Eric Peter Gilbert (born 31 July 1983), known as Peter Gilbert, is a Welsh former footballer and current coach.

Peter Gilbert
Gilbert playing for Sheffield Wednesday in 2008
Personal information
Full name Eric Peter Gilbert[1]
Date of birth (1983-07-31) 31 July 1983 (age 41)[1]
Place of birth Newcastle upon Tyne,[2] England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Position(s) Left back
Team information
Current team
Aston Villa Under-21s (coach)
Youth career
1999–2002 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Birmingham City 0 (0)
2003–2005 Plymouth Argyle 78 (1)
2005–2006 Leicester City 5 (0)
2005–2006Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 7 (0)
2006–2009 Sheffield Wednesday 34 (0)
2007Doncaster Rovers (loan) 4 (0)
2009 Oldham Athletic 5 (0)
2009–2010 Northampton Town 30 (0)
2010–2012 Southend United 57 (3)
2012–2013 Lincoln City 14 (0)
2013Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 0 (0)
2014 Goole
Total 234 (4)
International career
2004–2005 Wales U21 10 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

A defender, Gilbert played in the Football League for Plymouth Argyle, Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster Rovers, Oldham Athletic, Northampton Town and Southend United, also appearing in the Conference for Lincoln City and briefly in the Northern Premier League for Goole. He represented Wales at under-21 level.

Gilbert is currently coaching Aston Villa Under-21s.

Career

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Gilbert began his career at Birmingham City as a trainee but failed to make a first team appearance. He did captain the academy side during his time with the Blues and made many appearances for the reserves. His progress was hampered by a serious knee injury. Once he recovered the decision was made to make a fresh start at another club. He joined Plymouth Argyle at the beginning of the 2003–04 season on loan, where his performances earned him a permanent move. Once he signed, Gilbert soon proved himself to be a reliable and steady player and was a mainstay of Argyle's Second Division championship-winning side, playing 40 league games and scoring one goal against Tranmere Rovers.[3] His only other goal for Plymouth came three days after his goal against Tranmere in a Football League Trophy tie against Bristol City.[4]

This run of form led him to be called up to the Welsh under-21 squad and receiving his first cap. He went on to make 10 appearances in the 2006 UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign.[5] During this campaign he impressed head coach John Toshack enough to consider him for the senior squad,[6] and was a member of Toshack's senior squad for a six-day training camp in Spain at the end of the 2004–05 season.[7]

He made 38 appearances for Argyle in the Championship during 2004–05. This led to interest from Leicester City manager Craig Levein who signed Gilbert for the start of the 2005–06 season, for a fee in the region of £200,000.[8]

However, Gilbert made just six appearances for Leicester before being loaned to fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in November 2005.[9] He joined Wednesday on a permanent basis in 2006 and, following three years at the club, his contract was terminated by mutual consent on 6 April 2009.[10]

After trials with Huddersfield Town,[11] Southend United[12] and Coventry City,[13] Gilbert joined Oldham Athletic on a short-term contract.[14] However, because the player wanted more stability than was afforded by the week-to-week deal with Oldham, he left before the 1 September transfer deadline to allow him the chance to find a permanent club.[15]

In September 2009, Gilbert had a trial with Conference National side Mansfield Town.[16] After a two-week trial spell in which he played the whole of a reserve game,[17][18] he signed for League Two club Northampton Town in November until the end of the 2009–10 season.[19]

On 8 July 2010 Gilbert signed a pre contract agreement with Southend United due to the club being under a transfer embargo, on 6 August 2010 Southend's embargo was lifted allowing Gilbert to be registered with the Roots Hall club. Gilbert had previously played under Southend boss Paul Sturrock at Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle.

Gilbert picked up an ankle injury in a pre season game against Derby County which forced him to miss the start of the league season. He finally made his debut for the club on 24 August 2010 against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the League Cup. Gilbert made his league debut in Southend's 2–0 win against Bradford City on 27 August 2010. After a 2011–12 season which ended in playoff defeat, the club did not offer Gilbert a new contract.[20]

Gilbert joined Conference National club Lincoln City on non-contract terms in October 2012.[21] He went on to sign a short-term contract which was later extended to the end of the season.[22] At the end of March, he joined Dagenham & Redbridge on loan until the end of the season.[23] In January 2014, he signed for Northern Premier League First Division South club Goole, managed by his former teammate Curtis Woodhouse.[24] Later that year, he travelled to California where he played in two friendly matches for USL Pro club Sacramento Republic.[20][25]

Coaching career

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After the end of his playing career, Gilbert joined West Bromwich Albion Academy as a coach. Working with various age groups over an eight-year spell – ultimately acting as U18s manager from 2019 to 2022.[26]

