2000–01 Gillingham F.C. season

English football club season February 2015 February 2015 Gillingham 2000–01 Andy Hessenthaler Paul Scally First Division 13th FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Second round Marlon King (15) Marlon King (15) 10,518 (v Crystal Palace, 26 December 2000) 2,743 (v Torquay United, 22 August 2000) _whitearc _whiteline 0000ff 0000ff 0000ff 0000ff _bluecollar _blueline ffffff ffffff ffffff 0000ff ffffff 1999–2000 2001–02 During the 2000–01 English football season, Gillingham F.C. competed in the Football League First Division, the second tier of the English football league system. It was the 69th season in which Gillingham competed in the Football League, and the 51st since the club was voted back into the league in 1950. In the preceding season, Gillingham had beaten Wigan Athletic in the Second Division play-off final to gain promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time in the club's history. Having led the team to promotion, manager Peter Taylor left the club after a single season to become manager of FA Premier League club Leicester City and was replaced by veteran player Andy Hessenthaler. In his first season as manager, he led Gillingham to a mid-table finish in the First Division. Gillingham also competed in two knock-out tournaments. In the FA Cup the team reached the fourth round but then lost to Chelsea of the Premier League. The team were also eliminated from the Football League Cup by a Premier League team, losing to Manchester City in the second round. Gillingham played 52 competitive matches, winning 15, drawing 17, and losing 20. Marlon King, a new signing at the start of the season, was the team's top goalscorer with 15 goals. Vince Bartram and Chris Hope made the most appearances; both played in all 52 of the team's matches. The highest attendance recorded at the club's home ground, Priestfield Stadium, was 10,518 for the visit of Crystal Palace on 26 December. Background and pre-season thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Paul Shaw|Paul Shaw (pictured in 2011) was one of the club's summer signings. The 2000–01 season was Gillingham's 69th season playing in the Football League and the 51st since the club was elected back into the League in 1950 after being voted out in 1938. In the previous season, the team had finished third in the Football League Second Division and qualified for the play-offs for promotion to the First Division.Rollin Rollin 2000 33 After defeating Stoke City in the semi-finals, Gillingham beat Wigan Athletic in the final to reach the second tier of the English football league system for the first time in the club's history.Rollin Rollin 2000 34–35https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/767702.stm Second time lucky for Gills BBC Sport 28 May 2000 4 July 2021 3 March 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20030303203928/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/767702.stm live Following promotion, Gillingham offered a new contract to manager Peter Taylor to remain in charge for the 2000–01 season. He rejected it, however, and left to take over at FA Premier League team Leicester City, replacing Martin O'Neill, who had moved to Celtic.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/787483.stm The Peter principle BBC Sport 7 August 2008 12 June 2000 2 April 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210402083128/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/787483.stm live Veteran Gillingham player Andy Hessenthaler was appointed player-manager to replace Taylor, his first managerial appointment.Triggs 2001 156 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A96750128/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=d760bf45 Sunday Times 23 November 2021 Gale Gillingham; Football 13 August 2000 subscription 70 The club signed three new players ahead of the first competitive game of the new season, two of whom were forwards. Hessenthaler's first signing as manager was Marlon King, a forward, who joined from Barnet of the Third Division for a transfer fee of UK 250,000 2000 eq yes £ -4. King, aged 20, had reportedly attracted interest from Premier League clubs and was viewed as a highly promising prospect for the future.Triggs 2001 185 The second new forward to join the club was Paul Shaw, who was signed from Millwall for UK 450,000 2000 eq yes £ -4, at the time the third-highest transfer fee paid by Gillingham.Triggs 2001 288 The third new signing was a defender: Chris Hope arrived from Scunthorpe United for UK 250,000 2000 eq yes £ -4.Triggs 2001 162 In an interview with the Sunday Times, Hessenthaler stated that he had "told the boys we want to try and make the play-offs". https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A96750118/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=9e8a909e Sunday Times 7 December 2021 Gale Upstarts Gillingham throw down gauntlet; Football 13 August 2000 subscription 60 Louise Taylor Despite this, Gillingham were picked as one of the three teams most likely to be relegated from the First Division by Jason Tomas of The Observer. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A75843392/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=e7b105dc The Observer 23 November 2021 Gale Football: Nationwide League Countdown: Nationwide predictions Jason Tomas 6 August 2000 subscription 6 The club adopted a new kit, replacing the previous season's blue and black striped shirts, black shorts and black socks with plain blue shirts, white shorts and blue socks. The away kit, to be worn in the event of a clash of colours with the home team, consisted of white shirts, blue shorts and white socks.Gillingham Vs Blackburn Rovers Matchday Programme A Season to Remember 6 May 2001 28–29 The team prepared for the new season with a number of friendly matches, including one against Manchester City of the Premier League. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A63793346/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=f6f4341e Sunday Times 23 November 2021 Gale City slicker; Football round-up Jim Munro 30 July 2000 subscription 11 At the start of the season, building work was ongoing at the club's home ground, Priestfield Stadium. The new Medway Stand, replacing an older grandstand demolished a year earlier, was open to spectators but the work had not been completed on all its facilities. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A64183298/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=420dc3fe The Times 27 October 2021 Gale Hessenthaler sees the flaws; Football Stephen Wood 14 August 2000 subscription 5 http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PriestfieldStadium/0,,10416,00.html Gillingham F.C. The Changing Face of KRBS Priestfield 7 September 2007 9 August 2021 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071115155957/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk/page/PriestfieldStadium/0%2C%2C10416%2C00.html 15 November 2007 Elligate 2009 105 First Division August–December thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Junior Lewis|Junior Lewis (pictured in 2009) scored the goal which secured Gillingham's first ever win in the second tier of English football. Gillingham's first match in the second tier of English football was at home to Stockport County.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/875811.stm Gillingham 1–3 Stockport 12 August 2001 18 November 2021 BBC Sport Guy Butters scored the club's first goal at that level in the second minute of the game, but Stockport scored three times to claim the win.Elligate 2009 123 Hessenthaler described the result as "a wake-up call". Shaw and Hope made their debuts in the starting line-up and King made his as a substitute;Rollin Rollin 2001 185 Shaw was stretchered off in the first half after suffering an ankle injury which would keep him out of the team for the next six weeks.Triggs 2001 288Gillingham Vs Portsmouth Matchday Programme Priestfield Diary 25 August 2000 17 Andy Thomson replaced him in the starting line-up for the game away to Tranmere Rovers, which Gillingham lost 3–2.Rollin Rollin 2001 184–185 In both of the next two First Division games, at home to Portsmouth and away to Burnley, Gillingham took the lead but then conceded an equalising goal; each of the matches finished as a draw.Rollin Rollin 2001 112, 184, 300 The Guardians correspondent wrote that Gillingham were the better team against Portsmouth although Hessenthaler said that his team's play had been "a little bit too predictable". https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A75728804/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=0973e72d The Guardian 23 November 2021 Gale Football: First Division: Thomson makes point for new boys 26 August 2000 subscription 2 After four games, Gillingham were 21st in the 24-team league table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/28-August-2000/ League Division 1 table after close of play on 28 August 2000 11v11 AFS Enterprises 10 November 2021 The team won their first league match of the season at the fifth attempt, defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 at Priestfield with a fourth-minute goal by Junior Lewis,Elligate 2009 136https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1086317.stm Gillingham 1–0 Wolves BBC Sport 6 September 2000 7 November 2021 but then lost away to Grimsby Town. In the second half of September, Gillingham won at home to struggling Huddersfield Town, managed by former Gillingham player Steve Bruce, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A65311985/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=43d1c560 Sunday Times 17 November 2021 Gale Smith sends Bruce rock bottom; The football round-up Peter Wilson 17 September 2000 subscription 15 but then lost 3–0 away to Fulham, who continued a run of having won every First Division game since the start of the season. Hessenthaler commented "we just couldn't get near them ... quite frankly I'm pleased it was only 3–0".Rollin Rollin 2001 180 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A65449306/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=341eca2d The Independent on Sunday 17 November 2021 Gale Football: Tigana enjoys life at the top Geoff Brown 24 September 2000 subscription 13 King was included in the starting line-up for the first time in early September but after failing to score in five starts he reverted to the role of substitute, with Thomson preferred as a starter.Rollin Rollin 2001 185 Gillingham drew 4–4 away to Wimbledon on 14 October, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A66095471/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=baac6409 The Independent 24 November 2021 Gale Football: Gills join in Crazy Gang show 16 October 2000 subscription 5 Marcus Lee the only match in the entirety of the First Division during the 2000–01 season to feature eight or more goals,https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng01.html England 2000/01 Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Ian King Stephen Mulrine 15 February 2006 17 November 2021 which prompted Hessenthaler to say "We'll be straight back on the training ground to work on our defending as we keep getting punished by decent sides." His opposite number Terry Burton noted that the Gillingham team had taken on the qualities which Hessenthaler displayed as a player, saying "Their spirit epitomises what their manager is all about ... He gives 100 per cent and has taken that infectious enthusiasm into management". Gillingham then failed to score any goals in the next four league matches.Rollin Rollin 2001 184 Carl Asaba, the team's top goalscorer in all competitions at this point in the season,Brown 2003 110 was substituted in the second of these games, a goalless draw at home to Barnsley, after injuring his hamstring;Gillingham Vs Crewe Alexandra Matchday Programme Ming's Treatment Palace 28 October 2000 24 George Johnson he would not play again for more than six weeks.Rollin Rollin 2001 185 Iffy Onuora, who had been a regular in the team in the second half of the previous season but had yet to start a game in the 2000–01 season, replaced him for the next five games but then reverted to being used only as a substitute.Rollin Rollin 2001 185Rollin Rollin 2000 177 The goalless run came to an end with a 2–1 victory away to Sheffield United on 4 November, Gillingham's first league win for seven games and first away league win of the season, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A66689718/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=169e0c04 Sunday Times 24 November 2021 Gale Fulham spoil Macari's day; Football round-up Peter Wilson 5 November 2000 subscription 6 but the team then lost both their next two games 3–1.Rollin Rollin 2001 184 King scored his first goal for the club in the second of these defeats.Rollin Rollin 2001 184 Victory away to Blackburn Rovers in the last game of November, achieved despite Shaw being sent off, left Gillingham 14th in the table. Ron Clarke of the Sunday Times wrote that Blackburn had been arrogant in their approach to the game in the first half and allowed Gillingham to score two simple goals. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A67387773/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=95a0f3f9 Sunday Times 24 November 2021 Gale Careless Blackburn slip to surprise defeat; Football Ron Clarke 26 November 2000 subscription 7https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/30-november-2000/ League Division 1 table after close of play on 30 November 2000 11v11 AFS Enterprises 17 November 2021 Gillingham began December with consecutive league defeats at home to Birmingham City and away to Norwich City, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A67688591/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=9e8484f8 The Times 24 November 2021 Gale Horsfield gains due reward for his persistence; Football Andy Stephens 4 December 2000 subscription 7https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1061485.stm Norwich 1–0 Gillingham BBC Sport 9 December 2000 24 November 2021 but then beat Preston North End 4–0 at Priestfield,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1071804.stm Gillingham 4–0 Preston BBC Sport 16 December 2000 24 November 2021 beginning an unbeaten league run which would ultimately last for nine games.Rollin Rollin 2001 184 Asaba scored twice against Preston on his return to the starting line-up.Rollin Rollin 2001 184–185 The team's final game of 2000 resulted in a 4–1 win at home to Crystal Palace; Asaba scored the team's first hat-trick of the season but Shaw was again carried off on a stretcher after suffering another ankle injury, although on this occasion he did not miss any games.Rollin Rollin 2001 184–185https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1086317.stm Gillingham 4–1 Crystal Palace BBC Sport 26 December 2000 7 November 2021Gillingham Vs Chelsea Matchday Programme Priestfield Diary 28 January 2000 17 The attendance of 10,518 was the highest for any match at Priestfield during the season.Brown 2003 110 An aggressive confrontation took place shortly before the end of the first half involving players from both teams which led to both clubs being fined by the Football Association four months later. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A73131206/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=3e786565 The Times 25 November 2021 Gale FA issues fines over Gillingham fracas; Football 12 April 2001 subscription 39 The result left Gillingham 13th in the table at the end of the year.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/31-december-2000/ League Division 1 table after close of play on 31 December 2000 11v11 AFS Enterprises 10 November 2021 January–May Gillingham's first four league matches of 2001 were all drawn. The first two, away to Portsmouth and at home to Burnley, finished goalless, and Gillingham followed this with a 2–2 draw away to Crystal Palace and a 1–1 draw away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.Rollin Rollin 2001 184 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A70025089/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=3759da44 50 Birmingham Evening Mail 25 November 2021 Gale Jones's rebuilding task has to start soon; Wolves 1 Gillingham 1 Ian Willars 5 February 2001 subscription Following the Crystal Palace game, Brian Scovell of the Sunday Telegraph described Gillingham as "one of the best organised sides in the First Division". https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A69803279/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=25ffbed1 Sunday Telegraph 7 December 2021 Gale Freedman reprieves woeful Palace Brian Scovell 21 January 2001 subscription King replaced Asaba in the starting line-up against Wolverhampton Wanderers, his first start since before Christmas, and scored his team's goal; he would go on to start every game for the remainder of the season.Rollin Rollin 2001 184–185 Gillingham extended their unbeaten league run with victories at home to Grimsby Town and away to Huddersfield Town, in both of which King scored the winning goal. Hessenthaler was extremely pleased with his team's recent performances and told the media "If we can now consolidate this year, our aim will then be to do what Crewe have done and see if we can stay in this division for the next four or five years".Rollin Rollin 2001 184https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A70693640/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=71bd8243 10 Sunday Times 25 November 2021 Gale King's winner keeps Gills happy; The football round-up Peter Wilson 18 February 2001 subscription Huddersfield manager Lou Macari contended that Gillingham were "the kind of team capable of upsetting anybody in this