Editing Gillingham F.C.

{{Short description|Association football club in England}}
{{For|the football team based in Dorset|Gillingham Town F.C.}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Infobox football club
| nickname = The Gills
| ground = [[Priestfield Stadium]]
| capacity = 11,582<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/clubs-and-competitions/sky-bet-league-one/clubs/gillingham/|title=Gillingham|publisher=[[English Football League]]|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=26 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026081422/https://www.efl.com/clubs-and-competitions/sky-bet-league-one/clubs/gillingham/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| season = {{English football updater|Gillingh2}}
| current = 2024–25 Gillingham F.C. season
| clubname = Gillingham
| image = FC Gillingham Logo.svg
| upright = 0.64
| alt = A shield with the words "Gillingham Football Club" in the top portion and the remainder divided into two sections, the left containing black and white vertical stripes and the right a depiction of a white horse rearing up on its hind legs on a blue background
| fullname = Gillingham Football Club
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1893}} <br /> (as "New Brompton")
| chairman = Brad Galinson
| chrtitle = Chairman
| owner = Brad Galinson
| manager = [[Gareth Ainsworth]]
| league = {{English football updater|Gillingh}}
| position = {{English football updater|Gillingh3}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com|gillinghamfootballclub.com}}
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'''Gillingham Football Club''' is a professional [[association football]] club based in the town of [[Gillingham, Kent]], England.  The team plays home matches at [[Priestfield Stadium]] and competes in [[Football League Two|League Two]], the fourth tier of the [[English football league system]], in the [[2024–25 in English football|2024–25 season]].

Founded in 1893 as New Brompton Football Club and renamed to Gillingham Football Club in 1912, they played in the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] before joining the Football League in 1920. After 18 unsuccessful seasons, they were voted out of the league in favour of [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] at the end of the [[1937–38 in English football|1937–38]] season, and returned to the Southern League. Gillingham were voted back into the Football League in 1950, when it was expanded from 88 to 92 clubs. Twice in the late 1980s, Gillingham came close to winning promotion to the second tier of English football, but a decline then set in and in [[1992–93 in English football|1993]], they narrowly avoided relegation to the [[Football Conference]]. Between 2000 and 2005, Gillingham were in the second tier of the English football league system for the only time in their history, achieving a club record highest league finish of eleventh place in [[2002–03 in English football|2002–03]]. The club has twice won the championship of English football's fourth tier, in the [[1963–64 in English football|1963–64]] and [[2012-13 in English football|2012–13]] seasons, under managers [[Freddie Cox]] and [[Martin Allen]] respectively.

Gillingham originally played in black and white striped shirts but switched to blue shirts in the 1930s. The club crest has traditionally depicted the white horse symbol of the county of Kent. Priestfield Stadium has been the club's home ground throughout its existence; it once held up to 30,000 fans but in the modern era the capacity is less than half that figure.

==History==
:{{Further|History of Gillingham F.C.}}
:{{For|a statistical breakdown by season|List of Gillingham F.C. seasons}}

===Early years===
[[File:Gills1913.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.9|The official announcement of the club's change of name in 1913|alt=A document announcing that New Brompton Football Club has changed its name to Gillingham Football Club, dated 1913]]
The local success of a junior football side, Chatham Excelsior F.C., encouraged a group of businessmen to meet with a view to creating a football club which could compete in larger competitions. New Brompton F.C. was formed at the meeting, held on 18 May 1893, New [[Brompton, Kent|Brompton]] being a settlement adjacent to Gillingham.{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=1}}  The founders also purchased the plot of land which later became [[Priestfield Stadium]].{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=8}}  The new club played its first match on 2 September 1893, losing 5–1 to [[Arsenal F.C.|Woolwich Arsenal]]'s reserve side in front of a crowd of 2,000.{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=4}}  New Brompton were among the founder members of the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] upon its creation in 1894, and were placed in Division Two. They were named Champions in the first season ([[1894–95 in English football|1894–95]]) going on to defeat [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] in a [[Test match (association football)|test match]] to win promotion.{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=5}}

In the seasons that followed, the club struggled in Division One, finishing bottom in the [[1907–08 in English football|1907–08]] season,<ref name="FCHD">{{cite web
| url = https://www.fchd.info/GILLINGH.HTM
| title = Gillingham
| access-date = 3 October 2021
| publisher = The Football Club History Database
| archive-date = 9 May 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080509173818/http://www.fchd.info/GILLINGH.HTM
| url-status = live
}}</ref> 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 [[Football League First Division]] [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] and held [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] to a draw before losing in the replay.{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=6}} In 1912 the directors passed a resolution to change the club's name to Gillingham F.C., and the team played under this name throughout the [[1912–13 in English football|1912–13]] season, although the change was not officially ratified by the shareholders until the following year.{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=102}}  The team finished bottom of Division One in the [[1919–20 in English football|1919–20]] season but for a third time avoided relegation, due to the subsequent elevation of all Southern League Division One clubs to form the new [[Football League Division Three]].{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=10}}

===First spell in the Football League===
In the first season of the newly created Football League Division Three, the [[1920–21 in English football|1920–21]] season, Gillingham again finished bottom, and in the years to follow there was little improvement on this, the club continually finishing in the lower reaches of the bottom division. In 1938 the team finished bottom of the [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division (South)]] and were required to apply for [[Re-election (Football League)|re-election]] for the fifth time since joining the league. This bid for re-election failed, with Gillingham returning to the Southern League and [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] being promoted in their place.{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=13}} Gillingham quickly established themselves as one of the stronger sides in the league, winning a local double of the [[Kent Football League (1894–1959)|Kent League]] and [[Kent Senior Cup]] in the [[1945–46 in English football|1945–46]] season.{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=13}}  In the [[1946–47 in English football|1946–47]] season the team won both the [[Southern Football League Cup (England)|Southern League Cup]] and the Southern League championship, during which they recorded a club record 12–1 victory over [[Gloucester City F.C.|Gloucester City]].{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=16}}  The Gills also won the league title in [[1948–49 in English football|1948–49]].{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=19}}

===Return to the Football League===
In 1950, plans were announced to expand the Football League Division Three (South) 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.{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=19}}  The team spent eight seasons in Division Three (South) before the restructuring of the league system for the [[1958–59 in English football|1958–59]] season saw them placed in the newly created [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]]. They remained in this division until 1964, when manager [[Freddie Cox]] led them to promotion, winning the first championship in the club's history. The team finished the season level on 60 points with [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]], but with a fractionally better [[goal average]] (1.967 against 1.948).{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=26}}

After relegation back to the Fourth Division in [[1970–71 in English football|1970–71]], the Gills were soon promoted back to the Third Division in the [[1973–74 in English football|1973–74]] season.{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=54}} After this the club seemed to find its level in Division Three, regularly mounting a challenge for promotion which ultimately fell short each time, coming particularly close to promotion in [[1986–87 in English football|1986–87]] when they reached the [[Football League play-offs|play-offs]] only to lose in the [[1987 Football League Third Division play-off Final|final]] to [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]].<ref name="GFCHist">{{cite web|url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/ClubHistory/0,,10416,00.html |title=Gillingham FC History (1893– ) |access-date=4 February 2014 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215161623/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10416%2C00.html |archive-date=15 February 2012 }}</ref>  During this period the club produced future stars [[Steve Bruce]] and [[Tony Cascarino]], who was famously bought from non-league [[Crockenhill F.C.|Crockenhill]] in exchange for a set of tracksuits.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=82}}

