1997–98 Gillingham F.C. season

English football club season Gillingham 1997–98 Tony Pulis Paul Scally Second Division 8th FA Cup First round League Cup First round League Trophy First round Ade Akinbiyi (21) Ade Akinbiyi (22) 10,507 vs Fulham (28 March 1998) 905 vs Peterborough United (9 November 1997) 0000ff 0000ff 0000ff 0000ff 0000ff ff0000 ff0000 ff0000 ff0000 ff0000 1996–97 1998–99 During the 1997–98 English football season, Gillingham F.C. competed in the Football League Second Division, the third tier of the English football league system. It was the 66th season in which Gillingham competed in the Football League, and the 48th since the club was voted back into the league in 1950. The team started the season strongly and by the end of October were challenging for promotion, but then went on a lengthy run of games without a win which saw them slip into the bottom third of the league table in December. Results improved in the second half of the season, and Gillingham were sixth in the table with one game remaining, which would be sufficient for a place in the promotion play-offs. Results on the final day of the regular season meant that they finished in a four-way tie for the final two play-off places and missed out as they had scored the fewest goals of the four teams involved; a goalbound shot from Nicky Southall in the final seconds of the last game of the season which could have given Gillingham a win and a play-off place instead struck the goalpost and rebounded away. Gillingham also competed in three knock-out competitions, the FA Cup, Football League Cup, and Football League Trophy, but were eliminated in the first round of all three. The team played 51 competitive matches, winning 19, drawing 14, and losing 18. Ade Akinbiyi was the team's top goalscorer, with a total of 22 in all competitions. Paul Smith, a new signing at the start of the season, made the most appearances; he was the only player to play in all 51 games. The highest attendance recorded at the club's home ground, Priestfield Stadium, was 10,507 for a game against Fulham in March. The game was marred by fighting between rival supporters which resulted in a Fulham fan dying. Background and pre-season thumb|right|upright|alt=Football manager Tony Pulis|Gillingham manager Tony Pulis (pictured in 2014) was the club's manager for a third season. The 1997–98 season was Gillingham's 66th in the Football League and the 48th since the club was elected back into the League in 1950 after being voted out in 1938. It was Gillingham's second consecutive season in the Football League Second Division, the third tier of the English football league system.Brown 2003 106–109 The club had never reached the second level of English football in its history.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/767702.stm Second time lucky for Gills BBC News 6 August 2008 28 May 2000 3 March 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20030303203928/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/767702.stm live Gillingham had finished the previous season in 11th place in the league table, six points below the promotion play-off places.Rollin 1997 31 Tony Pulis served as manager for a third season, having been appointed in 1995 after chairman Paul Scally purchased the club.Brown 1998 11Triggs 2001 265 He signed several new players ahead of the new season, including three from fellow Second Division club Brentford: Paul Smith, a midfielder, who arrived for a transfer fee of UK 195,000 1997 eq yes £ -4,Triggs 2001 301 and Barry Ashby and Brian Statham, both defenders, who cost the club UK 140,000 1997 eq yes £ -4 and UK 10,000 1997 eq yes £ -4 respectively.Triggs 2001 46, 307 Neil Masters, another defender, arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers of the First Division for UK 50,000 1997 eq yes £ -4 and Neil Moss, a goalkeeper, joined on loan from Southampton of the FA Premier League to cover for Jim Stannard, who was injured during the pre-season.Triggs 2001 228 Another midfielder, Mick Galloway, who had spent part of the previous season on loan to Gillingham from Notts County, now joined the club on a permanent basis for UK 25,000 1997 eq yes £ -4 following County's relegation to the Third Division.Triggs 2001 128 The club's first-choice kit consisted of blue shirts, shorts, and socks; the away kit, to be worn in the event of a clash of colours with the home team, was all-red.Gillingham Vs Blackpool Matchday Programme Action from our draw at Saltergate 18 November 1997 B.G. Foods of Sevenoaks signed a contract to become the club's new primary sponsor, meaning that their Kool brand appeared on the players' shirts.Gillingham Vs Preston North End Matchday Programme Kool and the Gills 9 August 1997 Gillingham prepared for the new season with a number of friendly matches, including games against Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers.Gillingham