Gillingham

Gillingham FC is a professional football club from the Medway town in Kent that was formed as New Brompton FC in 1893 who purchased a plot of land to play games which would later become Priestfield Stadium.

The Southern League was formed in 1894-95 with New Brompton becoming founder members and placed in Division Two; becoming champions in the debut season and winning promotion to Division One. The club took on the title of Gillingham FC in 1912.

The Football League expanded in 1920-21 with ‘The Gills’ becoming founder members of Division Three South. The club struggled in their new found status having to apply for re-election on several occasions. They failed to gather enough votes in 1938 and dropped back to the Southern League; being replaced by Ipswich Town.

Gillingham became Southern League champions in 1946-47 before finishing runners-up in 1947-48. A second title followed in 1948-49. Their successes came under manager Archie Clark, leading to the Gills winning back their Football League place ahead of the 1950-51 season.

Harry Barratt took over as manager in 1957 in time for the Football League restructuring a year later when the Gills were placed in Division Four. Freddie Cox took over in June 1962, leading the team to the Division Four title in 1963-64.

Following Cox’s departure to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, Basil Hayward was named as the new manager in January 1966. His reign ended at the end of the 1970-71 as Gills were relegated to Division Four. Andy Nelson was the boards choice to lead the side.

Nelson led the team to promotion to Division Three in 1973-74 before departing and being replaced by Len Ashurst who in turn was relieved by Gerry Summers for a six year stint. Former Charlton Athletic stalwart Keith Peacock became Gillingham manager in July 1981.

Future stars Steve Bruce and Tony Cascarino were introduced to the team as Gillingham gradually progressed before reaching the play-offs in 1986-87; defeating Sunderland before missing out on promotion in a volatile clash with Swindon Town after three games.

Peacock was controversially sacked in December 1987 to be replaced by assistant boss Paul Taylor. Gillingham were relegated at the conclusion of the 1988-89 season. Taylor departed in October 1988 to be followed by a period of instability.

Managers came and went on a regular basis, with Keith Burkinshaw, Damien Richardson, Glenn Roeder, Mike Flanagan and Neil Smillie all having a go in charge of the team. If things were not well on the pitch they were in a far worse state off it.

The club was close to closure and in Administration when London businessman Paul Scally bought it for £1 in June 1995 and appointed Tony Pulis as the new manager. The bottom tier was now known as Division Three. Pulis took his side to promotion from it in 1995-96.

The club and team progressed with building work beginning at Priestfield. Gills reached the play-offs in 1998-99 defeating Preston North End to face Manchester City in the final at Wembley; in what would become one of the more dramatic games at the old stadium.

The game looked destined for extra time before two goals in the last nine minutes from Carl Asaba and Robert Taylor put Gillingham 2-0 ahead. Remarkably City drew level with two stoppage time goals to take the game to extra time.

Gillingham were defeated on penalties, despite goalkeeper Sam Bartram being voted man of the match. Pulis was sacked a couple of weeks after the final for a misconduct offence with Peter Taylor replacing him for the following season.

Gills again reached the play-offs seeing off Stoke City and then beating Wigan Athletic 3-2 at Wembley with the help of an own goal and then extra time efforts from substitutes Steve Butler and Andy Thomson.

Taylor left to take the Leicester City managers job with Andy Hessenthaler appointed in his place as player-manager. Hessenthaler remained at the helm enjoying a decent time in The Championship until November 2004 to be replaced by Stan Ternent after several caretakers had looked after the team.

Ternent couldn’t help save the team from relegation back to League One as the third tier was now titled. Neale Cooper took over for an ill fated short spell to be replaced by Ronnie Jepson in November 2005. In November 2007 Mark Stimson was appointed as the new manager.

While his side couldn’t avoid relegation to League Two, the former successful Grays Athletic boss led Gills to play-off success back to League One with victories over Rochdale and then  Shrewsbury Town at Wembley.

Stimson was dismissed following relegation in 2009-10 with Hessenthaler returning in his place. Two eighth place finishes were not enough to satisfy owner Scally who appointed Martin Allen as manager. The move worked as Gillingham were crowned League Two champions in 2012-13.

Allen was sacked in October 2013 after a poor start to the season as former caretaker England manager Taylor returned. His reign lasted fourteen months. Justin Edinburgh arrived as the manager in February 2015, taking the team to ninth place in 2015-16.

Scally sacked Edinburgh in January 2017 with Adrian Pennock taking over until September 2017 before the appointment of Steve Lovell. A former favourite from his playing days at the club, Lovell lasted until April 2019. Steve Evans came in to become manager in May 2019. He took the side to tenth place in 2019-20.

Neil Harris replaced Evans in January 2022 as the Gills were relegated on the final day of the 2021-22 season on goal difference. The team were bottom of the table in December 2022 with no investment from Scally, when the deeply unpopular owner sold his major shareholding to Florida-based property tycoon Brad Galinson.

The side pulled away from the drop zone prior to Harris being replaced by Stephen Clemence in November 2023. Gillingham missed out on the playoffs which heralded the departure of the manager.

Gillingham FC will play in EFL League Two in the 2024-25 season.

My visits

Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Scarborough 1 (Saturday 24th January 1998) Division Three (att: 1,998)

For a match report, please click here to visit the Brighton page.