[[File:Priestfield2.jpg|upright=1.15|thumb|right|Gillingham (blue shirts) in action in a match from the 1986–87 season|alt=Two teams taking part in a football match, one in blue shirts and the other in yellow. Stands full of spectators are visible in the background.]]
In 1987, the Gills hit the headlines when, on consecutive Saturdays, they beat [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]] 8–1 and [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]] 10–0, the latter a club record for a [[Football League]] match. Just a few months later, however, manager [[Keith Peacock]] was controversially sacked,<ref name=keith>{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A117506930/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=32a48136 | work = [[The Times]] | access-date = 11 September 2021 | via = [[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] | title = Football: Gillingham respond to protest| date = 4 January 1988|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A117544809/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=e43f2e13 | work = [[The Times]] | access-date = 19 September 2021 | via = [[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] | title = Football: Gillingham dismiss Peacock as manager| date = 30 December 1987|url-access=subscription }}</ref> and within 18 months the club had fallen into Division Four.<ref name="GFCHist" />  The ensuing spell in the lower division brought little success, and in the [[1992–93 in English football|1992–93]] Division Three campaign the Gills narrowly avoided relegation to the [[Football Conference]].<ref name="GFCHist" />

===Recent highs and lows===
[[File:Gillsplayoff2000.jpg|upright=1.15|thumb|right|Gillingham fans at the 2000 Division Two play-off final|alt=A stadium full of spectators. Those nearest the camera are waving blue and white flags.]]
Beset with financial problems, the club went into administration in January 1995, and by the end of the [[1994–95 in English football|1994–95]] season faced the threat of being expelled from the Football League and closed down.<ref name="GFCHist" />  In June 1995, however, a London-based businessman, [[Paul Scally]], stepped in and bought the club.{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=105}}  He brought in new manager [[Tony Pulis]], who led Gillingham to promotion in his first season, finishing second in the old Division Three (now [[Football League Two]]).<ref name="FCHD" />  In 1999 the Gills made the play-offs but lost in the [[1999 Football League Second Division play-off Final|final]] to [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. The Gills were 2–0 up with less than two minutes left only to see City score twice, the equaliser in injury time, and go on to win 3–1 in a [[Penalty shootout (association football)|penalty shoot-out]].<ref name=guardrep>{{Cite web | url = https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/74999921/the-guardian/ | work = [[The Guardian]] | via = [[Newspapers.com]] | access-date = 3 October 2021 | title = Now City turn lost cause into a triumph | first = Trevor | last = Haylett | date = 31 May 1999 | page = 25 | archive-date = 27 July 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210727150752/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/74999921/the-guardian/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=timesrep>{{Cite news | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500231797/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=TTDA&xid=5f472bb6 | work = [[The Times]] | via = [[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] | title = City stage another Manchester late show | page = 31 | date = 31 May 1999 | first = Keith | last = Pike | url-access = subscription | access-date = 3 April 2021 | archive-date = 27 July 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210727150804/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CIF0500231797&v=2.1&it=r&sid=TTDA&asid=5f472bb6 | url-status = live }}</ref>  Soon after the play-off loss, Pulis was sacked for gross misconduct,<ref name="cham">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/apr/26/newsstory.sport1|title=Pulis 'drank champagne' after sacking|work=The Guardian|author=Jon Brodkin|date=26 April 2001|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=9 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309141237/http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PlayOffsDetail/0%2C%2C10794~475418%2C00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Peter John Taylor|Peter Taylor]] appointed manager.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/984825.stm
| title = Taylor-made for top job
| access-date = 3 October 2021
| publisher = BBC Sport
| date = 14 November 2000
| archive-date = 7 April 2003
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030407071458/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/984825.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref>  In the [[1999–00 in English football|1999–00]] season Gillingham qualified for the play-offs again, where they faced [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] in the [[2000 Football League Second Division play-off Final|final]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]]. The game finished 1–1 after 90 minutes, but, thanks to goals in extra time from substitutes [[Steve Butler (footballer)|Steve Butler]] and [[Andy Thomson (footballer born 1971)|Andy Thomson]], the Gills won 3–2 and were promoted to Division One for the first time.<ref name=lucky>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/767702.stm|title=Second time lucky for Gills|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=28 May 2000|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=3 March 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030303203928/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/767702.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Taylor then left to manage [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]], and [[Andy Hessenthaler]] was appointed as player-manager.<ref name="Hess out" />  He led the club to their best ever league finish of eleventh in the 2002–03 season,<ref name="FCHD" /> but the following season saw the club narrowly avoid relegation on [[goal difference]]. Hessenthaler resigned as manager in November 2004,<ref name="Hess out">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4035041.stm|title=Hessenthaler steps down at Gills|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=12 April 2007|date=23 November 2004|archive-date=27 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727175320/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4035041.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and new boss [[Stan Ternent]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4071489.stm|title=Gills unveil Ternent as manager|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=3 October 2021|date=7 December 2004|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504213802/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4071489.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> was unable to prevent the Gills' relegation to [[Football League One|League One]]. At the end of the [[2007–08 in English football|2007–08]] season the club was relegated again, this time to League Two,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7377686.stm|title=Leeds 2–1 Gillingham|publisher=BBC|access-date=3 October 2021|date=3 May 2008|archive-date=5 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505092607/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/7377686.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>  but an immediate return to the third level was secured via the play-offs after beating [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] in the [[2009 Football League Two play-off Final|final]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8048284.stm|title=Gillingham 1–0 Shrewsbury|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 October 2021|access-date=23 May 2009|archive-date=25 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525150909/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_3/8048284.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>  In the [[2009–10 in English football|2009–10]] season, however, the Gills slipped into the bottom four on the last day, and were relegated back to League Two, having failed to win a single away game in the league all season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8632662.stm|title=Wycombe 3–0 Gillingham|publisher=BBC|date=8 May 2010|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=11 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511160330/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/8632662.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>  This resulted in manager [[Mark Stimson]] having his contract terminated,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/8672351.stm|title=Manager Mark Stimson leaves Gillingham|publisher=BBC|date=10 May 2010|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=13 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513085349/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/8672351.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and Andy Hessenthaler was appointed as manager of the club for the second time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/8698075.stm|title=Andy Hessenthaler named new Gillingham Manager|publisher=BBC|date=21 May 2010|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=24 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524102958/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/8698075.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>  At the start of the [[2012–13 in English football|2012–13]] season Hessenthaler was replaced by [[Martin Allen (footballer)|Martin Allen]], who led the club to promotion as League Two champions in his first season in charge.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cawdell |first1=Luke |title=Manager Martin Allen pays tribute to club's fans as sell-out crowd see Gillingham crowned League 2 champions |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/manager-martin-allen-pays-tribut-a53675/ |access-date=3 October 2021 |work=KentOnline |date=22 April 2013 |archive-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925212657/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/news/manager-martin-allen-pays-tribut-a53675/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cawdell |first1=Luke |title=Looking back at the day Gillingham won the League 2 title at Priestfield in front of a sell-out crowd |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/the-day-gills-won-the-league-in-pictures-225911/ |access-date=3 October 2021 |work=KentOnline |date=20 April 2020 |archive-date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925220853/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/the-day-gills-won-the-league-in-pictures-225911/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, shortly after winning League Two, Allen was sacked in what many saw as a surprise after a poor start to the season.<ref name="MA out">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/peter-taylor-drafted-in-following-sacking-of-martin-allen-at-gillingham-8877756.html|title=Peter Taylor drafted in following sacking of Martin Allen at Gillingham|work=[[The Independent]]|date=13 October 2013|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=17 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717184606/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/peter-taylor-drafted-in-following-sacking-of-martin-allen-at-gillingham-8877756.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  The club remained in League One from 2013 up until 2022, with a best finish of ninth, achieved in the [[2015&ndash;16 in English football|2015&ndash;16]] season.<ref name="FCHD" />  In the [[2021–22 in English football|2021–22]] season, Gillingham were relegated back into League Two.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61198302|title=Gillingham 0&ndash;2 Rotherham United|publisher=BBC|date=20 April 2022|access-date=20 April 2022|archive-date=30 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430075220/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61198302|url-status=live}}</ref>  In December 2022, Florida-based property tycoon Brad Galinson acquired a majority shareholding in the club, with Scally retaining minority ownership.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64079960|title=Gillingham: Brad Galinson completes takeover after buying majority stake|work=[[BBC Sport]]|accessdate=23 December 2022|date=23 December 2022|archive-date=23 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223184835/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64079960|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2023 the club confirmed that Galinson would also take on the position of Chairman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cawdell |first=Luke |date=2023-01-03 |title=Scally 'remains a big asset to Gillingham' says new owner |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-brad-galinson-279806/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=[[Kent Online]] |language=en |archive-date=3 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103220249/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-brad-galinson-279806/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Stadium==
[[File:Priestfield Stadium Medway Stand.jpg|upright=1.15|thumb|right|Exterior shot of Priestfield Stadium (Medway Stand)|alt=An external view of a sports stadium, with a large amount of blue detail on the facade.]]
The Gills have played at [[Priestfield Stadium]] throughout their existence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/grounds_history.sd?teamid=1098 |title=Ground history for Gillingham |access-date=3 October 2021 |publisher=[[Soccerbase]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127144542/http://www.soccerbase.com/grounds_history.sd?teamid=1098 |archive-date=27 November 2007 }}</ref>  The ground was originally purchased by the founders of the club through an issue of 1,500 £1 shares.{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=8}} Sources differ on whether the ground was named after the road on which the land stood, Priestfield Road,{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=8}} or whether the road was named after the ground;<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/leisure/localhistory/timeline/17909/18624-2.htm
 | title = Local history: Gillingham Football Club
| access-date = 3 October 2021
| publisher = Medway Council
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040619081207/http://www.medway.gov.uk/index/leisure/localhistory/timeline/17909/18624-2.htm
 | url-status = dead
 |archive-date = 19 June 2004}}</ref> if the latter is the case then the origin of the ground's name is unknown. The ground was extensively developed prior to the 1930s, but there was then little change until the late 1990s and the arrival of Paul Scally as chairman. Three of the four stands were demolished and rebuilt between 1995 and 2000. The fourth stand, known as the Town End, was demolished to make way for a new stand, to be named the Brian Moore Stand after television sports commentator [[Brian Moore (commentator)|Brian Moore]], who was a well-known Gills fan, but the club's financial situation has not allowed the new stand to be built.  A temporary stand was erected in 2003 and remains in place as of 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/PriestfieldStadium/0,,10416,00.html |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |title=The Changing Face of KRBS Priestfield |date=7 September 2007 |access-date=5 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215162033/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/PriestfieldStadium/0%2C%2C10416%2C00.html |archive-date=15 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2020/november/gillingham-opposition/|title=Opposition: Gillingham|publisher=[[Southend United F.C.]]|date=26 November 2010|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003200119/https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2020/november/gillingham-opposition/|url-status=live}}</ref>  From 2007 until 2010 the stadium was officially named KRBS Priestfield Stadium as part of a sponsorship deal with the [[Kent Reliance Building Society]].<ref name="KRBS" />  In 2011 it was rebranded again, this time, to MEMS Priestfield Stadium under another such agreement.<ref>{{cite web|date=23 May 2011 |url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/PressReleases/0,,10416~2355939,00.html |title=New sponsor named..... |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |access-date=3 October 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616062914/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/PressReleases/0%2C%2C10416~2355939%2C00.html |archive-date=16 June 2012 }}</ref>