In August 2022, Gilbert joined Aston Villa Academy as an Under-21s coach.[27]

Honours

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Plymouth Argyle

Career statistics

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As of match played 28 February 2013
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Birmingham City 2002–03[28] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Plymouth Argyle 2003–04[29] Second Division 40 1 1 0 1 0 2[a] 1 44 2
2004–05[30] Championship 38 0 1 0 1 0 40 0
Total 78 1 2 0 2 0 2 1 84 2
Leicester City 2005–06[31] Championship 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Sheffield Wednesday 2005–06[31] Championship 17 0 0 0 0 0 17 0
2006–07[32] Championship 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
2007–08[33] Championship 10 0 0 0 1 0 11 0
2008–09[34] Championship 8 0 0 0 1 0 9 0
Total 41 0 0 0 2 0 43 0
Doncaster Rovers (loan) 2006–07[32] League One 4 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 5 0
Oldham Athletic 2009–10[35] League One 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 0
Northampton Town 2009–10[35] League Two 30 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 31 0
Southend United 2010–11[36] League Two 26 0 1 0 1 0 3[a] 0 31 0
2011–12[37] League Two 31 3 4 0 0 0 5[b] 0 40 3
Total 57 3 5 0 1 0 8 0 71 3
Lincoln City 2012–13[38] Conference Premier 14 0 5 0 0 0 1[c] 0 20 0
Dagenham & Redbridge (loan) 2012–13[38] League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 234 4 13 0 6 0 12 1 265 5
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ 3 appearances in Football League Trophy, 2 appearances in Football League Two play-offs
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  2. ^ "Peter Gilbert". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Plymouth 6-0 Tranmere". BBC. 11 October 2003. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Plymouth 4-0 Bristol City". BBC. 14 October 2003. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Peter Gilbert: Internationals: EURO Qualifiers". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  6. ^ Phillips, Terry (8 December 2004). "Gilbert staking his Wales claim". Wales Online. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Toshack calls Margetson for Wales". BBC Sport. 18 May 2005. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Foxes sign Gilbert from Plymouth". BBC Sport. 26 July 2005. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  9. ^ "Sturrock adds duo to Owls' ranks". BBC Sport. 24 November 2005. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  10. ^ "Gilbert released from contract". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 6 April 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  11. ^ Thomson, Dougie (14 July 2009). "Huddersfield Town to continue focus on former Everton, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley trialists". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  12. ^ "Gilbert in Blues Trial". Southend United F.C. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  13. ^ Turner, Andy (5 August 2009). "Peter Gilbert hoping for contract with Coventry City FC". Coventry Telegraph. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  14. ^ "Athletic Capture Gilbert". Oldham Athletic A.F.C. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  15. ^ Bailey, Richard (1 September 2009). "Penney allows Gilbert exit". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  16. ^ "Langford shines in Notts friendly". Mansfield Town F.C. 15 September 2009. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012.
  17. ^ "Reserves Beaten at Sixfields". Northampton Town F.C. 27 October 2009. Archived from the original on 2 April 2010.
  18. ^ "Cobblers Could Make Changes For MK Trip". Northampton Town F.C. 10 November 2009. Archived from the original on 11 November 2009.
  19. ^ "Cobblers Bring in Gilbert". Northampton Town F.C. 13 November 2009. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012.
  20. ^ a b Phillips, Chris (28 November 2014). "Catching up with: Former Southend United and Northampton Town defender Peter Gilbert". Echo. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  21. ^ "Lincoln City sign defender Peter Gilbert". BBC Sport. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  22. ^ "Peter Gilbert and David Preece extend Lincoln contracts". BBC Sport. 28 December 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  23. ^ "Dagenham & Redbridge sign Fortune, Miles, Gilbert and Sharif". BBC Sport. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  24. ^ "Woodhouse Makes Three More Signings". Non League Pitchero. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  25. ^ "2014 All Competition Stats". Sacramento Republic FC. 28 September 2014. Archived from the original on 24 January 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  26. ^ "Gilbert: 'We're improving by competing with the best' | West Bromwich Albion". wba.co.uk. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  27. ^ "Boateng leaves Villa Academy for Ghana role". Aston Villa Football Club. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  28. ^ "Games played by Peter Gilbert in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  29. ^ "Games played by Peter Gilbert in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  30. ^ "Games played by Peter Gilbert in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  31. ^ a b "Games played by Peter Gilbert in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  32. ^ a b "Games played by Peter Gilbert in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  33. ^ "Games played by Peter Gilbert in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  34. ^ "Games played by Peter Gilbert in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  35. ^ a b "Games played by Peter Gilbert in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  36. ^ "Games played by Peter Gilbert in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  37. ^ "Games played by Peter Gilbert in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  38. ^ a b "Games played by Peter Gilbert in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
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