1982–83 Gillingham F.C. season

English football club season February 2015 February 2015 Gillingham F.C. 1982–83 Clifford GrossmarkElligate 2009 173 Keith Peacock Third Division 13th FA Cup Second round League Cup Third round Tony Cascarino (15) Tony Cascarino (19) 14,446 vs Tottenham Hotspur (9 November 1982) 2,716 vs Bradford City (3 May 1983) 1981–82 1983–84 _whiteborder _vneckwhite _whiteborder _bluesides _blueline 0000ff 0000ff 0000ff FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 During the 1982–83 English football season, Gillingham F.C. competed in the Football League Third Division, the third tier of the English football league system. It was the 51st season in which Gillingham competed in the Football League, and the 33rd since the club was voted back into the league in 1950. Two months into the season, Gillingham were in third place in the Third Division league table, a position which at the end of the season would secure promotion to the Second Division, but the team then experienced a run of seven games with only one victory which left them in 12th place at the end of 1982. Their results did not improve in the new year, with only one victory in the first fourteen games of 1983, resulting in them slipping to 19th in the table, only two places above the positions which would result in relegation to the Fourth Division. Six wins in the final eleven games of the season, however, meant that Gillingham finished the campaign 13th out of 24 teams in the division. Gillingham also competed in two knock-out competitions. They lost in the second round of the FA Cup, but reached the third round of the Football League Cup for the first time in more than a decade, losing at that stage to Tottenham Hotspur of the First Division. The team played 54 competitive matches, winning 19, drawing 14, and losing 21. Tony Cascarino was the club's leading goalscorer, scoring 15 goals in the Third Division and a total of 19 in all competitions. Micky Adams and Mark Weatherly made the most appearances, both playing 51 times. The highest attendance recorded at the club's home ground, Priestfield Stadium, during the season was 14,446 for the League Cup game against Tottenham. Background and pre-season thumb|right|alt=Former footballer Keith Peacock|Keith Peacock (pictured in 2025) was the club's manager. The 1982–83 season was Gillingham's 51st season playing in the Football League and the 33rd since the club was elected back into the League in 1950 after being voted out in 1938. It was the club's ninth consecutive season in the Football League Third Division, the third tier of the English football league system, since the team gained promotion from the Fourth Division in 1974.Soar Tyler 1983 110 In the eight seasons since then, Gillingham had achieved a best finish of fourth place, one position away from promotion to the Second Division, in the 1978–79 season.Brown 2003 82–91 The club had never reached the second level of English football in its history.Soar Tyler 1983 110http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/767702.stm Second Time Lucky for Gills BBC Sport 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 Keith Peacock was the club's manager for a second season, having been appointed in July 1981.Bateson 1986 252 Paul Taylor served as assistant manager and Bill Collins, who had been with the club in a variety of roles since the early 1960s,Triggs 2001 93 held the posts of first-team trainer and manager of the youth team.Williams 1983 174 Dick Tydeman was the team captain.Williams 1983 174 The team's kit for the season consisted of Gillingham's usual blue shirts, white shorts and white socks. The away kit, to be worn in the event of a clash of colours with the home team, was all-red.Williams 1983 173 The team prepared for the new season with a number of friendlies. Steve Butler, a 20-year-old forward, played during the pre-season on a trial basis and scored five goals,Gillingham Vs Oxford United Matchday Programme Pre-season action 28 August 1982 but he was serving in the army at the time and the club could not afford to pay for his release.Triggs 2001 76 After leaving the armed forces and playing for several other clubs, he would eventually sign for Gillingham in 1995.Triggs 2001 76 Writing in the matchday programme for the first game of the season, Peacock expressed disappointment that he had not been able to add any new players to the squad ahead of the new season.Gillingham Vs Oxford United Matchday Programme Management Talk 28 August 1982 Keith Peacock Keith Peacock Third Division August–December thumb|right|alt=Priestfield Stadium, home ground of Gillingham Football Club|Gillingham began the season with a game at their own ground, Priestfield Stadium. Gillingham began the season with a game at their own ground, Priestfield Stadium, against Oxford United on 28 August; Oxford won 1–0.Williams 1983 172 A week later, Ken Price scored Gillingham's first league goal of the season away to Exeter City. His team were held to a 2–2 draw, however, after conceding a goal with two minutes of the game remaining,Williams 1983 172 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136095640 The Sunday People 1 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Goal times 5 September 1982 and their winless league run continued with a 2–1 defeat away to Bristol Rovers. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136096230 Western Daily Press 1 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Curle is the star after a lecture 8 September 1982 Ralph Ellis A goal from Tony Cascarino gave Gillingham their first league win of the season at the fourth attempt on 11 September as the team beat Millwall 1–0 at Priestfield.Williams 1983 172 Gillingham lost 1–0 away to Wrexham on 18 September but then won their next four league games.Williams 1983 172 Cascarino took his league goalscoring tally to four in seven games with the second goal in a 3–0 win against Walsall and the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Reading. The reporter for the Sunday Mercury contended that Gillingham could have potentially scored twice as many goals against a very poor Walsall team.Williams 1983 172 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137167936 Sunday Mercury 21 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Dogfight looms as Saddlers hit the depths again 26 September 1982 1 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240201183009/https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-mercury/137167936/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137167991 Reading Evening Post 21 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited More heartbreak for Royals 29 September 1982 Russell Kempson 1 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240201182920/https://www.newspapers.com/article/reading-evening-post/137167991/ live Jeff Johnson, a midfielder newly signed from Newport County, made his debut against Reading.Triggs 2001 174 The team began October with a 2–0 victory away to Sheffield United with goals from Mark Weatherly and Steve Bruce. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137168040 Sunday Telegraph 21 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Jack Rollin's Sunday viewpoint 3 October 1982 Jack Rollin 1 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240201182921/https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-telegraph/137168040/ live It was the first time that Sheffield United had lost at home for 17 months.Rollin 1982a 326Williams 1983 320 A 2–1 win at home to Preston North End on 9 October took Gillingham up to fifth place in the Third Division league table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136368904 The Daily Telegraph 6 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Lincoln set pace with 5 11 October 1982 1 February 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240201182921/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/136368904/ livehttps://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/09-October-1982/ League Division 3 table after close of play on 9 October 1982 11v11 AFS Enterprises 6 December 2023 7 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231207180237/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/09-October-1982/ live A week later, the team's run of wins came to an end with a 1–0 defeat away to Cardiff City; the result meant that Gillingham had won four out of five league games at Priestfield but only one out of five away from home.Williams 1983 172 Three days later, they beat Orient 4–0 at Priestfield to move back up from ninth to sixth in the table; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137086048 The Guardian 19 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Results 20 October 1982 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118190817/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/137086048/ livehttps://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/18-October-1982/ League Division 3 table after close of play on 18 October 1982 11v11 AFS Enterprises 19 December 2023 19 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231219210043/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/18-October-1982/ livehttps://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/19-October-1982/ League Division 3 table after close of play on 19 October 1982 11v11 AFS Enterprises 19 December 2023 19 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231219210044/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/19-October-1982/ live Neil Grewcock scored twice in the victory having registered his first goal of the season ten days earlier against Preston, but the three goals would prove to be the only ones he scored in 27 appearances during the campaign.Brown 2003 92 A goal from Bruce, scored from a penalty kick, gave Gillingham a 1–0 win away to AFC Bournemouth on 23 October and took them up to third in the table, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137125591 The Observer 20 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Labour's lookalike Sean Piper 24 October 1982 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118190806/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-observer/137125591/ live a position which at the end of the season would secure promotion to the Second Division.Williams 1983 409 The next game drew Priestfield's biggest attendance of the season so far,Brown 2003 92 but the crowd of 5,919 saw Gillingham defeated 3–1 by Huddersfield Town. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136634088 Huddersfield Daily Examiner 11 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Now they're ready to challenge for a top-three spot Paul Clark 1 November 1982 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118190804/https://www.newspapers.com/article/huddersfield-daily-examiner/136634088/ live On 2 November, Gillingham won 2–1 away to Chesterfield, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137168977 Derby Evening Telegraph 21 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Henderson scores at last – in own net 3 November 1982 Simon Farrington 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118190859/https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph/137168977/ live but it would prove to be their last league victory for nearly two months.Williams 1983 172 They lost 1–0 away to Portsmouth and were held to a 1–1 draw at Priestfield by Doncaster Rovers, who had lost every previous away game since the start of the season.Williams 1983 156, 172 The final game of November resulted in a 2–0 defeat at home to Wigan Athletic, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137195643 Daily Post 21 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Wigan erase cup memories 29 November 1982 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118190901/https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-post-3-am-ed/137195643/ live and Gillingham also lost their first two league games of December, away to Newport County and Plymouth Argyle.Williams 1983 172 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137196027 The Daily Telegraph 21 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Brentford hit back in style 6 December 1982 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118190902/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/137196027/ live The team's last two games of 1982 took place on consecutive days. On 27 December, a goal from Weatherly was enough to give them a 1–0 victory over Southend United at Priestfield, ending a run of five Third Division games without a win.Williams 1983 172 A 1–1 draw away to Brentford the following day meant that Gillingham ended 1982 in 12th place in the Third Division league table at the end of 1982; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137086620 The Daily Telegraph 19 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Portsmouth threaten leaders 29 December 1982 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118190807/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/137086620/ livehttps://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/31-December-1982/ League Division 3 table after close of play on 31 December 1982 11v11 AFS Enterprises 30 November 2023 1 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231201141205/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/31-December-1982/ live they had won only one of their last seven league games.Williams 1983 172 January–May thumb|right|alt=The Den football stadium, Millwall|Gillingham lost 4–1 at The Den, home of Millwall, despite scoring a goal inside the first minute. During January, Gillingham played six matches and did not record any victories.Williams 1983 172 Their first match of 1983 was on 1 January at home to Lincoln City, who were top of the league table, and resulted in a 2–0 defeat. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136700433 Lincolnshire Echo 12 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited City bounce back with New Year win 3 January 1983 Maurice Burton 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118190807/https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincolnshire-echo/136700433/ live Two days later, they began a run of four consecutive draws with a match away to Bradford City which finished 1–1.Williams 1983 172 On 8 January, Gillingham played Exeter City at Priestfield; the score was 3–2 to Exeter at half-time and 4–4 at the end of the game.Williams 1983 172 Dean White, who had not scored in nine previous appearances since the start of the season,Brown 2003 92 scored three of Gillingham's goals,Williams 1983 172 