As Newport County prepare to take on Gillingham on Tuesday night, we take a closer look at the Gills.
What’s their story?
Gillingham Football Club was founded in 1893, originally known as New Brompton Football Club, before adopting the current name in 1912. After a brief spell out of the Football League following the 1937-38 season, the club was reinstated in 1950 when the league expanded from 88 to 92 clubs.
The Gills enjoyed a near-miss with promotion to the second tier twice in the late 1980s, but a challenging period followed, and in 1993 the club narrowly avoided relegation to the Football Conference. However, the dawn of the new millennium brought one of the club’s greatest eras, as Gillingham competed in the second tier of English football from 2000 to 2005. The highlight came in the 2002-03 season, when the team achieved their highest-ever league finish, securing 11th place.
Today, Gillingham continues to battle in the Football League, moving between League One and League Two over the past decade. Last season, the Gills showed resilience, earning a respectable 12th-place finish
Who’s the boss?
John Coleman is currently the manager of Gillingham, having been appointed in January 2025.
Coleman started his managerial career in 1997 as player-manager of Ashton United before moving to Accrington Stanley in 1999. Over 12-and-a-half years, he led the club through three promotions, including their historic entry into the Football League in 2006. At the time of his departure, he was England’s third-longest-serving manager.
He then managed Rochdale from 2012 to 2013, but was dismissed after a poor run. Coleman returned to Southport in 2013 and took over Sligo Rovers in 2014. He returned to Accrington Stanley later that year and led them to the League Two title in 2018, earning EFL Manager of the Season honors.
After Accrington’s relegation in 2023, Coleman was sacked in March 2024, ending his 9-and-a-half-year tenure with 1,098 matches in charge. In January 2025, he was appointed manager of Gillingham on a short-term contract.
Who’s the captain?
Max Ehmer, Gillingham’s current captain, returned to the club in 2021 for his second spell, having previously been a key player from 2014 to 2022. A product of Queens Park Rangers' youth academy, Ehmer signed his first professional contract in 2009 at the age of 17. His early career saw him gain valuable experience on loan at several clubs, including Yeovil Town, Preston North End, Stevenage, and Carlisle United.
Ehmer initially signed for Gillingham in 2015, where he quickly established himself as a defensive stalwart. In January 2017, he was named club captain, a role he briefly lost before regaining it under manager Steve Evans ahead of the 2019-20 season.
After a season with Bristol Rovers, during which he made 33 appearances and contributed two goals and two assists, Ehmer returned to Gillingham. In April 2024, he reached a remarkable milestone, making his 400th appearance for the Gills in a 2-2 draw with Doncaster Rovers.
Key Players
Max Clark has quickly become a vital part of Gillingham’s squad since joining in 2023. At 28 years old, the experienced full-back brings a wealth of knowledge from his time at various clubs. A product of Hull City’s youth system, Clark made his league debut for the Tigers in August 2017, earning valuable game time in the Championship. He also spent time on loan with Cambridge United, where he impressed across two seasons.
In 2018, Clark took a bold step by signing with Eredivisie side Vitesse, making his European debut in a UEFA Europa League tie against Basel. After two seasons in the Netherlands, Clark returned to Hull City in 2021, though he didn’t make an appearance before brief stints with Fleetwood, Rochdale, and Stevenage.
Jayden Clarke arrived at Priestfield in January 2023, shortly after the takeover of the club involving Brad and Shannon Galinson.
The 23-year-old winger played in the Tottenham Hotspur academy but, on leaving the club, impressed at non-league level with Bedfont Sports and Hendon before a fruitful 2022-23 campaign with Dulwich Hamlet where he netted four times in 22 appearances.
He made his Gillingham debut in April 2023 during an away game against Bradford at Valley Parade before starting two weeks later at Salford in a 1-0 win.
