Cast your mind back to as early as the start of December 2022, Gillingham football club look desperate, lost and not very hopeful for things to come in the future. Gillingham sit second bottom with just two wins and just six goals scored. What was next for The Gills? The atmosphere was toxic and change had to happen for the club, and especially the fan base.
The last decade
How Gillingham progressed over the past ten years? Since the 2012-2013 where Martin Allens Gillingham won promotion to the third tier of English football they’ve had a relatively undistinguished time, spending the initial few years looking over their shoulders in the latter part of campaigns. Allen was surprise sacking came after poor start to the life in league one, but his time at The Gills will be remembered for an incredible league two campaign. Allen broke Gillingham’s record for away wins, won League Two manager of the year, alongside his first promotion as a football league manager.
🏆 CHAMPIONS 🏆
🗨️ "The best highlight of my career, there is no doubt." – Martin Allen
We'll never get tired of seeing these pictures. ✊
What a team. 💙#Gills pic.twitter.com/PrEcypXDpP
— Gillingham FC (@TheGillsFC) April 20, 2020
The Gills first season back saw them finish 17th as Peter Taylor took after from Allen. The following season was a much more steadier campaign, finishing in 12th, after a poor start Taylor was relieved of his duties and a team lead by club legend Andy Hessenthaler took over steadying the ship with three wins and two draws. The late Justin Edinburgh took over in February 2015 in what would be one of Gillingham’s best managers in recent years over his two year spell.
Justin Edinburgh guided The Gills to what is still their best league position (9th), since their relegation from The championship in 2005. A notable player in what was an excellent season for Gillingham was Bradley Dack, the midfield maestro finished the season with 13 league one goals and 11 assists. Rory Donnelly enjoyed the service from the midfielder bagging 10 goals in a strong campaign for The Gills, who finished just five points off the play offs.
The late Justin Edinburgh was sacked by Paul Scally in January 2017, but Edinburgh would go on to show he was an excellent manager, winning promotion with Leyton Orient back to the football league.
Since Justin Edinburgh left the club Gillingham have had familiar finish in the English third tier, with a couple of top half finishes and a flirt with the play-offs in 2021, where a fantastic season for Vadine Oliver (2o goals) saw Steve Evans men become extremely hard to beat losing just three games in thirteen towards the end of the season. Unfortunately for The Gills, there were a few too many draws in there, seeing them finish tenth,
The Paul Scally era…
Paul Scally, previous chairman of Gillingham was with the club from 1995, Scally took the reigns at The Priestfield when the club were facing huge financial trouble, potentially even being expelled by the football league.
🗞️ | #OnThisDay in 1995 Paul Scally officially became the Chairman of Gillingham Football Club.
Congratulations to the Chairman on reaching 25 years in charge! 👏👏 #Gills pic.twitter.com/aW1LPLkyyX
— Gillingham FC (@TheGillsFC) June 29, 2020
The Gills fan saw unprecedented success, after the club enjoyed promotion to The Championship (Division one at the time). Through the Play-offs where they recently experienced one of the devastating defeats to the hands of Manchester City. (Not that Gillingham fans need reminding). Gillingham also reached the quarter finals of the fa cup in the 1999/2000 in an excellent FA Cup campaign, beating top flight Bradford and Sheffield Wednesday on the way, going out to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
John Terry scores his first ever goal for Chelsea in a 5-0 FA Cup win over Gillingham, February 2000. pic.twitter.com/MFgkxzMHFZ
— 90sChelsea (@90schelsea) September 23, 2016
Gillingham stayed in Division one for five seasons, enjoying a season high of 11th, before being relegated in 2005. Gillingham floated between divisions for a few seasons, enjoying some great promotions and of course the lows of relegations. The Gills as stated above, also enjoyed their first league title in 2012/2013
Over the time of the Paul Scally era money assumably ran out, and in recent years they weren’t prepared well for it and therefore disharmony off the pitch resulted in a playing squad with was dismantled and struggling to strengthen. Paul Scally was criticised by fans and he never really took criticisms well, maybe because he saved the club? Maybe because he was proud? Scully is described as an old school Chairman who undoubtedly did Gillingham football club proud over the years, however, over time and as a result of the pandemic which hit many football clubs, The Gills fell behind. Despite the appointment of Neil Harris last season, who did an excellent job and nearly kept the club up, Gillingham were relegated to the basement of the football league and found themselves with a weak playing squad, frustrated and angry fans and a team which was non-league if things didn’t change.
