With morale low at Headingley, Yorkshire suffered relegation from Division One in 2022 in Gibson’s first season in charge.
And their hopes of an immediate return were scuppered last year when the England and Wales Cricket Board docked them 48 points for their handling of the Rafiq case.
But this year, they have achieved the promotion they wanted, finishing runners-up behind winners Sussex.
After a slow start despite the presence of England batters Joe Root and Harry Brook, they won five of their last seven games and drew the other two to get over the line ahead of Middlesex and leave Gibson a very happy man.
“When I was young boy, I used to watch the A-Team and Hannibal used to say, ‘I love it when a plan comes together’ and that’s what I say,” he said.
“We’ve done exactly what we set out to do. The first few weeks we had Rooty and we couldn’t get the wins which was very frustrating, but we were playing good cricket.
“We were doing some good things but couldn’t get over the line. But I saw enough to think if we get one win, we’ll get more. We got one and ended up getting four more, so it’s a fantastic feeling.”
