Though not at the same level that saw him progress through the famed Carrington academy, contribute 18 goals in 60 appearances for the Red Devils to be tipped as the next Paul Scholes, before becoming a cult figure at Everton, where he racked up a further 69 outings, Gibson now plays for Wythenshawe in the North West Counties League. Interestingly, the Veterans side there also boasts four other ex-Premier League players.
The comeback marks a remarkable turnaround in Gibson’s life, coming less than a year after he bravely spoke about his addiction to sleeping pills and a near-fatal seizure. The ex-Ireland international revealed that his dependency began in 2013 after a serious knee injury triggered insomnia, later worsened by alcohol abuse.
Former Man United Player Darron Gibson Signs For Wythenshawe
The 37-year-old made his Wythenshawe debut in a 3-1 win over AFC Liverpool, playing just over half the game before being substituted. The Ammies, nicknamed after the club’s original name ‘Wythenshawe Amateurs’, currently sit fourth in the table, just three points off the top spot, with 28 points from 13 games.
As reported by The Sun, Gibson officially retired from professional football in 2021, citing mental health and injury concerns. Since then, he has dedicated his time to raising awareness about addiction and being a stay-at-home dad to his young son, Reggie, showing a commitment to life off the pitch as well as on it as he has made significant progress towards changing his life around.
But football never completely lost its hold on him, even years after it all came toppling down on him. In recent months, Gibson has been spotted training again, playing golf, and appearing in legends games, including for Manchester United, Everton, and the Manchester United Foundation.
