ON THIS DAY

News relevant to the club from previously on this day

NEWS…

Richard Day looks back at news relevant to Gillingham FC on this day in history, games, players, debuts etc...
1981 -

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Ian Craney put the visitors ahead six minutes from time but Luke Rooney earned a point with an 88th minute penalty
2011 - Gillingham 1-1 Accrington S      L2      Att: 4,619

2005 - Rotherham Utd 3-0 Gillingham  L1      Att: 4,253

Andy Hessenthaler struck the only goal at Plainmoor.
2002 - Torquay Utd 0-1 Gillingham       WC1   Att: 1,981

Left-back Ian Chapman scored his only goal in a short Gillingham career
1996 - Luton Town 2-1 Gillingham         D2      Att: 5,171

Lee Palmer, Paul Baker and Paul Ritchie, on loan from Dundee, proved enough to beat the Seadogs
1994 - Gillingham 3-1 Scarborough       D3      Att: 2,438

Goals from Steve Lovell and Jason Lillis were enough to blunt the Blades
1988 - Gillingham 2-1 Sheffield Utd        D3      Att: 4,912

John Sitton got the Gills goal at Home Park
1983 - Plymouth Arg. 1-1 Gillingham     D3      Att: 3,192

A Damien Richardson penalty and a Danny Westwood strike accounted for United
1977 - Gillingham 2-1 Oxford Utd           D3      Att: 4,381

1960 - Tunbridge W 1-1 Gillingham 'A'  Seanglian Lge

Pat Terry notched a hat-trick while John Shepherd and Ronnie Bacon were also on the scoresheet in a convincing win
1960 - Gillingham 5-2 Aldershot             D4       Att: 7,122

Pat Terry got the Gills goal at the County Ground
1959 - Northampton T 2-1 Gillingham      D4      Att: 9,622

Johnny Edgar scored all four, including a penalty, to send the Cumbrians home pointless.
1958 - Gillingham 4-2 Barrow                    D4      Att: 6,656

Paddy Sowden, Jimmy Boswell, Willie Millar and Les Riggs all scored in a seven-goal thriller against the Lions
1955 - Gillingham 4-3 Millwall                    D3S   Att: 11,815

1952 - Swindon Town 0-0 Gillingham       D3S   Att: 8,291

George Forrester again, Jackie Briggs and Jackie Carr were on target here
1949 - Gillingham 3-1 Barry Town             SLC1   Att: 7,690

Goals from George Forrester and Hughie Russell saw off the Surrey side
1947 - Guildford C 0-2 Gillingham              SLCQ

Edwin Scott won the game for the Gills
1938 - Arsenal Res. 0-1 Gillingham           SLD1

1932 - Aldershot Town 3-0 Gillingham      D3S   Att: 5,966

Henry Loasby and Fred Cheesmur both scored twice in a comfortable home win
1930 - Gillingham 4-1 Newport County      D3S   Att: 3,181

William Arblaster scored both goals as the Gills earned a point down in the West Country
1927 - Plymouth Arg. 2-2 Gillingham         D3S   Att: 10,282

A Samuel Simms penalty couldn't prevent defeat by the Pilgrims
1921 - Gillingham 1-2 Plymouth Arg.          D3S

Centre-forward Arthur Wood got both goals, one was a penalty
1919 - Gillingham 2-0 Luton Town              SLD1

Albert Court scored the only goal of the game
1910 - New Brompton 1-0 QPR                   SLD1

Joe Turner got two, including a penalty, and Walter Leigh the other in a good away triumph
1904 - Wellingborough 1-3 New Brompton SLD1 

Tom Grieve scored twice and Malcolm Lennox added another in this decent win

1898 - New Brompton 3-0 Brighton Utd    SLD1 
FIXTURES...

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Floodlit cricket came to Priestfield with a seven -a-side game in played in joint aid of Kent cricketer Asif Iqbal and Gillingham's Damien Richardson benefit fund.

DEBUTS…

After retiring as a player, Peter managed a number of non-league clubs in the Oxfordshire / Wiltshire area.

He went on to have playing spells with Bulova SA in Hong Kong, Iggesund HIF in Sweden, Aldershot, Witney Town and Exeter City

The forward made his debut at home to Cardiff City but made just four further appearances before returning to the Manor Ground.

The former Republic of Ireland youth and under-21 international joined the Gills on loan from Oxford United in February 1983.

1956 - Peter Foley


Mel is now an FA licensed agent and heads his own company.

Spells followed at Mansfield Town (loan), W.B.A, Cheltenham Town and Telford United – he also managed Willenhall Town for a short spell.

His Gills debut came as a substitute against Bristol City at home three games into the 1986-87 season and he went on to score nine goals in 37 appearances, a large chunk of them as a sub.

After financial problems hit Molineux he moved to Bramall Lane in December 1984 and subsequently Priestfield.

He had previously won England honours at Schoolboy and 'B' level while with Wolves where he scored 44 goals in 180 league games. He also played in the 1980 League Cup triumph over Nottingham Forest.

The experienced striker came to Gillingham in August 1986 from Sheffield United.

1956 - Mel Eves


He made 20 appearances for the Gills before moving to Bournemouth in a joint deal with David Stocks with Charlie Crickmore moving to Priestfield.

Freddie Cox signed Tommy from his former club Portsmouth in May 1965 but the forward didn't make his debut until a trip to Oxford United in the November.

1946 - Tommy Taylor


Eric later played for Dover and Canterbury City

Although a regular in the Kent League side he made just two first team appearances which included his debut against Crystal Palace at home in January 1956.

The Yorkshire born outside right had played for Doncaster Rovers, Sheffield United, Chester, Goole Town and Walsall before moving south and joining the Gills in September 1955.

1929 - Eric Cousans


He remained first choice, making 44 consecutive appearances, until a 4-1 home defeat by Nottingham Forest in April 1951 and Larry left the club four months later when he joined Bedford Town

The goalkeeper arrived at Priestfield from Fulham in June 1950 and made his debut on the opening day of the season against Colchester United, the day the football club returned to the Football League.

BIRTHS…

1922 - Larry Gage

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, on loan from Dundee, in the home game with Scarborough 1994 - Paul Ritchie

versus Sheffield Utd at Priestfield 1988 - Jerry Williams

at Swindon 1952 - Frank McKee

at Plymouth 1927 - Harold Sly

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