ON THIS DAY...

News relevant to the club on this day previously

Richard Day looks back at news relevant to Gillingham FC on this day in history, games, players, debuts etc...

NEWS...

2012 - Defender Leon Legge signs for the Gills from League One Brentford - an initial loan deal is followed by a two and a half year contract

FIXTURES...

1904 - Brighton & HA 3-1 New Brompton  SLD1
Tom Boucher netted the consolation down in Sussex

1910 -New Brompton 0-2 Millwall               SLD1

1921 - Luton Town 7-0 Gillingham              D3S

1924 - Barrow 2-1 Gillingham              FAC6Q4R  Att: 4,242
The long-running saga finally ended in defeat at Millwall - a Frank Marshall penalty not being enough

1927 - Gillingham 1-1 Charlton Athletic    D3S    Att: 4,134
Enos Bromage scored in this draw with the Valiants

1932 - Gillingham 2-0 Brighton & HA         D3S   Att: 5,818
By George - literally! Efforts from George Purcell and George Nicol won the points

1949 - Gillingham 0-1 Yeovil Town            SLD1  Att: 11,577

1955 - Gillingham 2-0 Reading                   D3S    Att: 7,088
Bill Parry and Ernie Morgan were the marksmen against the Biscuitmen

1960 - Workington 2-0 Gillingham            D4      Att: 2,975

1966 - Workington 1-3 Gillingham             D3      Att: 1,857
Two goals from Bill Brown plus another from Brian Gibbs secured the points at Borough Park

1977 - Gillingham 2-2 Swindon Town       D3      Att: 7,712
Danny Westwood and Damien Richardson from the spot earned a point with Town

1983 - Gillingham 0-1 Wimbledon             D3      Att: 5,024

1994 - Gillingham 0-1 Carlisle Utd             D3     Att: 3,709

2005 - Gillingham 3-0 MK Dons           L1        Att: 6,012
Leon Johnson and Sean Clohessy both scored their first goals for the club and Alan Pouton added the other in an impressive victory

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DEBUTS...

The following players made their Gillingham debuts in the above games...

1927 - Len Dowell against Charlton at home

1994 - Scott Lindsey versus Carlisle at Priestfield

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BIRTHS...

1960 - Steve Bruce

The young central defender was signed by Gillingham manager Gerry Summers and was taken under the wing of youth team boss Bill Collins.

He eventually made his senior debut for the Gills in a Football League Cup tie against Luton Town in August 1979, and his league bow followed days later against Blackpool and he went on to win the club's Player of the Year award at the end of his first season.

Steve went on to make more than 200 appearances for the club, and was twice voted into the Professional Football Association's Third Division Team of the Year before signing for Norwich City in August 1984 for a tribunal set fee of £135,000.

Of course he then went on to have a great spell at Manchester United prior to a decent managerial career.


1993 – Bradley Dack

The attacking midfielder who has forced his way into manager Martin Allen’s plans this season celebrates his 19th birthday today.

Bradley made his debut as a substitute in the Capital One Cup win at Championship side Bristol City in August and opened his senior goal account when netting against Crawley Town in the Johnstone Paints Trophy. His form saw him rewarded with a three-year professional contract.
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DEATHS...

1962 - Archie Reay

The left-back joined Gillingham from Brentford in the summer of 1922 and made his debut at QPR in the September

After 17 appearances he moved to Norwich City in May 1923.

Archie died in St Helens on this day in 1962.