At its peak in the 1940s the official capacity of the stadium was listed as "between 25,000 and 30,000"{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=1}} but subsequent redevelopments, the removal of terraces and building of new facilities have seen this reduced to a current capacity of 11,582.<ref name="cap">{{cite web
| url = http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/aroundthegrounds/Gillingham---Priestfield-Stadium.2984470.jp
| title = Gillingham&nbsp;– Priestfield Stadium
| access-date = 3 October 2021
| publisher = Yorkshire Evening Post
| date = 27 June 2007
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120616062914/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/PressReleases/0%2C%2C10416~2355939%2C00.html
| archive-date = 16 June 2012
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> In the [[2018–19 in English football|2018–19]] season, the most recent to be completed in full with full crowd capacity permitted, the average attendance at home matches was 5,128.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = https://www.worldfootball.net/attendance/eng-league-one-2018-2019/1/
 |title         = League One 2018/2019 » Attendance » Home matches
 |access-date         = 3 October 2021
 |publisher         = worldfootball.net
 |archive-date         = 5 October 2021
 |archive-url         = https://web.archive.org/web/20211005103728/https://www.worldfootball.net/attendance/eng-league-one-2018-2019/1/
 |url-status         = live
 }}</ref> The ground has also hosted home fixtures of the [[England women's national football team]].<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/women/4931222.stm
| title = Powell impressed with Kent crowd
| access-date = 3 October 2021
| date = 21 April 2006
| publisher = BBC
| archive-date = 28 September 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120928235140/http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/Attendance/0%2C%2C10794~200710416%2C00.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref>  The club's training ground is Beechings Cross, in Grange Road, Gillingham. In 2012 the club was involved in a dispute with the local council, who alleged that Gillingham owed over £30,000 in unpaid bills relating to the training facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18703824|title=Gillingham ordered to leave training ground by council|publisher=BBC|date=4 July 2012|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=7 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907004312/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18703824|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Colours and crest==
[[File:FredGriffiths.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Fred Griffiths (footballer)|Fred Griffiths]] wearing the club's original striped shirt]]
Although Gillingham have long been associated with the colours blue and white, the original New Brompton side wore a strip consisting of black and white striped shirts with black shorts.{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=8}}  In 1913 the black and white strip was dropped in favour of red shirts with blue sleeves, emblazoned with the [[municipal borough|borough]]'s coat of arms.{{sfn|Bradley|Triggs|1994|p=54}}  The striped shirts returned after World War One, before finally being replaced with the now-familiar combination of plain blue shirts and white shorts in 1931.{{sfn|Bradley|Triggs|1994|p=92}}  More recent years have seen several variations on the blue and white colour scheme. In the late 1990s the team wore blue and black striped shirts, recalling the original New Brompton stripes.<ref name="kits">{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/356672.stm
| title = Shoot-out success for City
| access-date = 3 October 2021
| date = 30 May 1999
| publisher = BBC
| archive-date = 2 April 2021
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210402082849/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/356672.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref>  In the summer of 2003 it was controversially announced that the club's first choice shirts for the following season would be predominantly white, rather than blue. The announcement received such a hostile response from supporters that the white strip was replaced by one featuring blue and black hoops, which had originally been earmarked as the team's third choice kit.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/3004886.stm
| title = Shirty fans win kit battle
| access-date = 3 October 2021
| date=19 June 2003
|publisher=BBC
}}</ref>  In March 2010 the club announced a return to the black and blue stripes for the 2010–11 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10416~1985247,00.html |title=Gills Go Back to Black |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |date=5 March 2010 |access-date=6 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616061528/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10416~1985247%2C00.html |archive-date=16 June 2012 }}</ref>  In recognition of the centenary of the renaming of the club, the 2012–13 kit was red with blue sleeves and collar, and the club's crest was replaced by the town's crest. After winning the League Two title in 2012–13, the club gave season ticket holders the chance to vote on what colours the club would play in for the 2013–14 season, with the fans choosing to return to a blue and white kit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/article/back-in-blue-853582.aspx|title=Back in Blue|publisher=Gillingham F.C.|date=4 June 2013|access-date=22 August 2013|archive-date=16 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616061528/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10416~1985247%2C00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Blue and white, or blue with black stripes, have been used since.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Gillingham/Gillingham.htm|title=Gillingham|website=Historical Football Kits|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003200730/http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Gillingham/Gillingham.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:GFCOldBadge.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Until 1992 the club's crest was simply a portion of the county arms of Kent.|alt=An illustration of a white horse rearing up on its hind legs.]]
The club's current crest is a shield divided vertically into halves of black and white stripes and solid blue, reflecting the club's original and modern kits. On the blue half is the county emblem of [[Kent]], a white horse rampant, albeit slightly altered from its normal form as its mane is stylised into the letters of the word "Gills". This side has been sometimes given a red or pink background, to coordinate with away kits featuring those colours. The club's motto, which appears on a scroll below the crest, is ''Domus clamantium'', the [[Latin (language)|Latin]] for "the home of the shouting men",<ref name="SM">{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/movie_blockbuster_to_score_with_gills_fans_plot_1_1046565
 |title       = Movie blockbuster to score with Gills fans plot
 |access-date  = 3 October 2021
 |date        = 28 December 2008
 |publisher   = Eastern Daily Press
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20130422064331/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/movie_blockbuster_to_score_with_gills_fans_plot_1_1046565
 |archive-date = 22 April 2013
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> a traditional epithet associated with the town of Gillingham.<ref>{{cite news
| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-forgotten-club-ready-to-surprise-1096627.html
| title = Football: Forgotten club ready to surprise
| access-date = 3 October 2021
| date = 29 May 1999
| author = Steve Tongue
| work = The Independent
| archive-date = 19 July 2019
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190719164852/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-forgotten-club-ready-to-surprise-1096627.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref>  In keeping with the crest, the club's mascot, Tommy Trewblu, takes the form of a horse.  He first appeared at a match against [[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]] in October 1998.{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=152}}