division".https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A70586262/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=f127900d 10 Daily Telegraph 7 December 2021 Gale King crowns victory Peter Keeling 19 February 2001 subscription The wins took Gillingham into the top half of the table in 12th place,https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/17-february-2001/ League Division 1 table after close of play on 17 February 2001 11v11 AFS Enterprises 19 November 2021 but the unbeaten run came to an end in the next game with a 1–0 defeat at home to Queens Park Rangers.Rollin Rollin 2001 184 Gillingham lost their next two games, 2–0 at home to Fulham and 2–1 away to Sheffield Wednesday. Asaba scored against Sheffield Wednesday after coming on a substitute in what would prove to be his last appearance for Gillingham; he was transferred to Sheffield United in March.Rollin Rollin 2001 184–185https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1274207.stm Gillingham 4–1 Sheff Utd BBC Sport 14 April 2001 25 November 2021 Although the series of consecutive defeats ended with a 0–0 draw at home to Wimbledon on 6 March, it meant that Gillingham had only scored once in the last four matches and slipped to 15th in the league table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/06-march-2001/ League Division 1 table after close of play on 6 March 2001 11v11 AFS Enterprises 19 November 2021 Onuora replaced Shaw against Wimbledon, his first start since November; Shaw had still yet to score a goal since his transfer to the club.Rollin Rollin 2001 184 On 10 March, Gillingham came back from 3–1 down to draw 3–3 away to Bolton Wanderers, King scoring the equaliser in the final five minutes of the game,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1210855.stm Bolton 3–3 Gillingham 10 March 2001 18 November 2021 BBC Sport https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A71483194/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=bc92cadc 3 The Independent on Sunday 25 November 2021 Gale Football: King crowns revival as Bolton fade away Richard Slater 11 March 2001 subscription and then won at home to Tranmere Rovers with goals from King and Onuora, who had now been the starting forwards for three consecutive matches and would remain so for the rest of the season.Rollin Rollin 2001 184–185 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A71951948/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=40485b80 The Guardian 25 November 2021 Gale Onuora strike keeps Tranmere in the mire 21 March 2001 subscription 30 Hessenthaler signed another forward, Guy Ipoua, from Scunthorpe United for UK 25,000 2001 eq yes £ -4,https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/ipoua-i-think-my-gills-days-are-a7802/ Ipoua: I think my Gills days are numbered Kent Online Kent Messenger Group 17 March 2003 19 November 2021 but he was used only as a substitute for the remainder of the season.Rollin Rollin 2001 185 Shaw returned to the starting line-up against Barnsley on 25 March but was now used in a linking role between the midfield and the forwards rather than as an all-out attacking player.Triggs 2001 288 Onuora scored the team's second hat-trick of the season in a 4–3 win at home to Norwich City on 7 April and Gillingham then scored four goals for a second consecutive game as they defeated Sheffield United 4–1; Shaw scored his first goal for the club in the latter game.Rollin Rollin 2001 184https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1262011.stm Gillingham 4–3 Norwich 7 April 2001 18 November 2021 BBC Sporthttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1274207.stm Gillingham 4–1 Sheff Utd 14 April 2001 18 November 2021 BBC Sport The next two games, however, resulted in defeats to Crewe Alexandra and West Bromwich Albion.Rollin Rollin 2001 184 Victory in the game away to Nottingham Forest on 28 April would mean that Gillingham were sufficiently far ahead of the bottom three places that they could not finish in a relegation position. King scored the only goal in a 1–0 win which ensured that the team would be playing in the First Division again the following season.Elligate 2009 73https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1297814.stm Nottm Forest 0–1 Gillingham 28 April 2001 18 November 2021 BBC Sport In the final match of the 2000–01 season, Gillingham played Blackburn Rovers, who had already clinched promotion to the Premier League, at Priestfield. Blackburn held the lead for most of the game, but King scored an equaliser in the last minute to secure a draw. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A74213581/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=7a978c45 The Guardian 10 November 2021 Gale 11 Football: First Division: No time to relax as Souness prepares for a bright future: Gillingham 1 Blackburn Rovers 1 Mark Redding 7 May 2001 subscription Gillingham ended their first season in the second tier of English football 13th in the league table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/31-may-2001/ League Division 1 end of season table for 2000–01 season 11v11 AFS Enterprises 10 November 2021 Match details Key 22em In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal ResultsRollin Rollin 2001 184 DateOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance 12 August 2000Stockport County (H)1–3Butters9,429 19 August 2000Tranmere Rovers (A)2–3Asaba, Southall (pen.)8,355 25 August 2000Portsmouth (H)1–1Thomson8,741 28 August 2000Burnley (A)1–1Asaba15,611 2 September 2000Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)1–0Lewis10,017 9 September 2000Grimsby Town (A)0–1 4,512 13 September 2000 Queens Park Rangers (A)2–2Asaba, Hessenthaler10,655 16 September 2000Huddersfield Town (H)2–1Butters, Smith8,503 23 September 2000Fulham (A)0–3 13,032 30 September 2000Sheffield Wednesday (H)2–0Butters, Thomson9,099 6 October 2000Bolton Wanderers (H)2–2Smith, Onuora9,311 14 October 2000Wimbledon (A)4–4Thomson (2), Saunders, Asaba9,030 17 October 2000Watford (A)0–0 12,356 21 October 2000Barnsley (H)0–0 9,030 25 October 2000Birmingham City (A)0–1 26,044 28 October 2000Crewe Alexandra (H)0–1 8,347 4 November 2000Sheffield United (A)2–1Smith, Thomson14,028 12 November 2000Nottingham Forest (H)1–3Onuora9,884 18 November 2000West Bromwich Albion (A)1–3King16,410 25 November 2000Blackburn Rovers (A)2–1Hessenthaler, Curtis (o.g.)18,061 2 December 2000Birmingham City (H)1–2King9,247 9 December 2000Norwich City (A)0–1 16,725 16 December 2000Preston North End (H)4–0Asaba (2), Ashby, King8,198 23 December 2000Stockport County (A)2–2Lewis, King6,095 26 December 2000Crystal Palace (H)4–1Asaba (3), Onuora10,518 1 January 2001Portsmouth (A)0–0 14,526 13 January 2001Burnley (H)0–0 9,331 20 January 2001Crystal Palace (A)2–2Saunders (2)18,823 3 February 2001Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)1–1King26,627 10 February 2001Grimsby Town (H)1–0King8,633 17 February 2001Huddersfield Town (A)3–2Saunders (2), King10,576 20 February 2001Queens Park Rangers (H)0–1 10,432 24 February 2001Fulham (H)0–2 9,931 3 March 2001Sheffield Wednesday (A)1–2Asaba18,702 6 March 2001Wimbledon (H)0–0 8,841 10 March 2001Bolton Wanderers (A)3–3King (2), Southall13,161 20 March 2001Tranmere Rovers (H)2–1King (pen.), Onuora7,810 25 March 2001Barnsley (A)1–3King13,609 31 March 2001Preston North End (A)0–0 13,550 7 April 2001Norwich City (H)4–3Hope, Onuora (3)9,608 14 April 2001Sheffield United (H)4–1Onuora, King (2), Shaw9,502 16 April 2001Crewe Alexandra (A)1–2Hope7,051 21 April 2001West Bromwich Albion (H)1–2Onuora9,920 28 April 2001Nottingham Forest (A)1–0King20,670 1 May 2001Watford (H)0–3 9,098 6 May 2001Blackburn Rovers (H)1–1King (pen.)10,319 Partial league table 2000–01 Football League#First Division main WDL left auto Football League First Division final table, positions 10–16 PR 10 WRE Sheffield United POR Nottingham Forest BRE Wolverhampton Wanderers GIL Gillingham BUR Crewe Alexandra CHE Norwich City PRE Barnsley 19 11 16 52 49 20 8 18 55 53 14 13 19 45 48 13 16 17 61 66 15 10 21 47 62 14 12 20 46 58 15 9 22 49 62 complete Rollin Rollin 2001 44 Cup matches FA Cup As a First Division team, Gillingham entered the 2000–01 FA Cup at the third-round stage in early January. The team played AFC Bournemouth of the Second Division and won 3–2.Rollin Rollin 2001 608 Hessenthaler suffered a serious knee injury and would not play again during the season.Brown 2003 110 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A71572639/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=6b94681a 30 The Guardian 25 November 2021 Gale Football: FA Cup countdown: Thrills, Gills and giants to kill: Gillingham's player-manager has Chelsea in his sights Jon Brodkin 24 January 2001 subscription In the fourth round, Gillingham were paired with Chelsea of the Premier League, who had eliminated Gillingham from the competition at the quarter-final stage in the previous season. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A59740335/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=b3504b35 The Times 28 2 September 2021 Gale Chelsea gambol at giant-killers' expense; Football Russell Kempson 21 February 2001 subscription By half-time, Gillingham were 3–0 down to their higher-level opponents. In the second half Shaw and Onuora both scored to reduce the deficit to a single goal, but Gillingham could not bring the scores level, and in the final minute Chelsea's Eiður Guðjohnsen scored to seal his team's win. Gillingham were thus eliminated from the FA Cup by Chelsea for the second consecutive season. Hessenthaler commented that "We made it hard for ourselves with our performance in the first half. You could see the difference in the leagues then and their class but we're disappointed with the way we defended".https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/1139916.stm Chelsea defeat brave Gills BBC Sport 28 January 2001 7 November 2021 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A71576379/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=7d7469af 3 The Guardian 25 November 2021 Gale FA Cup fourth round: Chelsea calm jangling nerves: Gillingham 2 Chelsea 4 Jon Brodkin 29 January 2001 subscription Match details Key 22em In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal Results DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance6 January 2001ThirdAFC Bournemouth (A)3–2Hope, Hessenthaler, Shaw7,40328 January 2001FourthChelsea (H)2–4Shaw, Onuora10,419 League Cup Gillingham entered the 2000–01 Football League Cup in the first round and were paired with Torquay United of the Third Division. In front of a crowd of 2,743, the lowest attendance recorded at Priestfield during the season,Brown 2003 110 Gillingham won the first leg of the two-legged tie 2–0. Torquay won the second leg at their own ground, Plainmoor, 3–2, but Gillingham progressed to the next round by an aggregate score of 4–3.Rollin Rollin 2001 585,588 In the second round, Gillingham played Manchester City, the first competitive meeting between the two teams since City defeated Gillingham in the Second Division play-off final in May 1999.Brown 2003 108–110 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500231797/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=TTDA&xid=5f472bb6 The Times Gale City stage another Manchester late show 31 31 May 1999 Keith Pike subscription 3 April 2021 27 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210727150804/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7CIF0500231797&v=2.1&it=r&sid=TTDA&asid=5f472bb6 live Gillingham held their higher-level opponents to a 1–1 draw at Maine Road in the first leg, prompting Oliver Kay of The Times to suggest that City would struggle to win the tie overall, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A65359364/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=326632e9 The Times Gale Late goal by Weah saves City's blushes; Worthington Cup 39 21 September 2000 Oliver Kay subscription 7 December 2021 but Gillingham lost the second leg at Priestfield 4–2 and were thus eliminated from the competition.Rollin Rollin 2001 590, 591 Match details Key 22em In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal Results DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance22 August 2000First (first leg)Torquay United (H)2–0Asaba, Thomson2,7435 September 2000First (second leg)Torquay United (A)2–3Asaba, Aggrey (o.g.)1,35120 September 2000Second (first leg)Manchester City (A)1–1Smith17,40826 September 2000Second (second leg)Manchester City (H)2–4Thomson (2)6,520 Players thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Marlon King|Marlon King (pictured in 2012) was the team's top goalscorer. thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Andy Hessenthaler|Player-manager Andy Hessenthaler (pictured in 2009) made 27 appearances. thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Andrew Crofts|Andrew Crofts (pictured in 2008) made his professional debut at the age of 16. Twenty-eight players made at least one appearance for Gillingham during the season. Bartram and Hope made the most appearances; both played every one of the team's 52 competitive matches. As they were in the starting line-up for every game and not substituted at any point, both played every minute of competitive football during the team's season.Rollin Rollin 2001 184, 585, 588, 590, 591, 608, 611 Five players