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Sports stars pay tribute to Gibson’s half-century

John Gibson, the veteran sports writer for The Chronicle in Newcastle, has celebrated his five decades at the paper with a gala charity dinner attended by some of the city’s greatest figures from sport.

John Gibson, centre, at the launch of his memoir with Malcolm Macdonald, right, and Glenn McCrory. Pic: The Chronicle
John Gibson at the launch of his memoir with Malcolm Macdonald, right, and Glenn McCrory. Pic: The Chronicle

Malcolm Macdonald, Peter Beardsley, Sir John Hall, Jack Charlton, Glenn McCrory, Steve Harper and Joe Allon were among the guests of honour at the event organised by the Variety Club charity.

“It’s absolutely wonderful, I’ve spent my whole time talking to the real stars of our world – the sporting stars of our world – and all of a sudden they’re coming to support me, which I never expected to happen at any time,” Gibson was reported as saying by HoldTheFrontPage.

Gibson has twice won the SJA’s Regional Sports Writer of the Year award, in 1999 and 2001.

“I’m so grateful to the Variety Club for giving me this honour and to the Chronicle for putting up with me for 50 years with my rantings. I’m very humbled by being here and having a night of this sort,” he said.

Darren Thwaites, the editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror North East, referred to the sports writer’s recently published memoir when he said: “Gibbo is simply a brilliant storyteller with a lifetime of stories to share. The Gibbo Files will remain one of the greatest collections the Chronicle has ever published. Fifty years in journalism is a stunning achievement and we’re incredibly proud he’s one of ours.”


FORTHCOMING SJA EVENTS

  • Thu Dec 15, 2016: SJA British Sports Awards, sponsored by The National Lottery
  • Mon Feb 27, 2017: SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, sponsored by BT Sport