Nigel's Webspace - English Football Cards, Player Pages - Jimmy Gabriel  Nigel's Webspace - Galleries of English Football Cards 1965/66 - 1979/80  Home pageMaster indexFacebookVisitor memoriesNewslettersSwaps & WantsFAQLinksSend me emailGift ideas
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
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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