The first sponsor's name to appear on Gillingham shirts was that of Italian [[home appliance]] manufacturers [[Zanussi]], who sponsored the club in the mid-1980s. Subsequent sponsors have included [[Chatham Maritime]], Medway [[Toyota]], Cannon Tool Hire, [[Heart Kent|Invicta FM]], Kool, [[Medway News]], [[SeaFrance]],{{sfn|Triggs|2001|pp=87, 134, 140, 170, 211, 292}}<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/2982882.stm
| title = Fans could decide kit colour
| access-date = 3 October 2021
| date = 19 March 2007
| publisher = BBC
| archive-date = 21 June 2004
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040621001156/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/2982882.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> MHS Homes Group,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Ellen |date=23 April 2004 |title=Gillingham FC signs £250,000 shirt sponsor … MHS Homes |url=https://www.building.co.uk/gillingham-fc-signs-250000-shirt-sponsor--mhs-homes/3034639.article |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=[[Building (magazine)|Building]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Kent Reliance Building Society]],<ref name="KRBS">{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/6465713.stm
| title = Gillingham to change stadium name
| access-date = 3 October 2021
| date = 19 March 2007
| publisher = BBC
| archive-date = 22 March 2007
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070322173310/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/6465713.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Automatic Retailing,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/PressReleases/0,,10416~2082617,00.html |title=Automatic Retailing sponsor Gills |date=1 July 2010 |access-date=6 February 2014 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616061940/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/PressReleases/0%2C%2C10416~2082617%2C00.html |archive-date=16 June 2012 }}</ref> MEMS Power Generation,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/PressReleases/0,,10416~2355939,00.html |title=New sponsor named |date=23 May 2011 |access-date=6 February 2014 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130190448/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/PressReleases/0%2C%2C10416~2355939%2C00.html |archive-date=30 January 2012 }}</ref> [[Medway Council]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/gills-confirms-new-sponsor-182554/|title=Medway Council confirmed as new sponsor for Gillingham Football Club|first=Amy|last=Nickalls|work=Kent Online|date=5 May 2018|access-date=3 October 2021|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003201128/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/gills-confirms-new-sponsor-182554/|url-status=live}}</ref> and Bauvill.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 June 2023 |title=Bauvill become new front of shirt sponsor |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2023/june/bauvill-become-new-front-of-shirt-sponsor |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=Gillingham F.C. |language=en}}</ref>

==Players==

===Current squad===
{{updated|4 February 2025}}<ref>{{cite web
| title = First Team
| url = https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/squad/56
| publisher = Gillingham F.C
| access-date = 9 August 2024
}}</ref>

