The voting is open for fans to select their all-time favourite Gills attacking midfielder
To mark the opening of Priestfield’s Legends Lounge, throughout the 2013/14 campaign, we’re asking fans to vote for what they consider to be their greatest all-time Gills XI.Thanks to all our supporters that voted for their ultimate central midfielders last month, hundreds of you voted, and we’ll be announcing the results very soon.
Meanwhile voting is now open for the attacking midfield role which will be the next to be added to our Legends Lounge Wall of Fame. Here’s our shortlist for Gillingham’s greatest attacking midfielders, or you can email your own suggestions to us by using
media@priestfield.com
TERRY COCHRANE
A wing wizard and consummate entertainer, blessed with bags of skill, Northern Ireland international winger Terry was signed from Middlesbrough on a free transfer by Keith Peacock in 1983, and crowned his debut with a goal in a 2-0 win over Preston at Priestfield. His three seasons at the club saw the Gills challenging for promotion every year, with one of the most attractive, attacking squads ever assembled at the club and he was a worthy winner of our Player of the Year trophy in 1984/85.
BRIAN GIBBS
Gillingham born Brian cost manager Freddie Cox £4,000 from Bournemouth when he signed in October 1962 but the inside-left went on to repay Cox’s trust many times over. He finished as top scorer in the Gills 1963/64 Fourth Division title winning team and led the club’s scoring stakes for five straight seasons, becoming in the process the first player in Gillingham history to score 100 goals in the Football League.
NICKY SOUTHALL
First signed by Tony Pulis in 1997 as part of the club’s squad rebuilding for an assault on the Second Division, Nicky went on to make over 370 first team appearances in four separate playing spells at Priestfield. Operating predominantly on the right of midfield, Trigger was a set-piece specialist and scored some stunning goals for the Gills. A member of both our Wembley play-off final teams, “Trigger” sits at 10th in the club’s all-time appearances table.
ALAN WILKS
A quiet and unassuming character off the field, Alan was a cultured and technically gifted performer who became an instant favourite with Gills supporters after signing from Reading for £5,000 in August 1971. Voted Player of the Year in his debut campaign, he was a key player in the Gills promotion winning team of 1973/74, netting 14 goals in 43 appearances as Andy Nelson’s side returned to Division 3 as runners up to Peterborough United.
GORDON PULLEY
Signed from Millwall in the summer of 1958, 5 foot 5 inch left-winger Gordon more than made up for his diminutive stature with a thunderbolt shot that frequently bested opposition keepers. A permanent fixture down the Gills’ left for six seasons, Pulley netted 51 goals in 222 outings, as well as laying on countless chances for his team mates, helping steer the club to the Fourth Division title in 1963/64.
PAUL SHAW
An exciting and highly creative attacking midfielder, Paul joined the Gills from Millwall in 2000 as Andy Hessenthaler assembled a squad for our first season at Championship level. Able to play on either flank, behind the front two or as a striker, Paul netted 12 goals in 49 league and cup appearances as Gillingham clinched their highest ever Football League finish, claiming 11th place in the Championship in 2002/03.
HOWARD PRITCHARD
Wales international winger Howard was another highly skilful and crowd pleasing winger signed by Keith Peacock from Bristol City for £22,500 in July 1986. He was a virtual ever-present in his debut season, scoring 12 goals, whilst providing countless more for Tony Cascarino and Dave Shearer as the Gills powered their way into the play-offs, Pritchard famously scoring at Roker Park to relegate Sunderland in the second-leg of our semi-final tie.
MATT JARVIS
Handed his debut by Andy Hessenthaler, while still an apprentice at the age of 17, in November 2003, Matt’s tricky wing play and turn of pace quickly had Gills fans leaping out of their seats, week in, week out. His outstanding personal performances during the 2006/07 campaign earned Jarvis a place in the PFA League One Team of the Year with Paul Scally claiming he would go on to play for England, a feat he duly achieved against Ghana at Wembley in 2011.
There are three ways for supporters to vote:
Via Twitter @TheGillsFC using the hashtag #GreatestAttackingMid
Via Facebook on GillinghamFootballClubOfficial comment using GreatestAttackingMid
Via email to media@priestfield.com subject title GreatestAttackingMid