Willie Gibson

William Gibson (born 6 August 1984) is a Scottish football player and coach who currently plays for Scottish League One club Annan Athletic.

Gibson has previously had three spells with Queen of the South, and also appeared for Kilmarnock, Dunfermline Athletic, Crawley Town, St Johnstone, Falkirk, Celtic Nation, Workington, Stranraer (two spells), Dumbarton, Peterhead and Stenhousemuir in a playing career surpassing two decades.

Gibson was also player-manager at Queen of the South from February until December 2022.

Born in Dumfries, Gibson started his senior career with hometown club Queen of the South and debuted on the final day of the 2000–01 season in a 1–0 loss to Queen's Park.

Gibson played in 93 league matches for the Dumfries club without scoring a league goal, although he scored his only goal for Queens during his first spell with a 50th-minute winner in a 2–1 Scottish Cup third round match versus Montrose on 8 January 2005.

Gibson then signed for Kilmarnock from the Palmerston Park club in early 2007, in a deal which saw Stevie Murray and Jamie Adams join Queens on loan for the rest of the 2006–07 season.

Gibson's last game for Queens, a Scottish Cup quarter final match at home versus Hibernian, was one of some controversy: manager Ian McCall selected Adams to play, despite Adams having been an unused sub for Kilmarnock in that season's Scottish Cup third round.

Queens were subsequently fined £20,000 by the SFA for fielding an ineligible player.

Queens chairman Davie Rae said of the fine "it's a substantial sum".

Gibson joined Killie on 1 March 2007 and debuted on 3 March 2007, appearing as a late substitute in a 2–0 win versus St Mirren; he played in three other matches that season.

In his first full season at Kilmarnock, Gibson made a good start, scoring his first goal in a 2–1 win over Dundee United in the second league match of the season.

On 1 September 2007 he produced another impressive performance against Aberdeen, tormenting the Dons defence, although Kilmarnock were defeated 1–0; after the match, Gibson said he was disappointed the team had lost, believing they had enough possession and created enough chances to earn a victory.

Gibson went on to score three goals against Gretna in separate matches.

The next season, Gibson sat out the club's first ten matches as an unused substitute and played his first match of the campaign, providing an assist, as Kilmarnock were defeated 2–1 by Falkirk.

On 22 November 2008, Gibson scored his first goal of the season in a 2–1 defeat to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

During a 1–0 defeat against Hamilton on 29 November 2008, Gibson wore pink boots in the match so he would stand out.

Shortly after this match he damaged his kneecap in training, although he was back fit to play after just one week out injured.

On his return, Gibson appeared as a substitute and set-up both goals in a 2–0 win over Hibernian.

Before kick-off in a match against Hearts, Gibson accidentally hit a young Killie supporter on the back of the head with the ball.

As an apology, the young fan was treated to a day out behind-the-scenes at Rugby Park and presented with a pair of his football boots.

Gibson played 51 league matches for Kilmarnock, scoring six league goals.

Gibson signed for Dunfermline Athletic on 23 June 2009 for a nominal fee.

His debut for the Pars was in a Scottish League Cup match, providing an assist for David Graham in a 5–0 win over Dumbarton.

One week later Gibson made his league debut in the opening game of the season, a 1–0 defeat versus Inverness CT. A week later, Gibson received a straight red card after a clash with Darren Smith in a 3–1 defeat to Raith Rovers.

Two months after joining the club, Gibson scored his first two goals on 10 October 2009, also providing an assist for Andy Kirk, in a 3–1 win versus Ayr United.

Gibson scored another brace in a 3–1 win over Partick Thistle and then scored another six goals in his first season with the East End Park club.

In his second season, Gibson continued to score, with his first brace of the season, as the Pars drew 2–2 with Dundee on 23 October 2010.

Then playing versus Queen of the South, on 11 December 2010, he was given a straight red card.

Gibson played 49 league matches for Dunfermline, scoring 15 league goals.

On 31 January 2011, Gibson signed for non-league club Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £150,000, after turning down an offer from the club the previous summer.

Gibson debuted in a 0–0 draw versus Kettering on 3 February 2011 in an away match.

With only three appearances for Crawley Town, on 19 February 2011, Gibson started in the FA Cup match versus Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Manchester United won the match 1–0 as Wes Brown scored the only goal.

On 24 August 2011, Gibson returned north of the border to sign for Perth club St Johnstone, in a loan deal until the end of January 2012 – he had been feeling homesick, as his two young children had remained in Scotland since his move down south.

He debuted for St Johnstone on 24 August 2011 versus Livingston in the Scottish League Cup, in a 3–0 home win, and set up the first two goals.

After his loan spell ended, Gibson left Crawley Town by mutual consent.

He played 14 league matches for the Red Devils, scoring one league goal.

On 31 January 2012, STV reported on their website that Gibson had signed for Falkirk.

This was not officially confirmed until 2 February when the club revealed he had signed until the end of the season.

Gibson said his move to the Bairns could revive his career after experiencing a difficult spell at Crawley Town.