1913–14 Gillingham F.C. season

English football club season October 2023 Gillingham 1913–14 Sam Gilligan Edward CrawleyTriggs 1999 25 Southern LeagueDivision One 13th FA Cup Second round Charlie Hafekost (10) Charlie Hafekost (10) 12,000 vs Swindon Town (1 November 1913) 5,000 (five matches) 0000FF FF0000 0000FF FFFFFF 0000FF 1912–13 1914–15 During the 1913–14 English football season, Gillingham F.C. competed in the Southern League Division One. It was the 20th season in which the club competed in the Southern League and the 19th in Division One. At the start of the season, the club appointed Sam Gilligan as player-manager. Gillingham's performances during the first half of the season were mixed and at the end of 1913 they were 12th out of 20 teams in the league table. They were undefeated in January and rose to 7th in the table, but then had a winless run of five games, including the team's heaviest defeat of the season. Gillingham won only one of their final seven games of the campaign and finished in 13th position, an improvement of two places on the previous season. Gillingham also competed in the FA Cup. After victories in two qualifying rounds and the first round proper, they played Liverpool of the Football League First Division in the second round; the attendance of 42,045 was the largest recorded crowd in front of which Gillingham had ever played, home or away. Gillingham held their opponents for over 75 minutes but conceded two late goals and lost the game. The team played 42 competitive matches, winning 16, drawing 9, and losing 17. Charlie Hafekost was the team's top goalscorer, with 10 goals. Tom Leslie and Jack Mahon made the most appearances, both playing in every one of the team's 42 competitive matches. The highest attendance recorded at the club's home ground, Priestfield Road, was 12,000 for a game against Swindon Town, the eventual Southern League champions. Background and pre-season thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Sam Gilligan|Sam Gilligan was the club's new player-manager. Gillingham, founded in 1893 under the name New Brompton,Soar Tyler 1983 110 had played in the Southern League since the competition's formation in 1894, gaining promotion from Division Two at the first attempt in 1895 and remaining in Division One ever since, albeit with little success. The team had only finished in the top half of the league table once in the preceding eight seasons. In the 1912–13 season, the first in which the team competed under the name Gillingham, they had finished 15th out of 20 teams, avoiding relegation to Division Two by four places.https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engsouthernleaghist.html England – Southern League Final Tables Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 19 May 2023 24 July 2005 27 January 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100127102700/http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engsouthernleaghist.html live At the time, the majority of clubs in the two divisions of the ostensibly national Football League were from the northern half of the country, and some of the leading clubs from the south played in the Southern League.Soar Tyler 1983 177 In 1920, the clubs in the Southern League's top division would be admitted to the Football League en masse to form its new Third Division.Elligate 2009 97 Prior to the season, Gillingham opted to employ a team manager for the first time since 1908,Brown 2003 130 appointing Sam Gilligan, a forward who had last played for Liverpool, as player-manager.Triggs 1999 25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130671666 1 Sports Argus 25 August 2023 Newspapers.com limited Football notes and notions 19 July 1913 Argus Junior 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121412/https://www.newspapers.com/article/130671666/ live As was the norm at the time, Gilligan was responsible for team selection, discipline, and tactics, but other tasks associated with a modern manager, such as the signing of new players, remained among the responsibilities of the club's secretary, William Ironside Groombridge.Elligate 2009 117 Gillingham also signed another forward, Ernie Pinkney, who had played for Barrow of the Lancashire Combination during the previous season. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131438863 Nottingham Evening Post 8 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Sporting paragraphs 10 July 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121411/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131438863/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132829620 The Guardian 3 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited To-day's association games 24 March 1913 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131440901 Evening Express 8 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Pinkney joins Barrow 17 August 1912 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121412/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131440901/ live The signing of two new forwards followed a season in which no player had scored more than five league goals for Gillingham and the team had finished the campaign as the lowest-scoring side in the division.Brown 2003 30 Southern League Division One September–December thumb|right|upright|alt=Football match between Gillingham and Queens Park Rangers|Gillingham's goalkeeper Albert Bailey defending against a Queens Park Rangers attack during the match on 27 December Gillingham began the season with a game at their own ground, Priestfield Road, against Coventry City; Gilligan and Pinkney both made their debuts.Brown 2003 31 Coventry scored a goal after just two minutes and added another in the second half of the game to win 2–0. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131828664 8 Evening Despatch 15 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Improved defence: Coventry's good performance at Gillingham 4 September 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121411/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131828664/ live Three days later, Gillingham secured their first win of the season when a goal from Gilligan gave them a 1–0 win at home to Queens Park Rangers. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131828694 14 Daily Mirror 15 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Spirited Southern League contests 8 September 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121412/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131828694/ live He scored again on 11 September in a 3–2 victory away to Coventry; Pinkney scored his first goal for the club in the game.Brown 2003 31 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132717217 14 Daily Mirror 1 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham win at Coventry 12 September 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121412/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132717217/ live Gillingham lost away to Northampton Town on 13 September but then won two consecutive games, scoring four goals in each.Brown 2003 31 On 20 September, they beat Southend United 4–2 at Priestfield Road; Bill Pepper replaced Albert Bailey, the team's regular goalkeeper, after the latter was taken ill. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132690895 10 The People 30 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Shrimpers' net well pierced by Gillingham 21 September 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121412/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132690895/ live It was the only game Bailey missed all season and the only match Pepper played for Gillingham.Brown 2003 128 Four days later, the team won 4–0 at home to the previous season's Southern League champions, Plymouth Argyle. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132717257 3 Western Morning News 1 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Argyle beaten at Gillingham 25 September 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121921/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132717257/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132717298 13 Daily Herald 1 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Championships for Sunderland and Plymouth 28 April 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121925/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132717298/ live After scoring eight goals in two matches, however, they then scored none at all in the next three.Brown 2003 31 Gillingham ended September with a 2–0 defeat away to Brighton & Hove Albion, in which the referee had to warn the players about their conduct after several heated incidents. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132049589 10 The People 19 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Referee talks to players at Goldstone-Road 28 September 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121931/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132049589/ live The team began October with a second consecutive defeat, losing 1–0 at home to Portsmouth due to a goal scored in the final five minutes of the game, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132744284 10 The People 1 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Pompey in roughly vigorous mood 5 October 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121921/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132744284/ live and were then held to a goalless draw by Millwall, who had yet to win a match during the season. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132744424 10 The People 1 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Millwall still waiting for first win of season 12 October 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121921/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132744424/ live Gilligan ended the team's scoreless run against Exeter City on 18 October and Peter Glen added a second goal to secure a 2–0 victory. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132744530 10 The People 1 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Grecians badly beaten in a very rough game 19 October 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121922/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132744530/ live A week later, the team lost 2–0 away to Cardiff City; the Gillingham party had had to charter a special train to reach Cardiff in time after missing their connection in the aftermath of a fatal accident at Waterloo Junction station. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132744777 10 The People 1 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Taking advantage of all their chances 26 October 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121924/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132744777/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132744966 1 The People 1 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited London train smash in fog 26 October 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121924/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132744966/ live On 1 November, Gillingham hosted Swindon Town, who had won every one of their first nine games; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132774504 14 Daily Mirror 2 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Southern League prospects 1 November 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007122417/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132774504/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132774687 24 The People 2 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Swindon still unbeaten 2 November 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007122418/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132774687/ live the visit of the league leaders attracted an attendance of 12,000, the largest of the season at Priestfield Road.Brown 2003 31 Glen scored twice to give Gillingham a 2–1 lead at half-time, but their opponents scored two goals after the interval to secure a tenth consecutive victory. Although Gillingham had been defeated, the reporter for The Daily Telegraph wrote that they had "fully upheld their reputation as particularly dangerous opponents on their own ground" and that there had been "little, if anything, to choose between two thoroughly efficient sides". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132774679 18 The Daily Telegraph 2 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Twenty points for Swindon 3 November 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007122432/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132774679/ live A week later Gillingham were defeated for the third consecutive game, losing 3–1 to Bristol Rovers, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132784892 24 The People 2 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited A peculiar goal for the Kent team 9 November 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007122421/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132784892/ live a result which left them 11th in the table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132784993 24 The People 2 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Results and positions at a glance 9 November 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007122920/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132784993/ live Gillingham beat Merthyr Town 2–1 at Priestfield Road on 15 November, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132790895 10 The People 2 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Glen gives Gillingham the winning goal 16 November 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007122922/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132790895/ live but then lost their next three league games.Brown 2003 31 Dick Goffin, who had been a regular in the team during the previous season but had not featured at all in the current campaign, played on 22 November in place of Pinkney.Brown 2003 30, 31 Gillingham lost the match 3–1 to West Ham United; the writer for The Daily Telegraph said that Bailey "saved Gillingham from a heavier reverse". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132831347 10 The People 3 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited How the Hammers defeated the men of Kent 23 November 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007122926/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132831347/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132831408 18 The Daily Telegraph 3 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited West Ham win easily 24 November 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007122928/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132831408/ live Pinkney returned to the forward line against Southampton on 6 December, a game which Gillingham also lost 3–1,Brown 2003 31 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132852452 24 The People 3 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Saints' hurricane opening at The Dell 7 December 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007122922/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132852452/ live but was absent again for the next league game away to Crystal Palace; John Tatton made his debut in his place. Gillingham lost the game 1–0; they had to play much of the second half with only ten men after Glen was injured.subs aBrown 2003 31 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132852750 3 Sunday Dispatch 3 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Crystal P. v Gillingham 21 December 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007122923/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132852750/ live Their final three games of 1913 took place on consecutive days. On Christmas Day, two goals from Charlie Hafekost gave Gillingham a 2–0 victory away to Watford. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132677324 3 The Western Times 30 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Football: Southern League 26 December 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007122928/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132677324/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132677426 14 Daily Mirror 30 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Christmas Day league football 26 December 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007122925/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132677426/ live The teams played again the following day at Priestfield Road; Hafekost scored again and Glen and Goffin added a goal each in a 3–0 win. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132880958 9 The Western Times 4 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham v. Watford 27 December 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007123527/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132880958/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132677426 14 Daily Mirror 30 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Christmas Day league football 26 December 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007122925/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132677426/ live Bailey kept a third consecutive clean sheet as Gillingham secured a 0–0 draw away to Queens Park Rangers in their final match of the calendar year, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132881795 10 The People 4 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Missed penalty costs Rangers points against Gillingham 28 December 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007123432/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132881795/ live after which they were 12th in the league table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132884540 3 Sunday Dispatch 4 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Our score board 28 December 1913 January–April thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Ernie Pinkney|Ernie Pinkney scored six goals in the second half of the season. Gillingham's first game of 1914 resulted in a 1–1 draw at home to Northampton Town; Pinkney scored Gillingham's goal in the final five minutes of the game. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132892164 3 Sunday Dispatch 4 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham v. Northampton 4 January 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007123432/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132892164/ live He scored again in the next league match, as Gillingham beat Southend United after having been 2–0 down; Glen scored in the last minute of the match to make the final score 3–2. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132932758 24 The People 5 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Shrimpers fail at home after being two goals up 18 January 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007123434/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132932758/ live A week later, the team extended their unbeaten run to six games with a 4–0 victory at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, the first time they had scored as many goals in a game for four months.Brown 2003 31 Hafekost scored two goals to take his total for the season so far to eight and Jack Mahon scored his first goal for more than 50 matches and only his third in nearly six seasons with the club.Brown 2003 26–31 At the end of January, Gillingham were seventh in the league table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132944607 9 The Journal 5 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited League tables 2 February 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007123435/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132944607/ live The team's first two games of February both resulted in draws, 0–0 away to Portsmouth and 2–2 at home to Millwall. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/133000275 8 The Daily Telegraph 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Many drawn games 9 February 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007123434/https://www.newspapers.com/article/133000275/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/133000365 16 The Daily Telegraph 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Points for London clubs 16 February 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007123938/https://www.newspapers.com/article/133000365/ live Sidney Weavers replaced the injured Glen in the latter game, only his second appearance of the season, and scored a goal, but after the following week's game away to Exeter City Glen returned to the team and Weavers did not feature again during the campaign.Brown 2003 31 Gillingham lost 2–0 to Exeter, ending an unbeaten league run of eight games.Brown 2003 31 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132988163 4 Sunday Dispatch 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Exeter City v Gillingham 22 February 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007123939/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132988163/ live A goalless draw at home to Cardiff City on 28 February meant that Gillingham had not won any matches during the month,Brown 2003 31 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132989880 24 The People 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Plenty of excitement but no goals at Gillingham 1 March 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007124012/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132989880/ live and as a result had slipped back to 11th in the table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132989848 3 Sunday Dispatch 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Our score board 1 March 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007123940/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132989848/ live They began March with a game away to Swindon Town, who were top of the league table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132997809 6 Birmingham Post 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Coventry City and Merthyr Town draw 2 March 1914 Swindon took a 2–0 lead early in the game and, although Hafekost scored a goal to reduce the deficit going into the half-time interval, Swindon added three more goals in the second half to win 5–1. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132992429 4 Sunday Dispatch 4 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Swindon v. Gillingham 8 March 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007124015/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132992429/ live It was the first time Gillingham had conceded more than four goals in a game since January 1912.Brown 2003 29–31 On 14 March, the team ended a five-game winless run and secured their first victory since January, defeating Bristol Rovers 3–0 at home with goals from Tom Leslie, Pinkney and Goffin, the latter of whom had been restored to the team against Swindon after being absent for more than two months.Brown 2003 31 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/133000079 4 Evening Post 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Rovers in a gale 16 March 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007123943/https://www.newspapers.com/article/133000079/ live The team's form remained inconsistent: they lost 2–0 away to Merthyr Town, who were bottom of the table, on 21 March, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/133001042 4 Evening Post 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Southern League 23 March 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007125442/https://www.newspapers.com/article/133001042/ live but a week later beat fifth-placed West Ham United 3–1. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/133001471 18 The Observer 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Southern League – Div. I 22 March 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007125445/https://www.newspapers.com/article/133001471/ live Gilligan replaced Hafekost in the latter game and scored twice, his first goals for more than two months.Brown 2003 31 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132664813 3 Sunday Dispatch 30 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham v West Ham U. 29 March 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007125445/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132664813/ live Gillingham began the final month of the season with three games in which they failed to score any goals. On 1 April they drew 0–0 with Reading at home; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132936542 11 Birmingham Post 5 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham v. Reading 2 April 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007125445/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132936542/ live three days later they lost 1–0 away to Plymouth Argyle. Despite the return of Hafekost, the team's leading goalscorer of the season so far,Brown 2003 31 Gillingham again failed to score against Norwich City on 10 April; the game ended in another 0–0 draw. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/133000456 7 Birmingham Gazette 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham 0, Norwich 0 11 April 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007125445/https://www.newspapers.com/article/133000456/ live Pinkney ended the team's scoreless run the next day against Southampton; he scored twice in a 3–1 victory. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/133000900 3 Sunday Dispatch 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham v Southampton 12 April 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007125446/https://www.newspapers.com/article/133000900/ live The team again failed to score in their next two matches and lost both.Brown 2003 31 Gillingham's final game of the season was at home to Crystal Palace, who had the chance to win the league championship. Charles Fotheringham scored for Gillingham in the first half and, although Crystal Palace scored after the interval, Gillingham secured a draw. The result, combined with Swindon Town drawing with Cardiff City, meant that Crystal Palace and Swindon finished the season level on points and Swindon won the championship on goal average. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131801833 10 The People 14 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Losing the lead on goal average 26 April 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007125540/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131801833/ live Gillingham finished the campaign in 13th place. League match details Key In the result column, Gillingham's score is shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal ResultsBrown 2003 31 DateOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance3 September 1913Coventry City (H)0–25,0006 September 1913Queens Park Rangers (H)1–0Gilligan6,00011 September 1913Coventry City (A)3–2Caldwell, Pinkney, Gilligan5,00013 September 1913Northampton Town (A)1–3Hafekost0 not recorded20 September 1913Southend United (H)4–2Lee (2), Glen, Johnson (pen.)6,00024 September 1913Plymouth Argyle (H)4–0Caldwell, Gilligan, Hafekost, Pinkney5,00027 September 1913Brighton & Hove Albion (A)0–26,0004 October 1913Portsmouth (H)0–18,00011 October 1913Millwall (A)0–00 not recorded18 October 1913Exeter City (H)2–0Gilligan, Glen7,00025 October 1913Cardiff City (A)0–211,0001 November 1913Swindon Town (H)2–3Glen (2)12,0008 November 1913Bristol Rovers (A)1–3Hafekost8,00015 November 1913Merthyr Town (H)2–1Pinkney, Glen6,00022 November 1913West Ham United (A)1–3Caldwell10,0006 December 1913Southampton (A)1–3Glen0 not recorded20 December 1913Crystal Palace (A)0–16,00025 December 1913Watford (A)2–0Hafekost (2)7,00026 December 1913Watford (H)3–0Hafekost, Goffin, Glen6,00027 December 1913Queens Park Rangers (A)0–08,0003 January 1914Northampton Town (H)1–1Pinkney6,00017 January 1914Southend United (A)3–2Pinkney, Gilligan, Glen5,00024 January 1914Brighton & Hove Albion (H)4–0Hafekost (2), Mahon, Leslie (pen.)6,0007 February 1914Portsmouth (A)0–07,00014 February 1914Millwall (H)2–2Weavers, Hafekost6,00021 February 1914Exeter City (A)0–22,50028 February 1914Cardiff City (H)0–06,0007 March 1914Swindon Town (A)1–5Hafekost4,00014 March 1914Bristol Rovers (H)3–0Leslie (pen.), Pinkney, Goffin5,00021 March 1914Merthyr Town (A)0–25,00028 March 1914West Ham United (H)3–1Gilligan (2), Pinkney7,0001 April 1914Reading (H)0–05,0004 April 1914Plymouth Argyle (A)0–16,00010 April 1914Norwich City (H)0–07,00011 April 1914Southampton (H)3–1Pinkney (2), McAlpine (o.g.)7,00013 April 1914Norwich City (A)0–212,00018 April 1914Reading (A)0–10 not recorded25 April 1914Crystal Palace (H)1–1Fotheringham8,000 Partial league table 1913–14 Southern Football League#Division One main WDL left auto Southern League Division One final table, positions 11 to 15 yes 2 11 WAT Southampton BRI Exeter City GIL Gillingham BRE Norwich City STO Millwall 15 7 16 55 54 10 16 12 39 38 13 9 16 48 49 9 17 12 49 51 11 12 15 51 56 complete FA Cup As a Southern League Division One club, Gillingham entered the 1913–14 FA Cup in the fourth qualifying round at the end of November;Brown 2003 31 their opponents were Nunhead of the amateur Isthmian League. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132988904 18 Daily Mirror 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Amateur football gossip 14 January 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007125449/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132988904/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132988944 24 The People 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Isthmian League 21 September 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007130453/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132988944/ live Goals from Glen and Gilligan gave Gillingham a 2–0 win; the correspondent for The People wrote that the result was no surprise and that Nunhead's forwards were "seldom allowed to become dangerous". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132988790 10 The People 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited F.A. Cup 30 November 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007130456/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132988790/ live In the fifth and final qualifying round, Gillingham played fellow Southern League Division One team Watford and won 1–0 with a goal from Abel Lee. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132989103 18 Daily Mirror 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited English cup matches 15 December 1913 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007130457/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132989103/ live The teams from the Football League entered the competition in the first round proper and Gillingham were drawn to play Blackpool of the Second Division; the attendance of 10,581 was one of the largest of the season at Priestfield Road.Brown 2003 31 Leslie gave Gillingham the lead with a penalty kick in the first half and it proved to be the only goal of the game. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132989185 24 The People 6 October 2023 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham put the lid on Blackpool's aspirations 11 January 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007130501/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132989185/ live In the second round, Gillingham played away to Liverpool of the First Division. The attendance of 42,045 at Anfield was the largest crowd to date for a match involving Gillingham, a record which would stand until 1999;Elligate 2009 26 Gillingham's share of the gate receipts was another new club record at nearly UK 620 1914 eq yes £ -4.Elligate 2009 26 The game remained goalless for more than 75 minutes, but after Andrew Mosley, one of Gillingham's full-backs, suffered a serious eye injury and had to leave the field, Liverpool scored twice to eliminate Gillingham from the competition. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132672691 24 The People 30 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Kentish team beaten with a man short 1 February 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007132000/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132672691/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132672913 4 Liverpool Post 30 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Liverpool's tardy victory 2 February 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007132000/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132672913/ live The writer for the Sunday Dispatch said that Gillingham "gave a very pluck[y] display" and that if their forwards had taken advantage of playing with the wind behind them in the first half the result could have been different. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132673005 3 Sunday Dispatch 30 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Liverpool outstays Gillingham 1 February 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007132003/https://www.newspapers.com/article/132673005/ live Cup match details Key In the result column, Gillingham's score is shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick ResultsBrown 2003 31 DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance29 November 19134 Fourth qualifyingNunhead (H)2–0Glen, Gilligan5,00013 December 19135 Fifth qualifyingWatford (H)1–0Lee6,00010 January 19146 FirstBlackpool (H)1–0Leslie (pen.)10,58131 January 19147 SecondLiverpool (A)0–242,045 Players thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Jack Mahon|Jack Mahon played in every one of Gillingham's games during the season. thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Abel Lee|Abel Lee made 38 appearances. During the season, 23 players made at least one appearance for Gillingham. Leslie and Mahon made the most, both playing in every one of the team's 42 competitive matches. Bailey