1924–25 Gillingham F.C. season

English football club season February 2015 Gillingham 1924–25 Harry Curtis Jack KnightBradley Triggs 1994 44 Third Division South 13th FA Cup Sixth qualifying round Frank Marshall (9) Frank Marshall (11) 9,000 vs Barrow (13 December 1924) 1,000 vs Luton Town (27 December 1924) _black_stripes _blackstripes _black_stripes 000000 1923–24 1925–26 During the 1924–25 English football season, Gillingham F.C. competed in the Football League Third Division South, the third tier of the English football league system. It was the fifth season in which the club competed in the Football League. The team began the season in poor form, scoring only two goals in the first seven games of the campaign, after which they were in 22nd and last place in the league table. In November and December, however, they achieved five wins in nine games and had risen to 15th place by the end of 1924. In the second half of the season, Gillingham again struggled to score goals, at one point scoring only once in a run of seven games. Despite this, a sequence of five games without defeat in the closing weeks of the campaign helped Gillingham to finish the season in 13th place, meaning that they had improved their final position for a fourth consecutive season. Gillingham also competed in the FA Cup, reaching the sixth and final qualifying round; they were defeated by Barrow in a match that had to be replayed four times before Barrow emerged victorious after a total of nine hours of football. Gillingham played 49 competitive matches during the season, winning 14, drawing 18, and losing 17. Frank Marshall made the most appearances, being absent for only one game, and was also top goalscorer with 11 goals. The highest recorded attendance at the club's home ground, Priestfield Road, was 9,000 for the first FA Cup match against Barrow. Background and pre-season The 1924–25 season was Gillingham's fifth season playing in the Football League. The club had been one of the founder members of the Third Division in 1920. A year later, the division was re-branded the Third Division South when a parallel Third Division North was created.Soar Tyler 1983 110 Gillingham had finished in 22nd and last place in the league table at the end of their first season in the division,Soar Tyler 1983 189 but improved their final position each season since;Soar Tyler 1983 190–192 in the 1923–24 season, they had finished in 15th place.Soar Tyler 1983 193 Harry Curtis was the team's manager for a second season.Elligate 2009 84 He was the first Gillingham manager to be given full control of all team-related affairs; previously some of these matters had come under the remit of the club's secretary.Elligate 2009 100 The club also employed a Mr Kane as trainer.Triggs 1999 36 Gillingham signed a number of new players prior to the season, including four forwards: Frank Marshall and Thomas Wilkinson joined the club from the Scottish teams Shettleston and Maryhill respectively, and Fred Brown and George Chance were signed from fellow Third Division South clubs Brighton & Hove Albion and Bristol Rovers respectively. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/166577297 5 Western Evening Herald and Western Evening News 24 February 2025 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham's new men 27 August 1924 Two new half-backs also joined the club: Albert Hook from fellow Kent-based club Maidstone United and Charles Davis from Liverpool. The team wore Gillingham's usual kit of black and white striped shirts with white shorts and black socks.Triggs 1999 36 At the time, pre-season friendlies between Football League teams were not permitted, and clubs instead generally prepared for the season with a public trial match between two teams chosen from within their own squad of players.Triggs 1999 48 Gillingham staged such a match a week before the start of the season and Wilkinson and Brown each scored two goals as the "Probables" beat the "Possibles". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/167721834 8 Sunday Dispatch 11 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Football trials 24 August 1924 Third Division South August–December thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Tommy Hall|Tommy Hall was the only player to score for Gillingham in the first seven games of the season. Gillingham's first match of the season was away to Luton Town on 30 August;Brown 2003 38 Marshall, Davis, Hook, Chance, Brown and Wilkinson all made their club debutsTriggs 2001 12, 14, 16, 20, 22, 34 in a match which was played in heavy rain and ended in a goalless draw. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/166718777 11 Sunday Mercury 26 February 2025 Newspapers.com limited The League: Div. III 31 August 1924 Four days later, the team played their first game of the season at their home ground, Priestfield Road;Brown 2003 38 a goal from Tommy Hall gave Gillingham a 1–0 victory over Brentford.Brown 2003 38 The Daily Telegraph wrote that Gillingham could have scored more goals but that their forwards "lost many opportunities owing to over-eagerness". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/167190673 14 The Daily Telegraph 4 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited London sides fail to win 4 September 1924 The victory was followed by a run of eight games without a win.Brown 2003 38 Gillingham drew 0–0 at home to Watford on 6 September, again missing many goalscoring chances; the Athletic News said that if they had "won by three clear goals little surprise could have been felt".https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19240908/031/0003 Watford lucky Athletic News 3 8 September 1924 12 March 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription Gillingham played Brentford again on 8 September; Hall gave them the lead but Brentford scored twice to win. Gillingham finished the game with only ten players after Hook was injured.subs ahttps://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004848/19240909/317/0009 Gillingham's pluck Daily Express 9 9 September 1924 13 March 