Vs Preston North End Matchday Programme Action Extra 9 August 1997 Significant redevelopment work took place at the club's home ground, Priestfield Stadium, with the opening of a new grandstand on the Gordon Road side of the ground.https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/through-the-ages-kents-historic-and-lost-sports-grounds-227981/ Sports grounds in pictures: St Lawrence Canterbury, Priestfield, Gillingham, Folkestone Racecourse and other grounds past and present Matt Leclere Kent Online KM Media Group 30 May 2020 16 May 2022 16 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220516130352/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/through-the-ages-kents-historic-and-lost-sports-grounds-227981/ live For the first time in its 104-year history, Priestfield would also serve as the home ground of another team during the 1997–98 season. After being forced to leave the Goldstone Ground due to financial difficulties, Third Division Brighton & Hove Albion signed a two-year agreement to groundshare with Gillingham.https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/brighton-brink-extinction-premier-league-told-fourfourtwo How Brighton went from the brink of extinction to the Premier League – told by their heroes FourFourTwo Chris Flanagan 27 September 2021 16 May 2022 23 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220523015856/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/brighton-brink-extinction-premier-league-told-fourfourtwo live Their opening home game on 16 August against Macclesfield Town was the first Football League match to take place at Priestfield without involving Gillingham.Elligate 2009 126 Second Division August–December thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Leo Fortune-West|Leo Fortune-West (pictured in 2008) scored in three consecutive games in October and November but only scored one other goal in the whole season.Rollin Rollin 1998 175 Gillingham's first Second Division game of the season was at home to Preston North End on 9 August; Ashby, Moss, Smith, and Masters all made their debuts.Rollin Rollin 1998 175 With the previous season's top goalscorer, Iffy Onoura, missing following a knee operation,Gillingham Vs Birmingham City Matchday Programme Wayne's World Wayne Jones 12 August 1997 Steve Butler was chosen to partner Ade Akinbiyi in the forward positions.Rollin Rollin 1998 175 The game resulted in a 0–0 draw, as did the next game away to Burnley a week later.Rollin Rollin 1998 174 Forward Leo Fortune-West came on as a substitute against Burnley but was sent off after less than ten minutes on the pitch. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107820617 The Sunday Telegraph 18 August 2022 Newspapers.com Nationwide Division Two 17 August 1997 9 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220909073218/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107820617/sunday-telegraph/ live https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A76180454/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=3d962722 The Observer 25 May 2022 Gale Soccer: Burnley brought to book Paul Gardner 17 August 1997 subscription 9 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220909073209/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA76180454&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=3d962722 live Jimmy Corbett, a 17-year-old attacking midfielder, made his debut as a substitute.Triggs 2001 94 The team's first win came on 23 August at home to Walsall;Rollin Rollin 1998 174 Statham made his debut.Rollin Rollin 1998 175 Gillingham lost both the last game of August and the first of September, after which they were 15th out of 24 teams in the league table,https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/02-September-1997/ League Division 2 table after close of play on 2 September 1997 11v11 AFS Enterprises 23 May 2022 23 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220523175710/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/02-September-1997/ live but wins at home to AFC Bournemouth and away to Bristol Rovers took them up to 9th.Rollin Rollin 1998 174https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/13-September-1997/ League Division 2 table after close of play on 13 September 1997 11v11 AFS Enterprises 27 May 2022 27 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220527154507/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/13-September-1997/ live https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A66977294/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=776cede7 The Independent Matthew Slater 27 May 2022 Gale Butler deflates Bournemouth; Gillingham 2 Bournemouth 1 6 September 1997 subscription 9 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220909073207/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA66977294&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=776cede7 live Gillingham played five matches in October and won four of them, defeating Bristol City, Wycombe Wanderers, Wigan Athletic, and Plymouth Argyle; Akinbiyi scored twice in the first match of the month and once in each of the others,Rollin Rollin 1998 174 making him only the eighth Gillingham player to score in five consecutive Football League games.Triggs 2001 347 The victories meant that by the end of the month, Gillingham had climbed to fourth in the table, only two points off the two automatic promotion places.