1912–13 Gillingham F.C. season

English football club season September 2023 September 2023 Gillingham 1912–13 William Ironside Groombridge Secretary Edward CrawleyTriggs 1999 25 Southern LeagueDiv. One 15th FA Cup First round John Boden, Dick Goffin,Charlie Hafekost (5 each) Arthur Wolstenholme (7) 11,321 vs Barnsley (11 January 1913) 1,500 vs Plymouth Argyle (30 April 1913) 0000FF FF0000 0000FF FFFFFF 0000FF 1911–12 1913–14 During the 1912–13 English football season, Gillingham F.C. competed in the Southern League Division One. It was the 19th season in which the club competed in the Southern League and the 18th in Division One. The team competed under the name Gillingham for the first time, having previously been called New Brompton, and also adopted red and blue shirts, replacing the previous black and white stripes. Gillingham began the season in poor form and did not score a single goal in their first six home matches. The team achieved a four-game unbeaten run in November but at the end of December were 16th out of 20 teams in the league table. In the second half of the season the team's form remained inconsistent: they lost every league game in January but had a six-game unbeaten run in March and April. Gillingham finished the season 15th in the table. Gillingham also competed in the FA Cup. After holding Barnsley, the previous season's winners of the competition, to a draw at home in the first round, Gillingham were defeated in a replay at Barnsley's ground. The team played 42 competitive matches, winning 13, drawing 12, and losing 17. Arthur Wolstenholme was the team's top goalscorer, with four goals in the league and seven in total. John Boden, Dick Goffin, and Charlie Hafekost were the joint highest scorers in league matches only, with five goals each. Andrew Mosley made the most appearances, playing in every game. The highest attendance recorded at the club's home ground, Priestfield Road, was 11,321 for the FA Cup match against Barnsley. Background and pre-season 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; the team had been promoted from Division Two in 1895 and remained in Division One ever since, but with little success. The team had only finished in the top half of the league table once in the preceding seven seasons and in the 1911–12 season had finished 18th out of 20 teams, avoiding relegation to Division Two by just one place.https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engsouthernleaghist.html England – Southern League Final Tables Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 19 May 2023 24 July 2005 Dinant Abbink 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 thumb|right|upright=1.5|alt=Priestfield Road football stadium in 1906|The Supporters' Association planned to raise finds to improve the club's Priestfield Road ground. On 6 June, the club's board of directors took the decision to change the club's name to Gillingham Football Club to reflect the fact that in the decades since the club's formation the previously small settlement of Gillingham had outgrown and absorbed New Brompton. The name change would not be formally approved by the shareholders until the following summer; nonetheless the team played under the new name in the 1912–13 season.Elligate 2009 102 Two days later, the first recorded meeting of the club's Supporters' Association took place, at which it was resolved to raise money to finance the building of more terracing at one end of the club's Priestfield Road ground.Elligate 2009 103 Along with the new name, the club adopted a new kit featuring red shirts with blue sleeves, replacing the previous black and white stripes, and for the first time added the coat of arms of the borough to the shirts.Triggs 1999 24 As was often the case in the early 20th century, the club did not employ a full-time team manager; most tasks associated with a modern manager, such as the signing of new players, were among the responsibilities of the club's secretary, William Ironside Groombridge.Elligate 2009 117 New players to join the club included Arthur Wolstenholme, a forward who had last played for Blackpool of the Football League Second Division.Joyce 2004 286 Two players from Leyton, who had dropped out of the Southern League at the end of the previous season, also joined Gillingham: Tom Leslie, a full-back who had previously played for Tottenham Hotspur,Joyce 2004 156 and the veteran half-back Mark Bell, who had gained one cap for Scotland a decade earlier.Joyce 2004 22https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/scot-intres1910.html Scotland – International Matches 