Gilbert was born in South Shields, County Durham, and began his football career as an apprentice with Sunderland. He made his debut as an 18-year-old, on 27 December 1976, entering the derby against Newcastle United as a second-half substitute.[3] That was his only appearance in the First Division: Sunderland were relegated at the end of that season and his remaining 35 league matches for the club were all made in the second tier. In 1980, he joined Second Division Cardiff City, where he spent two seasons, returning to his native north-east of England in 1982 for two seasons with Fourth Division Darlington. He then moved into non-league football with North Shields.[2]
Gilbert died in May 1995 at the age of 36.[1] His son Peter went on to play in the Football League, also as a left back.[4]
^ abcd"Tim Gilbert". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Players Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
^Dougray, John (28 December 1976). "Sunderland stuck fast". The Guardian. London. p. 12.
^"Gilbert will turn his back on Black Cats". Evening Herald. Plymouth. 20 August 2004. p. 64.
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