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/31-october-1997/ League Division 2 table after close of play on 31 October 1997 11v11 AFS Enterprises 24 May 2022 22 October 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211022161132/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/31-october-1997/ liveRollin Rollin 1998 33 Fortune-West came on as a substitute and scored a goal in two consecutive games in October, after which he made his first start of the season and scored again, but he quickly lost his place again and did not start another game until March.Rollin Rollin 1998 175 Defender Mark Patterson, a UK 45,000 1997 eq yes £ -4 signing from Plymouth Argyle, made his debut in a 3–1 defeat to Millwall on 1 November, during which Statham was sent off.Triggs 2001 248 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A59814041/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=4172d43e Sunday Times Peter Wilson 27 May 2022 Gale Second Division; The Football Round-up 2 November 1997 subscription 9 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220909073208/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA59814041&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=4172d43e live The match was the first in a run of ten Second Division games in which the team failed to achieve a victory.Rollin Rollin 1998 174 Gillingham ended November with a 3–0 defeat away to Fulham and a 2–0 loss at home to Grimsby Town, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A66907906/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=b7ed6d49 The Independent 27 May 2022 Gale Football: Peschisolido strikes twice to keep Fulham revival rolling; Fulham 3 Gillingham 0 22 November 1997 subscription 9 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220909073207/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA66907906&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=b7ed6d49 live Rollin Rollin 1998 174 after which they were once again 15th in the table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/30-November-1997/ League Division 2 table after close of play on 30 November 1997 11v11 AFS Enterprises 25 May 2022 25 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220525122958/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/30-November-1997/ live Nicky Southall, a new signing from Grimsby Town, made his debut against Southend United on 13 December and scored Gillingham's goal in a 2–1 defeat;Triggs 2001 303Elligate 2009 192 he would go on to make nearly 400 appearances for Gillingham in four separate spells with the club.https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=7496 Nicky Southall Soccerbase 23 May 2022 23 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220523075049/https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=7496 live Another goalkeeper, Mike Pollitt, made his debut in the same game, having joined the club on loan from Notts County.Triggs 2001 258 On 26 December, Gillingham's run of games without a win extended to 10 games with a 4–0 defeat away to AFC Bournemouth, the first time the team had lost by as wide a margin since the previous December.Brown 2003 107–108 Gillingham's Adrian Pennock was sent off in the defeat, https://www.proquest.com/docview/245201984 The Guardian 26 May 2022 Football: Nationwide League: Second Division 27 December 1997 245201984 subscription 9 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220909073211/https://www.proquest.com/docview/245201984 live which left the team 17th in the table, only four positions above the relegation places.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/26-december-1997/ League Division 2 table after close of play on 26 December 1997 11v11 AFS Enterprises 26 May 2022 26 October 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211026010258/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/26-december-1997/ liveRollin Rollin 1998 33 Gillingham's final match of 1997 was at home to Brentford on 29 December; Akinbiyi scored twice in a 3–1 victory, the team's first win in more than two months. It meant that Gillingham ended the year 15th in the Second Division.