We were on an open corner terrace next to an old Main Stand for the match, which was seated throughout. To the goal to our right was another open terrace which was closed for the day. A new all seated stand was opposite us. 

This was a new construction that had replaced more open standing and an old seated stand straddling the half way line. The far Rainham End was a raised terrace with a cover that continued around each corner.

Friday 16^th July 2010

I was on annual leave from work so I decided after plenty of research to have a day’s groundhopping in North Kent. I alighted from the train that had taken me on the short journey from Sittingbourne and made my way to the stadium with my good pal and Boro fan Simon Keane who lives near the town, full of hope on getting inside. The Priestfield had certainly changed since my last visit.

The Medway Stand was a huge structure backing onto Redfern Avenue. There were no gates open and the structure was so large there was absolutely no view of anything from outside. We walked up the road and past a courtyard where there is a large conference and banqueting centre. 

The doors to enter reminded me of a huge American mansion. We walked around the back of that end and into Gordon Road. Behind the goal was the Rainham End Stand which was a large single tier of seats. The Gordon Road Stand remained the same as on my previous visit, but the old open Gillingham End had gone. 

It had been replaced by a huge portable structure seen normally at major golf tournaments (see sections on Venezia and Brighton & Hove Albion). This was called the Brian Moore Stand after the wonderful old commentator who was a Gills fan and director for a while. 

Try as we might we couldn’t find a way inside. We tried every street and even the dodgy back alleys behind the old Gillingham End where a Fulham fan was stabbed to death in the 1980’s. We walked back to the station with Simon recollecting some of his tales about growing up around Gillingham fans, but supporting Scarborough. 

Our timing was immaculate. No sooner had we stepped on the platform than a train for Ebbsfleet International pulled in and we were on our way to our next venue. 

Gillingham 1 Southend United 1 (Friday 26^th July 2019) Pre-Season Friendly (att: c600)

I’d been meaning to return to actually get inside Priestfield for a game, or MEMS Priestfield Stadium, to give the ground its sponsored title. This Friday night fixture was an ideal opportunity, especially as I was on a week annual leave.

I’d set out in the morning and coincided the match with a ride to the coast down to Dover; primarily to head to The Crabble to take photos of Athletic’s smart stadium. I’d enjoyed the town far more than on previous visits.

On route to Gillingham I alighted at Canterbury. I’d only ever been to a one day cricket match in the city before back in 2000 so I was delighted to have a walk round the wall and to take a look in the city centre to kill an hour.

I wasn’t let down. What a lovely place, despite being mobbed with tourists. The beautiful weather no doubt enhanced the scenery. There was time to grab a Subway sandwich before taking the train towards my evening’s entertainment.

Priestfield looked well at the head of the rather humdrum Redfearn Avenue. To save time I plumped on taking a place in the visitor’s end, which was the closest on the way back. My left knee was playing up and giving me some pain.

Admission was £15, with no programmes being issued. I grabbed a cup of tea for a couple of quid before looking for the open entrance to the seating. Stewards ushered myself and another groundhopper from the West Midlands towards the corner.

We were placed in the end blocks of the Gordon Road Stand down the side, rather than the semi-permanent open monstrosity of the Brian Moore Stand behind the goal. Never has there been a less fitting tribute; to a man who was among the very best commentators.

The large two tier Medway Stand opposite looked well and was certainly an improvement on the former structure and terrace. The Rainham End was open to the more vocal of the few Gills fans who’d sacrificed their Friday evening.

The Southend fans numbered less than a hundred and seemed a friendly enough bunch, if a little harsh in their criticism of the officials in a meaningless game. That said, the gargantuan figure of Gillingham boss Steve Evens could be seen and heard by one and all. Probably even in nearby streets.

The game got off to a lively start. Both sides seemed intent on showing their attacking prowess. I was immediately impressed by Gills forward Mikael Mandron who’d been signed from Colchester United. I was taken by his hold up play and heading ability.

He set up Watford loanee Alex Jakubiak to fire home, but the effort was ruled out for handball by referee Mr C Brook; who I also thought had a good game. Mark Marshall put in a good cross for the hosts, which a Shrimpers defender nearly headed into his own net.

Mandron headed narrowly over from another good Marshall centre before the wide man dragged a decent chance wide. On twenty minutes Isaac Hutchinson put Southend ahead, slightly against the run of play after putting away once fed by a low cross from youngster Charlie Kelman.

Defender Max Ehmer had been culpable in the goal and he should have made amends when a set piece eventually fell to his feet a few yards out, but his effort was straight at keeper Nathan Bishop.

Gills drew level five minute before the break when Stuart O’Keefe put in a cross that Bishop went for, but was beaten in the air by Mandron who headed home. The scorer was only a foot or so away from converting another wide ball as the interval neared.

The scoring chances were lesser in the second half. Home custodian Jack Bonham made a fine save from a a visitors shot, while Bishop kept out Jakubiak after he manoeuvred a chance with a silky bit of skill on the turn.

I’d enjoyed the match but made the decision to scarper with ten minutes remaining. The 7pm kick off had already helped with getting me home at a decent time; ha had the attraction of a train at 8.57 back to London s that I could meet up for a couple of pints with pals back in Kingsbury.

The ale rounded off a really enjoyable day out, and I still had oodles of choice for my Saturday match. I just loved travel, exercise, nice pubs and watching sport.