As Newport County prepare to take on Gillingham in Saturday afternoon’s Sky Bet League Two clash, we take a closer look at the Gills.
Gillingham’s Story
Founded in 1893 as New Brompton Football Club, the Kent-based side adopted the name Gillingham FC in 1912. The club has played at Priestfield Stadium throughout its entire history, a ground that once held 30,000 spectators but now accommodates less than half that number. Gillingham first entered the Football League in 1920, only to lose their place to Ipswich Town in 1938 after 18 difficult seasons. They regained their spot 12 years later when the league expanded from 88 to 92 teams.
The 1980s brought relative success, with the Gills twice coming close to reaching the second tier, but a decline followed, culminating in a narrow escape from relegation to the Conference in 1993. The turn of the millennium delivered the club’s greatest era, as Gillingham competed in the Championship and recorded their highest-ever league finish of 11th in 2002–03. Since relegation from the second tier in 2005, the club has alternated between League One and League Two, continuing its long tradition of resilience.
The Head Coach
Gareth Ainsworth is the current manager of Gillingham, having been appointed in March 2025.
Ainsworth had a hist first taste of management during his playing career with Queens Park Rangers as he took over as the caretaker manager on two separate occasions in the 2008-09 season, even managing a cup tie against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United which was only settled by a late Carlos Tevez goal.
Ainsworth took charge of Wycombe Wanderers in September 2012, initially as caretaker, and went on to become the club’s longest-serving manager. After steering them clear of relegation in his first full season, he rebuilt the squad and led Wycombe to the League Two play-off final in 2015, narrowly missing out on promotion. Three years later, he guided the Chairboys to automatic promotion to League One, and in 2020 achieved the club’s greatest success by winning the play-offs and taking Wycombe into the Championship for the first time in their history. Though they were relegated after one season, Ainsworth’s side competed admirably, and he described survival until the final day as a proud moment. He later led Wycombe to another League One play-off final in 2022, cementing his reputation for overachieving on limited resources with an experienced, tightly bonded squad.
Short spells with Queens Park Rangers and Shrewsbury Town followed, before his appointment as Gillingham’s Head Coach mid-way through last season.
The Captain
Armani Little, Gillingham’s current captain, joined the club at the start of last season. A product of the Southampton youth academy, Little signed his first professional contract with Oxford United shortly after being released by the Saints.
Upon signing for Oxford, Little spent the majority of the 2018-19 season on loan with Woking. Little played his part in helping the Cardinals achieve promotion from the National League South to the National League via the play-offs. The midfielder joined Torquay United in the following season due to limited playing time with the U’s. Little would spend three seasons in the National League with the Gulls, making 90 appearances before being picked up by newly promoted League One side Forest Green Rovers.
Little spent the first half of the 2022-23 season with the Green, making 25 appearances. However, having failed to impress manager Ian Burchnall, Little was sent on loan to League Two with AFC Wimbledon. Little’s successful loan spell would earn him a permanent move with the Dons. Little would be on the move again just one season later where he joined Gillingham and has this season been named captain following Max Ehmer’s departure.
Key Players
Bradley Dack has established himself as a talented and creative attacking midfielder over the course of his career. A product of Gillingham’s youth system, he broke into the first team in 2012 and quickly became a standout performer, winning the club’s Player of the Season award in 2014–15 and the League One Player of the Year in 2015–16.
In 2017, Dack moved to Blackburn Rovers, where he became a key figure in their promotion to the Championship, scoring regularly and earning a reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous midfielders. Despite suffering two serious ACL injuries that disrupted his progress, he showed resilience by fighting back to contribute again at Ewood Park. In 2023, Dack signed for Sunderland, reuniting with his former manager Tony Mowbray, and continues to bring creativity, flair, and experience to their midfield.
Dack returned to Gillingham at the start of last season, contributing with a goal and an assist in 20 games from the heart of midfield. So far this season, Dack has already matched his last season’s goal scoring tally in seven games and has also captained the side in Little’s absence.
Max Clark has quickly become an important part of Gillingham’s squad since arriving in 2023. At 29, the experienced full-back brings with him a wealth of knowledge from spells at a range of clubs. A graduate of Hull City’s academy, he made his league debut for the Tigers in August 2017, gaining valuable Championship experience. He also enjoyed two productive loan spells with Cambridge United, where he caught the eye with his consistent performances.
In 2018, Clark made the bold move to Dutch side Vitesse, featuring in the Eredivisie and making his European debut in a Europa League clash with Basel. After two seasons abroad, he returned to Hull City in 2021, before going on to feature for Fleetwood Town, Rochdale, and Stevenage ahead of his switch to Priestfield.
