Southern Comfort for Derry’s Darron
By David Thorpe
Getting into football’s elite can at times be a hard unglamorous
slog.
Among the star names who featured for the Ireland B team in their recent
draw with Scotland Darron Gibson has hardly received a mention but the
defensive midfielder is starting to make a major impact with Belgian Second
Division side Royal Antwerp where he is on loan from Manchester United.
Nineteen-year-old Gibson joined Antwerp at the start of this season
and despite having his initial progress hampered by injury he has emerged
as one of the star players in the Belgian league receiving three man-of-the-match
awards in his last four matches.
Darron was born in Derry and initially represented Northern Ireland
at youth international level before declaring for the Republic at the
start of this year.
Football authorities North of the border were furious at Gibson’s
decision to defect and alleged the youngster was tapped-up by the Republic
of Ireland.
Gibson is the latest in a long line of young Northern Irishmen to declare
for the Republic. The most high-profile and successful example has so
far been Alan Kernaghan — the centre-half who played more than 30
times for the Republic despite being born in Belfast.
Gibson joined Manchester United straight from school and progressed through
the schoolboy ranks before being loaned out to the Old Trafford side’s
feeder club at the start of the year.
Gibson’s United debut arrived a day after celebrating his 18th
birthday in the Carling Cup victory over Barnet in October 2005. He was
a second-half substitute for fellow youngster Lee Martin in the 76th minute.
He has so far made 20 appearances for Antwerp and playing as a holding
midfielder he has scored once for the Belgians. The Foylesider is enjoying
the experience of first-team football and hopes it will lead to greater
things in the coming years.
He said: “The link with Antwerp is well-known among all the United
lads. It is thought of as a good way to make progress within the club
so I was delighted when I joined them at the start of the season.”
Gibson made a huge impression on his debut for the Republic of Ireland
B international side but says that for the moment he is focusing on his
club career.
He said: “Of course if I get called up I will be ready and willing
but at the moment I have to focus on playing for Antwerp and on impressing
the coaching staff at Manchester United.
“My immediate goal is to stay in the Antwerp first team and maybe
secure a place in the Ireland U-21 team.”
Gibson will be hoping to follow a proud tradition of Irishmen who have
distinguished themselves while playing at the heart of the Premiership
leader’s midfield.
And if he follows in their footsteps Ireland’s search for a midfield
enforcer could be over.
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