Former Prestatyn and Nomads manager Gibson lands a prestigious role in English pyramid
Former Prestatyn Town and Connah’s Quay Nomads manager Neil Gibson is the new boss of a National League club.
The double Welsh Cup winner has taken charge of Wealdstone FC, a tier 5 English semi-professional club based in Ruislip, London Borough of Hillingdon.
Until recently, Wealdstone’s boss was Matt Taylor, the former Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers defender/midfielder, who has moved on to fellow National League outfit Solihull Moors.
The 45-year-old Gibson will work alongside a familiar face as his assistant-manager at Grosvenor Vale – former Liverpool, Wrexham, Tranmere and Wales international forward Lee Jones.
The pair have operated as a management team many times before.
Nicknamed The Stones or The Royals, Wealdstone were crowned National League South champions in 2019-20 and are in their fifth season in the National League – English football’s fifth division.
The club’s most famous fan is Gordon Hill, better known as The Wealdstone Raider, a builder who gained prominence as an Internet celebrity.
A long-time supporter of Wealdstone, he gained attention due to a viral video of him heckling opposing supporters of Whitehawk FC at a football match in March 2013.
His charity record ‘Got No Fans’ made the UK top 5 in 2014.
Well-known former Stones players include Stuart Pearce, Vinnie Jones and Jermaine Beckford.
Wealdstone knocked League Two club Grimsby Town out of the FA Cup this season before exiting at the hands of Wycome Wanderers in round two.
The Stones currently sit fourth bottom of the National League, so Gibson and Jones have work to do to steer them clear of relegation with four going down at the end of the campaign.
After several seasons as a Cymru Premier manager regularly facing the likes of Bala Town, The New Saints and Caernarfon Town, Gibson will now find himself up against famous names which include Oldham Athletic, Hartlepool United and Southend United.
After signing a two-and-a-half-year contract, Gibson told the Wealdstone website: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Wealdstone and excited about the challenge ahead.
“I’ve had a fantastic open dialogue with Rory (Fitzgerald, Club Chairman) and feel the club and I are a perfect fit. I can’t wait to get started and meet everyone – players, staff and fans.”
NEIL GIBSON – PROFILE
Born in St Asaph on October 10, 1979, Neil’s football journey began as a midfielder with Tranmere Rovers, where he progressed through the youth ranks before making his professional debut.
He later played for clubs including Rhyl, Sheffield Wednesday, Southport and Prestatyn Town, winning 12 Wales Under-21 caps along the way.
Transitioning into management, Neil took the helm at Prestatyn Town in 2007, leading them to the Cymru Alliance title three times, guiding them through seven seasons in the top-flight Welsh Premier, winning the Welsh Cup, NWCFA Challenge Cup and qualifying for the UEFA Europa League.
Their Welsh Cup success in 2012-2013 was at the expense of Bangor City, winning 3-1 after extra-time in the final at the Racecourse, Wrexham.
They went on to European glory, reaching the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League at the first attempt. In the first qualifying round they beat Latvian side Liepajas Metalurgs going on to play Croatia’s HNK Rijeka in front of 10,000 fans.
After spells as assistant at Connah’s Quay and manager at Flint Town United, in August 2022, Neil was appointed first team boss of Nomads.
Under his leadership the Quay secured a commendable second-place finish in the JD Cymru Premier in his first season and qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League.
In 2023-24, Quay not only excelled in the league but also scooped the Welsh Cup, the second of Neil’s managerial career.
UEFA Conference League qualification resulted for the second season in a row, with Connah’s Quay winning 1-0 away at Slovenian top division club NK Brava in the 1st qualifying round 1st leg, before going out 1-2 on aggregate after extra time in the return.
Connah’s Quay surprisingly announced Neil had left the club in August 2024 and the UEFA Pro Licence holder has waited patiently for the next big opportunity to come along.
Now it’s arrived.