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...

FIXTURES...


1897 - New Brompton 0-1 Southampton   SLD1

1909 - New Brompton 1-0 Brighton & HA  SLD1
John Taylor notched the winner here

1920 - Gillingham 1-4 Newport County     D3
The Gills scorer was George Needham as the Welsh side won comfortably

1926 - Gillingham 3-2 Exeter City            D3S      Att: 1,029
A Stan Amos hat-trick proved just enough

1937 - Gillingham 0-2 Bournemouth        D3S       Att: 4,648

1948 - Romford 2-1 Gillingham               FAC4Q   Att: 14,154
Jackie Briggs goal couldn't prevent the Gills being beaten after extra-time – this is the first time that the club appeared on television as the BBC covered the game live but the broadcast had stopped prior to any goals

1954 - Gillingham 1-1 Exeter City           D3S       Att: 9,276
The Gills scorer in this draw was Derek Lewis

1965 - Gillingham 1-2 Folkestone T        FAC1      Att: 9,311
Rod Taylor was on target as the fellow Kent side inflicted a giant-killing on the Gills

1967 - Southport 4-1 Gillingham            D3         Att: 5,808
Bill Brown got the Gills consolation at Haig Avenue

1971 - Reading 1-2 Gillingham              D4         Att: 4,491
Local lads Graham Knight and Dick Tydeman both scored in the victory at Elm Park

1976 - Gillingham 3-1 Mansfield T         D3         Att: 5,457
A hat-trick from Danny Westwood proved too much for the Stags

1979 - Gillingham 1-0 Southend Utd     D3         Att: 5,286
The winning goal came from Ken Price

1982 - Gillingham 1-1 Doncaster R      D3         Att: 4,451
Mark Miller was the marksman against the South Yorkshire side

1993 - Yeading 0-0 Gillingham            FAC1     Att: 2,285

1995 - Wycombe W 1-1 Gillingham     FAC1     Att: 5,064
A goal from Dennis Bailey earned the Gills a replay – the game covered live on Sky Sports

1996 - Coventry City 0-1 Gillingham  CCC3RR  Att: 12,639
A Neil Smith strike sent around 3,000 Gills fans ecstatic and stun their top-flight opponents

2004 - Gillingham 0-2 Derby County  C           Att: 8,015

2007 - Gillingham 4-2 Dagenham & R FLTSSQ   Att: 2,904
Goals from Craig Armstrong, Aaron Brown, Chris Dickson, from the spot, and Dennis Oli put the Gills through

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DEBUTS...

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

1920 - Donald McCormick at home to Newport

1937 - William L Williams versus Bournemouth at home

1982 - Phil Walker against Doncaster at Priestfield

2007 - Charlie Howard and Dennis Oli against Dagenham & Redbridge at home

2010 - Callum Davies, Callum Kennedy, Charlie Lee and Chris Whelpdale v Crewe at Priestfield

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BIRTHS...

1900 - Billy Death

The outside-left joined the Gills in August 1930 and made his debut against Brighton.

In his one season at the club he scored nine goals in 29 games before moving to Mansfield Town.


1965 - Dennis Bailey

The experienced forward had played for Barking, Fulham (on non-contract terms), Farnborough Town, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City, Bristol Rovers (on loan twice) and Queens Park Rangers, Charlton Athletic, Watford and Brentford (all on loan) before Gills boss Tony Pulis paid £50,000 for his services in August 1995.

Dennis, who will be remembered for his 1992 New Years Day hat-trick for the R's in a 4-1 win away at league leaders Manchester United, made his Gillingham debut away at Lincoln City in the second game of the campaign, scoring in a 3-0 win.

He formed good partnerships with Steve Butler, John Gayle and Leo Fortune-West at different times and was an important part of the side that won promotion from Division Three in 1995-96.

After scoring 13 goals in a total of 103 appearances, Dennis moved on to Lincoln City in March 1998 before going on a nomadic journey of numerous non-league sides.

His most recent secondment is playing and coaching Renewal Solihull FC in the West Midlands Christian Football League - being named League Player of the Year in 2012.