A tribute to great players
from the period 1965/66 to 1979/80, particularly highlighting their appearance
in football cards. For more see the Player Pages Index. Jimmy Gabriel A list of all of the appearances of this player in football cards in the period 1965/66 to 1979/80 appears at the foot of this page. | ||
1966/67 A&BC Chewing Gum Footballers, No. 66 1969/70 A&BC Chewing Gum Footballers (Green backs), No. 61 1970/71 A&BC Chewing Gum Footballers (Orange backs), No. 80 1970/71 FKS Publishers Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 245 |
Jimmy Gabriel, born in Dundee, was signed by
Dundee as a teenager from Dundee North End, making his debut as a 17-year old in a Scottish League
Cup game. He made 55 League appearances for Dundee over the next three years
before being signed by English First Division side Everton. The Rothmans Football League Records book notes: "One of the best strong tackling wing halves of the day. Took some time to settle after Everton had paid Dundee £25,000 in March 1960 for his signature. Was then only nineteen, but rapidly came to the fore with consistent cultured play which belied his years". After Scottish schools and under-23 honours Jimmy Gabriel made his international debut at Ninian Park, Cardiff in October 1960 in the British Championship. He played at right-half, replacing John Cumming of Hearts in a struggling national side. The Scots lost 2-0 and it turned out to be Gabriel's only full international appearance. Over three years later, by then an established Everton player, he came on as a second-half substitute at Hampden Park in a 6-1 win over Norway, but was never capped again with the likes of Billy Bremner, John Greig, Billy Baxter, Pat Stanton and Bobby Murdoch keeping him out of the side. Over the next seven years Gabriel became a stand-out performer for Everton as they consistently finished in the top four of the First Division, including winning the League Championship in 1963 and the F.A. Cup in 1966. The A&BC 1966/67 card notes 'Everton right half. Has proved a grand capture for Everton who paid Dundee £30,000 for his transfer in March 1960'. At the end of the 1967 season Gabriel was transferred to Southampton. Gabriel had made a total of 256 League appearances for the Toffees. The Saints had been promoted to the top flight for the first time ever in 1966 and were struggling to survive. Gabriel was signed for a £42,500 fee, and in 1969 Southampton finished 7th in the First Division, though they struggled again the following year. The A&BC yellow back card notes 'Signed from Everton in July 1967 for a £45,000 fee, and has considerably tightened the Southampton defence'. The A&BC 1971/72 card notes 'A favourite of the Southampton crowd, Gabriel has been playing a more aggressive role over the past two seasons, scoring some vital goals for the Saints'. At the end of the 1972 season, having played in the League 191 times for Southampton, Gabriel was transferred to Bournemouth. In 1973/74, his last season in English football, Gabriel began with 3 appearances for Third Division Bournemouth before a loan spell with Swindon (then struggling in the Second Division, and heading for bottom place and relegation) where he played 6 games before rejoining Bournemouth for a further 8 games. In March 1974 he was transferred to Fourth Division Brentford where he finished his English playing career being subbed off away to Chester in front of only 2,643 fans. His career tally was a total of 515 League appearances in England. Leaving England Gabriel moved to become a playing assistant coach with the Seattle Sounders, later moving into the coach's role. Gabriel has remained in the US since, though he has returned to England for coaching roles, notably as Bournemouth coach in the 1980s and Everton in the 1990s. In 2005 Gabriel retired from coaching involvement in US soccer. |
1968/69 A&BC Chewing Gum Footballers (Yellow backs), No. 32 1968/69 FKS Publishers Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 230 1969/70 FKS Publishers Wonderful World of Soccer Stars, No. 229 1971/72 A&BC Chewing Gum Footballers (Purple backs), No. 85 |
Football cards issued in the period 1965/66 to 1979/80 (note: this is an incomplete list, and will updated as new information is obtained). |
Season | Maker | Set | Team | Card ref. |
1966/67 | A&BC Chewing Gum | Footballers, Series 1 (001-110) | Southampton | 66 of 110 |
1967/68 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Southampton | 230 of 330 |
1968/69 | A&BC Chewing Gum | Footballers, Yellow backs, Series 1 (001-054) | Southampton | 32 of 54 |
1968/69 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Southampton | 230 of 330 |
1969/70 | A&BC Chewing Gum | Football Facts, Green backs, Series 1 (001- 064) | Southampton | 61 of 64 |
1969/70 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Southampton | 229 of 330 |
1970/71 | A&BC Chewing Gum | Footballers, Orange backs, Series 1 (001-084) | Southampton | 80 of 84 |
1970/71 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Southampton | 245 of 420 |
1971/72 | A&BC Chewing Gum | Footballers, Purple backs, Series 1 (001-109) | Southampton | 85 of 109 |
1971/72 | FKS Publishers | The Wonderful World of Soccer Stars | Southampton | 245 of 330 |
1971/72 | IPC Magazines / Fleetway | My Favourite Soccer Stars (Red backs), Buster/Jet | Southampton | 18 of 32 |
1971/72 | Marshall Cavendish | Book of Football Top Teams | ||
1972/73 | A&BC Chewing Gum | Footballers, Orange/Red backs | Southampton | 47 of 219 |
1972/73 | Top Sellers | Football 72 | Southampton | 272 of 420 |
1973/74 | Top Sellers | Football 73 | Southampton | 285 of 420 |