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136442851 The Daily Telegraph 7 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Hat-tricks by White, Neville 10 January 1983 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118190906/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/136442851/ live the first hat-trick by a Gillingham player since November 1976.Brown 2003 86–92 The next two games, away to Oxford United and at home to Wrexham, both ended 1–1. Phil Handford, an 18-year-old midfielder from the youth team, made his debut against Exeter,Triggs 2001 148 and Martin Hodge, a goalkeeper signed on loan from Everton, made the first of four appearances in place of regular starter Ron Hillyard against Oxford.Triggs 2001 161 Peacock was keen to sign Hodge on a permanent basis but the club could not afford the transfer fee which Everton stipulated.Triggs 2001 162 Gillingham's final match of January was away to Millwall, who were 24th out of 24 teams in the league table going into the game.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/29-January-1983/ League Division 3 table after close of play on 29 January 1983 11v11 AFS Enterprises 15 December 2023 15 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231215092921/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/29-January-1983/ live Cascarino scored a goal inside the first minute, but Gillingham then conceded four goals and lost 4–1. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136845998 The Guardian 15 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited untitled 31 January 1983 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118190918/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/136845998/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136846038 Evening Standard 15 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Vladi lip no worry – Neil Peter Blackman 31 January 1983 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118190808/https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard/136846038/ live After a 0–0 draw with Walsall, Gillingham won their first game of 1983 at the eighth attempt, beating Chesterfield 3–1, but then went a further six games without a victory.Williams 1983 172 After a goalless draw away to Preston North End, Gillingham lost consecutive games to Cardiff City and Orient, and then lost 5–2 to AFC Bournemouth, the highest number of goals the team conceded during the season.Williams 1983 172 The correspondent for The Daily Telegraph wrote that Gillingham "fell apart" after John Sitton was sent off after less than half an hour. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137220267 The Daily Telegraph 22 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Oxford keep hopes alive 7 March 1983 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118190910/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/137220267/ live Peacock made changes to the team's midfield for the game against Huddersfield Town on 12 March; Colin Duncan was in the starting line-up for the first time in over a year,Brown 2003 91–92 and Dave Mehmet, a new signing from Charlton Athletic, made his debut.Triggs 2001 218 Mehmet scored the second of Gillingham's two goals as they fought back from three goals down with 20 minutes of the game remaining, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136857450 Huddersfield Daily Examiner 15 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Town sit back and give fans a fright Paul Clark 14 March 1983 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118191416/https://www.newspapers.com/article/huddersfield-daily-examiner/136857450/ live but the final score was 3–2 and Gillingham dropped to 19th in the league table,Williams 1983 320https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/15-March-1983/ League Division 3 table after close of play on 15 March 1983 11v11 AFS Enterprises 15 December 2023 15 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231215100504/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/15-March-1983/ live only two places above the positions which at the end of the season would result in relegation to the Fourth Division.Williams 1983 409 The bad run continued with a 2–0 defeat at home to Sheffield United on 15 March,Williams 1983 172 but four days later Gillingham defeated Portsmouth, who were top of the league table going into the game, with a goal from Duncan in the 87th minute. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137085451 The Daily Telegraph 19 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Leaders beaten 21 March 1983 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118191421/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/137085451/ live Cascarino, the team's joint top goalscorer for the season so far, made his return as a substitute having been absent for a month with a broken collarbone.Brown 2003 92 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136925172 The Daily Telegraph 16 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Cascarino blow 17 February 1983 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118191420/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/136925172/ live He scored in each of the next three games, a 2–0 win away to Doncaster Rovers and draws with Southend United and Brentford.Williams 1983 172 Richie Bowman also scored against Doncaster in his first appearance since a serious knee injury in December 1981.Triggs 2001 63Williams 1983 172, 173 On 9 April, first-half goals from Weatherly and Bruce gave Gillingham a 2–0 win over Newport County, but Bruce broke his leg late in the game as a result of a reckless tackle on Newport's Tommy Tynan; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136977704 South Wales Echo 17 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited County face anxious wait over Tynan 11 April 1983 Ray Parker 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118191313/https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-wales-echo/136977704/ live he would be absent from the team for the remainder of the season and the first month of the following campaign.Williams 1983 173Dunk 1984 171 Gillingham extended their unbeaten run to six games with a goalless draw with Reading, and then beat Plymouth Argyle 2–1 at Priestfield with two goals from Cascarino.Williams 1983 172 The team ended April with a 2–2 draw away to Wigan Athletic despite playing much of the second half with only ten men after John Sharpe was sent off. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137060669 Daily Post 19 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Wigan deeper in the mire 2 May 1983 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118191427/https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-post-3-am-ed/137060669/ live The result left them 14th in the league table with three games remaining.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/30-Paril-1983/ League Division 3 table after close of play on 30 April 1983 11v11 AFS Enterprises 19 December 2023 On 3 May, a crowd of 2,716, the lowest of the season at Priestfield,Brown 2003 92 saw Gillingham beat Bradford City 3–0, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137221149 The Daily Telegraph 22 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited So easy for Gillingham 4 May 1983 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118191425/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/137221149/ live and the team achieved another win in their final home game of the season, beating Bristol Rovers 1–0. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137221182 Western Daily Press 22 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Gould faces wages revolt Ralph Ellis 9 May 1983 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118191428/https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press/137221182/ live Gillingham's unbeaten run ended in the final game of the season, a 3–1 defeat away to Lincoln; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137221275 Lincolnshire Echo 22 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Red Imps regain their confidence 16 May 1983 Maurice Burton 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118191916/https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincolnshire-echo/137221275/ live Cascarino scored his fifth goal in the last five games.Williams 1983 172 The result meant that Gillingham ended the campaign 13th out of 24 teams in the Third Division league table.Williams 1983 408 League match results Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal +ResultsWilliams 1983 172DateOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance28 August 1982Oxford United (H)0–14,0794 September 1982Exeter City (A)2–2Price, Cascarino2,4097 September 1982Bristol Rovers (A)1–2Parkin (o.g.)3,68811 September 1982Millwall (H)1–0Cascarino4,66318 September 1982Wrexham (A)0–12,12225 September 1982Walsall (H)3–0Sinnott (o.g.), Cascarino, Weatherly3,22928 September 1982Reading (H)1–0Cascarino3,6212 October 1982Sheffield United (A)2–0Weatherly, Bruce12,3199 October 1982Preston North End (H)2–1Grewcock, Cascarino4,39016 October 1982Cardiff City (A)0–14,82819 October 1982Orient (H)4–0Grewcock (2), Weatherly, Tydeman3,84923 October 1982AFC Bournemouth (A)1–0Bruce (pen.)5,52830 October 1982Huddersfield Town (H)1–3Bruce5,9192 November 1982Chesterfield (A)2–1Weatherly, Henderson (o.g.)2,3226 November 1982Portsmouth (A)0–112,21213 November 1982Doncaster Rovers (H)1–1Miller4,45127 November 1982Wigan Athletic (H)0–23,9524 December 1982Newport County (A)1–2Weatherly3,72718 December 1982Plymouth Argyle (A)0–24,17927 December 1982Southend United (H)1–0Weatherly5,03528 December 1982Brentford (A)1–1Bruce7,7961 January 1983Lincoln City (H)0–25,5353 January 1983Bradford City (A)1–1Weatherly4,2948 January 1983Exeter City (H)4–4Weatherly, White (3, 1 pen.)2,97015 January 1983Oxford United (A)1–1Weatherly4,75522 January 1983Wrexham (H)1–1Adams3,79830 January 1983Millwall (A)1–4Cascarino3,8135 February 1983Walsall (A)0–02,60815 February 1983Chesterfield (H)3–1Handford, Bruce, Cascarino3,18719 February 1983Preston North End (A)0–03,47926 February 1983Cardiff City (H)2–3Johnson, Lansdowne4,5871 March 1983Orient (A)0–22,2415 March 1983AFC Bournemouth (H)2–5Bruce (pen.), Lansdowne3,48512 March 1983Huddersfield Town (A)2–3Duncan, Mehmet8,26415 March 1983Sheffield United (H)0–23,38519 March 1983Portsmouth (H)1–0Duncan6,48925 March 1983Doncaster Rovers (A)2–0Bowman, Cascarino2,5281 April 1983Southend United (A)1–1Cascarino4,2342 April 1983Brentford (H)2–2Whitehead (o.g.), Cascarino4,1689 April 1983Newport County (H)2–0Weatherly, Bruce (pen.)4,26516 April 1983Reading (A)0–02,56623 April 1983Plymouth Argyle (H)2–1Cascarino (2)3,35630 April 1983Wigan Athletic (A)2–2Adams, Mehmet3,6103 May 1983Bradford City (H)3–0Mehmet, Cascarino, Johnson2,7167 May 1983Bristol Rovers (H)1–0Cascarino4,02414 May 1983Lincoln City (A)1–3Cascarino2,241 Partial league table 1982–83 Football League#Third Division main WDL left auto Football League Third Division final table, positions 11–15 PR OXF Sheffield United WDN Bradford City GIL Gillingham HUL AFC Bournemouth BRR Southend United 11 19 7 20 62 64 16 13 17 68 69 16 13 17 58 59 16 13 17 59 68 15 14 17 66 65 Division Champions, promoted CP Promoted P P complete Williams 1983 409 FA Cup As a Third Division team, Gillingham entered the 1982–83 FA Cup at the first round stage and were paired with Dagenham of the Alliance Premier League, the highest level of non-League football.Williams 1983 925 A goal from Cascarino gave Gillingham a narrow win over their semi-professional opponents and took them into the second round,Williams 1983 537 where they faced Northampton Town of the Fourth Division.Williams 1983 540 The initial match at Priestfield resulted in a 1–1 draw, necessitating a replay at Northampton's County Ground stadium.Williams 1983 540 Weatherly scored twice for Gillingham and with two minutes remaining the score was 2–2, but Northampton then scored a third goal to win the match and eliminate Gillingham from the competition.Williams 1983 542 It meant that Gillingham missed out on a prestigious match at home to Aston Villa, the reigning holders of the European Cup, in the third round. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/136847107 The Daily Telegraph 15 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Belfon, 17, upsets Gillingham 15 December 1982 Bill Meredith 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118191819/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/136847107/ liveWilliams 1983 544 FA Cup match results Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match +ResultsWilliams 1983 537, 540, 542DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance20 November 1982FirstDagenham (H)1–0Cascarino3,88411 December 1982SecondNorthampton Town (H)1–1Johnson4,05414 December 1982Second (replay)Northampton Town (A)2–3Weatherly (2)4,290 Football League Cup As a Third Division team, Gillingham entered the 1982–83 Football League Cup at the first round stage; their opponents were fellow Third Division side Orient.Williams 1983 503 The first leg of the two-legged tie took place at Priestfield on 31 August. Cascarino scored twice in a 3–0 victory. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137168280 Evening Standard 21 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited No easy way back for star Rangers 1 September 1982 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118191823/https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard/137168280/ live In the second leg at Brisbane Road, Orient scored twice in the first half but Gillingham held on for a 3–2 win on aggregate.Williams 1983 505 In the second round, Gillingham played Oldham Athletic of the Second Division.Williams 1983 408 The first leg again took place at Priestfield and Gillingham scored twice in the second half to win 2–0 on the night.Williams 1983 506 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/137168339 Western Daily Press 21 December 2023 Newspapers.com limited Last night's football scores 6 October 1982 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118191927/https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press/137168339/ live Oldham won the second leg at Boundary Park 1–0,Williams 1983 509 but Gillingham again won on aggregate and reached the third round (last 32) of the League Cup for the first time since the 1971–72 season.Soar Tyler 1983 110Williams 1983 509 In the third round, played as a single match, Gillingham played at home to Tottenham Hotspur of the First Division, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/135913986 The Guardian 28 