{{fs start}}
<!-- For help using the below template, please see [[Template talk:Football squad player]] -->
{{fs player|no=1|pos=GK|nat=ENG|name=[[Glenn Morris (footballer)|Glenn Morris]]}}
{{fs player|other=|no=2|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Remeao Hutton]]}}
{{fs player|no=3|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Max Clark (footballer)|Max Clark]]}}
{{fs player|other=|no=4|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[Conor Masterson]]}}
{{fs player|other=|no=6|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Ethan Coleman]]}}
{{fs player|no=7|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Jack Nolan (English footballer)|Jack Nolan]]}}
{{fs player|no=8|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Armani Little]]|other=[[vice-captain (association football)|vice-captain]]}}
{{fs player|other=|no=9|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Josh Andrews (footballer)|Josh Andrews]]}}
{{fs player|other=|no=10|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=[[Jonny Williams]]}}
{{fs player|other=|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Aaron Rowe]]}}
{{fs player|other=|no=14|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Robbie McKenzie]]}}
{{fs player|other=|no=16|nat=MWI|pos=MF|name=[[Nelson Khumbeni]]}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs player|no=18|nat=CYP|pos=FW|name=[[Marcus Wyllie]]}}
{{fs player|no=20|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Elliott Nevitt]]}}
{{fs player|no=21|nat=NIR|pos=MF|name=[[Euan Williams]]}}
{{fs player|no=22|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[Shadrach Ogie]]|other=}}
{{fs player|no=23|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Bradley Dack]]}}
{{fs player|no=25|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Jake Turner (footballer)|Jake Turner]]}}
{{fs player|no=29|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Joseph Gbode]]}}
{{fs player|no=30|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Sam Gale]]}}
{{fs player|no=33|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Taite Holtam]]}}
{{fs player|no=34|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Stanley Skipper]]}}
{{fs player|other=|no=40|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Harry Webster (footballer, born 2006)|Harry Webster]]}}
{{fs player|other=|no=42|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Harry Waldock}}
{{fs end}}

===Former players===
{{Main|List of Gillingham F.C. players}}

=== Player of the Season ===
Gillingham's Player of the Season award is voted for by the club's supporters. It was first introduced in the [[1968–69 in English football|1968–69 season]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Past Masters - Brian Yeo |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2012/july/past-masters---brian-yeo/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413131820/https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2012/july/past-masters---brian-yeo/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 
{|
|
* 1968–69: [[Brian Yeo]]<ref name=":6" />
* 1969–70: [[John Simpson (footballer, born 1933)|John Simpson]]<ref name=":5" />
* 1970–71: [[John Simpson (footballer, born 1933)|John Simpson]]<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Choose Your Greatest XI |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2013/august/choose-your-greatest-xi/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413132409/https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2013/august/choose-your-greatest-xi/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1971–72: [[Alan Wilks]]{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=336}}
* 1972–73: [[Dick Tydeman]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Past Masters - Dick Tydeman |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2012/july/past-masters---dick-tydeman/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413134930/https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2012/july/past-masters---dick-tydeman/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1973–74: [[George Jacks]]{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=171}}
* 1974–75: [[Damien Richardson (footballer)|Damien Richardson]]<ref>{{Cite book |title=Gillingham Football Club 1975-76 Supporters Handbook |publisher=The Blue Supporter's Association |year=1975 |pages=25 |quote="Damien Richardson is current Player-of-the-Year. He earned the award with some great performances last season."}}</ref>
* 1975–76: [[Dave Shipperley]]<ref name=":4" />
* 1976–77: [[Dave Shipperley]]<ref name=":4" />
* 1977–78: [[John Overton (footballer)|John Overton]]<ref name=":4" />
* 1978–79: [[Mark Weatherly]]{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=331}}
* 1979–80: [[Steve Bruce]]<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Vote For Your Greatest Centre-Half |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2013/october/vote-for-your-greatest-centre-half/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413133812/https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2013/october/vote-for-your-greatest-centre-half/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1980–81: [[Andy Ford (English footballer)|Andy Ford]]<ref name=":1" />
* 1981–82: [[Steve Bruce]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 1982 |title=King Bruce |work=Kent Evening Post |quote="Steve [Bruce], who has already won the supporter's association award, won this year's Player of the Year title with a landslide victory."}}</ref>
* 1982–83: [[Mark Weatherly]]{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=331}}
* 1983–84: [[Peter Shaw (footballer)|Peter Shaw]]{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=289}}
* 1984–85: [[Terry Cochrane]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=On This Day... - News - Gillingham |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2013/january/on-this-day23/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb |archive-date=12 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412215030/https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2013/january/on-this-day23/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1985–86: [[Mel Sage]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Choose Your Greatest No.2 |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2013/september/choose-your-greatest-no.2/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb |archive-date=12 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412214720/https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2013/september/choose-your-greatest-no.2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1986–87: [[Tony Cascarino]]<ref name=":2" />

|
|
* 1987–88: [[Steve Lovell (Welsh footballer)|Steve Lovell]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Choose Your Greatest Striker |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2014/march/choose-your-greatest-striker/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb |archive-date=12 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412214023/https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2014/march/choose-your-greatest-striker/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1988–89: [[Gavin Peacock]]{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=251}}
* 1989–90: [[Alan Walker (footballer)|Alan Walker]]{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=326}}
* 1990–91: [[Harvey Lim]]{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=199}}
* 1991–92: [[Paul Clark (footballer)|Paul Clark]]{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=89}}
* 1992–93: [[Richard Green (footballer)|Richard Green]]{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=139}}
* 1993–94: [[Richard Green (footballer)|Richard Green]]<ref name=pool>{{Cite news |last=Hudd |first=Tony |date=May 1994 |title=Emotional night as Banks scoops pool |work=Kent Evening Post |quote="Skipper Richard Green bidding for an unprecedented third successive accolade, had to be content with being runner up."}}</ref>
* 1994–95: [[Steve Banks (footballer)|Steve Banks]]<ref name=pool />
* 1995–96: [[Jim Stannard]]{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=306}}
* 1996–97: [[Andy Hessenthaler]]<ref>{{Cite journal |date=9 August 1997 |title=Start of the Season |journal=Official Matchday Magazine of Gillingham Football Club |volume=Gillingham vs. Preston North End |pages=28 |quote="Andy Hessenthaler - Gillingham Player of the Year"}}</ref>
* 1997–98: [[Paul Smith (footballer, born 1971)|Paul Smith]]{{sfn|Triggs|1999|p=128}}
* 1998–99: [[Robert Taylor (footballer, born 1971)|Robert Taylor]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bob to Launch Legends Lounge |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2013/august/super-bob-to-launch-legends-lounge/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409095814/https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2013/august/super-bob-to-launch-legends-lounge/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1999–2000: [[Andy Hessenthaler]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-11-23 |title=Hessenthaler quits as Gills boss |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/hessenthaler-quits-as-gills-boss-a15863/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409095453/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/hessenthaler-quits-as-gills-boss-a15863/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2000–01: [[Paul Smith (footballer, born 1971)|Paul Smith]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-09-17 |title=Smith signs four-year contract |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/smith-signs-four-year-contract-a101597/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=13 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313122116/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/smith-signs-four-year-contract-a101597/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2001–02: [[Paul Smith (footballer, born 1971)|Paul Smith]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-04-14 |title=Gills skipper collects glittering prizes |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/gills-skipper-collects-glitterin-a3121/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=13 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313122333/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/gills-skipper-collects-glitterin-a3121/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2002–03: [[Nyron Nosworthy]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-05-04 |title=Gillingham 2-1 Palace |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/2967953.stm |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=BBC Sport |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410162037/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/2967953.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2003–04: [[Danny Spiller]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-06-10 |title=Gills: only big fee would buy Spiller |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/gills-only-big-fee-would-buy-sp-a13478/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=13 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313123916/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/gills-only-big-fee-would-buy-sp-a13478/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2004–05: [[Paul Smith (footballer, born 1971)|Paul Smith]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-05-08 |title=Players sweat on futures |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/players-sweat-on-futures-a18306/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313122113/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/players-sweat-on-futures-a18306/ |archive-date=13 March 2022 |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en}}</ref>
* 2005–06: [[Jason Brown (footballer)|Jason Brown]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-04-30 |title=Keeper Brown wins player accolade |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/keeper-brown-wins-player-accolad-a23952/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829074903/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/keeper-brown-wins-player-accolad-a23952/ |archive-date=29 August 2023 |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en}}</ref>

