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…


2008 - Striker Simeon Jackson is signed by Mark Stimson from Rushden & Diamonds in a £150,000 deal

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FIXTURES…

1903 - Bristol Rovers 2-0 New Brompton  SLD1

1914 - Liverpool 2-0 Gillingham                   FAC2   Att: 42,045

1925 - Plymouth Argyle 2-0 Gillingham     D3S    Att: 10,401

1931 - Crystal Palace 5-0 Gillingham        D3S    Att: 15,052

1948 - Bath City 2-2 Gillingham                  SLD1
B Diggins and Wally Akers both scored to earn an away victory

1953 - QPR 1-1 Gillingham                      D3S   Att: 10,565
Trevor Long scored to net a point at Loftus Road

1959 - Gillingham 2-1 Shrewsbury T    D4   Att: 5,819
Pat Terry and John Edgar were on target as the Shrews were tamed

1970 - Gillingham 2-4 Torquay Utd     D3   Att: 6,263
A Dave Peach penalty and Dick Tydeman were on the scoresheet against the Gulls

1973 - Gills Res 1-2 Orient                   MWFL

1976 - Chesterfield 0-1 Gillingham    D3   Att: 2,948
A Danny Westwood effort won the points at Saltergate

1981 - Barnsley 3-3 Gillingham               D3   Att: 13,703
Dean White, Trevor Lee and Ken Price all scored as the sides shared six goals at Oakwell

1984 - Gillingham 0-1 Wimbledon         D3   Att: 5,024

1998 - Gillingham 1-1 Bristol Rovers   D2   Att: 5,681
A goal from Iffy Onuora saw the Gills plunder a point from the Pirates

2004 - Gillingham 1-0 Bradford City     C   Att: 7,836
Patrick Agyemang scored the only goal of the game after 16 minutes but couldn't add to that even after Bantams keeper Alan Combe was sent off just before the break

2006 - Swansea City 1-2 Gillingham        L1   Att: 14,357
The Gills held on for victory from two-up, Darren Byfield and Neil Harris scoring, after skipper Michael Flynn was sent off

2009 - Chester City 0-1 Gillingham          L2   Att: 1,541
The Gills won at the Deva Stadium thanks to an Andy Barcham effort

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DEBUTS...

The following player made his Gillingham debut in the above games...

1953 - Trevor Lewis at QPR

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BIRTHS...

1907 - William Baldwin

The centre-forward arrived from Southport in the summer of 1934 and made his debut against Torquay United at home on the opening day of the season.

He went on to score 28 goals, which included an FA Cup hat-trick at Exeter City, in 66 appearances.

In June 1936 he joined Crewe Alexandra.


1929 - Les McGuire

The forward was signed from the Army by Gills boss Archie Clark in 1949 and he scored on his Southern League debut in a 4-0 home win against Hereford United.

It was the following season that Gillingham returned to the Football League and his first game was a memorable one as he netted twice in a 9-4 thrashing of Exeter City.

After leaving Priestfield he had spells with Tonbridge, Ramsgate Athletic, Guildford City and Dover.


1947- Eddie Spearritt

The experienced left-back was signed by Gerry Summers from Brighton & HA in August 1976, having played more than 200 games for the Seagulls.

He made his debut against Reading and went on to make 22 appearances in his one season at the club, scoring once, from the spot, against Rotherham United at Priestfield.

Eddie emigrated to Australia the following summer and he played and managed the Brisbane Lions before retiring.


1961- John Humphrey

The right-back had played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Crystal Palace, Reading (loan) and Charlton Athletic (twice) before Tony Pulis brought John to Priestfield in August 1996.

After making his Gills debut on the opening day of the season against Bristol City he played another dozen times but then joined Brighton & HA in January 1977.

He later played for a number of non-league sides and is currently Head of Football at Highgate School in North London.


1984- Dean Marney

Dean was possibly Andy Hessenthaler's last signing first time round, he brought the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder in on loan in November 2004 and he returned to White Hart Lane following the Gills manager's departure.

He eventually moved to Hull City in the summer of 2006 and went on to make 138 appearances.

A move to his current club Burnley followed in May 2010.


1990 - Rene Steer

The defender came through the ranks with Arsenal but didn't make his Football League debut until joining the Gills on loan in January 2009.

That first game was as a substitute for Dennis Oli against Bradford City at home the following month.

He made five appearances in his four month spell at Priestfield.

A move to Oldham Athletic followed in August 2009 but a training ground injury left him with a serious jaw injury and he never played for the Latics.

Spells have since followed at Staines Town, St Neots Town and Woking.
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DEATHS...

1974 - Sam Mason

The Scot arrived from Partick Thistle in September 1926 and he made his Gillingham debut against Brighton & HA at home the following month.

After scoring one goal in 19 games the centre-half moved to Exeter City in August 1927.