The history of Gillingham Football Club began with the club's formation in 1893. Gillingham has traditionally been one of The Football League's smaller clubs, playing for almost all of its history in the lower divisions, but did enjoy a five-year spell in the second tier of the league (currently known as the Coca-Cola Championship) between 2000 and 2005. For the team based in Dorset, see Gillingham Town F.C. Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent, currently playing in the Football League One. ... The Football League is a league competition featuring professional football clubs from England and Wales, and is the oldest such competition in world football. ... The Football League Championship logo The Football League Championship (often referred to as The Championship for short or the Coca-Cola Football League Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the FA Premier...

The Early Years: 1893-1920

The official announcement of the club's change of name in 1913.

In May 1893, the local success of a junior football side, Chatham Excelsior F.C., encouraged a group of businessmen to meet at the Napier Arms pub,^[1] with a view to creating a football club which could compete in larger competitions. To do this, the club would need to have at its disposal its own enclosed playing area where an admission fee could be charged, which Excelsior did not. New Brompton F.C. was formed from the meeting, incorporating a number of Excelsior players. The gentlemen also purchased the plot of land which would later become Priestfield Stadium.^[2] Priestfield Stadium is the home stadium of English association football club Gillingham. ...

On 2 September 1893, New Brompton played their first competitive match, sporting Excelsior's black and white stripes. The team were defeated 1-5 by Woolwich Arsenal's reserve side in front of a crowd of 2,000.^[3] The club was accepted into the FA Cup and FA Amateur Cup for the first time, and was successful in winning the Chatham Charity Cup.^[3] Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in Holloway, north London. ... Note: for the full results of all FA Cup finals, see FA Cup Final The FA Cup — this is the fourth trophy, in use since 1992, and identical in design to the third trophy introduced in 1911. ... The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition. ...

New Brompton formed part of the inaugural Southern League upon its creation in 1894, being placed in Division Two due to the club being young in comparison to others in the league. Upon joining the league, New Brompton turned professional, and were named Division Two Champions in the first season (1894–95). With a record of one defeat and eleven victories from twelve matches, they concluded the season with a "test match" against Swindon Town, who had finished bottom in Division One. As 5-1 winners, New Brompton were promoted, taking Swindon's place in Division One the following season.^[4] For other uses, see Southern Football League (disambiguation). ... A professional can be either a person in a profession (certain types of skilled work requiring formal training / education) or in sports (a sportsman / sportwoman doing sports for payment). ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Swindon Town Football Club are an English football team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. ...

In the seasons to follow, however, the club struggled in Division One, finishing bottom in the 1907–08 season,^[5] and avoiding relegation only due to expansion of the league. Whilst the club's league performance was disappointing, the side did manage a famous cup victory over Sunderland, remembered for a hat-trick from Charlie McGibbon.^[6] The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Sunderland Association Football Club is a football club based in Sunderland, on Wearside in the North-East of England. ... In sports, a hat-trick (more often rendered in North America as hat trick, without the hyphen) is associated with achieving something in a group of three. ...

In the 1912–13 season the club renamed itself Gillingham F.C. as a result of the growth of the Borough of Gillingham.^[7] This, however, did not lead to a change of fortune on the pitch, the side again finishing bottom of the division in the 1914–15 season. Gillingham avoided relegation for a second time, however, after the outbreak of World War I, which caused the league to be suspended. The 1912-13 season was the 42nd season of competitive football in England. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

Once the competition resumed after the war Gillingham continued to fare poorly, again finishing bottom of Division One in the 1919–20 season. For a third time, however, the club avoided relegation, due to the subsequent elevation of all Southern League Division One clubs to form the new Football League Division Three.^[8] The 1919-1920 season was the 45th season of competitive football (soccer) in England, and the first following the end of World War I. Honours Category: ... Until the 2004/05 season, the Football League Third Division was the third-highest division of The Football League and the fourth-highest division in the overall English football league system. ...

Into the Football League: 1920-1938

In their first match in the newly-created Football League Division Three, Gillingham held Southampton to a draw in front of a club record crowd of 11,500^[9] but finished the 1920–21 season bottom of the table. In the years to follow there was little improvement on this, the club regularly finishing in the lower reaches of the bottom division, with a best finish of 7th in 1932–33. Southampton Football Club is a professional English football team, nicknamed The Saints and based in the city of Southampton. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...

A change of strip in 1931 did little to change the team's on-pitch fortunes, the club's directors replacing New Brompton's black and white striped shirts with blue shirts and white shorts, colours which have remained associated with Gillingham ever since.^[10] The black and white stripes are still visible in the club's badge.

