Hibbitt: Terence Arthur (Terry)

1964-1971 (Player Details)

Midfield/Left Winger

Born: Bradford: 01-12-1947

Debut: v Nottingham Forest (a) (substitute): 19-02-1966

5’6 1/2” 9st 10lb (1970)

Hibbitt signed for Leeds from school and became a professional in December 1964. He was a member of the excellent shadow squad used as cover for the international stars in the early part of Revie’s reign. Few footballers have made such a dramatic entry into league football as Terry Hibbitt. Coming on as a substitute, he scored for Leeds with his first touch of the ball at the City Ground. He picked up an Inter-Cities Fairs winners medal in 1968, when he appeared in the final in the Nep Stadium against Ferencvaros. He was behind in the Leeds pecking order to firstly Albert Johanneson, then Terry Cooper and Mike O’Grady and finally Eddie Gray, but did have a good run in 1967-68 and early in 1968-69, but he really blossomed when given a chance to show his skills after he joined Newcastle and commanded a regular place. After a £30,000 transfer took him to Newcastle United in August 1971 he starred for the Geordies for four seasons and played in their side which reached the 1974 FA Cup Final. Both he and Malcolm McDonald made their debuts in the same game, at Crystal Palace and the pair became synonymous in Newcastle legend, so much so that Liverpool and Newcastle legend Terry McDermott picked Hibbitt for his greatest-ever team and added “Hibby had a left foot that was like a magic wand. And he made Malcolm Macdonald the player he was at St James’s Park. I reckon Hibby made 75% of Mac’s goals.” He twice won the Newcastle United “Player of the Year” award. He scored seven goals in one hundred and thirty-eight games in his first spell on Tyne-side. He had a brilliant left-foot and was regarded as one of the best passers in the game; specialising in first-time balls over long distance. Although frail looking he was a tireless, worker whose non-stop scheming made Newcastle tick. In his first spell at the club United built their tactics around him; inviting the opposition to attack and then when regaining possession playing a quick ball out to Hibbitt who would immediately look to play one of his exocet passes into Supermac's path. It was a simple move that would pay off on a regular basis, never more so than in the FA Cup semi-final match against Burnley when he set up Macdonald for the second goal. On many occasions Macdonald has made clear how much he appreciated those passes. A clean hitter of the ball he probably should have scored more goals although it is fair to say that he was a victim of his own unselfishness. It is also fair to say that Terry liked to talk and was not afraid to offer his opinion even when it wasn't wanted and as a result he often got himself into trouble with the men in black resulting in many games missed through suspension. But he didn't just antagonise officialdom; he had many a set to with his own players who often took exception to his unrequested advice. The most famous incident happened after United slumped to a single goal defeat at Molineux on New Years Day 1972 when comments made by Hibbitt led to all hell breaking loose in the changing room. However he was not an unpopular player as there was no lasting antagonism. He candidly admitted to being the biggest moaner at the club but manager Harvey knew how to deal with him; a box of fags usually proving enough to calm him down. His departure went down in history as one of the shoddiest in the history of Newcastle United. United had lost 3-2 at Derby on a Wednesday evening and when Terry got out the showers his boots were on top of a skip. Manager Gordon Lee informed him that he had agreed to sell him to Birmingham and that Freddie Goodwin was waiting to speak to him. A shocked Hibbitt informed the other players he was off and United's coach drove off without him. It was a standing joke in the coming months that players should always pack a clean shirt for away matches just in case they were next. A £100,000 move took him to Birmingham City in September 1975. He spent three years at Birmingham where he was made skipper which helped him to control his temper. He scored eleven goals in one hundred and ten games but he returned to Newcastle in May 1978 in an exchange deal involving winger Stewart Barraclough. By the time he returned Lee and Macdonald had gone and United had been relegated. Hibbitt was made club captain but despite his best efforts this was a poor United side and he could not inspire them to promotion. A persistent knee injury forced him to give up League football and he ran a newsagent’s business. He also ran a pub in the North-East. He scored five times and made ninety appearances, including only one as a substitute, in his second spell with Newcastle United. He played for Gateshead and between May 1986 and October 1986 was their player coach. He played for England Non-League XI, his only representative honour. His younger brother, Kenny, an England Under-Twenty-three international, gave sterling service to Bradford City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coventry City and Bristol Rovers. Terry Hibbitt died, in Newcastle, aged forty-seven, from cancer on 5th August 1994.