Tommy Gibb (1968/69 to 1974/75)

Scotsman Gibb was a hard working box to box player who always put the team's needs before his own. He joined as a squad player but did so well that following his debut he played in 171 consecutive games which is a club record.

Tommy was a great box-to-box player who had a "do the simple thing quickly" style. Both hard tackling and constructive he was, at his best, an assertive, driving force in the side with a decent long-range shot.

Joe Harvey had an assessor at every game and after each match a dossier would be produced with statistics for each player. And the manager revealed that: “He nearly always has more touches than any other player. That is because he is so good at taking up positions".

Gibb was a real team player who could have a great influence on a game due to his intelligent running. His major weakness was a poor first touch.

Tommy went to Sheffield Wednesday when he was only fifteen, but homesickness saw him return home. Harvey brought him to Tyneside in August, 1968, in a £35,000 deal with Partick Thistle. The deal also included an additional £10,000 when Gibb had played ten Division One games.

Harvey wanted to build Gibb up to the pace of top English soccer, but injuries to key players forced him to throw him in days after his signing. He played every game thereafter, including all the Fairs Cup matches, and had a very promising first season. Although his form wasn’t as good in 1969/70 he continued his run of consecutive games throughout the season.

An inconsistent start to 1970/71 brought with it a lot of fan disgruntlement in which certain players were targeted more than others. And Tommy received so much stick that Frank Clark criticised the fans publicly. In the home game against Stoke Gibb "gestured" to the crowd and he even asked to be excused from playing in home games although he only actually missed the Sunderland friendly.

Tommy’s run of consecutive games finally came to an end during 1971/72 when he was relegated to the subs bench for the away match at Arsenal. Once again, he received more abuse than anyone else and Harvey admitted the home crowd was affecting his confidence and causing him to make mistakes.

During the home match with Manchester United it was alleged that he gave the "v" sign once more. Gibb claimed he was simply "waving my hands in the air in frustration", but chairman Westwood and Harvey decided he had to go and he was transfer listed.

A disappointed Harvey stated "people have said in the past that when Tommy Gibb plays well Newcastle play well. This is true but it is best for Tommy Gibb that he leaves now".

Gibb himself accepted that his relationship with some of the Gallowgate crowd was "beyond repair", but a move to Southampton broke down because United refused to pay him a loyalty bonus. In the end he stayed and was restored to the team after the defeat to Hereford.

During the following two seasons (1972/73 and 1973/74) Tommy played in a decent number of games, but he suffered a number of injuries and required a cartilage operation. The signing of Terry McDermott also curtailed his appearances and he held fruitless talks with Sheffield Wednesday. Gibb did get the opportunity to play at Wembley, as he was brought on as sub in the 1974 Cup Final.

Less and less involved during 1974/75 he was released at the end of the season and moved to Sunderland.