Darron Gibson (born 25 October 1987 in Derry, Northern Ireland) is an Irish football player. He is a former pupil of St. Columb's College in Derry. is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... For other places with similar names, see Derry (disambiguation) and Londonderry (disambiguation). ... Northern Ireland (Irish: , Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a constituent country of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... St. ...

Club career

Gibson joined Manchester United from Institute as a junior. He made his first-team debut for Manchester United on 26 October 2005 in a League Cup match against Barnet coming on as a substitute for Lee Martin. In May 2006 he was voted as the Youth Team player of the year. Manchester United Football Club are a world-famous English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and are one of the most popular sports clubs in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide. ... Institute F.C. is a Northern Ireland football club playing in the Irish Football League. ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... Barnet Football Club are an English football team from High Barnet in the London Borough of Barnet in London, England. ... For other people by the same name, see Lee Martin. ...

Gibson was sent on loan to the Belgian Second Division club Royal Antwerp FC for the whole of the 2006-07 season to gain experience. Antwerp reached the play-off stage, but were unable to secure promotion to the top division. The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in Belgian football. ... Royal Antwerp F.C. is a Belgian football club, from the city of Antwerp in Antwerp (province). ...

Gibson is seen as a powerful and athletic midfielder, who can both attack and defend. The Midfield in relation to the football positions In association football, a midfielder is a player whose position of play is midway between the attacking strikers and the defenders (highlighted in blue on the diagram). ...

International career

Gibson is a Republic of Ireland international. In 2005 he rejected Northern Ireland, whom he had previously represented at under-16 level, in favour of fulfilling his dream of representing the Republic of Ireland at senior international level, the country he and his family have supported all his life.^{[citation needed]} For the Irish FAs all-Ireland international team, see Ireland national football team (IFA). ...

However, the Irish Football Association (the organisation that governs football in Northern Ireland) considers Gibson's eligibility for the Republic of Ireland as a matter of dispute, since it feels that Gibson may not meet certain new, stricter eligibility criteria introduced by FIFA in May 2004.^[1] The association has claimed that the Football Association of Ireland has no right to claim a player from Northern Ireland, and while it has appealed to FIFA to adjudicate on the matter, it appears that the FAI has taken a risk and included the player in recent qualifier squads.^[2] Another political argument aiming to prove^{[citation needed]} that Gibson indeed qualifies to play for the Republic is by way of a provision in the Good Friday Agreement recognising: The Irish Football Association (IFA) is the organising body for football in Northern Ireland. ... The Football Association of Ireland (FAI; Irish: Cumann Peile na h-Éireann) is the organising body for the sport of association football (soccer) in the Republic of Ireland. ... This article is about an international football organization. ... The Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement and, more rarely, as the Stormont Agreement) was signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998 by the British and Irish Governments and endorsed by most Northern Ireland political parties. ...

"The birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland."

On 30 January 2007 he was called up by manager Steve Staunton to the senior Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2008 qualifier against San Marino.^[3] He retained his place in the squad for the qualifiers against Wales and Slovakia in March 2007, but did not make an appearance. He eventually made his full international debut for the Republic of Ireland in a 4-0 win against Denmark on August 22 2007. In which he set up the third goal by proving his strike was too hot for the Denmark keeper to handle, making the keeper drop the ball for another player to net. is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Stephen Staunton (born 19 January 1969 in Drogheda, Republic of Ireland) was a professional footballer who enjoyed a distinguished career with Liverpool and Aston Villa, he also became the Republic of Irelands most capped player. ... First international Irish Free State 1 - 0  Bulgaria (Stade Olympique, Colombes, France; May 28, 1924) Biggest win Republic of Ireland 8 - 0 Malta  (Dalymount Park, Republic of Ireland; 16 November 1983) Biggest defeat  Brazil 7 - 0 Republic of Ireland (Uberlândia, Brazil; 27 May 1982) World Cup Appearances 3 (First... The 2008 European Football Championship (EURO 2008) will take place in Austria and Switzerland. ... First international  Scotland 4 - 0 Wales (Glasgow, Scotland; 26 March 1876) Biggest win Wales 11 - 0 Ireland  (Wrexham, Wales; 3 March 1888) Biggest defeat  Scotland 9 - 0 Wales (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 March 1878) World Cup Appearances 1 (First in 1958) Best result Quarter-finals, 1958 The Wales national football team...

In his first game for the Republic of Ireland under-21 side, Gibson was named captain of the team. This article is in need of improvement. ...

Darron has since stated that it is his prerogative to dictate whether he is British or Irish and has decided to stand by decision to play for the Republic of Ireland.

Statistics

He is now on loan to Wolves. Manchester United Football Club are a world-famous English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and are one of the most popular sports clubs in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide. ... Royal Antwerp F.C. is a Belgian football club, from the city of Antwerp in Antwerp (province). ...

References

is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Darron Gibson career stats at Soccerbase
• manutd.com profile