Vivian Gibbins was born in Forest Gate on 10 August 1901. The talented amateur footballer played for Clapton while training as a schoolteacher. With the Isthmian League club he appeared in the line-up as "V.W.T. Gibbins," to distinguish him from the professional players who were not then given Christian names in programme details.

 

On 17 September 1923, Gibbins was invited to turn out for West Ham in a London Combination fixture against Southend United and made his first team debut in only his second game three months later against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on 15 December 1923. Forest, like West Ham, were comparative newcomers to the First Division having gained promotion only one season prior to the Hammers'. Their vastly greater experience of senior grade soccer and West Ham ‘keeper Ted Hufton having to leave the field injured proved to be the decisive factors in their 2-1 victory.

 

In August 1924, the centre-forward was persuaded to link up with his former Spotted Dog partner Stanley Earle at the Boleyn Ground, however, the amateur player still continued to give first call on his services to Clapton, so-much-so that over the following two seasons he played just twice as his teaching commitments at the local Godwin Road School limiting his appearances.

 

The centre-forward always played his football with a handkerchief clutched in his hand, his pen-picture in a 1925-26 Club Handbook gives some idea of the esteem in which he was held at the Boleyn: "The name of Gibbins is a household word in London Football, and it is our great regret that he cannot assist us regularly, for we would always find a place for him."

 

Gibbins breakthrough campaign for West Ham came in 1926/27 making 23 appearances, scoring 4 goals and in the 1930/31 season was the first amateur player since the Second World War to head a league club's scoring lists by topping Hammers' goalscoring charts with 18 goals.

 

On 21 November 1931 he had the distinction of being the first amateur to capatin the Hammers for the matach against Blackpool at Upton Park. However, his time at the Boleyn ended somewhat acrimoniously a month later when he wasn’t included in the team to face Grimsby Town on Christmas Day. Gibbins felt that he was “not being selected for the level of football that his talent warrants.” 

After several weeks of dispute, including the Hammers’ offering him a professional contract and an entitlement to a benefit of £500 which he refused, Gibbins took his case to the League Management Committee for adjudication. The Committee were powerless to intervene, leaving the player with three chooses, he could resume playing for the Hammers, he could go back to his amateur team at Clapton, or he could, as one newspaper put it; hibernate for the rest of the season.

 

Clapton benefited in the meantime as his turned out for the Tons, although he wanted to continue playing in the Football League.  A month later, he was released from his amateur contract and joined Brentford on 19 February 1932. Vivian Gibbins sadly passed away 21 November 1979, aged 78