In 1938 the team finished bottom of the Third Division and were required to apply for re-election to the division for the fifth time since joining it in 1920. This bid for re-election failed, with Ipswich Town being promoted in their place. Gillingham were relegated from the Football League Division Three, and returned to the Southern League, although their stint in this league was quickly interrupted by the outbreak of World War II, which saw manager Archie Clark and most of the players assigned to work at the local dockyards.^[11] Ipswich Town Football Club (also known as Ipswich, The Blues, Town or The Tractor Boys) are an English professional football club based in Ipswich, Suffolk. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

The Wilderness Years: 1938-1950

After the war, the club began to regularly challenge for silverware, with success in this period including a memorable local double of the Kent League and Kent Senior Cup in the 1945–46 season.^[12] In the 1946–47 season the team again won two trophies, claiming both the Southern League Cup and the Southern League title itself, and also registered a club record 12-1 victory over Gloucester City.^[13] The Kent League is an English football league in Kent and south east London. ... The 1945-1946 season was the 66th season of competitive football in England. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Gloucester City AFC are a semi-professional football club currently playing in the Southern League. ...

Although Gillingham were pipped to the Championship the following season, finishing as runners-up, they again captured the Kent Senior Cup, as well as setting a club record attendance of 23,002 for a cup match against Queens Park Rangers. The club applied to be re-elected to the Football League in the summer of 1948 but, despite being backed by a glossy brochure detailing their achievements, their application was rejected.^[13] The club bounced back in the league, and successfully regained the league title in 1948–49. In 1950 plans were announced to expand the Football League Division Three from 22 to 24 teams and, taking into account their local success in the interim, Gillingham were re-elected to the Football League with a landslide vote.^[14] Queens Park Rangers, Queens Park Rangers FC, Are The Finest Football Team The World Has Ever Seen Queens Park Rangers Football Club are an English football team, from Loftus Road, Shepherds Bush in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...

Return to the Football League: 1950-1974

After a tough start to life back in the Football League the team gradually pulled themselves up the table, finishing regularly in the top half of the Third Division (South) until a decline in form in 1958 left the club in the bottom half of the division. This position meant that with the restructuring of the league system for the 1958–59 season, Gillingham were placed in the newly-created Fourth Division - a top-half finish would have led to placement in the newly national Third Division. The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... The Fourth Division or Division Four of The Football League was the fourth highest league division in the English football league system from 1958 until the creation of the FA Premier league prior to the 1992/93 season. ...

The club remained in the Fourth Division until the appointment of manager Freddie Cox, who fashioned a formidable defensive outfit which succeeded in gaining promotion in 1964, winning the first and thus far only championship in the club's history. The team finished the season level on 60 points with Carlisle United, but with a better goal average (1.967 against 1.948). This was the tightest league title finish in Football League history.^[15] Frederick James Arthur Freddie Cox DFC (November 1, 1920 – August 1973) was an English football player and manager. ... Carlisle United F.C. are an English football team based in Carlisle, Cumbria, play in the Football League One this season, after gaining promotion from the Football League Two last season. ... In sports such as ice hockey and soccer, goal difference (that is, goals scored less goals conceded) is often the first tie-breaker used to rank teams which finish a competition with an equal number of points. ...

Despite relegation back to the Fourth Division in 1970–71, the Gills were soon promoted back to the Third Division (as runners-up to Peterborough United) in 1973–74 under the management of Andy Nelson. With the help of players such as Brian Yeo, who equalled the club record for most league goals in a season with 31, the team scored a record total of 90 league goals. // First Division Arsenal won the league championship at the end of a season which would soon be followed by their FA Cup final tie with Liverpool. ... Peterborough United Football Club are an English football team currently playing in League Two for the 2006-07 season. ... The 1973-74 season the 94th season of competitive football in England. ... Brian George Yeo (born Worthing, 12 April 1944) is a former English football striker. ...

Consolidation, then collapse: 1974-1995

After this promotion the club seemed to find its level in Division Three. Under managers Len Ashurst, Gerry Summers and Keith Peacock the team regularly mounted a challenge for promotion which ultimately fell short each time, never more so than in 1986–87 when they reached the play-offs (in their first year of existence) only to lose in the final to Swindon Town.^[16] Players from this era who went on to achieve success at a higher level included Micky Adams, Steve Bruce and Tony Cascarino, who was famously bought from non-league Crockenhill in exchange for a set of tracksuits and was eventually sold to Millwall for £225,000.^[17] Len Ashurst (born: Liverpool, March 10, 1939) is a former footballer, manager and football administrator in England. ... Gerry Summers was a professional footballer with West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, Hull City and Walsall; he then went into football coaching with Oxford United, Gillingham, Derby County and Leicester City. ... Keith Peacock is an English former footballer and manager. ... // First Division The 1986-87 First Division championship went to Everton in their final season under the management of Howard Kendall before his departure to Atletico Bilbao. ... Swindon Town Football Club are an English football team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. ... Michael Adams (born 8 November 1961 in Sheffield) is a professional football manager in England and former player. ... Stephen Roger Bruce (born December 31, 1960, in Corbridge, near Hexham in England) is a British football manager currently in charge of Birmingham City. ... Anthony Guy (Tony) Cascarino (born September 1, 1962 in St Pauls Cray, Orpington, Kent, England) made his name as a striker for various British and French football clubs and for the Republic of Ireland. ... Crockenhill F.C. is a football club based in Crockenhill in Kent, England. ... Millwall Football Club are an English professional football team based at the New Den Stadium in Bermondsey, South East London. ...

