Reading faced Watford at Vicarage Road. A Reading victory would have put their opponents in danger of relegation, but Watford emerged 3–0 winners to seal their Championship survival. Gibbs remained at Reading under the management of Brian McDermott, and in 2011–12 the team won the Football League Championship, earning promotion to the Premier League. He left Reading on…

Born in the city of St Albans, Hertfordshire, Gibbs attended How Wood primary school, and as a nine-year-old striker helped his team win a district six-a-side competition. Gibbs began training with and supporting Watford from an early age, and was watching from the Main Stand at Vicarage Road as Watford sealed the Fourth Division title in 1978. Although part of Watford's youth system, he occasionally played for St Albans City's youth team due to their close proximity to his home and school. He also played for Hertfordshire schools at under-14 to under-16 levels. Although initially a striker, Gibbs switched to the position of right-back as a teenager. Further success came with Watford's youth teams; he played in the first leg of the youth team's 7–6 aggregate FA Youth Cup win against Manchester United in 1982, and in the final as Watford finished runners up in the Southern Junior Floodlit Cup. These performances earned him a callup to England's youth team, for whom he played nine times. However, after signing as an apprentice in July 1982, Gibbs played in midfield for the reserves. Due to his height, first team manager Graham Taylor was concerned about Gibbs' ability to cope with the physicality of being a first-team full back, and placed 17-year-old Gibbs on a steak and Guinness diet as an attempt to "beef him up."