Queen of the South (first spell) Born in
Dumfries, Gibson started his senior career with hometown club
Queen of the South and debuted on the final day of the 2000–01 season in a 1–0 loss to
Queen's Park. Gibson played in 93 league matches for the Dumfries club without scoring a league goal, although he scored his only goal for Queens during his first spell with a 50th-minute winner in a 2–1
Scottish Cup third round match versus
Montrose on 8 January 2005. Gibson then signed for
Kilmarnock from the
Palmerston Park club in early 2007, in a deal which saw
Stevie Murray and
Jamie Adams join Queens on loan for the rest of the
2006–07 season. Gibson's last game for Queens, a Scottish Cup quarter final match at home versus
Hibernian, was one of some controversy: manager
Ian McCall selected Adams to play, despite Adams having been an unused sub for Kilmarnock in that season's Scottish Cup third round. Queens were subsequently fined £20,000 by the
SFA for fielding an ineligible player. Queens chairman
Davie Rae said of the fine "it's a substantial sum".
Kilmarnock Gibson joined
Killie on 1 March 2007 and debuted on 3 March 2007, appearing as a late substitute in a 2–0 win versus
St Mirren; he played in three other matches that season. In his first full season at Kilmarnock, Gibson made a good start, scoring his first goal in a 2–1 win over
Dundee United in the second league match of the season. On 1 September 2007 he produced another impressive performance against
Aberdeen, tormenting the
Dons defence, although Kilmarnock were defeated 1–0; after the match, Gibson said he was disappointed the team had lost, believing they had enough possession and created enough chances to earn a victory. Gibson went on to score three goals against
Gretna in separate matches. The next season, Gibson sat out the club's first ten matches as an unused substitute and played his first match of the campaign, providing an assist, as Kilmarnock were defeated 2–1 by
Falkirk. On 22 November 2008, Gibson scored his first goal of the season in a 2–1 defeat to
Inverness Caledonian Thistle. During a 1–0 defeat against
Hamilton on 29 November 2008, Gibson wore pink boots in the match so he would stand out. Shortly after this match he damaged his kneecap in training, although he was back fit to play after just one week out injured. On his return, Gibson appeared as a substitute and set-up both goals in a 2–0 win over
Hibernian. Before kick-off in a match against
Hearts, Gibson accidentally hit a young
Killie supporter on the back of the head with the ball. As an apology, the young fan was treated to a day out behind-the-scenes at
Rugby Park and presented with a pair of his
football boots. Gibson played 51 league matches for Kilmarnock, scoring six league goals.
Dunfermline Athletic Gibson signed for
Dunfermline Athletic on 23 June 2009 for a nominal fee. His debut for the
Pars was in a
Scottish League Cup match, providing an assist for
David Graham in a 5–0 win over
Dumbarton. One week later Gibson made his league debut in the opening game of the season, a 1–0 defeat versus Inverness CT. A week later, Gibson received a straight red card after a clash with
Darren Smith in a 3–1 defeat to
Raith Rovers. Two months after joining the club, Gibson scored his first two goals on 10 October 2009, also providing an assist for
Andy Kirk, in a 3–1 win versus
Ayr United. Gibson scored another brace in a 3–1 win over
Partick Thistle and then scored another six goals in his first season with the
East End Park club. In his second season, Gibson continued to score, with his first brace of the season, as the
Pars drew 2–2 with
Dundee on 23 October 2010. Then playing versus Queen of the South, on 11 December 2010, he was given a straight red card. Gibson played 49 league matches for Dunfermline, scoring 15 league goals.
Crawley Town On 31 January 2011, Gibson signed for non-league club
Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £150,000, after turning down an offer from the club the previous summer. Gibson debuted in a 0–0 draw versus
Kettering on 3 February 2011 in an away match. With only three appearances for Crawley Town, on 19 February 2011, Gibson started in the
FA Cup match versus
Manchester United at
Old Trafford. Manchester United won the match 1–0 as
Wes Brown scored the only goal. On 24 August 2011, Gibson returned north of the border to sign for
Perth club
St Johnstone, in a loan deal until the end of January 2012 – he had been feeling homesick, as his two young children had remained in Scotland since his move down south. He debuted for St Johnstone on 24 August 2011 versus
Livingston in the
Scottish League Cup, in a 3–0 home win, and set up the first two goals. After his loan spell ended, Gibson left Crawley Town by mutual consent. He played 14 league matches for the
Red Devils, scoring one league goal.
