Richard Day reviews this day in the club's history
News relevant to Gillingham FC on this day in history, games, players, debuts etc...FIXTURES...
1894 - Swindon T 2-0 New Brompton Fr
1906 - Reading 1-0 New Brompton SLD1
1923 - Southend Utd 1-1 Gillingham D3S
Charlie Freeman was the marksman at Roots Hall
1928 - Gillingham 0-4 Luton Town D3S Att: 4,045
1934 - Gillingham 3-0 Brighton & HA D3S Att: 6,690
Goals from Alan Scott, Sim Raleigh and Arthur Mills ensured a comfortable win
1948 - Gillingham 5-1 Cheltenham T SL Att: 2,711
Johnny Warsap smacked a hat-trick while Jackie Briggs and Hughie Russell also found the net in a sound victory
1951 - Port Vale 4-3 Gillingham D3S Att: 5,400
Debutant Bill Hales grabbed a hat-trick in vain at Vale Park
1952 - Millwall 3-1 Gillingham D3S Att: 6,293
George Forrester was on target at the Den
1956 - Gillingham 0-2 Q.P.R D3S Att: 5,400
1959 - Aldershot 4-2 Gillingham D4 Att: 3,033
Cliff Payton and Pat Terry both netted at the Recreation Ground but it wasn't enough
1961 - Southport 1-2 Gillingham D4 Att: 5,700
Goals from Gordon Pulley and John Shepherd saw the Gills to victory at Haig Avenue
1962 - Gillingham 4-0 Southport D4 Att: 3,921
There were four different scorers, Ronnie Waldock, Charlie Livesey, Tommy Johnston and Gordon Pulley again, as the Gills outplayed the Sandgrounders
1970 - Walsall 0-1 Gillingham D3 Att: 4,295
Brian Yeo was the goalscoring hero with the second-half winner at Fellows Park
1971 - Gills Res 3-5 Oxford U FC
1973 - Bradford C 3-1 Gillingham D4 Att: 2,703
Kenny Hill was the marksman at Valley Parade
1975 -Gillingham 2-2 Plymouth Arg D3 Att: 11,200
There was a mini green and white invasion as promotion chasing Argyle came to town, a Yeo double put the Gills in the driving seat at the break before the Pilgrims hit back
1976 - Peterborough U 1-1 Gillingham D3 Att: 4,594
Mark Weatherly found the net at London Road
1979 - Gillingham 2-2 Swindon T D3 Att: 9,460
Dean White and Danny Westwood struck for the Gills in the 'battle of Priestfield'.
1982 - Oxford Utd 1-1 Gillingham D3 Att: 5,406
A Micky Adams strike earned a point at the Manor Ground
1984 - Gillingham 3-1 Orient D3 Att: 3,090
John Leslie, Tony Cascarino and Dave Mehmet all found the net against the O's
1986 - Brentford 1-2 Gillingham D3 Att: 4,702
Goals from Martin Robinson and Karl Elsey won the points at Griffin Park
1990 - Chesterfield 2-0 Gillingham D4 Att: 4,282
1992 - Gillingham 2-1 Wrexham D4 Att: 2,982
A Steve Lovell penalty was added to by Richard Green in this home win
1997 - Gillingham 1-2 Brentford D2 Att: 7,359
An Iffy Onuora effort couldn't prevent a home reversal
1998 - Walsall 1-0 Gillingham D2 Att: 3,117
2001 - Preston NE 0-0 Gillingham C Att: 13,550
2007 - Gillingham 2-1 Brentford L1 Att: 6,113
After the Bees took an early lead the Gills hit back to win thanks to Andrew Crofts and Danny Jackman
2012 – Gillingham 2-0 Macclesfield T L2 Att: 4,562
Matt Fish scored his first goal for the club to give the Gills a 51st minute lead and a diving header from Chris Whelpdale secured the points
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DEBUTS...
The following players made their debuts in the above games...
1928 - Amos Dee versus Luton T at home
1951 - Bill Hales away at Port Vale
1961 - Gary Griffiths on the trip to Southport
1979 - Tony Funnell against Swindon at Priestfield
1982 - Neil Grewcock against Oxford at the Manor Ground
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BIRTHS...
1952 - Ron Hillyard
After arriving on a free transfer in the summer of 1974, the soft-speaking Yorkshireman proved to be a fantastic signing and went on reach legendary status with the club breaking the appearance record during his 18-year spell at the club.
Having trained as an amateur with Rotherham United and played for home-town club Brinsworth Athletic in the Sheffield Amateur League, he had a further spell as an amateur with Leeds United before moving to York City as a junior in July 1969.
Five months later he signed professional terms with the Minstermen and went on to make 61 appearances for them. While he was at Bootham Crescent, he went out on loan to Hartlepool United (23 games), Bury and Brighton & HA, who at that time had Brian Clough in charge.
After Len Ashurst was named as Gillingham boss Hillyard became his first Priestfield signing,arriving on a free transfer in July 1974.
He made his debut on the opening day of the 1974-75 season in a 2-2 draw at home to Walsall and went on to be ever present in that first season.
It was a feat he went on to repeat in 1977-78, 1979-80 and 1985-86 seeing off the challenges of numerous other keepers at various times.
When Ron played in the 3-0 home win over Chesterfield in October 1989 his appearance broke John Simpson's club record of 617 appearances.
He was appointed assistant manager to Damien Richardson in the summer of 1989, long before his final match, a 2-1 defeat at Scarborough in September 1990.
A back injury picked up in a reserve game in October 1990 finally forced him into announcing his retirement in March 1991.
His Gillingham tally - a truly magnificent 657 games which included 202 clean sheets and no fewer than 20 penalty saves.
Unfortunately it wasn't all good news for Hillyard at Gillingham FC though, after a poor start to the 1992-93 campaign he was sacked along with Richardson following a 3-0 Coca Cola Cup defeat at Southampton in early October 1992.
He was able to enjoy two testimonials at Priestfield, in May 1984 the Gills beat West Ham United 3-2 then in August 1994 Sittingbourne won 1-0.
Ron has been goalkeeping coach at Ebbsfleet United (then Gravesend & Northfleet) in 2002 and he did have a spell back here at Gillingham in a similar part-time role during Andy Hessenthaler’s second spell as manager.
1957 - John Davis
The former Arsenal apprentice was brought to Priestfield by Len Ashurst follwing the right-back's release from Crystal Palace in the summer of 1975.
He made his debut against Colchester United at home in late November, the first of just three appearances for the club.
In October 1976 he followed Ashurst to Sheffield Wednesday but only played one league game during his time at Hillsborough.