Danielle Gibbons

Danielle Gibbons
Personal information
Full name Danielle Michelle Taylor-Gibbons[1]
Date of birth (1992-07-31) 31 July 1992
Place of birth Chorley, England
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position Goalkeeper
Youth career
Euxton Girls
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2011 Preston North End 25 (0)
2011–2017 Liverpool 11 (0)
2017–2018 Sheffield 17 (0)
2018–2019 Blackburn Rovers 12 (0)
International career‡
2010–2011 England U-19 0 (0)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  Great Britain
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place2013 KazanTeam
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15:50, 16 July 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 13:21, 17 February 2019 (UTC)

Danielle Michelle Taylor-Gibbons (née Danielle Michelle Gibbons; born 31 July 1992) is an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Preston North End (now known as AFC Fylde), Liverpool, and Blackburn Rovers.

Club career

Gibbons was encouraged to play football as a child by her parents, playing for Euxton Girls' Team from the age of eight.[3] She played as a defender until stepping in as goalkeeper when her team was struggling to fill the position.[4]

Preston North End

Gibbons began her career playing for Preston North End (now affiliated with AFC Fylde, competing under the name AFC Fylde Women).[5]

Liverpool

Gibbons was signed by Liverpool ahead of the inaugural 2011 season of the FA Women's Super League.[6] During her time at the club, she won the Women's Super League twice and made appearances in the Women's Champions League.[7][8] In 2015, the club presented a Special Recognition award to Gibbons after she successfully returned to football following surgery to remove a brain tumour in the mid-season break[9].

Upon leaving Liverpool, she was the club's longest-serving player.[10]

Sheffield

In 2017, Gibbons signed with Women's Championship (now known as WSL2) team Sheffield F.C.[11] During her time at the club, she worked part-time as a personal trainer.[12] Following the 2017–18 season, Sheffield were forced to withdraw from the league, citing financial situations.[13]

Blackburn Rovers

In 2018, she signed for Blackburn Rovers.[14] With the club, she won the Women's National League North, Women's National League Cup, and Lancashire FA Women's Challenge Cup.[15] She left the club and retired from football in July 2019.[16][3]

International career

Gibbons represented England at U-19 and U-23 level and was called up to train with the senior squad.[5] She also represented Great Britain at the 2013 Summer Universiade.

Personal life

In 2013, Gibbons was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma (a low-grade benign brain tumour); the tumour was growing on her vestibulocochlear nerve, a nerve which helps with control and balance.[12] In 2015, Gibbons required surgery to remove the tumour, which made her deaf in her left ear.[17][18][19] Just three months after her surgery, injury to Liverpool's first choice goalkeeper required Gibbons to play in two games, including a Champions League match away against Brescia.[14] Since her surgery, Gibbons has suffered from severe tinnitus.[3]

Gibbons works for the civil service.[12] In 2023, she married her partner, Laura.[20] She is an ambassador for BANA, a charity supporting people affected by acoustic neuroma.[21] In 2025, she released a book, Back in the Game: My Brain Tumour Diaries, about her diagnosis, treatment and recovery.[22]

Honours

Liverpool

Blackburn Rovers

References

  1. ↑ "Информация о спортсмене" (in Russian). Universiade Kazan 2013 Russia. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  2. ↑ "Danielle's hit the heights for GB". Lancashire Evening Post. 31 August 2013. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Atik, Nilufer (13 March 2020). "What it's like to hear a constant screaming sound in your head every single day". The i Paper. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Wood, Ryan (14 July 2011). "In the spotlight - Danielle Gibbons". Sports Keeda. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 Frith, Wilf (11 July 2017). "Goalie Gibbons Leaves Liverpool". SheKicks. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "Meet the Ladies... Danielle Gibbons". Liverpool FC. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  7. 1 2 Saffer, Paul (29 September 2013). "Liverpool claim first English title". UEFA. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  8. 1 2 UEFA.com (13 October 2014). "Stunning finale gives Liverpool the WSL title | UEFA Women's Champions League 2014/15". UEFA.com. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  9. ↑ Trehan, Dev (22 November 2015). "Liverpool Ladies goalkeeper Danielle Gibbons scoops award". Sky Sports. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Goalkeeper Danielle Gibbons signs for World's First". Sheffield F.C. Ladies. 18 September 2017. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  11. ↑ Frith, Wilf (20 September 2017). "Sheffield FC Ladies sign ex-Liverpool 'keeper Gibbons". She Kicks. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 "Danielle Gibbons | Brain Tumour Stories". Brain Tumour Research. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "Club Statement". sheffield.fawsl.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  14. 1 2 Whyatt, Katie (17 January 2019). "Danielle Gibbons interview: 'How do you tell your mum you have a brain tumour?'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  15. 1 2 "Blackburn Rovers 3-0 Coventry United". The FA. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "Season preview: Blackburn Rovers". The FA. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Danielle Gibbons issues Conti Cup target for Liverpool". FA. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  18. ↑ Philbin, Paul (21 November 2015). "Liverpool Ladies star Danielle Gibbons scoops Special Recognition award after return from brain tumour". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  19. ↑ Currie, Jo (16 October 2015). "Liverpool Ladies: Danielle Gibbons 'proud' of comeback after tumour". BBC. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  20. ↑ @danigibbo1; (1 July 2023). "4 weeks since the best day of our lives 😍🥹❤️" – via Instagram.
  21. ↑ "Who We Are – The Team - BANA UK | British Acoustic Neuroma Association". BANA UK | British Acoustic Neuroma Association -. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "Back in the Game - Danielle Taylor-Gibbons". BANA UK. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  23. ↑ Association, The Football. "Apr 28, Crawley Wasps Ladies 0 Blackburn Rovers Ladies 3 | The FA Women's National League". fulltime.thefa.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  24. ↑ "Women's Challenge Cup". Lancashire FA. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
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