The Change…
On the 23rd of December Gillingham fans received the best Christmas present they could ever ask for in the form of ambitious owner Brad Galinson, who completely the take over of the football club.
The new ownership has revitalized the club, the fans have hope now and they now have owners who want and CAN move the club forward, after years of frustrations the new owners words are refreshing and passionate:
“Going out and meeting the fans was tremendous. Not just from our family’s perspective, but it was more looking out and seeing the fan base, that was what was tremendous. It epitomised what the club is about and what it can be about. The chanting and the flags and just wanting to show pride in their team, it made me and my family want to perform even better for the fans.”- Brad Galinson.
The club have got straight to work and the happiness and the bounce has taken Gillingham off like a rocket, winning their last two league games without conceding a goal, and making signings and ambitious signings left, right and centre. In Neil Harris, Gillingham have an experienced manager who can guide them through the divisions with calculated decisions and a strong drive to achieve, and with the right owners I believe Gillingham can experience fantastic times again.
💬 | @BradGalinson: "The last two weeks has been overwhelming, busy and exciting. More than I had hoped for, absolutely.
"The fans want to be proud of their club."#Gills pic.twitter.com/vtGCfxdeNT
— Gillingham FC (@TheGillsFC) January 17, 2023
The signing of Tom Nicholls is a fantastic coup for The Gills, an exciting talent who Harris will undoubtedly get the best out of, Dom Jeffries has emulated the clubs ambition in a midfield from that will bring energy, hard work and a great pedigree at league two with a huge potential to grow at 20.
Neil Harris’ men have recently been added a great structure to their side with the signing of Conor Masterson from QPR, a player which is a fans favourite, previously making 18 appearances for Gillingham before he returned back to London.
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 🗞️ | #Gills have completed the signing of @QPR centre-back, 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻, on loan until the end of the season. ✍️
Welcome back, Conor! 🙌https://t.co/zrHSuG15Bc
— Gillingham FC (@TheGillsFC) January 26, 2023
The above signings have also been added to a few more signings, in the form of Jayden Clarke an exciting prospect who played in Tottenham Hotspurs academy, and in this season has 12 goal contributions for Dulwich, there’s no doubt he’ll be looking to kick start his career and fire Gillingham up the table.
Two impressive signings are of the former Mansfield pairing George Lapslie and Oli Hawkins. Lapslie will bring leadership and creativity to the side, making well over 100 appearances for mansfield and adding 26 goals in that time, Lapslie can playing in a number of positions which will be needed but shines when pushing on in midfield centrally.
The true ambition from the new owners, added to the fantastic signings and a great manager at league two and beyond, Gillingham have a recipe for a huge success story. The feel good factor was emphasised by Gills defender Will Wright recently: “Everyone at the club has been lifted,” said Wright. “The new signings have been great for the players here as we know there is real quality coming in the building. I’m not surprised how quickly things have clicked with the quality we have brought in. Sometimes when you bring in huge numbers, if they are not quite the right type, then it can take a while but with the type that we have brought in they have hit the ground running.
This statement is true and Gillingham have recruited exceptionally well, and in my opinion now have the talent to immediately push on, doubling their wins this season in their last two games they’ve hit the ground running under the new ownership and have a team which is really strong, experienced and passionate, lead by a very capable manager and hungry owners.
Gillingham in my opinion will grow this season with a real push for the top half. Ambitious fans will potentially want more, but the slow start to the season might be damaging to their promotion hopes. Regardless of this, Gillingham fans have a new lease of life and renewed hope in their future, something which has recently stagnated.
These words from the new owner epitomise this: Gillingham fans want to be proud of their club, they want them to perform on the pitch and the hope is something that is just tremendous. Hopefully we can continue to give it.”
How do you think Gillingham will do this season?
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