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/31-December-1997/ League Division 2 table after close of play on 31 December 1997 11v11 AFS Enterprises 23 May 2022 23 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220523175709/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/31-December-1997/ live January–May thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Ade Akinbiyi|Ade Akinbiyi (pictured in 2009) scored two goals in a game on three occasions in the second half of the season. Gillingham began 1998 with a second consecutive home victory, beating Burnley 2–0 on 3 January and rising to 12th in the table as a result.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/03-January-1998/ League Division 2 table after close of play on 3 January 1998 11v11 AFS Enterprises 23 May 2022 23 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220523175720/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/03-January-1998/ live A week later they defeated Preston North End 3–1 to climb to 10th.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/10-January-1998/ League Division 2 table after close of play on 10 January 1998 11v11 AFS Enterprises 29 May 2022 9 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220909073207/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/10-January-1998/ liveRollin Rollin 1998 174 On 8 February, Gillingham beat Watford, who were top of the table going into the game, 2–0 in a match which was broadcast live on Sky TV.Elligate 2009 31 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A76042458/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=1f372b73 The Observer 23 May 2022 Gale Sport on TV: What and when to watch 8 February 1998 subscription 9 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220909073208/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA76042458&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=1f372b73 live Akinbiyi scored both goals, one in each half; https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A76115399/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=9f906778 The Guardian Trevor Haylett 30 May 2022 Gale Football: Watford gaps: Second Division 9 February 1998 subscription 9 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220909073208/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA76115399&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=9f906778 live goalkeeper Mark Walton, signed on loan from Fulham, made his debut.Triggs 2001 327 The transfer was initially processed as a loan due to a technicality and he was set to sign a permanent contract with Gillingham after the match against Watford, but the club refused to meet his salary request and he instead returned to Fulham.Elligate 2009 31Triggs 2001 327 It was the first of four consecutive victories for Gillingham, all achieved without conceding a goal.Rollin Rollin 1998 174 After the fourth win, a 1–0 victory over Northampton Town on 24 February, Gillingham were 7th in the table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/24-February-1998/ League Division 2 table after close of play on 24 February 1998 11v11 AFS Enterprises 25 May 2022 25 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220525203705/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/24-February-1998/ live Victory over Oldham Athletic on 3 March took Gillingham up to 6th in the table, putting them within the promotion play-off places,Rollin Rollin 1998 33https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/03-March-1998/ League Division 2 table after close of play on 3 March 1998 11v11 AFS Enterprises 26 May 2022 26 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220526121645/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/03-March-1998/ live but they lost the next game 1–0 to Millwall and defender Guy Butters suffered a broken leg which would keep him out of the team for the rest of the season.Rollin Rollin 1998 175Triggs 2001 77 On 21 March, Vince Bartram became the fourth loan goalkeeper to play for Gillingham during the season, joining the club from Arsenal following doubts over Stannard's fitness;Triggs 2001 53 Bartram's debut away to Blackpool resulted in a 2–0 defeat.Rollin Rollin 1998 174 A week later, Gillingham beat Fulham 2–0 at Priestfield with two goals from Akinbiyi.Rollin Rollin 1998 174 After the match, fans of the two teams fought outside the stadium; a Fulham supporter, Matthew Fox, was punched in the head by a Gillingham fan and died after falling and hitting his head on a kerb.Elligate 2009 55 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A76103674/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=a488ad58 The Guardian John Duncan 23 May 2022 Gale Violence hits sport: Police question three over killing: Inquiries after soccer fan dies and referees are threatened 30 March 1998 subscription 9 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220909073208/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA76103674&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=a488ad58 