Gillingham (blue shirts) in action in a match from the 1985-86 season.

In 1987 the Gills hit the headlines when, on consecutive Saturdays, they beat Southend United 8-1 and Chesterfield 10-0 (the latter a club record). Just a few months later, however, Peacock was controversially sacked ^[18] and within 18 months the club had fallen into Division Four.^[16] Southend United Football Club is an English football team based at Roots Hall Stadium in Prittlewell, in the Borough of Southend-on-Sea, Essex, which plays in the Football League Championship. ... Chesterfield Football Club are an English football team currently playing in Football League One. ...

The Gills' league status was at stake for most of the 1992–93 Division Three campaign, with relegation to the Football Conference a distinct possibility until the penultimate match of the season, when a 2-0 win over Halifax Town ensured the club's survival.^[16] Nonetheless, the financial crisis continued at Priestfield, and steadily improving league form over the next two seasons did little to disguise the fact that Gillingham were in real danger of going out of existence. The 1992-1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England. ... The Football Conference is a football league at the top of the National League System of non-League football in England. ... Halifax Town A.F.C. are an English football team currently playing in the Nationwide Conference. ...

The club eventually went into administration in January 1995, and by the end of the 1994–95 season, with the threat of being expelled from the Football League and closed down, fans were wondering whether they had seen the last ever Gills match. However help was on its way in the form of a last ditch purchase of the club.^[16] The 1994-1995 season was the 115th season of competitive football in England. ...

The Paul Scally era: 1995 to present

In June 1995 a London-based former office supplies salesman, Paul Scally, stepped in and bought the club for £1 from former owners Tony and Val Smith who agreed to write off a million pounds of their own money and loan the club £750,000 interest free for five years.^[19] Scally brought in new manager Tony Pulis, who signed almost a complete new team and led Gillingham to promotion in his first season, finishing second in the old Division Three (now Football League Two).^[5] This season was also notable for the fact that the team only conceded 20 league goals - a league record for a 46-game season. In 1999 they finished fourth and thereby made the playoffs, but lost in the Football League Second Division play-off final against Manchester City. Following goals by the prolific partnership of Robert Taylor and Carl Asaba, the Gills were 2-0 up with less than two minutes left, only to see Manchester City score twice, the equaliser in injury time, and after that win a penalty shoot-out 3-1.^[20] Gillingham Chairman Paul Scally, sporting a Gillingham tie. ... The symbol £ represents the pound currency which Britain uses. ... Tony Pulis (born January 16, 1958 in Newport) is a Welsh football manager. ... Football League Two (often referred to as League Two for short or Coca-Cola Football League 2 for sponsorship reasons) is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system. ... From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football. ... Manchester City Football Club is a football team based in the city of Manchester. ... Carl Asaba (born 28 January 1973 in London) is an English professional football player who plays as a striker. ...

Gillingham fans at the 2000 Division Two play-off final.

