Club News

11 Things about...Gillingham FC

Argyle’s first Capital One Cup game of the season comes against Sky Bet League 1 side Gillingham at Home Park this Tuesday. Here are eleven facts about the Gills:

1. Gillingham were originally named New Brompton FC when they first formed in 1893, and took their present name back in 1913.

2. The 2015-16 season will be the Gills 66th consecutive season in the Sky Bet Football League,; they have been in the third tier of English football since winning the League 2 title back in 2012-13.

3. The Gills will be making the long 255-mile trip down to Home Park from their Priestfield stadium home, only six miles fewer than a drive to Paris’ Eiffel Tower via Dover and Calais! 

4. Argyle have played Gillingham just once before in this competition; back in August 2009 the Gills emerged 2-1 victors at Priestfield. Luke Summerfield netted for the Pilgrims.

5. Former Home Park favourite Romain Larrieu spent time on loan at Gillingham back in January 2007, playing 14 times for the Gills.

6. There is a managerial link between Gillingham and Argyle too, with current West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis managing both clubs. Pulis spent four years in charge in Kent, taking charge of the famous 1999 Second Division playoff final against Manchester City in his final game, and managed the Pilgrims for a season in between his two spells at Stoke.

7. Argyle have a poor recent record against the Gills, with their last win over them coming in October 2004 at Home Park. The away side looked set to pull off a 1-0 victory, but two goals from David Friio in the final two minutes gave Argyle a 2-1 win to end a five game winless streak.

8. Argyle leaving Argyle in 1997 defender Mark Patterson finished his career at Gillingham. He still works there in his capacity as Development coach. 

9. Famous football commentator Brian Moore was a lifelong Gills fan, and was a director at the club for seven years. He passed away in September 2001.

10. Gillingham were in big goal-scoring form back in 1987, beating Southend United 8-1 and Chesterfield 10-0 on consecutive weekends. 

11. The Gills are also famous for their defensive statistics too, holding the Football League record for fewest goals conceded across a 46-game season when they picked the ball out of their own net just 20 times in the 1995-96 season.