live https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A59867859/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=bc56ae56 The Times Claudia Joseph 30 May 2022 Gale Fulham fan died as his head hit kerb after punch; Football 30 March 1998 subscription 9 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220909073209/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CA59867859&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-STND&asid=bc56ae56 live Gillingham drew three of the first four games of April, the other being a victory over Luton Town in which Akinbiyi again scored twice.Rollin Rollin 1998 174 After this run Gillingham were in 7th place, one position outside the play-off places, but victory over Plymouth Argyle on 25 April took them up to 6th with one game remaining.Elligate 2009 70 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500882667/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=26929ecf The Times 18 May 2022 Gale Nationwide Football League 27 April 1998 34 subscription 9 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220909073209/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CIF0500882667&v=2.1&it=r&sid=bookmark-TTDA&asid=26929ecf live Gillingham's final match of the season at home to Wigan Athletic resulted in a 0–0 draw.Rollin Rollin 1998 174 The result, along with those of the day's other games, left Gillingham in a four-way tie with Bristol Rovers, Fulham, and Wrexham on 70 points; under Football League tiebreaker rules the teams were ranked in order of the total number of goals each had scored.Elligate 2009 77 Bristol Rovers and Fulham finished 5th and 6th respectively and clinched places in the play-offs, while Gillingham finished 8th as they had scored the fewest goals of the four teams.Rollin Rollin 1998 33Elligate 2009 77 A shot by Southall struck the goalpost and rebounded away in the final minute of the game against Wigan; had he scored and his team held onto their lead for the remaining seconds, they would have qualified for the play-offs.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19980503/438/0068 Gills miss by a whisker Sunday Mirror British Newspaper Archive subscription 3 May 1998 18 May 2022 Match details Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal +ResultsRollin Rollin 1998 174DateOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance9 August 1997Preston North End (H)0–06,56216 August 1997Burnley (A)0–011,81123 August 1997Walsall (H)2–1Smith, Akinbiyi5,08330 August 1997York City (A)1–2Bailey2,8532 September 1997Brentford (A)0–24,9035 September 1997AFC Bournemouth (H)2–1Butters (pen.), Butler5,16813 September 1997Bristol Rovers (A)2–1Butler, Akinbiyi6,57220 September 1997Watford (H)2–2Butters, Butler7,78027 September 1997Carlisle United (A)1–2Butters (pen.)5,0634 October 1997Bristol City (H)2–0Akinbiyi (2)6,27711 October 1997Wycombe Wanderers (H)1–0Akinbiyi5,54518 October 1997Northampton Town (A)1–2Akinbiyi7,19121 October 1997Wigan Athletic (A)4–1Akinbiyi, Ratcliffe, Butler (pen.), Fortune-West3,21425 October 1997Plymouth Argyle (H)2–1Akinbiyi, Fortune-West6,6791 November 1997Millwall (H)1–3Fortune-West8,3834 November 1997Chesterfield (A)1–1Akinbiyi3,4207 November 1997Oldham Athletic (A)1–3Butters5,33818 November 1997Blackpool (H)1–1Butters (pen.)5,04521 November 1997Fulham (A)0–38,27429 November 1997Grimsby Town (H)0–24,8552 December 1997Luton Town (A)2–2Akinbiyi (2)4,40813 December 1997Southend United (H)1–2Southall4,77420 December 1997Wrexham (A)0–02,83426 December 1997AFC Bournemouth (A)0–45,67229 December 1997Brentford (H)3–1Aspinall (o.g.), Akinbiyi (2)5,9083 January 1998Burnley (H)2–0Butler, Smith5,88610 January 1998Preston North End (A)3–1Butters, Galloway, Onuora7,77617 January 1998York City (H)0–05,89131 January 1998Bristol Rovers (H)1–1Onuora5,5938 February 1998Watford (A)2–0Akinbiyi (2)10,49814 February 1998Bristol City (A)2–0Corbett, Southall11,78121 February 1998Carlisle United (H)1–0Butler6,27024 February 1998Northampton Town (H)1–0Butters (pen.)6,46328 February 1998Wycombe Wanderers (A)0–15,5833 March 1998Oldham Athletic (H)2–1Kelly (o.g.), Akinbiyi5,2547 March 1998Millwall (A)0–18,24114 March 1998Chesterfield (H)1–0Corbett5,67221 March 1998Blackpool (A)1–2Fortune-West4,16528 March 1998Fulham (H)2–0Akinbiyi (2)10,50731 March 1998Walsall (A)0–13,1174 April 1998Grimsby Town (A)0–05,19011 April 1998Luton Town (H)2–1Akinbiyi (2)6,84613 April 1998Southend United (A)0–06,15118 April 1998Wrexham (H)1–1Akinbiyi7,86925 April 1998Plymouth Argyle (A)1–0Smith7,9412 May 1998Wigan Athletic (H)0–010,361 Partial league table 1997–98 Football League#Second Division main WDL left auto Football League Second Division final table, leading positions PR WAT Watford WAL Bristol City MAN Grimsby Town NOR Northampton Town PRE Bristol Rovers WIG Fulham WRE