The first ever captain of Australia’s national football team, the late Alex Gibb, will be honoured at a special ceremony at half time of tonight’s 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier between the Socceroos and Japan (Brisbane Stadium, 8pm kick off).
The first ever captain of Australia-s national football team, the late Alex Gibb, will be honoured at a special ceremony at half time of tonight-s 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier between the Socceroos and Japan (Brisbane Stadium, 8pm kick off).
Alex Gibb-s grandson, Alexander Gibb, will accept the no. 1 cap from current Football Federation Australia (FFA) director and former Socceroo, Jack Reilly.
Alex Gibb played in Australia-s first ever international football match in 1922 against New Zealand on a tour across the Tasman. He played seven matches for Australia in total.
The presentation will also honour Alex Gibb-s son, the late Lex Gibb, who played eight times for Australia between 1938 and 1948. Lex-s grandson Dean will accept cap no. 77.
A guard of honour featuring former Socceroos will pay tribute to the Gibb family-s contribution to Australian football.
“FFA is delighted to honour Alex and Lex Gibb as true pioneers of football in Australia,” said FFA CEO Ben Buckley.
“Our contemporary program of awarding caps to national team representatives is now delving back into the very origins of the national team. I thank the Gibb family for their warm embrace of our endeavours.
“To now have recognised the no. 1 cap shows how much we value the history of the game,” concluded Buckley
Player Information
Alex Gibb - Cap no. 1. A-internationals 7 (1922 to 1923)
Born in Scotland, where he played juniors for Musselburgh, Alex Gibb migrated to Australia just before World War I. He played with Ipswich teams Bundamba Athletic and Bundamba Rangers, and South Brisbane Scottish. He was a left winger, and represented Ipswich, Queensland and also Australia on several occasions.
His most prominent honour was being the first captain of an Australian team - he skippered Australia on the national team's maiden tour of New Zealand in 1922, and in the return series in Australia the year after. After his playing career he turned to administration, becoming chairman of his local association, representative team manager, and selector of state and national teams.
Lex Gibb - Cap no. 77. A-internationals 8 (1938 to 1948)
The son of Australia's first captain Alex Gibb, Lex became a prominent national team player in his own right. After playing juniors at Ipswich team Alphas, he played with senior Ipswich sides Bundamba Rangers and St Helens, and Brisbane teams Latrobe and Corinthians.
His playing positions were noted as 'outside left', centre-half and half back. His eleven year national team career included matches against the touring English Amateurs, India, Palestine and South Africa, and a tour of New Zealand in 1948. Ipswich-born Lex also represented Queensland on several occasions.