Harry Gilberg was a forward who was born in Tottenham and represented Tottenham Schools, before following the well trodden path to Tottenham Juniors in June 1937 when he left school. The younger players were given tasks to carry out for the groundsman and he was asked to put his carpentry and joinery skills to use. The Juniors won the Southgate and District Cup, before Harry signed as an amateur on 10th May 1939 although on the outbreak of war, he was allowed to sign for any amateur club he wanted, so joined Walthamstow Avenue.
At the non-league club, Gilberg was
able to gain some playing experience and returned to
the club to sign professional with Spurs in 1944,
although he did come
back to Tottenham to play three war-time matches in
December 1941.
Harry joined the RAF
in 1942 as a wireless operator and air gunner, before
signing as a professional for Spurs on 15th September
1944, playing more war games for the club (bringing his
total to 13 games and six goals), as well as Charlton
Athletic (one game in 1944-45) and nine games for
Southend United in the following season scoring three
goals.
Having lost a big chunk of
his playing days to the war, Harry stayed in the
reserves and A team as a reserve for first team
forwards, who rarely got injured, resulting in him only
making three outings in the senior side (Newcastle –
Home Jan 1947; Millwall – Home March 1948; Arsenal –
Away FA Cup Jan 1946). He played 169 reserve and A team
games, many as a half back, winning the London Challenge
Cup in 1947-48, also scoring 18 times in the Combination
and his goal-scoring total for all of his non-first team
career was 64.
Without opportunities in
the first XI, Gilberg moved on
in 1951 to play for QPR, but stayed there only 15 months before
joining Brighton and spending four years at the
Goldstone Ground before hanging up his boots following a
career ending injury. Harry worked as a
representative for a stationery firm and lived in
Broxbourne, Herts.
Harry Gilberg died in Torquay, Devon (while on holiday)
on 16th September 1994.