Wrexham GIL Gillingham 24 16 6 67 41 25 10 11 69 39 19 15 12 55 37 18 17 11 52 37 20 10 16 70 64 20 10 16 60 43 18 16 12 55 51 19 13 14 52 47 Division Champions, promoted CP Promoted P PP Participated in play-offs PP PP PP complete https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/31-may-1998/ League Division 2 end of season table for 1997–98 season 11v11 AFS Enterprises 17 May 2022 17 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220517202505/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-2/31-may-1998/ live Cup matches FA Cup As a Second Division team, Gillingham entered the 1997–98 FA Cup in the first round and were drawn to play fellow Second Division team Bristol Rovers. The match took place at the Memorial Stadium in Bristol; after each team scored once in the first half, Akinibiyi scored within the last ten minutes of the game to give Gillingham a 2–1 lead, but Bristol Rovers scored again and the game ended in a draw, necessitating a replay at Priestfield.Rollin Rollin 1998 599 In the second match, Bristol Rovers scored twice in the first half and went on to win 2–0 and eliminate Gillingham from the competition.Rollin Rollin 1998 601 Match details Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal +ResultsRollin Rollin 1998 599, 601DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance14 November 1997FirstBristol Rovers (A)2–2Onoura, Akinbiyi4,82525 November 1997First (replay)Bristol Rovers (H)0–24,459 Football League Cup As a Second Division team, Gillingham entered the 1997–98 Football League Cup in the first round and were paired with Birmingham City of the First Division. Gillingham lost both legs of the two-legged tie without scoring a goal and were eliminated from the competition by an aggregate score of 4–0.Rollin Rollin 1998 579, 581 Match details Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal +ResultsRollin Rollin 1998 579, 581DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance12 August 1997First (first leg)Birmingham City (H)0–15,24626 August 1997First (second leg)Birmingham City (A)0–37,921 Football League Trophy In the first round of the 1997–98 Football League Trophy, a competition for Second and Third Division teams, Gillingham played at home to Third Division Peterborough United; the match drew an attendance of only 905, the lowest in the club's history for a game against professional opposition.Elligate 2009 190 A goal early in the second half gave Peterborough a 1–0 win and eliminated Gillingham from the competition.Rollin 1997 590 Match details Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal +ResultsRollin Rollin 1998 590DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance9 December 1997FirstPeterborough United (H)0–1 905 Players thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Mike Pollitt|Mike Pollitt (pictured in 2011) was one of five goalkeepers to play for Gillingham during the season. Thirty players made at least one appearance for Gillingham during the season.Brown 2003 108 Smith made the most; he was the only player who took part in all 51 of the team's games. Akinibiyi, Butler, Ashby, Andy Hessenthaler, and Galloway all played more than 40 times. Four players made only one appearance during the season.Brown 2003 108 One of these was Mark O'Connor, who had made a comeback during the previous season after taking nearly a year to recover from a serious injury; after taking part in just one game in the 1997–98 season, he retired from playing and joined the club's coaching staff.Triggs 2001 237 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A66948950/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=8b508007 The Independent 27 May 2022 Gale Sporting Digest: Football 7 October 1997 subscription Eleven players scored at least one goal for the team;Brown 2003 108 Akinibiyi was the top scorer, with 21 goals in Second Division matches and 1 in the League Cup for a total of 22 in all competitions. As the team only scored 54 times in total, Akinbiyi accounted for just over 40% of Gillingham's goals during the season. Butters was the second-highest goalscorer, with a total of seven.Brown 2003 108 +Player statisticsBrown 2003 108PlayerPositionSecond DivisionFA CupLeague CupLeague TrophyTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAde AkinbiyiFW 44212120104922Barry AshbyDF 430201010470Dennis Bailey footballer, born 1965FW 131000000131Vince BartramGK 9000000090Matt Bryant footballerDF 350102010390Steve Butler footballerFW 436202010486Guy Butters DF317202000357Ian Chapman footballerDF 0000100010Jimmy CorbettMF 162001010182Leo Fortune-WestFW 204101000224Mick GallowayMF 391202000431Richard Green footballerDF 250002010280Andy HessenthalerMF 420202010470Neil MastersDF 110000010120Neil Moss footballerGK 100002000120George NdahFW 4000000040Mark O'Connor English footballerMF 0000100010Iffy OnuoraFW 222210010253Mark