1901–1910 17 October 2019 12 September 2023 Alan Brown Gabriele Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Tossani 22 March 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230322071544/https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/scot-intres1910.html live Southern League Division One September–December thumb|right|upright=1.4|alt=Football match between Gillingham and Swindon Town in 1912|Gillingham attacking the Swindon Town goal in the match between the two teams in October The club's first match of the season, on 7 September, was away to Northampton Town.Brown 2003 30 Wolstenholme scored a goal on his debut for the club, but Gillingham lost 2–1 in what The People called a "capital game". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130617059 22 The People 25 August 2023 Newspapers.com Champions sing louder than the Canaries 8 September 1912 15 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230915112022/https://www.newspapers.com/article/130617059/ live The first home game a week later resulted in a 0–0 draw against Queens Park Rangers (QPR); the writer for The People noted that the game was even in the first half but that QPR attacked more in the second.Brown 2003 30 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130671932 10 The People 26 August 2023 Newspapers.com Yesterday's sports 15 September 1912 15 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230915112021/https://www.newspapers.com/article/130671932/ live Gillingham achieved their first win of the season on 21 September when a late goal from Albert Court gave them a 1–0 victory away to Brentford.Brown 2003 30 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131717263 24 The People 13 September 2023 Newspapers.com Brentford,0; Gillingham, 1 22 September 1912 15 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230915112035/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131717263/ live They ended September by again drawing 0–0 at home, this time with Millwall, and began October with two away games, losing 2–1 to Reading and winning 2–0 against Bristol Rovers, who had lost every game of the season so far.Brown 2003 30 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131374491 19 Daily Mirror 7 September 2023 Newspapers.com First defeat for Millwall 7 October 1912 15 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230915112021/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131374491/ live The game on 12 October against Swindon Town ended in a third consecutive home 0–0 draw; the first goal of the season at Priestfield Road was scored four days later by Reading, who went on to secure a 4–0 victory.Brown 2003 30 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131563599 14 Daily Mirror 10 September 2023 Newspapers.com Heavy defeat for Gillingham 17 October 1912 15 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230915112022/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131563599/ live The reporter for the Daily Herald wrote that Gillingham attacked more than their opponents in the first half but in the second they were "all adrift" and "the few attacks they made were not at all dangerous". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131563789 8 Daily Herald 10 September 2023 Newspapers.com Gillingham v. Reading: unexpected rout of the Kent team on their own ground 17 October 1912 Gillie 15 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230915112023/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131563789/ live Albert Bailey, Gillingham's goalkeeper, was hospitalised after suffering a broken jaw during a 4–0 defeat to Exeter City on 26 October; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131074723 14 Daily Mirror 2 September 2023 Newspapers.com Coventry draw at Southampton 28 October 1912 15 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230915112534/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131074723/ live Harry Crane took his place in the team for the next game, a 4–0 defeat to West Ham United; it was Gillingham's fourth consecutive defeat, three of them by a score of 4–0.Brown 2003 30 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131096830 10 The People 2 September 2023 Newspapers.com More goals in the Gillingham against column 3 November 1912 15 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230915112533/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131096830/ live A goalless draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on 9 November meant that Gillingham had scored only one goal in their last six league