|
|
* 2006–07: [[Andrew Crofts (footballer)|Andrew Crofts]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-05-20 |title=Lions try to tempt Gills midfielder |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/lions-try-to-tempt-gills-midfiel-a29809/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=13 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313123900/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/lions-try-to-tempt-gills-midfiel-a29809/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2007–08: [[Simon Royce]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-04-26 |title=Royce crowned player of the year |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/royce-crowned-player-of-the-year-a37429/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=13 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313123129/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/royce-crowned-player-of-the-year-a37429/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2008–09: [[Simon King (footballer)|Simon King]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-04-27 |title=Simon King is named Gillingham Player of the Year |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/simon-king-is-named-gillingham-p-a98422/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=20 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320103532/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/simon-king-is-named-gillingham-p-a98422/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2009–10: [[Andy Barcham]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-05-10 |title=Andy Barcham collects four trophies at sombre Gillingham awards night |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/andy-barcham-collects-four-troph-a85385/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=20 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320103536/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/andy-barcham-collects-four-troph-a85385/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2010–11: [[Cody McDonald]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-05-09 |title=Gillingham striker Cody McDonald takes plaudits with coveted player-of-the-year honour at club's awards ceremony |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/gillingham-striker-cody-mcdonald-a75051/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327120022/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/gillingham-striker-cody-mcdonald-a75051/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2011–12: [[Danny Jackman]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Vote for Your Greatest Left Back |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2013/november/vote-for-your-greatest-left-back/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413151107/https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2013/november/vote-for-your-greatest-left-back/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2012–13: [[Adam Barrett]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-04-30 |title=Adam Barrett, Stuart Nelson, Bradley Dack and Matt Fish scoop awards at the Gillingham player-of-the-year event |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/barrett-named-gills-player-of-the-year-112/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=12 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112060220/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/barrett-named-gills-player-of-the-year-112/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2013–14: [[Stuart Nelson]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-06 |title=Keeper Stuart Nelson wins Gills' player-of-the-year award |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/nelson-wins-top-award-16794/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413151109/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/nelson-wins-top-award-16794/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2014–15: [[John Egan (footballer, born 1992)|John Egan]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Egan Wins Player of the Year |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2015/may/john-egan-wins-player-of-the-year/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb |archive-date=17 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217134753/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/article/john-egan-scoops-gillingham-fcs-player-of-the-year-award-2439034.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2015–16: [[Bradley Dack]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bradley Dack Dominates the Player of the Year Awards |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2016/may/bradley-dack-dominates-the-player-of-the-year-awards/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb |archive-date=24 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124175124/https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2016/may/bradley-dack-dominates-the-player-of-the-year-awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2016–17: [[Josh Wright]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-22 |title=Gillingham player-of-the-year for 2016-17 season is Josh Wright |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-wright-player-of-year-124440/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=20 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320100518/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-wright-player-of-year-124440/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2017–18: [[Mark Byrne]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-06 |title=Mark Byrne named Gillingham player-of-the-year for the 2017/18 season |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/byrne-cleans-up-at-gills-awards-182573/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413151108/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/byrne-cleans-up-at-gills-awards-182573/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2018–19: [[Barry Fuller]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-05 |title=Barry Fuller is named Gillingham player-of-the-year for the 2018/19 season |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/defender-takes-top-prize-204045/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413151107/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/defender-takes-top-prize-204045/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2019–20: [[Connor Ogilvie]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Connor Ogilvie named Player of the Year |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2020/july/poty-2020-winners/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413151108/https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2020/july/poty-2020-winners/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2020–21: [[Kyle Dempsey]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kyle Dempsey named Player of the Year |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2021/may/kyle-dempsey-named-player-of-the-year/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413151107/https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2021/may/kyle-dempsey-named-player-of-the-year/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2021–22: [[Stuart O'Keefe]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cawdell |first=Luke |date=2022-05-01 |title=Stuart O'Keefe voted Gillingham supporters' player of the year 2021/22; Chairman Paul Scally insists they will be a better club next season |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-supporters-player-of-the-year-2021-22-266472/ |access-date=2022-05-02 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=1 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501233247/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-supporters-player-of-the-year-2021-22-266472/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2022–23: [[Glenn Morris (footballer)|Glenn 
Morris]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cawdell |first=Luke |date=2023-05-01 |title=Morris takes top award at Gillingham |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-player-of-the-year-2023-286260/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=1 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501101857/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-player-of-the-year-2023-286260/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2023–24: [[Conor Masterson]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 April 2024 |title=Conor Masterson voted Player of the Year |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2024/april/player-of-the-year-2024/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=Gillingham F.C. |language=en-gb}}</ref>
* 2024–25: [[Glenn Morris (footballer)|Glenn 
Morris]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 April 2025 |title=Player of the Year Winners 2024/2025 |url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/player-year-winners-20242025 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.gillinghamfootballclub.com |language=en}}</ref>
|
|}

== Club officials ==
[[File:Paul Scally with Playoff trophy.JPG|thumb|right|upright|[[Paul Scally]] (holding trophy) was the club's chairman from 1995 until 2022.]]
''As of 15 November 2024''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/club/whos-who/|title=Who's Who|publisher=Gillingham F.C.|access-date=23 April 2023|archive-date=25 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325121151/https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/club/whos-who/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Management===
{| class="wikitable"
! Position
! Name
|-
|Chairman/Owner||Brad Galinson
|-
|Board of Directors||Brad Galinson, Shannon Hogan Galinson
|}

===Technical staff===
{| class="wikitable"
! Position
! Name
|-
|Manager
|[[Gareth Ainsworth]]
|-
|Assistant manager
|Richard Dobson
|-
|First-team coach
|Peter Gill
|-
|Goalkeeping coach||[[Deren Ibrahim]]
|-
|Head of recruitment||[[Andy Hessenthaler]]
|-
|Recruitment co-ordinator||Selim Gaygusuz
|-
|Physiotherapist||Paul Timson
|-
|Fitness coach||James Russell
|-
|First team strength and conditioning||Jake Griffiths
|-
|Kit manager||Brad Haywood
|-
|Academy Manager||Bryan Bull
|-
|Head of academy coaching||Ebun Thomas
|-
|Youth team manager||[[Joe Dunne]]
|-
|Head of academy education
|[[Jason Lillis]]
|-
|}

