Roy Alan Chipolina (born 20 January 1983) is a Gibraltarian former footballer who played as a defender for Lincoln Red Imps and the Gibraltar national team, for which he served as captain.[1]

Roy Chipolina
Chipolina with Gibraltar in 2014
Personal information
Full name Roy Alan Chipolina
Date of birth (1983-01-20) 20 January 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth Enfield, England
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
Southgate Saints
2000–2003 Lincoln Red Imps
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 Rock Wolves
2006–2024 Lincoln Red Imps[a] 153 (24)
International career
2009–2013 Gibraltar XI (Non-FIFA) 8 (3)
2013–2024 Gibraltar 75 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:44, 21 March 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Chipolina has played for Rock Wolves between 2003-2006, and then Gibraltar Premier Division side Lincoln Red Imps since 2006.[2] He became the first Gibraltarian, and oldest player, to score in the fledgling UEFA Europa Conference League when he scored in a 4–1 defeat to Slovan Bratislava on 4 November 2021.[3]

He announced his retirement from football on 9 October 2024.[4]

International career

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Chipolina made his international debut with the Gibraltar national team on 18 November 2013 in a 0–0 home draw with Slovakia,[5] Gibraltar's first game since being admitted to UEFA.[6] Chipolina scored Gibraltar's first UEFA goal, in their second official game, on 1 March 2014 against the Faroe Islands at Victoria Stadium, which they lost 4–1.[7]

Personal life

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Chipolina was born in Enfield, London, but moved to Gibraltar at age four. He moved back to England aged 12, and attended Southgate School, where he featured heavily for the school football team and their offshoot, the Southgate Saints. During his time in Southgate, he had a trial period of three months at Luton Town. He moved back to Gibraltar at age 18. Chipolina works as a Customs Officer in Gibraltar.[8]

Roy is a cousin of fellow Gibraltar footballers Joseph (born 1987) and Kenneth (born 1994) Chipolina. [9][10]

Career statistics

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International

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As of match played 21 March 2024[2]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Gibraltar 2013 1 0
2014 8 1
2015 6 0
2016 6 0
2017 6 0
2018 5 0
2019 10 1
2020 4 0
2021 11 0
2022 7 3
2023 10 0
2024 1 0
Total 75 5
Scores and results list Gibraltar's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Chipolina goal.
List of international goals scored by Roy Chipolina
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 1 March 2014 Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar   Faroe Islands 1–0 1–4 Friendly
2 15 October 2019 Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar   Georgia 2–2 2–3 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
3 23 September 2022 Huvepharma Arena, Razgrad, Bulgaria   Bulgaria 1–1 1–5 2022–23 UEFA Nations League C
4 16 November 2022 Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar   Liechtenstein 1–0 2–0 Friendly
5 19 November 2022 Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar   Andorra 1–0 1–1 Friendly

Honours

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Lincoln Red Imps

Notes

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  1. ^ Lincoln stats before 2013 are unknown

References

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  1. ^ "Interview #3 (January 2013) – Gibraltar captain Roy Chipolina". nonfifafootball.blogspot.com. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b "NFT Profile". National Football Teams. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  3. ^ Reaction: Captain's Role for Roy Lincoln Red Imps. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021
  4. ^ Statement Roy Chipolina on Twitter. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  5. ^ Challies, Josh (20 November 2013). "Gibraltar 0–0 Slovakia – extended match report". footballgibraltar.wordpress.com. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Gibraltar hold Slovakia in maiden international". www.uefa.com. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Gibraltar 1–4 Faroe Islands". Football Gibraltar. March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Gibraltar v Poland: Starting XIs by professional occupation". The Independent. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Roy Chipolina". soccerzz.com. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Fußballzwerg Gibraltar träumt von EM: "Eine Woche voller Geschichte"". skysportaustria. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
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