City won 1–0, the Leeds Mercury reporter noted him as "a centre-half of undoubted ability",[11] and he kept his place for the next two matches, the second of which was the FA Cup quarter-final against Burnley.
[13] He returned to fitness in time for the semi-final, a 3–0 win against Blackburn Rovers in which he and Jimmy McDonald "stuck grimly" to England international forward Jock Simpson "and generally prevented him from becoming dangerous.
The match ended goalless, and he suffered an injury which meant his place went to Bob Torrance for the replay at Old Trafford, which Bradford City won 1–0, as well as for the last two league games of the season.
[17] Gildea finished the season with seven appearances in league competition and three in the FA Cup,[12] but began the next back in the reserves, and signed for Second Division club Birmingham in September 1911 for a fee reported as nearly £1,000.
[24] He signed for Irish Football League club Belfast Celtic in October 1912 as cover for the ageing Ireland international centre half Jimmy Connor while he was indisposed.