James Gibbons has spoken openly about the pride he felt after being named in the PFA Team of the Year for last season, a recognition that underlines just how far the Notts County full-back has come in his career.
The defender, speaking on BBC Radio Nottingham, described the honour as "a proud moment" — and it is easy to see why. The PFA Team of the Year (chosen by players across each division and published at the end of the season) represents peer recognition at its purest: it is fellow professionals who cast the votes, not pundits or coaches.
For Gibbons to earn that nod in League One is a significant personal landmark. Full-backs who catch the eye of enough opponents to earn a divisional collective vote tend to be the ones combining defensive solidity with genuine attacking output, and Gibbons has been doing exactly that for Notts County over recent seasons.
A consistent performer at Meadow Lane
Gibbons has been one of Notts County's standout performers across the campaign, contributing both defensively and in wide areas. Right-backs who push forward effectively in a third-tier system are a genuine asset; they stretch opposition defences, create overloads and take pressure off central midfielders. When that same player can also track back and deal with the physical demands of wide forwards at this level, managers value them enormously.
His consistency across a full season is what sets the PFA recognition apart from a one-off strong performance. There are 46 league fixtures in League One, and maintaining a high level across that stretch — through fixture pile-ups, injuries to colleagues and the inevitable run of difficult away days — is the real test. Gibbons passed it convincingly enough that his peers took note.
What it means for Notts County
Notts County, the world's oldest professional football club, are aiming to push further forward in League One this season after a period of significant investment and ambition at Meadow Lane. Having a defender recognised among the division's very best is a marker of genuine progress, not just on the pitch but in terms of the quality of player the club can attract and retain.
Managers and directors of football at this level track the PFA lists closely. Individual honours reflect well on a club's coaching and development environment, and can play a subtle but real role in recruitment conversations. When a player flourishes at Notts County to the point where opponents vote him into a divisional eleven, it sends a message to others who might be weighing up a move to Nottinghamshire.
It also matters to supporters. Meadow Lane has seen a steady rise in attendances as the club has rebuilt its identity in the Football League, and moments like this — a homegrown performance recognised nationally by fellow professionals — feed the sense of momentum the club has worked hard to create.
Eyes on the new season
With the new League One campaign now under way, Gibbons will be looking to back up that recognition with another strong run of performances. Awards from the previous season can cut both ways: they bring confidence and motivation, but they also raise the expectations of opponents who will study your game in detail.
For now, the acknowledgement is well deserved. Being named in the PFA Team of the Year is the kind of individual honour that stays on a player's record long after the season is forgotten. For Gibbons and for Notts County, it is, as the man himself put it, a proud moment.
Frequently asked
- Was James Gibbons named in the PFA Team of the Year?
- Yes. Notts County defender James Gibbons was included in the PFA Team of the Year for last season, an honour voted for by fellow professional players across the division.
- What position does James Gibbons play for Notts County?
- James Gibbons plays as a right-back for Notts County in League One.
- How is the PFA Team of the Year chosen?
- The PFA Team of the Year is selected by professional players themselves, who vote for the best performers in their own division at the end of each season.