Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
243	240	3	80	0	0	253

John Gilbert burst upon the Rovers scene in January 1977 after signing from Jubilee juniors in 1976. In his first senior appearance, he came on as a substitute v Wakefield (at home) and scored a try, and a week later in his full debut he scored two tries, one after an 8O-yard dash - and at Wigan into the bargain! Ten tries in 16 appearances was not a bad return for his first season and his impact made many forecast a glittering career. He was phenomenally fast and elusive, could read a game and was extremely powerful - a natural, and the type of player who made the crowds buzz with expectancy when he got the ball.

The Rovers benefited from these qualities. In seven seasons he was a permanent fixture, mainly in the centre, although he did make 53 appearances on the wing. After playing his part in the First Division Championship in his first season, he had to be satisfied with a runners-up medal in the Yorkshire Cup final against Castleford later in 1977. He had one of his best seasons in 1979/80, being ever-present with 31 appearances and hitting his highest try tally of 16. One of his outstanding games was the third round RL Cup-tie at St Helens on 12 March 1983, when he sliced through the St Helens defence to score two tries to help the Rovers to a surprise but convincing 11-10 victory. This set up the eventual equally surprising win over Hull in the final.

Six months later, it all changed for Gilbert, and upon his return to St Helens in November, ironically at the scene of one of his greatest triumphs, he sustained a cracked knee-cap which put him out of action for the rest of the season. He returned for 1984/85, making 27 appearances and registering his first hat-trick of tries against Bradford (at home), [he had scored two tries on 15 occasions during his career]. In November 1985 he asked to be transfer-listed and moved to Widnes in February 1986. He never gave the impression of really being settled at Widnes, making only 23 appearances and scoring five tries. In October 1987 he returned to Featherstone on a match by match loan basis, but only played three games, his last match being v Castleford (at home) on 15 November 1987.

His talent was unmistakable and was rewarded with three appearances for the Great Britain Under 24 side v France (home and away) in 1977, and in France in 1981. Many thought that such talent could have achieved more in the game, but he achieved much for Featherstone.

 

Biography by Ron Bailey