Patterson footballer, born 1968DF 230200000250Adrian PennockDF 200000000200James PinnockFW 1000000010Lenny PiperMF 1000100020Mike PollittGK 6000000060Simon RatcliffeDF 211202010261Paul Smith footballer, born 1971MF 463202010513Nicky SouthallMF 232000010242Jim StannardGK 200200010230Brian Statham footballerDF 200200010230Glen ThomasDF 3000000030Mark Walton footballerGK 1000000010 FW = Forward, MF = Midfielder, GK = Goalkeeper, DF = Defender Aftermath Shortly after the end of the season, top goalscorer Akinbiyi joined Bristol City of the First Division for a fee of £1.2 million (equivalent to £UK 1.2 1998 1 million in UK), a new record for the highest transfer fee received by Gillingham.Triggs 2001 41 Highly-rated teenager Corbett moved to Premier League club Blackburn Rovers for an initial fee of £525,000 (equivalent to £UK 0.525 1995 2 million in UK); clauses in the contract meant that the fee had the potential to nearly double if Corbett played more than a specified number of games at the higher level.Triggs 2001 95https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-michael-owen-factor-six-young-premiership-stars-poised-to-make-the-big-breakthrough-this-season-1170603.html The Michael Owen factor: Six young Premiership stars poised to make the big breakthrough this season Conrad Leach The Independent 9 August 1998 18 May 2022 29 May 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170529183903/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/the-michael-owen-factor-six-young-premiership-stars-poised-to-make-the-big-breakthrough-this-season-1170603.html live A succession of injuries, however, limited his playing time at Blackburn and Gillingham received no further money.Elligate 2009 92Triggs 2001 95 In the 1998–99 season, Gillingham finished 4th in the Second Division and qualified for the play-offs.Rollin Rollin 1999 33 After defeating Preston North End in the semi-finals, they played Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in the final. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/74999870/the-guardian/ The Guardian 3 April 2021 Newspapers.com Hessenthaler leads men of Kent to Wembley Trevor Haylett 32 20 May 1999 28 September 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210928084125/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/74999870/the-guardian/ live Gillingham were 2–0 up with less than ten minutes remaining but conceded two late goals, and Manchester City won the subsequent penalty shoot-out to gain promotion. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/74999921/the-guardian/ The Guardian Newspapers.com 3 April 2021 Now City turn lost cause into a triumph Trevor Haylett 31 May 1999 25 27 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210727150752/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/74999921/the-guardian/ live https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500231797/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=TTDA&xid=5f472bb6 The Times Gale City stage another Manchester late show 31 31 May 1999 Keith Pike subscription 3 April 2021 27 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210727150804/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CIF0500231797&v=2.1&it=r&sid=TTDA&asid=5f472bb6 live One month later, Pulis was dismissed from his job, amid accusations of gross misconduct on his part. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A66750530/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=23e44267 25 The Independent 24 August 2021 Gale Football: Wenger's buy from Brazil Gordon Tynan 1 July 1999 subscription He brought a case against the club for unfair dismissal and ultimately accepted an out-of-court settlement of UK 75,000 2001 eq yes £ -3.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/apr/28/newsstory.sport7 Pulis case ends in settlement Jon Brodkin 28 April 2001 23 October 2021 The Guardian 23 October 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211023175405/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/apr/28/newsstory.sport7 live References Works cited Brown Eric News of the World Football Annual 1998–99 Invincible Press 1998 978-0-00218-857-9 London Brown Tony The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record Soccerdata 2003 1-899468-20-X Nottingham Elligate David Gillingham FC On This Day Pitch Publishing 2009 978-1-90541-145-0 Durrington Rollin Glenda Rollin Jack Rothmans Football Yearbook 1997–98 Headline Publishing Group 1997 978-0-74727-738-5 Rollin 1997 London Rollin Glenda Rollin Jack Rothmans Football Yearbook 1998–99 Headline Book Publishing 1998 978-0-74727-652-4 London Rollin Glenda Rollin Jack Rothmans Football Yearbook 1999–2000 Headline Book Publishing 1999 978-0-74722-166-1 London Roger Triggs The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club Tempus Publishing Ltd 2001 978-0-75242-243-5 Stroud 1997-98 Gill