I've written before about the British football coach Victor Gibson, who was highly influential and successful in France in the 1920s, leading Olympique de Marseille to two French Cup victories.
However, his identity and origins have proved frustratingly elusive - until now. I have established that he used a false first name throughout his football career, and can finally fill in the gaps in his life story. I can also confirm that he was not Scottish, having been born and brought up in Woolwich.
However, his identity and origins have proved frustratingly elusive - until now. I have established that he used a false first name throughout his football career, and can finally fill in the gaps in his life story. I can also confirm that he was not Scottish, having been born and brought up in Woolwich.
Gibson in defensive action for FC Sète at Stade Pershing in Paris, 1922 (Gallica)
As Victor Gibson himself does not appear in any UK records or censuses, it suggested that his real name was something different. But what? Along with other researchers I tried all sorts of alternatives without success. But then I focussed on an Arthur Henry Gibson, born in Woolwich in 1888. Finally, the pieces fitted together.
There had been an important clue to Gibson's identity in the French press after he left the country in the mid 1930s. He was reported to be working back in England a 'jardinier', ie a gardener or groundsman. This tallied with the cutting below, which described how Gibson had gone from Woolwich to Barcelona as a professional footballer in 1911 - the exact year that 'Victor' Gibson had gone there on tour with Plumstead, and stayed on to play for Espanyol. And what is more, he is now working as a groundsman.
There had been an important clue to Gibson's identity in the French press after he left the country in the mid 1930s. He was reported to be working back in England a 'jardinier', ie a gardener or groundsman. This tallied with the cutting below, which described how Gibson had gone from Woolwich to Barcelona as a professional footballer in 1911 - the exact year that 'Victor' Gibson had gone there on tour with Plumstead, and stayed on to play for Espanyol. And what is more, he is now working as a groundsman.
Uxbridge Gazette, 24 June 1938 (British Newspaper Archive)
More pieces started to fit. Arthur was brought up in Woolwich, the son of William and Fanny Gibson, and in 1910 he married Margaret Edith Gillard. The following year they had a daughter, called Raine - the middle name which Victor Gibson frequently used. Sadly, Raine died before her first birthday. As the newspaper report reveals, Gibson's wife stayed at home and he made a new life abroad.
In 1939, the year after his divorce, Arthur Gibson married a French woman, Juliette Muller - it appears they were partners in France while he lived there as they had a daughter, Jeanne - and they continued to live in Ruislip until his death in 1958, aged 69. By then she had become a naturalised British citizen and she was, naturally, named in his will.
In 1939, the year after his divorce, Arthur Gibson married a French woman, Juliette Muller - it appears they were partners in France while he lived there as they had a daughter, Jeanne - and they continued to live in Ruislip until his death in 1958, aged 69. By then she had become a naturalised British citizen and she was, naturally, named in his will.
Probate notice for Arthur Henry Gibson in 1958
There are still some gaps in the Victor Gibson story, not least why he never used his own name for football. Reports in the Kent newspapers of his football and cricket matches from 1908-1911, starting long before his marriage, described him variously as 'SS Gibson', 'SS Rayne Gibson', 'V Gibson' and 'V Raine Gibson'.
Also, neither he nor his first wife have yet been found in the 1911 census, although it seems clear that they should have been in Woolwich at the time. The census was taken just a few weeks before Plumstead FC, an amateur select, embarked on their tour to France and Spain. Gibson, along with team-mates Frank Allack and William Hodge, remained in Barcelona after the tour and all of them played for Espanyol. A year later, Gibson was persuaded to join Olympique Cettois in France, the club which later became FC Sète. There is a persistent story that Sète play in green and white hoops because Gibson was a Celtic supporter, but that can clearly be discounted.
He was with the club for 12 years and took them to two French Cup finals (both lost), in 1923 and 1924, playing in the latter. Then he had five successful years coaching Marseille (cup victories in 1926 and 1927), a similar time with newly-formed Sochaux Montbéliard, and concluded in 1935 after a farewell year with Hispanola-Bastidienne in Bordeaux.
The man from Woolwich was a key figure in the history of FC Sète, Olympique de Marseille and Sochaux, among others, and deserves a place in the French football hall of fame now that the mystery of 'Victor' Gibson has been solved.
Also, neither he nor his first wife have yet been found in the 1911 census, although it seems clear that they should have been in Woolwich at the time. The census was taken just a few weeks before Plumstead FC, an amateur select, embarked on their tour to France and Spain. Gibson, along with team-mates Frank Allack and William Hodge, remained in Barcelona after the tour and all of them played for Espanyol. A year later, Gibson was persuaded to join Olympique Cettois in France, the club which later became FC Sète. There is a persistent story that Sète play in green and white hoops because Gibson was a Celtic supporter, but that can clearly be discounted.
He was with the club for 12 years and took them to two French Cup finals (both lost), in 1923 and 1924, playing in the latter. Then he had five successful years coaching Marseille (cup victories in 1926 and 1927), a similar time with newly-formed Sochaux Montbéliard, and concluded in 1935 after a farewell year with Hispanola-Bastidienne in Bordeaux.
The man from Woolwich was a key figure in the history of FC Sète, Olympique de Marseille and Sochaux, among others, and deserves a place in the French football hall of fame now that the mystery of 'Victor' Gibson has been solved.
Arthur Henry 'Victor' Gibson
Born 18 July 1888 in Woolwich, Kent.
Died 8 April 1958 at Harefield Hospital, Middlesex.
Born 18 July 1888 in Woolwich, Kent.
Died 8 April 1958 at Harefield Hospital, Middlesex.
The football ground in Sète (Cette) where Gibson went in 1912 after a year with Espanyol
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