 Gibson began his playing career with Kettering Town before signing for Nottingham Forest for £500 in October 1921.Making his Football League debut a few days later in an away-fixture at West Ham United, Gibson went on to become a regular in the Forest side for six seasons, making 252 league appearances and winning a Second Division championship medal in the 1921–22 season.Gibson signed for Sheffield United shortly after the start of the 1928–29 season as a replacement for David Mercer.