==Managers==
[[File:Tony_pulis_2014.jpg|upright|thumb|right|[[Tony Pulis]] served as the club's manager from 1995 until 1999|alt=A middle-aged man in a suit]]
{{Further|List of Gillingham F.C. managers}}
For the first three years of the club's existence, team matters were handled by a committee. In 1897, [[William Ironside Groombridge]], the club's secretary, took sole charge of team affairs to become Gillingham's first recognised manager.{{sfn|Bradley|Triggs|1994|p=20}}  Former [[England national football team|England]] international [[Stephen Smith (footballer, born 1874)|Stephen Smith]] was appointed as full-time manager in 1906,<ref name="SS">{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/manager_history.sd?teamid=1098|title=Manager History for Gillingham|access-date=3 October 2021|publisher=[[Soccerbase]]|archive-date=22 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622070220/http://www.soccerbase.com/managers/home.sd|url-status=dead}}</ref> but left in 1908, with Groombridge once again taking on team responsibilities. Groombridge was associated with the club, as manager and secretary, for over 25 years. When the club was admitted to [[the Football League]] in 1920, [[Robert Brown (football manager)|Robert Brown]] was appointed as manager, but he resigned a month later before the season had even begun.{{sfn|Bradley|Triggs|1994|p=394}}  His replacement, [[Scotland|Scotsman]] [[John McMillan (footballer born 1871)|John McMillan]], thus became the first manager to take charge of the team in a Football League match.{{sfn|Bradley|Triggs|1994|p=394}}

In 1939, a year after the club was voted back out of the Football League, [[Archie Clark (footballer)|Archie Clark]] took over as manager, and was still in charge when the club was elected back to the Football League in 1950. Clark remained in the job until 1957.{{sfn|Bradley|Triggs|1994|p=396}} [[Freddie Cox]] took over in 1962 and led the club to the [[Football League Fourth Division]] championship in the [[1963–64 in English football|1963–64]] season, making him the first manager to win a Football League divisional title with the club.{{sfn|Bradley|Triggs|1994|p=397}} [[Basil Hayward]] was sacked in 1971 after the club was [[Promotion and relegation|relegated]] back to the Fourth Division in the [[1970–71 in English football|1970–71]] season,{{sfn|Bradley|Triggs|1994|p=397}} but his successor [[Andy Nelson (footballer)|Andy Nelson]] led the club to [[Promotion and relegation|promotion]] back to [[Football League Third Division|Division Three]] three years later before controversially resigning.{{sfn|Bradley|Triggs|1994|p=398}}

[[Tony Pulis]] took over in 1995, with Gillingham once again in the bottom division, and managed the club to promotion in his first season in charge. Three years later he led the team to the [[1999 Football League Second Division play-off Final|Second Division play-off final]], but was sacked immediately after this after being accused of gross misconduct.<ref name="cham" /> [[Peter Taylor (footballer born 1953)|Peter Taylor]] replaced him and took the club to [[2000 Football League Second Division play-off Final|a second consecutive play-off final]], where Gillingham gained promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time.<ref name="PT">{{cite news|
  url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/984825.stm|
  publisher=BBC Sport|
  title=Taylor-made for top job|
  access-date=29 December 2008|
  date=14 November 2000|
  archive-date=7 April 2003|
  archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030407071458/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/984825.stm|
  url-status=live}}</ref>  In 2013 [[Martin Allen (footballer)|Martin Allen]] became the second manager to lead the Gills to a divisional title in the Football League, as the team won the championship of [[Football League Two|League Two]].<ref name="MA out" />

==Honours==
Sources:'''<ref name="FCHD" />'''{{sfn|Triggs|1984|p=54}}<ref>{{ cite web | url = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19000509/065/0003 | title = New Brompton Football Club | newspaper = Sporting Life | date = 9 May 1900 | access-date = 3 February 2023 | url-access=subscription | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] }}</ref>

'''League'''
*[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] (level 3){{efn|[[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]] from 1920 to 1958, [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] from 1958 to 1992, [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] from 1992 to 2004, [[Football League One|League One]] since 2004}}
**Play-off winners: [[2000 Football League Second Division play-off final|2000]]
*[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] / Third Division / [[EFL League Two|League Two]] (level 4){{efn|Fourth Division from 1958 to 1992, Third Division from 1992 to 2004, [[Football League Two]] since 2004}}
**Champions: [[1963–64 Football League|1963–64]], [[2012–13 Football League Two|2012–13]]
**Runners-up: [[1973–74 Football League|1973–74]], [[1995–96 Football League|1995–96]]
**Play-off winners: [[2009 Football League Two play-off final|2009]]
*[[Southern Football League|Southern League]]
**Champions: [[1946–47 Southern Football League|1946–47]], [[1948–49 Southern Football League|1948–49]]
**Runners-up [[1947–48 in English football|1947–48]]
*Southern League Division Two
**Champions: [[1894–95 Southern Football League|1894–95]]
*[[Kent Football League (1894–1959)|Kent League]]
**Champions: [[1945–46 in English football|1945–46]]
*[[United League (football)|United League]]
**Champions: [[United League (football)#1908–09|1908–09]]
*Thames & Medway Combination
**Champions: [[1898–99 in English football|1898–99]], [[1899–1900 in English football|1899–1900]]

'''Cup'''
*[[Southern Football League Cup (England)|Southern League Cup]]
**Winners: [[1946–47 in English football|1946–47]]
*[[Southern Counties East Football League|Kent League Cup]]
**Winners: [[1945–46 in English football|1945–46]]
*[[Kent Senior Cup]]
**Winners: [[1945–46 in English football|1945–46]], [[1947–48 in English football|1947–48]]
**Runners-up (5): [[1938–39 in English football|1938–39]], [[1948–49 in English football|1948–49]], [[1949–50 in English football|1949–50]], [[1994–95 in English football|1994–95]], [[2014–15 in English football|2014–15]]

==Statistics and records==
{{Further|List of Gillingham F.C. records and statistics}}
[[File:Gillingham FC League Performance.svg|upright=1.8|thumb|right|Yearly table positions of Gillingham in the Football League.]]
Goalkeeper [[Ron Hillyard]] holds the record for Gillingham appearances, having played 657 matches in all competitions between 1974 and 1990,{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=158}} while the record for appearances solely in the [[Football League]] is held by another goalkeeper, [[John Simpson (footballer born 1933)|John Simpson]], with 571 between 1957 and 1972.<ref name="SB" /> [[Brian Yeo]] is the club's all-time leading league goalscorer, having scored a total of 136 goals between 1963 and 1975.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=344}}  He also jointly holds the club record for the most Football League goals scored in a single season, having scored 31 goals in the [[1973–74 in English football|1973–74]] season,{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=344}} equalling the record set by [[Ernie Morgan]] in [[1954–55 in English football|1954–55]].{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=226}} The highest number of goals scored by a player in a single game at a professional level is the six registered by [[Fred Cheesmur]] against [[Merthyr Town F.C. (1909)|Merthyr Town]] in April 1930.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=349}}  The highest [[transfer (association football)|transfer]] fee received by the club is £1.5&nbsp;million for [[Robert Taylor (footballer, born 1971)|Robert Taylor]], paid by [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] in 1999, and the highest fee paid by Gillingham is £600,000 for [[Carl Asaba]], signed from [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] in 1998.<ref name="SB" />