November 2023 Newspapers.com limited Nervous Spurs go through David Lacey David Lacey 10 November 1982 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118191821/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/135913986/ live who had reached the final of the competition in the previous season.Williams 1983 501 After conceding a goal in the first 15 minutes, Gillingham equalised when Johnson scored. Tottenham scored a further goal each side of the half-time break to make the score 3–1, but Price reduced the deficit with just over 20 minutes remaining. Tottenham scored a fourth goal in the final minute to win 4–2 and eliminate Gillingham from the competition.Williams 1983 172 Football League Cup match results Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match +ResultsWilliams 1983 503, 505, 506, 509, 511DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance31 August 1982First (first leg)Orient (H)3–0Bruce, Cascarino (2)2,89414 September 1982First (second leg)Orient (A)0–22,0035 October 1982Second (first leg)Oldham Athletic (H)2–0Shaw, Cascarino4,07026 October 1982Second (second leg)Oldham Athletic (A)0–13,3029 November 1982ThirdTottenham Hotspur (H)2–4Johnson, Price14,446 Players thumb|right|upright|Tony Cascarino was the team's leading goalscorer.|alt=Footballer Tony Cascarino thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Steve Bruce|Steve Bruce made 46 appearances. During the season, 28 players made at least one appearance for Gillingham. Weatherly and Micky Adams made the most, both playing 51 times.Brown 2003 92 Five other players took part in more than 45 of the team's 54 competitive games. Five players made fewer than five appearances, but none played only once.Brown 2003 92 Hillyard's 47 appearances took him past the milestone of having played 400 games for Gillingham.Williams 1983 174 Cascarino was the team's leading goalscorer; he scored 15 goals in the league and a total of 19 in all competitions. Weatherly was the only other player to reach double figures, scoring a total of 12 goals.Brown 2003 92 +Player statisticsBrown 2003 92PlayerPositionThird DivisionFA CupFootball League CupTotalApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsMicky AdamsDF 4423040512Richie BowmanMF 81000081Steve BruceDF 3972051468Tony CascarinoFW 381531534619Colin DuncanMF 82000082Peter Foley footballerFW 50000050Neil GrewcockMF/FW 2132040273Phil HandfordMF 1210000121Ron HillyardGK 4201040470Martin HodgeGK 40000040Dean HorrixFW 1400000140Jeff Johnson footballerMF 3123131374Billy LansdowneFW 62000062Trevor Lee footballerFW 20001030Dave MehmetMF 1330000133Mark Miller footballerMF 41100051Colin Powell footballerMF/FW 2102050280Ken Price footballer, born 1954FW 2013041272Mel SageDF 90000090John Sharpe footballerDF 3903050470Peter Shaw footballerDF 2901051351John SittonDF 3002030350Wayne StokesDF 20000020Gary Sutton 1GK 00201030Dick TydemanMF 4113040481Phil Walker footballer, born 1954MF 20000020Mark WeatherlyDF/FW431032505112Dean White footballerMF 1432000163 FW = Forward, MF = Midfielder, GK = Goalkeeper, DF = Defender Aftermath Bruce and Adams were both voted into the Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year for the Third Division by their fellow professionals.Triggs 2001 352Williams 1983 467 Weatherly won the club's own Player of the Year award.Williams 1983 174 At the end of the season, Adams was transferred to Coventry City of the First Division for a fee of £85,000, a new record for the highest transfer fee received by Gillingham.Triggs 2001 38 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/134883774 Grimsby Evening Telegraph 9 November 2023 Newspapers.com limited Coventry move to boost squad 12 July 1983 18 January 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240118191823/https://www.newspapers.com/article/grimsby-evening-telegraph/134883774/ live The team's league performance improved in the following season as they finished 8th in the Third Division league table.Dunk 1984 406 References Works cited Bateson Bill Sewell Albert News Of The World Football Annual 1986–87 Invincible Press 1986 978-0-85543-076-4 Bateson 1986 London Albert Sewell Brown Tony The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record Soccerdata 2003 1-89946-820-X Nottingham Dunk Peter Rothmans Football Yearbook 1984–85 Queen Anne Press 1984 978-0-35610-446-1 London Elligate David Gillingham FC On This Day Pitch Publishing 2009 978-1-9054-1145-0 Durrington Rollin Jack Rothmans Football Yearbook 1982–83 Queen Anne Press 1982 978-0-35607-888-5 Rollin 1982a London Soar Phil Martin Tyler Encyclopedia of British Football 1983 CollinsWillow 978-0-0021-8049-8 Martin Tyler London Roger Triggs The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club Tempus Publishing 2001 978-0-75242-243-5 Stroud Tony Williams Rothmans Football Yearbook 1983–84 1983 Queen Anne Press London 978-0-356-09727-5 Category:Gillingham F.C. seasons Gillingham