Falkirk On 31 January 2012,
STV reported on their website that Gibson had signed for
Falkirk. This was not officially confirmed until 2 February when the club revealed he had signed until the end of the season. Gibson said his move to the
Bairns could revive his career after experiencing a difficult spell at Crawley Town. Gibson debuted against
Greenock Morton at
Cappielow on 11 February 2012, appearing as a substitute. He scored his first goal against Queen of the South on 25 February 2012. After being substituted versus
Raith Rovers on 21 April 2012, Gibson stormed out of the
Falkirk Stadium. After the match, he apologised for his actions. However, Falkirk manager
Steven Pressley said that Gibson would never play for the Bairns ever again. In response, Gibson said he was treated as a scapegoat by Pressley and criticised him for "dishing the dirt" on him in public. At the end of the season Gibson's contract was not renewed and he departed the club, having played 12 league matches for the
Bairns, scoring one league goal.
Queen of the South (second spell) On 14 June 2012, Gibson returned to Queen of the South on a one-year contract. Manager
Allan Johnston commented that Gibson could help the
Doonhamers gain promotion straight back up to the First Division. Gibson departed
Palmerston Park by mutual consent in April 2013, having played 17 league matches, scoring two league goals.
Celtic Nation For the 2013–14 season, Gibson signed for
Northern League club
Celtic Nation.
Stranraer, Dumbarton, Peterhead and Stenhousemuir On 28 August 2014, Gibson signed for
Scottish League One club
Stranraer. He scored on his debut with a free-kick versus former club Dunfermline Athletic and overall played 28 league matches, having scored nine league goals in his first spell with the
Blues. Gibson signed for
Dumbarton in June 2015, teaming up with his former manager
Stevie Aitken. Gibson scored the winner on his debut in a 1–0 win over
Edinburgh City. He scored a free-kick winner at home on his league debut against
Hibernian and netted again from a free kick the following week in another 2–1 victory, this time versus
St Mirren. After six months with Dumbarton, Gibson was released from his contract with the
Sons, having played 18 league matches, scoring two league goals. Gibson then re-signed for Stranraer on an 18-month contract. He departed at the end of his contract in May 2017, having played 49 league goals, scoring 11 league goals in his second spell at
Stair Park. Gibson subsequently joined recently relegated
Scottish League Two club
Peterhead on 7 June 2017, where he initially signed a one-year contract, before signing a one-year extension. Gibson played 72 league matches, scoring six league goals in his two seasons at the
Blue Toon. Gibson then signed for
Stenhousemuir for the
2019–20 season and played 8 league matches without scoring any goals.
Queen of the South (third spell) After one season as manager of Queen of the South's reserve team, Gibson signed for the
Doonhamers on 15 September 2020 for a third spell at his hometown club. On 8 January 2021, Gibson opened the scoring in the
Doonhamers 3–0
Scottish Cup 2nd round win over
Queen's Park at
Hampden Park; it was only his fourth goal for the club over three spells. The following month he scored Queens' third goal in a 3–2 win against
Dundee at
Dens Park, then scored the only goal of a victory over former club
Dunfermline Athletic at
Palmerston Park. On 5 March 2021, Gibson was named
Scottish Championship Player of the Month for February 2021. On 12 May 2021, Gibson signed a one-year contract extension to remain at Palmerston for the
2021–22 season. Before the start of the season he was named the new club captain, after the departure of
Stephen Dobbie. On 25 February 2022, Gibson relinquished the club captaincy after being appointed
player-manager earlier in the week and handed the role to the club's
vice-captain Josh Todd. In September 2022, he and 17-year-old son Lewis made history when they appeared together in the closing minutes of a League One fixture against
FC Edinburgh, becoming the first parent and child to play in the same team in Scottish senior football. After largely focusing on the management side of his role, Gibson would depart the club by mutual consent on 21 December 2022. ==Coaching career==