The club's record home attendance is 23,002, for an [[FA Cup]] match against [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] on 10 January 1948,<ref name="SB">{{cite web
| url = http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1098&teamTabs=records
| title = All Time Gillingham Records & Achievements
| access-date = 3 October 2021
| publisher = [[Soccerbase]]
| archive-date = 2 May 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220502104241/https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1098&teamTabs=records
| url-status = live
}}</ref> a record which will almost certainly never be broken unless the club relocates to a larger ground, given that Priestfield Stadium's current capacity is approximately half that figure.  The team's biggest ever professional win was a 10–0 defeat of [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]] in September 1987,<ref name="SB" />
although they had previously registered a 12–1 win against [[Gloucester City F.C.|Gloucester City]] in the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] in November 1946.<ref name="GFCHist" /> The Gills hold the record for the fewest goals conceded by a team in the course of a 46-game Football League season, set in the 1995&ndash;96 season, during which goalkeeper [[Jim Stannard]] kept 29 clean sheets.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=167}}

==Rivalries==
The 2003 Football Fans Census revealed that no other team's supporters considered Gillingham to be among their club's main rivals.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf
| title = Rivalry Uncovered!
| access-date =3 October 2021
| publisher = The Football Fans Census
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090304004344/http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf
| archive-date = 4 March 2009
}}</ref> [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] are considered to be the closest the Gills have to local rivals.<ref name="FGG">{{cite news
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1670888.stm
| title = Millwall 1–2 Gillingham
| access-date = 3 October 2021
| date = 24 November 2001
| publisher = BBC
| archive-date = 29 August 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230829074901/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1670888.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref> [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] are seen by many fans as the club's biggest rivals, stemming from bad-tempered matches between the teams in the past.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10416~30787,00.html |title=Gillingham vs Swindon Town |access-date=6 February 2014 |date=14 January 2006 |publisher=Gillingham F.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711093335/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/MatchReport/0%2C%2C10416~30787%2C00.html |archive-date=11 July 2011 }}</ref>  While Swindon fans generally do not consider Gillingham among their biggest rivals, there was violence when they met at Priestfield in the [[2005–06 in English football|2005–06]] season, their first meeting since a promotion play-off match in 1987.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2006/1/17/259405.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100722063307/http://archive.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/2006/1/17/259405.html| archive-date = 22 July 2010| title = Town set to pay price for crowd trouble
| access-date = 3 October 2021
| publisher = [[Swindon Advertiser]]
}}</ref>  Following their promotion in 1989, [[Maidstone United F.C. (1897)|Maidstone United]] became Kent's second League side. A rivalry with Gillingham developed over the following seasons, until Maidstone's financial troubles forced them to resign from the League in 1992.<ref>{{cite news
 |url          = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/butlers-hattrick-lifts-gillingham-to-top-1323335.html
 |title        = Butler's hat-trick lifts Gillingham to top
 |access-date  = 3 October 2021
 |date         = 10 January 1996
 |author       = Simon O'Hagan
 |work         = The Independent
 |archive-date = 11 November 2012
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121111102837/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/butlers-hattrick-lifts-gillingham-to-top-1323335.html
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref> A minor rivalry between Gillingham and [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] has developed arising from the death of a Fulham fan who was killed during a clash between both sets of fans outside Priestfield Stadium in March 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC News {{!}} UK {{!}} Football fan jailed for killing rival supporter |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/199637.stm |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=[[BBC News]] |archive-date=5 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805194918/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/199637.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2024–25 EFL League Two|2024–25 season]], the arrival of [[Bromley F.C.|Bromley]] into the Football League raised the prospect of a new rivalry for Gillingham, dubbed the A2 Derby or "Kent" Derby due to the town of [[Bromley]] being part of Kent's historical boundaries until the creation of [[Greater London]] in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kmtv/video/kent-tonight-special-the-kent-derby-preview-61714/ |title=Kent Tonight Special: The 'Kent' Derby Preview|work=Kent Online|publisher=[[KM Media Group]]|date=4 December 2024|accessdate=4 May 2025}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
In 1956, comedian [[Fred Emney]] filmed a scene for his sitcom ''Emney Enterprises'' prior to the start of a match between Gillingham and [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]. The footage featured the overweight Emney, wearing a flat cap and monocle and smoking a cigar, dribbling the ball past the entire Gills defence and scoring a goal.{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=22}}  The 2005 film ''[[Green Street (film)|Green Street]]'' makes use of action sequences filmed during a match between Gillingham and [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], although the dialogue states that the team playing West Ham is [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] to align with the narrative of the film.{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=54}}  A film entitled ''The Shouting Men'', released in March 2010, centres on a group of Gillingham fans and features scenes shot at Priestfield.<ref name="SM" />

==See also==
*[[Brian Moore's Head|Brian Moore's Head Looks Uncannily Like London Planetarium]] – [[fanzine]] devoted to the club, which existed from 1988 to 2006 in physical form and later had a short run as a [[webzine]]. Named in honour of the football commentator [[Brian Moore (commentator)|Brian Moore]], a Gillingham supporter and former member of the board of directors.
*[[Chatham Town WFC]] – women's football club formerly affiliated to Gillingham F.C.

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
===Works cited===
*{{cite book
  | last1 =  Bradley
  | first1 = Andy
  |first2=Roger |last2=Triggs
  | title = Home of the Shouting Men: Complete History of Gillingham Football Club 1893–1993
  | publisher = Gillingham F.C.
  | year = 1994
  | isbn = 0-9523361-0-3}}
*{{cite book
  | last =  Elligate|first=David
  | title = Gillingham FC On This Day|publisher=Pitch Publishing|year=2009|isbn=978-1-905411-45-0}}
*{{cite book|editor-last1=Rollin|editor-first1=Glenda|editor-last2=Rollin |editor-first2=Jack |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1996&ndash;97 |publisher=[[Headline Publishing Group]] |date=1996 |isbn=978-0747277811 |ref={{harvid|Rollin|1996}}|location=London}}

*{{cite book
  | last =  Triggs
  | first = Roger
  | title = Gillingham Football Club: A Chronology 1893–1984
  | publisher = Kent County Libraries
  | year = 1984
  | page = 1 }}
*{{cite book |   first=Roger|last= Triggs |   title=Images of England: Gillingham Football Club|   publisher=[[Tempus Publishing]] |   year=1999|   isbn=978-0-75241-567-3}}
*{{cite book |   first=Roger|last= Triggs |   title=The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club|   publisher=Tempus Publishing Limited |   year=2001 | isbn=0-7524-2243-X}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/ Official club website]
*{{BBC Football Info|BBClinkname=gillingham}}
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{{Gillingham F.C.}}
{{EFL League Two}}
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[[Category:Gillingham F.C.| ]]
[[Category:1893 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1893]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[Category:English Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Gillingham, Kent]]
[[Category:Southern Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Sport in Medway]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Kent]]
[[Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:United League (football)]]