made only one appearance each. Three of them were teenagers from the club's youth team, who were selected to make their debuts for the first team once Gillingham had secured their place in the First Division for another season. Of these, Andrew Crofts would go on to play nearly 200 times for the Gillingham first team and later play in the Premier League and for the Wales national team,https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/norwich-city-target-brighton-s-crofts-456498 Norwich City target Brighton's Crofts Eastern Daily Press Chris Wise 18 May 2010 5 November 2021https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44620796 Andrew Crofts: Newport sign veteran Wales midfielder BBC Sport 26 June 2018 5 November 2021 but the single appearances made by Mark Lovell and Michael Phillips would prove to be the entirety of the two players' professional careers.Hugman 2015 518, 678 Thirteen players scored at least one goal for Gillingham during the season. King was the top scorer with 15 goals, all of them in First Division matches. Two other players reached double figures: Asaba scored 10 league goals and 12 in total and Onuora 9 league goals and 10 in total.Brown 2003 110 +Player statisticsBrown 2003 110Gillingham Vs Crewe Alexandra Matchday Programme Today's Teams 28 October 2000 56Gillingham Vs Blackburn Rovers Matchday Programme Today's Teams 6 May 2001 56No.PlayerPositionFirst DivisionFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1Vince BartramGK46020405202Mark Patterson Mark Patterson (footballer, born 1968)DF 28020303303Roland EdgeDF 20020302504Paul Smith footballer, born 1971MF42320214645Barry AshbyDF40110304416Guy ButtersDF12310401737Nicky SouthallMF44220304928Andy HessenthalerMF 23211302739Carl AsabaFW25100032281211Ty GoodenMF 180002020012Nyron NosworthyDF 100000010014Marcus BrowningMF 310104036015Mark Saunders footballerMF355102038516Marlon KingFW 38152030431517Adrian PennockDF 350200037018Chris Hope Chris Hope (footballer)DF 462214052323Richard Rose footballerDF 4000004024No aJunior LewisMF 172204023224.1 24No aMark Lovell footballerFW 1000001025No aBrian McGlincheyDF 1000001025.1 25No aMichael Phillips footballerMF 1000001026Kevin James English footballerMF 7000108027No aAndy Thomson Scottish footballerFW245103328827.1 27No aAndrew Crofts footballerMF 1000001028Rodney Rowe footballerFW 0000101029Iffy OnuoraFW 3192100331030Paul Shaw footballerFW 331220035331Guy IpouaFW 90000090 FW = Forward, MF = Midfielder, GK = Goalkeeper, DF = Defender a. No Lovell, Phillips and Crofts were not allocated squad numbers until late in the season and were given numbers worn earlier in the season by players who had since left the club. Aftermath After the final game of the season, Hessenthaler told the media that his team had exceeded pre-season expectations, saying "to finish 13th is a fantastic effort and we've proved a few pundits and experts wrong".https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1310994.stm Gillingham hold Blackburn BBC Sport 6 May 2001 7 November 2021 Gillingham's final league position improved in each of the next two seasons, culminating in the club's best ever finish of 11th in the First Division in the 2002–03 season.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/31-may-2002/ League Division 1 end of season table for 2001–02 season 11v11 AFS Enterprises 18 November 2021https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/2967953.stm Gillingham 2–1 Palace 4 May 2003 17 November 2021 BBC Sport The team then spent two further seasons in the second tier before being relegated in 2005.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4500797.stm Nottm Forest 2–2 Gillingham 8 May 2005 18 November 2021 BBC Sport References Works cited Brown Tony The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record Soccerdata 2003 978-1-89946-820-1 Nottingham Elligate David Gillingham FC On This Day Pitch Publishing 2009 978-1-90541-145-0 Durrington Barry Hugman The PFA Premier and Football League Players' Records 1946–2015 G2 Entertainment 2015 978-1-78281-167-1 London Rollin Glenda Rollin Jack Rothmans Football Yearbook 2000–01 Headline Book Publishing 2000 978-0-74727-232-8 London Rollin Glenda Rollin Jack Rothmans Football Yearbook 2001–02 Headline Book Publishing 2001 978-0-74727-260-1 London Roger Triggs The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club Tempus Publishing 2001 978-0-75242-243-5 Stroud Category:Gillingham F.C. seasons Gillingham