and Arthur Johnson both missed only one game and Mosley missed only two.Brown 2003 31 Hafekost was the leading goalscorer with 10 goals, all scored in league games. Pinkney scored nine, all in the league, and Glen scored eight times in the league and once in the FA Cup. Gilligan finished the season with eight goals in total; no other player scored more than three times.Brown 2003 31 +Player statisticsBrown 2003 31PlayerPositionSouthern LeagueDivision OneFA CupTotalApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsAlbert Bailey 1GK 37040410Tom Caldwell 1FW 21310223Albert Court 1FW 200020E. Diddams 1HB 300030Charles Fotheringham 1FW 310031Charlie Frost 1FW 100010W. Frost 1FB 200020Sam GilliganFW 33731368Peter Glen 1FW 29841339Dick GoffinFW 10210112Charlie HafekostFW 2910403310Sam Hulses 1HB 100010Cornelius John 1FW 601070Arthur Johnson footballer, born 1886HB 37140411Abel LeeHB 34241383Tom LeslieFB 38241423Jack Mahon footballer, born 1886HB 38140421Andrew MosleyFB 36040400Bill PepperGK 100010Ernie PinkneyFW 35930389John Tatton 1FW 19020210Sidney Weavers 1FW 211031Thomas Whiteside 1HB 100010 FW = Forward, HB = Half-back, GK = Goalkeeper, FB = Full-back Aftermath At the end of the season, Hafekost left the club to join Liverpool; Tom Watson, the Liverpool manager, had reportedly been impressed with the forward's performance in the cup match between the two teams. "Bee", a writer for the Liverpool Echo, described the signing as an "excellent capture", https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131880756 7 Liverpool Echo 16 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Hafekost for Liverpool 7 May 1914 Bee 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007132002/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131880756/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131880803 3 Manchester Courier 16 September 2023 Newspapers.com limited Liverpool's new player 8 May 1914 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007132002/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131880803/ live but Hafekost would only go on to play one Football League match for Liverpool.Joyce 2004 110 Buoyed by the increased level of attendance at Priestfield Road during the 1913–14 season, Gillingham's board of directors secured a bank loan of UK 1,570 1914 eq yes £ -4UK to fund the building of a new grandstand.Triggs 1999 25Elligate 2009 106Conway 1980 19 Only a few weeks after the new stand was opened to the public, however, it suffered major damage due to gale-force winds, including having the roof torn off.Elligate 2009 203Triggs 1999 26 Despite the outbreak of the First World War in July 1914, the 1914–15 football season took place as normal;Davies 2003 89Soar Tyler 1983 186, 187 Gillingham finished 20th out of 20 teams in the Southern League Division One. Owing to the escalation of the war and growing public sentiment that continuing sporting events as normal was not appropriate, the Southern League, along with all other major football competitions in England, was abandoned in 1915 and did not resume for four years. Temporary regional leagues, featuring amateur players only, took place in the intervening years, but Gillingham did not take part.Davies 2003 89Soar Tyler 1983 186, 187https://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/division-one-1914-15/ Division One 1914–15 When Saturday Comes January 2011 Graham Hughes 7 October 2023 7 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231007133010/https://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/division-one-1914-15/ live Mosley and Pepper, who had played for Gillingham during the 1913–14 season, were both killed in action during the war.Leicester Fosse & The First World War: William Pepper https://www.lcfc.com/news/1495099 30 September 2023 Leicester City F.C. 14 November 2019 9 December 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221209003923/https://www.lcfc.com/news/1495099 livehttps://secure.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/RollOfHonour/People/Details/28358 Andrew Mosley Nottinghamshire County Council 30 September 2023 5 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231005072703/https://secure.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/RollOfHonour/People/Details/28358 live Footnotes a. subs The concept of substitutes was not introduced to English football until the 1960s; previously, if a player had to leave a game due to injury, the team had to continue with a reduced number of players.https://www.theguardian.com/football/when-saturday-comes-blog/2015/sep/18/fifty-years-substitutions-football-sport Fifty years of substitutions in football: from necessary novelties to tactical tools The Guardian Peter Bateman 18 September 2015 22 October 2023 1 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231001105929/https://www.theguardian.com/football/when-saturday-comes-blog/2015/sep/18/fifty-years-substitutions-football-sport live References Works cited Brown Tony The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record Soccerdata 2003 978-1-8994-6820-1 The "Gills" Tony Conway 1980 978-0-9052-7026-5 Meresborough Books Davies Hunter Boots, Balls and Haircuts: An Illustrated History of Football from Then to Now 978-1-84403-032-3 2003 Cassell Hunter Davies Elligate David Gillingham FC On This Day Pitch Publishing 2009 978-1-9054-1145-0 Michael Joyce Football League Players' Records 1888 – 1939 Soccerdata 2004 978-1-89946-867-6 Soar Phil Martin Tyler Encyclopedia of British Football 1983 CollinsWillow 978-0-0021-8049-8 Roger Triggs Images of England: Gillingham Football Club Tempus Publishing 1999 978-0-75241-567-3 1913-14 Category:English football clubs 1913–14 season