Soon after the play-off loss, Pulis was sacked for gross misconduct ^[21] and Peter Taylor appointed manager. In the 2000–01 season Gillingham went on a club record breaking FA Cup run, beating then-Premiership teams Bradford City and Sheffield Wednesday before reaching the quarter-finals where they lost 5-0 to Chelsea.^[5] They also finished in third place in the league, missing out on automatic promotion by losing on the last day to Wrexham, and qualified for the play-offs again. They beat Stoke City over two legs of the semi-final and faced Wigan Athletic at Wembley Stadium in the final. The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, the Gills having held a first-half lead due to an own goal. During the first period of extra time Gillingham went 2-1 behind to ten-man Wigan, but thanks to goals in the second period from substitutes Steve Butler and Andy Thomson the club was promoted for the first time to Division One.^[20] Peter Taylor (born January 3, 1953 in Southend-on-Sea) is an English football (soccer) manager. ... The 2000-2001 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England. ... Note: for the full results of all FA Cup finals, see FA Cup Final The FA Cup — this is the fourth trophy, in use since 1992, and identical in design to the third trophy introduced in 1911. ... For the Scottish equivalent see Scottish Premier League The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership in England and the Barclays English Premier League or just simply The EPL internationally) is a league competition for football clubs located at the top of the English football league system... Bradford City Association Football Club are an English football team based at Valley Parade, otherwise known as The Intersonic Stadium (previously Bradford & Bingley Stadium), due to stadium sponsorship in Bradford. ... Sheffield Wednesday Football Club (abbreviated as SWFC, nicknamed The Owls) are one of the oldest football clubs in England and play in The Football League. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. ... Wrexham Football Club (nicknamed The Red Dragons, or more traditionally, The Robins) are a football team based in Wrexham in north-east Wales. ... In the Football League and English Conference, a Play-Off system is used to determine who the last team to be promoted from that league will be. ... Stoke City Football Club (known as Stoke Football Club until 1926) is a football club from Stoke-on-Trent in England. ... Wigan Athletic Football Club is a professional football team based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. ... Wembley Stadium (often called Wembley) is a football stadium in Wembley, London. ...

As Taylor had only signed a one-year deal, Leicester City, then in the Premiership approached him to be their new manager. Former team captain Andy Hessenthaler was appointed player-manager of the side, having previously served as player-coach.^[22] He led the club to league finishes of 13th, 12th and 11th in his first three seasons in charge, however the 2003-04 season saw the club escape relegation by a whisker, with a last day goalless draw at Stoke City keeping them above Walsall by a single goal. John Gorman was appointed to help Hessenthaler as the side started the 2004–05 season poorly, but as they continued to struggle at the wrong end of the table Hessenthaler resigned as manager in late November. Somewhat unusually he continued to be employed as a player.^[23] Gorman succeeded Hessenthaler in a caretaker capacity but left the club to take the manager's job at Wycombe Wanderers.^[24] Gillingham then appointed former Burnley boss Stan Ternent as manager,^[25] but despite a late run of positive results, he couldn't prevent the Gills' relegation to League One on the last day of the season. In a reversal of the previous season's fortunes, Crewe Alexandra, the team above them, survived by just one goal. Leicester City Football Club, (also known as The Foxes) are an English professional football club based in the city of Leicester. ... For the Scottish equivalent see Scottish Premier League The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership in England and the Barclays English Premier League or just simply The EPL internationally) is a league competition for football clubs located at the top of the English football league system... Andrew Hessenthaler, usually known as Andy, is an English footballer currently playing for Barnet in Football League Two. ... Stoke City Football Club (known as Stoke Football Club until 1926) is a football club from Stoke-on-Trent in England. ... Walsall Football Club are an English football club based in Walsall, West Midlands, currently competing in the 2006/07 season in Football League Two. ... John Gorman born August 16, 1949 in Winchburgh, West Lothian, Scotland is a former football player and coach. ... The 2004-2005 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England. ... Wycombe Wanderers Football Club are an English football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, currently playing in Football League Two. ... Burnley Football Club are a professional football club based in Burnley, in north-east Lancashire, England. ... Stan Ternent (born June 16, 1946) is a former English footballer and later football manager. ... Football League One (often referred to as League One for short or Coca-Cola Football League 1 for sponsorship reasons) is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system. ... Crewe Alexandra Football Club are an English football team based at Gresty Road in Crewe, Cheshire, England and nicknamed The Railwaymen due to that towns links with the rail industry. ...

The 2005–06 season started with Neale Cooper being appointed as the new manager.^[26] Although the team registered a 3-2 victory over Premiership side Portsmouth in the Carling Cup, they struggled in the league, and shortly after defeat in the first round of the FA Cup by Northern Premier League side Burscough, Cooper left the club.^[27] He was replaced by Ronnie Jepson,^[27][28] who led the team to a mid-table finish which was repeated the following season. The 2005-2006 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England. ... Neale Cooper, Scottish football manager and professional player born on 24 November 1963. ... For the Scottish equivalent see Scottish Premier League The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership in England and the Barclays English Premier League or just simply The EPL internationally) is a league competition for football clubs located at the top of the English football league system... Founded in 1898, Portsmouth Football Club are an English football club based in the south coast city port of Portsmouth. ... The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition. ... Note: for the full results of all FA Cup finals, see FA Cup Final The FA Cup — this is the fourth trophy, in use since 1992, and identical in design to the third trophy introduced in 1911. ... The Northern Premier League logo. ... Burscough FC are a football team from Burscough, Lancashire formed in 1946 and play in the Unibond Northern Premier League. ... Gillingham manager Ronnie Jepson, boasting the Gillingham training top. ...

References