Mr John Giblin.
AN EX-professional footballer, who played for Everton, Newcastle and Southampton, John Giblin, has died, aged 92.
Born in a miner’s cottage in Lanarkshire, Scotland, Mr Giblin played the game from an early age.
As a teenager, he saw Bill Shankly and Matt Busby at his home, as they would often visit his father, Dan, who was a bookmaker.
Mr Giblin, a lifelong Celtic fan, signed for Raith Rovers in the Scottish League and the club had a policy to sign players as Territorials, to prevent them from being lost to National Service. However, the outbreak of war meant the whole team was called up.
After leaving Dunkirk, Mr Giblin was sent on special operations with the King's Own Scottish Borderers to Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands.
He first came to the Island in 1944, when he was stationed in Ventnor, and he met his wife of 66 years, Pat, at the services canteen in Church Street. They married at St Wilfred’s Catholic Church, Ventnor, in 1945.
Mr Giblin was in demand with professional teams whenever he was in stationed in different areas. His career highlights included playing for Everton, Newcastle, South-ampton and Sheffield Wed-nesday, plus he played for Newport and Sandown.
Mr Giblin ran his own window cleaning and decorating business, before working at Ladbrokes and then Transmetrix and Temper-ature.
He ended his career as a theatre caretaker at Upper Chine School, Shanklin, aged 70.
Mr Giblin was a devout Catholic and a parishioner at the Sacred Heart Church, Shanklin.
He enjoyed walking with his wife and loved spending time with his family.
Mr Giblin leaves his wife, four children, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. His funeral was held yesterday (Thursday) at the Sacred Heart Church, followed by burial at Ventnor Cemetery.
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