Gills appoint First-Team Head Coach.
The club is delighted to announce the appointment of Stephen Clemence as our new First-Team Head Coach.
Clemence, 45, the son of former England goalkeeper Ray Clemence, arrives at Priestfield having coached at a number of clubs, many of which in the Premier League.
He has worked closely with Steve Bruce at Sunderland, Hull City, Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion and won promotion to the Premier League while with Hull as Assistant Head Coach in 2016.
He coached current England International, Jack Grealish, while at Villa Park with the player later commenting that Stephen was "the closest I have been out of all the Assistant Managers I have had. We go through all of my clips and discuss where I am going right or wrong. I am glad to have someone like Stephen taking the time out to help me and improve."
The former Premier League midfielder will take charge of the team for the first time on Saturday November 4 for the Emirates FA Cup first round tie away at Hereford. His first league fixture at the helm will be next Saturday's away game against Wrexham.
As a player Clemence came through the youth ranks at Tottenham Hotspur and made his professional debut against Manchester United in the Premier League on August 10, 1997.
He scored his first goal in a Spurs shirt in an FA Cup tie at home to Fulham in January the following year. He went on to make 108 appearances in total while at White Hart Lane, scoring three goals.
In January 2003 Birmingham City paid a reported £250,000 for his services and Clemence made 125 appearances for the club across a four-and-half year spell.
In July 2007 Leicester City paid a million pounds for his signature but, due to injury, he was limited to making just 34 appearances, scoring three times.
He decided to retire due to a heel injury in Easter of 2010. He was released by Leicester at the end of that season and the midfielder then decided on a career in coaching.
Stephen featured for England U21's on one occasion as a player, that coming as a substitute against Sweden in a 2-0 win in February 1998.
The club's new First-Team Head Coach will take training for the first time on Thursday. He will be assisted by Robbie Stockdale who has extensive knowledge in the EFL having coached at Grimsby Town and Sunderland. He also managed Rochdale while the team were in Sky Bet League 2 in the 2021-22 season.
As a player he featured for Middlesbrough while in the Premier League before stints at Rotherham and Tranmere Rovers.
We officially welcome Stephen and Robbie to Priestfield Stadium.
An interview with our new First-Team Head Coach will follow.