matches and had still not registered a goal in a home match.Brown 2003 30 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130905567 10 The People 30 August 2023 Newspapers.com Gillingham's first goal of the season 24 November 1912 15 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230915112533/https://www.newspapers.com/article/130905567/ live The team ended a six-match winless run with a 2–1 victory away to Coventry City on 16 November with goals from John Boden and Dick Goffin.Brown 2003 30 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131717403 11 Birmingham Post 13 September 2023 Newspapers.com Coventry City lose at home 18 November 1912 15 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230915112536/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131717403/ live A week later, Boden scored Gillingham's first goal of the season at Priestfield Road in their seventh home game.Brown 2003 30 The team's captain, Jack Mahon, was missing due to injury but despite his absence the team secured a 2–0 victory over Watford. Boden scored for the third consecutive game in a 1–1 draw at home to Merthyr Town in the final match of November; it meant that Gillingham had gone four games without defeat, their longest undefeated run of the season to this point.Brown 2003 30 Boden scored for the fourth consecutive game in a 2–1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace on 7 December;Brown 2003 30 he had a chance to score a second goal but his penalty kick was saved. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131403092 6 Daily Herald 7 September 2023 Newspapers.com Gillingham v. Crystal Palace 9 December 1912 15 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230915112537/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131403092/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131403871 21 Daily Mirror 7 September 2023 Newspapers.com Saints draw at Reading 9 December 1912 15 September 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230915112539/https://www.newspapers.com/article/131403871/ live Gillingham also lost their next game at home, a 1–0 defeat to Southampton. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131725175 10 The People 13 September 2023 Newspapers.com Andrews still winning matches for the Saints 22 December 1912 The team ended 1912 with three games in four days. On Christmas Day, they played at home to Norwich City; in a match played in pouring rain and a high wind, a goal from Goffin gave the home team a 1–0 victory. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130729523 6 Birmingham Post 27 August 2023 Newspapers.com Southern League 26 December 1912 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130729549 8 Birmingham Gazette 27 August 2023 Newspapers.com Down South 26 December 1912 The teams played again the following day at The Nest, Norwich's home ground, and Gillingham lost 4–0; an injury to Abel Lee meant that Gillingham had to play the whole of the second half with only ten men. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130730056 6 Evening Post 27 August 2023 Newspapers.com Southern League 27 December 1912 Arthur Johnson, who had missed the last two games after previously having been ever-present in the team,Brown 2003 30 returned to the team in place of Lee for the final game of 1912 and scored from a penalty in a 2–1 victory over Northampton Town. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130730161 14 Daily Mirror 27 August 2023 Newspapers.com Southern League games Reflector 30 December 1912 The result left Gillingham 16th out of 20 teams in the table at the end of 1912. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130730194 6 Daily Herald 27 August 2023 Newspapers.com Southern League 30 December 1912 January–April thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Jack Mahon|Jack Mahon, the team's captain, made his first appearance for nearly two months in January. Gillingham's first match of 1913 was away to Queens Park Rangers on 4 January; Mahon made his first appearance since November.Brown 2003 30 QPR scored in the first half and, although Gillingham had several shots on goal, they could not equalise and their opponents added a second goal in the final minute of the game. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130847015 10 The People 29 August 2023 Newspapers.com Gillingham give Rangers a good game 5 January 1913 Gillingham again failed to score in the next league game, losing 4–0 at home to Brentford; it was the first time Brentford had won away from home during the season and the writer for the Daily Herald commented that the Gillingham players looked tired after playing an FA Cup game two days earlier. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131660613 14 Daily Mirror 12 September 2023 Newspapers.com Southern League surprises 20 January 1913 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131660634 8 Daily Herald 12 September 2023 Newspapers.com Cup and league: unexpected results in several games 20 January 1913 Bailey returned to the team on 25 January for the first time since October; a 2–1 defeat away to Millwall meant that Gillingham had lost every league game during the month.Brown 2003 30 The writer for The People was of the opinion that the result could have been different if Gillingham had had "a steadier line of forwards". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130963643 24 The People 31 August 2023 Newspapers.com Millwall 2, Gillingham 1 26 January 1913 The team ended their winless run with a 1–0 victory over Bristol Rovers thanks to a goal from Wolstenholme. Jock Taylor scored twice in a 2–1 win over Portsmouth on 22 February; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131569215 10 The People 10 September 2023 Newspapers.com Gillingham 2, Portsmouth 0 23 February 1913 Gillingham ended the month 17th in the table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131569519 14 Daily Mirror 10 September 2023 Newspapers.com League positions up to date 24 February 1913 Gillingham's first game of March was a 2–0 defeat away to Exeter City; Johnson appeared to have pulled a goal back for Gillingham with a penalty, but the referee ordered the kick to be retaken due to an infringement and at the second attempt he missed. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131716453 4 Devon and Exeter Gazette 13 September 2023 Newspapers.com Exeter City's position 3 March 1913 It would prove to be the final game in a Gillingham shirt for Boden, Wolstenholme, and Taylor.Brown 2003 30, 128, 129 For the next game at home to West Ham United wholesale changes were made to the forward line: Charlie Hafekost made his first appearance since December, Cornelius John played only his second game of the season and his first since November, and A.G. Church made his debut.Brown 2003 30 Despite the new-look line-up, the writer for The People noted that the Gillingham forwards "worked neatly together in the early stages and gave the visitors' defenders great anxiety". Hafekost gave Gillingham an early lead and, although West Ham scored twice before half-time, a goal from Tom Caldwell in the second half secured a draw for Gillingham. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131033193 24 The People 1 September 2023 Newspapers.com Hammers hold Gillingham on latter's pitch 9 March 1913 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131033368 14 Daily Herald 1 September 2023 Newspapers.com Gillingham v West Ham 10 March 1913 The new forwards retained their places but could not score any goals in the next two games, which resulted in a 1–0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion and a goalless draw with Stoke; Gillingham were spared a second consecutive defeat when Stoke had a late goal disallowed for offside.Brown 2003 30 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131685326 24 The People 12 September 2023 Newspapers.com One goal scored and the Seasiders claimed it 16 March 1913 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131685622 6 The Staffordshire Sentinel 12 September 2023 Newspapers.com Gillingham v Stoke: a division of the spoils 22 March 1913 Goffin scored twice in a 3–0 victory at home to Coventry City on 22 March; all the goals were scored in the first half. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131602581 24 The People 11 September 2023 Newspapers.com Plenty of shots but little direction 23 March 1913 Two days later, two goals from Lee secured a 2–0 win away to Stoke, whom the reporter for The Western Times said were "lamentably weak"; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131727128 5 The Western Times 13 September 2023 Newspapers.com Stoke v Gillingham 25 March 1913 the results meant that Gillingham had gone three games without conceding a goal for the first time since September.Brown 2003 30 Following two draws, a goal from Church gave Gillingham a 1–0 win away to Crystal Palace on 12 April, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131772842 24 The People 14 September 2023 Newspapers.com Game the Glaziers could not afford to lose 13 April 1913 extending the team's unbeaten run to six games.Brown 2003 30 The streak came to an end a week later with a 4–0 defeat away to Plymouth Argyle. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131678159 10 The People 12 September 2023 Newspapers.com Saints fail to send Gillingham empty away 27 April 1913 Having only scored more than two goals in a game once during the first 36 league matches, Gillingham achieved the feat in both of the last two games of the season.Brown 2003 30 A 3–3 draw away to Southampton was followed by a 4–2 win at Priestfield Road over Plymouth, who were already assured of the Division One championship; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131685900 24 The People 29 August 2023 Newspapers.com Gillingham give Rangers a good game 5 January 1913 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131659173 12 Daily Mirror 12 September 2023 Newspapers.com Exit football 1 May 1913 it was the first time the team had scored four times in a match since January 1912.Brown 2003 29,30 John and Lee gave Gillingham a half-time lead and Johnson scored two goals after the interval, both from penalty kicks. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131659152 5 Devon and Exeter Gazette 12 September 2023 Newspapers.com Southern League: Gillingham v Plymouth Argyle 1 May 1913 Gillingham finished the campaign 15th in the league table, seven points above the relegation places. It was an improvement on the previous season's performance but the team's fourth consecutive finish in the bottom half of the table. 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 30 DateOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance7 September 1912Northampton Town (A)1–2Wolstenholme8,00014 September 1912Queens Park Rangers (H)0–08,00021 September 1912Brentford (A)1–0Court6,00028 September 1912Millwall (H)0–08,0002 October 1912Reading (A)1–2Frost0 not recorded5 October 1912Bristol Rovers (A)2–0Wolstenholme, Goffin5,00012 October 1912Swindon Town (H)0–00 not recorded16 October 1912Reading (H)0–43,00019 October 1912Portsmouth (A)1–2Hafekost12,00026 October 1912Exeter City (H)0–43,0002 November 1912West Ham United (A)0–410,0009 November 1912Brighton & Hove Albion (H)0–06,00016 November 1912Coventry City (A)2–1Boden, Goffin7,00023 November 1912Watford (H)2–0Boden, Taylor0 not recorded30 November 1912Merthyr Town (H)1–1Boden5,0007 December 1912Crystal Palace (H)1–2Boden5,00021 December 1912Southampton (H)0–15,00025 December 1912Norwich City (H)1–0Goffin4,00026 December 1912Norwich City (A)0–46,00028 December 1912Northampton Town (H)2–1Caldwell, Johnson (pen.)5,0004 January 1913Queens Park Rangers (A)0–28,00018 January 1913Brentford (H)0–45,00025 January 1913Millwall (A)1–2Wolstenholme0 not recorded8 February 1913Bristol Rovers (H)1–0Wolstenholme5,00015 February 1913Swindon Town (A)1–2Boden0 not recorded22 February 1913Portsmouth (H)2–0Taylor (2)6,0001 March 1913Exeter City (A)0–25,0008 March 1913West Ham United (H)2–2Hafekost, Caldwell4,00015 March 1913Brighton & Hove Albion (A)0–13,50021 March 1913Stoke (H)0–05,00022 March 1913Coventry City (H)3–0Goffin (2), Hafekost6,00024 March 1913Stoke (A)2–0Lee (2)5,00029 March 1913Watford (A)1–1Hafekost0 not recorded5 April 1913Merthyr Town (A)0–00 not recorded12 April 1913Crystal Palace (A)1–0Church10,00019 April 1913Plymouth Argyle (A)0–49,00026 April 1913Southampton (A)3–3Hafekost, John, Frost0 not recorded30 April 1913Plymouth Argyle (H)4–2John, Lee, Johnson (2, 2 pens.)1,500 Partial league table 1912–13 Southern Football League#Division One main WDL left auto Southern League Division One final table, bottom positions yes 2 PR 14 WAT Watford GIL Gillingham BRI Bristol Rovers SOT Southampton NOR Norwich City BRE Brentford STO Stoke 12 10 16 43 50 12 10 16 36 53 12 9 17 55 64 10 11 17 40 72 10 9 19 39 50 11 5 22 42 55 10 4 24 39 75 Relegated R R complete FA Cup As a Southern League Division One team, Gillingham entered the 1912–13 FA Cup at the fourth qualifying round stage; they were due to play Leyton on 1 December but received a walkover as their opponents withdrew from the competition. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131021204 24 The People 1 September 2023 Newspapers.com Babies of league secure point at Gillingham 1 December 1912 In the fifth and final qualifying round, Gillingham played away to Spennymoor United of the North Eastern League. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130618666 8 Birmingham Gazette 25 August 2023 Newspapers.com F.A. Cup-ties 19 December 1912 Gillingham reportedly offered a three-figure sum to their opponents to switch the match to Priestfield Road, but it was rejected. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130618753 8 Nottingham Evening Post 25 August 2023 Newspapers.com Sporting paragraphs 9 December 1912 The match ended in a 1–1 draw, necessitating a replay, in which Wolstenholme scored twice and Taylor once in a 3–0 victory. In the first round proper, Gillingham played Barnsley of the Football League Second Division, who had won the previous season's FA Cup; the match drew a crowd of 11,321, the highest attendance recorded at Priestfield Road during the season.Brown 2003 30 Gillingham had a number of goalscoring chances against the reigning cup-holders but were unable to convert them and the game ended in a goalless draw. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131130426 5 Newcastle Daily Chronicle 3 September 2023 Newspapers.com Gillingham v. Barnsley 13 January 1913 In the replay at Oakwell, Barnsley took a two-goal lead in the early stages. Goffin reduced the arrears with a goal before half-time, but after the interval Barnsley scored again to secure a 3–1 victory and eliminate Gillingham from the competition; the correspondent for the Daily Mirror wrote that Barnsley were the better team throughout and that Gillingham's players tired late in the game. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/131202758 14 Daily Mirror 4 September 2023 Newspapers.com Cupholders' easy victory 17 January 1913 Cup match details 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 33 DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance14 December 1912Fifth qualifyingSpennymoor United (A)1–1Wolstenholme5,00018 December 1912Fifth qualifying (replay)Spennymoor United (H)3–0Wolstenholme (2, 1 pen.), Taylor1,60011 January 1913FirstBarnsley (H)0–011,32116 January 1913First (replay)Barnsley (A)1–3Goffin9,561 Players thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer John Boden|John Boden's five goals made him the joint highest scorer in league games. thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Abel Lee|Abel Lee made 26 appearances. During the season, 20 players made at least one appearance for Gillingham. Andrew Mosley made the most, playing in every one of the team's 42 competitive games. Johnson missed only two games and Goffin only four. Peter Glen made the fewest appearances, playing only twice. Wolstenholme was the top goalscorer; he scored four times in the league and three in the FA Cup. Boden, Goffin, and Hafekost were joint top scorers in the league alone, with five each.Brown 2003 30 +Player statisticsBrown 2003 30PlayerPositionSouthern LeagueDivision OneFA CupTotalApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsAlbert Bailey 1GK 26000260Mark Bell footballerHB 28 0 4 0320John Boden footballerFW 16 5 4 0205Tom Caldwell 1FW 30 2 4 0342A.G. Church 1FW 9 1 0 091Albert Court 1FW 5 1 0 051Harry Crane 1GK 12 0 4 0160Charlie Frost 1FW 10 2 0 0102Peter Glen 1FW 2 0 0 020Dick GoffinFW 36 5 2 1386Charlie HafekostFW 22 5 20245Cornelius John 1FW 12 2 0 0120Arthur Johnson footballer, born 1886HB 36 3 4 0403Abel LeeHB 22 3 4 0263Tom LeslieFB 31 0 4 0350Tom Logan 1FB 14 0 0 0140Jack Mahon footballer, born 1886HB 29 0 0 0290Andrew MosleyFB 38 0 4 0420Jock Taylor footballer, born 1886FW 16 3 4 1204Arthur Wolstenholme FW 24 4 4 3287 FW = Forward, HB = Half-back, GK = Goalkeeper, FB = Full-back Aftermath Prior to the next season, Gillingham opted to employ a full-time team manager, appointing the former Liverpool player Sam Gilligan as player-manager. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/130671666 1 Sports Argus 25 August 2023 Newspapers.com Football notes and notions 19 July 1913 Argus Junior In his first season in charge, the team finished 13th in the Southern League Division One. The red and blue shirts proved short-lived and after the First World War the team reverted to wearing black and white stripes,Conway 1980 20 before switching to all-blue shirts in the 1930s.Triggs 1999 41 In the 2012–13 season Gillingham wore a modern version of the red and blue shirts to mark the centenary of the club changing its name.Gillingham Vs Charlton Athletic Matchday Programme The Chairman 4 August 2012 Paul Scally As I mentioned earlier, 2012/13 will be a special season for us as we mark 100 years since the club changed its name from New Brompton FC to Gillingham Football Club. Our specially designed anniversary kit, modelled on the one worn by the Gills in 1913, will be arriving in the GFC Megastore very soon... 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 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 1912-13 Category:English football clubs 1912–13 season