Gillingham F.C.
English football team.
Gillingham Football Club is a professional football club based in Gillingham, Kent, who currently compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club, affectionately known as "The Gills," has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1893 as New Brompton Football Club. In 1912, the club officially changed its name to Gillingham Football Club, marking the beginning of a new era.
Gillingham play their home games at Priestfield Stadium, which has been their home ground since the club's inception. The stadium, with a capacity of around 11,000, has witnessed numerous memorable moments in the club's history and remains an integral part of the team's identity.
The Gills' journey through the English football pyramid has been marked by periods of success and challenges. They were among the founding members of the Football League's Third Division in 1920, but their early years in the league were characterized by struggles, often finishing in the lower reaches of the table. In 1938, Gillingham faced a significant setback when they failed to be re-elected to the Football League and were forced to return to the Southern League.
However, the club showed remarkable resilience, quickly establishing themselves as one of the stronger sides in the Southern League. They won the Kent League and Kent Senior Cup double in the 1945-46 season, followed by Southern League Cup and Southern League championship victories in 1946-47. During this period, they also recorded a club record 12-1 victory over Gloucester City.
Gillingham's success in the Southern League paved the way for their return to the Football League in 1950 when the Third Division South was expanded. The club spent the next few decades oscillating between the third and fourth tiers of English football. A notable achievement came in 1964 when, under the management of Freddie Cox, they won their first divisional championship, securing promotion to the Third Division.
The late 1980s saw Gillingham come close to reaching the second tier of English football, narrowly missing out on promotion. However, the 1990s brought financial difficulties, culminating in the club entering administration in 1995. This period of uncertainty was resolved when businessman Paul Scally purchased the club, ushering in a new era of stability and ambition.
Under Scally's ownership and with Tony Pulis as manager, Gillingham achieved promotion to the Second Division (now League One) in 1996. The club continued to progress, reaching the Second Division play-off final in 1999, where they suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Manchester City despite leading 2-0 with minutes to go.
The turn of the millennium brought Gillingham's greatest achievement to date. In 2000, they won the Second Division play-off final, securing promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time in their history. The Gills spent five seasons at this level, achieving their highest ever league finish of eleventh in the 2002-03 season.
In recent years, Gillingham have primarily competed in League One and League Two.
Gillingham's biggest rivals are generally considered to be Swindon Town and Millwall, with matches against these teams often generating significant local interest. The club also has a rivalry with Maidstone United, although this has been less prominent in recent years due to the two clubs competing in different divisions.