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Alexander Scott Gilbey (born 9 December 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Milton Keynes Dons, where he is also club captain.
Gilbey received his first taste of first-team action during the 2011–12 campaign pre-season. He scored in a friendly against Woodbridge Town on 20 July 2011, opening the scoring in a 4–1 victory. Seven days later, Gilbey grabbed four goals as a youthful U's thrashed Whitton United 6–2. He played for the under-18s alongside featuring in the club's Essex Senior Cup squads, scoring in their 3–1 fourth round win against cup-holders Billericay Town on 9 November.
In the wake of his debut, Gilbey featured in a further four of Newport's seven remaining fixtures of the season, which included a late appearance from the bench at home to Braintree Town on 9 April, a 1–0 win which secured the club a play-off place; a start in County's 4–1 home victory against Macclesfield Town on 11 April; a further start on 13 April in a 2–0 win over Alfreton Town; and an appearance in a disappointing 3–0 away defeat to Grimsby Town on 20 April, a result which meant that the two sides would face each other in the play-off semi-finals.
In the play-off semi-finals, Gilbey helped his side to 1–0 wins in the first and second legs, setting up an all-Welsh final clash with Wrexham. Gilbey provided the pass for Christian Jolley's goal during the second leg fixture. Gilbey was named man of the match for his performance in the second leg, and described the opportunity to play at Wembley Stadium as "a dream come true". On 5 May 2013, Gilbey was a member of the starting eleven as Newport took on Wrexham at Wembley. He played for the full 90 minutes as County defeated their counterparts 2–0 to return to the Football League after a 25-year absence with promotion to League Two. Gilbey completed his loan spell with a play-off winners medal and eight appearances to his name as he returned to his parent club.
Having tied down teammates Tosin Olufemi and Drey Wright to long-term contracts, Colchester looked to do the same with Gilbey, offering him an extension to his deal which was due to expire in the summer of 2014. However, Gilbey rejected the initial offer, reportedly alerting a number of Championship clubs to the situation following his impressive start to the season and his successful stint with Newport. Despite this, Gilbey started in Colchester's next game, a 2–2 draw with Bradford City on 14 September. Manager Dunne urged Gilbey to reconsider the offer of the ability-based contract, the same offer that had been accepted by his teammates Olufemi and Wright, in which pay is increased after every ten games played for the club. Gilbey then quelled the speculation by pointing out that he wished to stay with Colchester and that he was happy working under Dunne, having featured in the starting eleven for a number of matches in the early stages of the 2013–14 season.
Having become a regular for the U's and making 37 senior appearances, Gilbey penned a -year contract extension on 16 January 2014, tying him to the club until summer 2016. He revealed that boss Joe Dunne was a major influence in his decision to sign the contract, and that Dunne's belief in him was proven by his regular role in the first-team picture. Despite signing the contract, Gilbey did not start a match for Colchester between December and March, when he made a pivotal return to the starting eleven for a 1–0 victory against Shrewsbury Town, providing the assist for Jabo Ibehre's match-winning goal. Shortly afterward, Gilbey scored his first professional goal in Colchester's 4–2 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux Stadium on 25 March, finding the back of the net with a header to reduce the U's deficit to 3–1 after 58 minutes.
Gilbey ended the season with 39 appearances across all competitions in addition to his goal against Wolves. As a result, Gilbey was awarded with the Colchester United "Young Player of the Year" accolade at the club's annual end of season awards dinner in May 2014.
Gilbey started Colchester's first match of the season in the centre of midfield for their home clash with Oldham Athletic on 9 August, playing for the duration of the match as the U's were held to a 2–2 draw. On hearing the news of Joe Dunne's departure as manager of Colchester United following a disappointing beginning to the campaign, Gilbey said that he was left "devastated" by Dunne's exit, but said that he "couldn't have wished for a better appointment" following Academy manager Tony Humes' promotion to first-team manager. Gilbey described Dunne, the person who handed him his professional debut, as "a big influence on me both on and off the pitch". On 16 September, Gilbey contributed to Colchester's downfall in their 3–2 loss to Sheffield United at the Colchester Community Stadium when he conceded a penalty in the 88th minute while the score was 2–2. The U's had already relinquished a two-goal cushion just five minutes earlier, and the unlucky Gilbey had clattered the post with a powerful shot in the fifth minute. He scored his second Colchester goal and his first of the season with a 25-yard shot to level scores at 2–2 in the U's eventual 4–2 defeat to Preston North End on 4 October. He then added to his tally on 9 November in Colchester's 6–3 FA Cup first round win over Gosport Borough. Gilbey finished with a deflected shot following a fine solo run from his own half to give the U's a 4–1 advantage going into the break.
Following comments by Colchester manager Kevin Keen that Gilbey would "be a Premier League player" in two or three years, it was reported that the club had rejected a bid for Gilbey from Championship side Bristol City on 22 January. After further contact between the two clubs, Colchester offered Gilbey an improved contract on 28 January. He was sent off for the first time in his career on 6 February during Colchester's 3–0 Essex derby defeat to Southend United for a challenge on Ryan Leonard.
After no ground had been made on Gilbey's contract offer, Keen admitted that he "very much doubted" that Gilbey would sign a new deal with the club. Gilbey remarked that he would "put it to the back" of his mind with his main focus being on "playing well and keeping Colchester in the league". He scored his third goal of the season on 12 March during a 3–3 draw at home to Wigan Athletic. He doubled his previous season-best goal tally on 19 March with a headed goal in Colchester's 2–1 defeat to Walsall at the Bescot Stadium, before adding his third goal in three games during Colchester's 4–1 win over Doncaster Rovers on 25 March. After scoring five goals in 42 appearances, Gilbey was named as Colchester's Player of the Year at the club's End of Season award ceremony on 13 May. He was offered a new contract to remain with the club at the end of the season.
Following a 1–0 away defeat to Walsall on 3 February 2018, Gilbey sustained a significant knee injury requiring surgery. Milton Keynes Dons' Head of Sports Medicine Simon Crampton stated that Gilbey would be out of action until several months into the 2018–19 season. Despite concerns of a long period out through injury, Gilbey recovered nearly six months ahead of schedule and returned to first team action in time for the start of the new season, featuring in a 2–1 away win over Oldham Athletic on 4 August 2018.
On 27 November 2018, he scored twice in a 2–0 home league win over Morecambe, with both goals long distance strikes from outside the penalty area. Having played a crucial role in the club's promotion back to League One despite missing the last two months of the season through injury, Gilbey was voted the club's Player of the Year for the 2018–19 season.
On 13 May 2023, it was announced that Gilbey would leave the club when his contract expired in June.
On 9 September 2024, he signed a contract extension with the club Having played a key role in a successful start to the season which saw Milton Keynes Dons reach the play-off positions, Gilbey was named the EFL League Two Player of the Month for November 2024.
Milton Keynes Dons
Stevenage
Individual
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