*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Phil Gilbert
Appearances: 20 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 11th September 1944
Position: Right-back
Season of first appearance: 1980/81
Season of last appearance: 1980/81
Also played for: Ramsgate Athletic, Brighton & Hove Albion (6,3) and Salisbury City
5' 10" tall player born in Minster who initially joined Margate in January 1960 and played for the reserves aged just 15.
Phil continued to feature in Margate's second string during the 1960/61 campaign but never made a first team appearance.
In the summer of 1961 he moved on to Ramsgate and Phil played in the Southern League for them as a 17 year-old during the early part of 1961/62 before being signed by Brighton in January 1962.
Phil usually played as a striker at that time and he went on to make four senior appearances for the Seagulls before the end of the 1961/62 season, scoring once. During 1962/63 Phil only featured once in Brighton's first team but managed to score twice as they beat visitors Bradford 3-1 on 27.4.63. He made one further senior appearance during the 1963/64 campaign and also scored five goals from 25 reserve team outings before leaving Brighton to join Salisbury in March 1964.
Phil went on to play over 300 games for Salisbury and featured in some famous FA Cup ties for the club before being released in 1972.
Phil then returned home to Thanet and dropped out of senior football to concentrate on work and family life but by the 1974/75 season he was playing for local Sunday League side Margate Athletic.
In March 1977 he returned to Margate but didn't make any first team appearances and left the club at the end of the 1976/77 season.
During the summer of 1980 Phil returned to Margate once more and he played for the reserves as a 'father figure' during the first half of the 1980/81 campaign. In January 1981 he was unexpectedly pressed into first team duty due to a drastic player shortage following the departure of many senior players in a cost-cutting exercise. So on 31.1.81 Phil made his senior debut for Margate aged 36 when he played at right-back in a 3-2 defeat at Tonbridge. The Thanet Times said that Phil "performed with utmost credit" on his home debut a week later - a 0-0 draw with Bognor Regis. He went on to play in each of the seasons remaining games, making 20 appearances in all in the number two shirt, but when the campaign ended in May 1981 Phil left Hartsdown Park.
He moved to Ramsgate and took over as manager for the 1981/82 season, continuing to play in local amateur football but not for the Rams. Phil continued in that role until resigning in November 1982, he was replaced by Syd Jest.
During the 1983/84 season Phil became part of Thanet United's management committee.
In 2013 he was still living locally and made a rare visit to Hartsdown Park in October when he attended an evening featuring Terry Yorath as speaker.
On 12.4.14 Phil was one of the many former Margate players who attended the club's 'Legends Day' at Hartsdown Park.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1980/81 (MFC) |
20 (58) |
0 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (22ND OF 24) |
2QR |
3QR |
1R |
2R |