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription Following a goalless draw at home to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, Gillingham lost 2–0 away to Brighton & Hove Albion and 3–0 at home to Plymouth Argyle.Brown 2003 38 At the end of September, Gillingham were in 22nd and last place in the Third Division South league table;https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/30-September-1924/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 30 September 1924 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 7 March 2025 they had won only once in seven matches and recorded only two goals, both scored by Hall.Brown 2003 38 Gillingham's winless run continued in the first game of October with a 2–1 defeat away to Bristol City.Brown 2003 38 The home team scored the winning goal in the final ten minutes; Freddie Fox, Gillingham's goalkeeper, appeared to have kept the ball out of the goal but, after being confronted by the Bristol City players in what the Western Daily Press called a "most discreditable scene", the referee consulted both linesmen and ruled that it had in fact crossed the goal line. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/167943678 8 Western Daily Press 14 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Bristol City win by a disputed goal 6 October 1924 A week later, Gillingham played Swindon Town; the Athletic News reported that "better football has seldom been seen played by Gillingham than during the opening half", but after leading at half-time Gillingham had to settle for a 1–1 draw.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19241013/038/0003 Gillingham improve Athletic News 3 11 October 1924 14 March 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription After a 2–1 defeat to Aberdare Athletic, Gillingham ended their winless run by beating Millwall 1–0 on 22 October with a goal from Hall.Brown 2003 38 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/168224990 10 Daily Herald 17 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Millwall beaten 23 October 1924 Gillingham lost 1–0 away to Northampton Town on 25 October, despite Fox saving a penalty kick, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/168372335 13 Sunday Mercury 19 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Northampton 1, Gillingham 0 26 October 1924 but began November by beating Charlton Athletic 2–0 at Priestfield Road. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/168372612 10 Sunday Dispatch 19 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham 2, Charlton 0 2 November 1924 Brown scored both goals, the first time during the season that a Gillingham player had scored more than once in a game.Brown 2003 38 It was the first in a run of five consecutive league games without defeat for the team.Brown 2003 38 A goal from Hall secured a 1–1 draw with fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers on 8 November, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/168373140 11 Sunday Mercury 19 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Queens Park R 1, Gillingham 1 9 November 1924 after which Gillingham were in 19th place in the league table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/08-November-1924/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 8 November 1924 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 19 March 2025 On 15 November, Gillingham extended their unbeaten run to three games with a 2–1 victory over Merthyr Town.Brown 2003 38 Brown and Marshall scored in the second half, although the Athletic News reported that Gillingham would have scored at least three times before half-time if their forwards had not "missed some easy chances".https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19241117/032/0003 Gillingham's win Athletic News 3 17 November 1924 24 March 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription After a 1–0 victory away to Reading on 22 November, Gillingham were in 15th place. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/168876297 10 Daily Herald 26 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Reading subdued 24 November 1924https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/22-November-1924/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 22 November 1924 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 26 March 2025 On 6 December, Gillingham conceded two early goals against Exeter City but Brown and Bill Berry scored to bring the scores level by half-time. Gillingham took the lead after the interval but Exeter scored again and the game ended in a 3–3 draw.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19241208/051/0003 Exeter's reserves Athletic News 3 8 December 1924 27 March 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription The team's unbeaten run came to an end with a 2–0 defeat away to Newport County on 20 December. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169406340 11 Sunday Mercury 2 April 2025 Newspapers.com limited Newport C. 2, Gillingham 0 21 December 1924 Beginning on 25 December, Gillingham played three games on consecutive days.Brown 2003 38 On Christmas Day, they beat Southend United 3–1 at Priestfield Road, but a day later they lost 4–0 to the same opponents at the Kursaal in Southend.Brown 2003 38 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/168976685 8 Daily Herald 27 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Southend shine 27 December 1924 On 27 December, Gillingham won 4–1 at home to Luton Town; Len Ramsell scored twice, his only goals of the season.Brown 2003 38 The Sunday Dispatch wrote that "the playing conditions were wretched" due to high winds; as a result no half-time break was taken. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/168977053 10 Sunday Dispatch 27 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham 4, Luton Town 1 28 December 1924 At the end of 1924, Gillingham were in 15th place in the Third Division South league table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/31-December-1924/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 31 December 1924 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 24 February 2025 January–May thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Freddie Fox|Gillingham's goalkeeper Freddie Fox conceded a goal in unusual circumstances in the first game of February. Gillingham's first match of 1925 was away to Watford.Brown 2003 38 Berry gave Gillingham an early lead but Watford equalised shortly after half-time. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/168978888 10 Daily Herald 27 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Defeated at home 5 January 1925 Brown scored a second goal for Gillingham and Fox made a late save to preserve his team's 2–1 lead. The victory took Gillingham up to 14th place in the table,https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/03-January-1925/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 03 January 1925 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 28 March 2025 but they fell back to 15th after a 3–0 defeat to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/17-January-1925/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 17 January 1925 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 28 March 2025 Although prior to the game Bournemouth had not won at home for nearly three months, the Athletic News reported that "the margin of three clear goals in no way flatter[ed] them".https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19250119/039/0003 Boscombe revival Athletic News 3 19 January 1925 28 March 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription Gillingham secured their third victory in four league games with a 2–0 defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion on 24 January.Brown 2003 38 Chance, who had scored only once in more than 20 games since joining Gillingham,Brown 2003 38 scored both goals; Hall had three shots which hit the goalposts.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19250126/043/0003 Well beaten Athletic News 3 26 January 1925 28 March 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription Gillingham's final game of January ended in a 2–0 defeat to 4th-placed Plymouth Argyle. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169398526 2 Western Morning News 2 April 2025 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham fall at Plymouth 2 February 1925https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/30-January-1925/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 30 January 1925 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 2 April 2025 In the first two games of February, Gillingham drew with both of the division's teams from the city of Bristol.Brown 2003 38 Chance scored again to secure a 1–1 draw at home to Bristol City on 7 February after Fox had conceded a goal when a cross-field kick by a City player was caught by a strong wind and swerved past him;https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19250209/054/0003 Well-deserved point Athletic News 3 9 February 1925 2 April 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription four days later Gillingham drew 0–0 with Bristol Rovers in a game affected by high winds. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169402632 5 Western Daily Press 2 April 2025 Newspapers.com limited Rovers bag a point 12 February 1925 Gillingham lost 2–0 to Swindon Town on 14 February in a game in which both teams played well despite very muddy conditions.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19250216/049/0003 Davies the raider Athletic News 3 16 February 1925 28 March 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription Following a 2–0 victory over Aberdare Athletic at Priestfield Road on 21 February, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169042655 10 Sunday Dispatch 28 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham 2, Aberdare A. 0 22 February 1925 in which Brown scored what would prove to be his final goal of the season,Brown 2003 38 Gillingham began a run of seven games in which they scored only one goal.Brown 2003 38 In the final match of February, they lost 1–0 at home to Northampton Town, after Fox slipped over and allowed a soft shot on goal to get past him. The Athletic News noted that in the closing stages "the Northampton defence was often in difficulty, but the ball could not be forced into the net".https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19250302/063/0003 Gillingham unlucky Athletic News 3 2 March 1925 28 March 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription Gillingham lost 2–0 away to Charlton Athletic on 7 March, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169411205 15 The Daily Telegraph 2 April 2025 Newspapers.com limited Swansea Town's advantage 9 March 1925 but then beat Queens Park Rangers 1–0 at Priestfield Road a week later. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169411347 10 Daily Herald 2 April 2025 Newspapers.com limited Won by one 16 March 1925 Harold Crockford, a forward who had made his debut against Charlton after joining Gillingham from Chesterfield,Triggs 2001 14 scored the winner against Queens Park Rangers, but it would prove to be his only Football League goal for Gillingham.Triggs 2001 14 The team's next three games all ended in goalless draws.Brown 2003 38 On 18 March, Gillingham secured a 0–0 draw against Swansea Town, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169410723 2 Western Morning News 2 April 2025 Newspapers.com limited Swansea draw 19 March 1925 who were in 2nd place in the league table going into the game.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/17-March-1925/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 17 March 1925 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 2 April 2025 The result was the same away to Merthyr Town and at home to Reading; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169424951 11 Sunday Mercury 2 April 2025 Newspapers.com limited Merthyr T. 0, Gillingham 0 22 March 1925 the Athletic News reported that in the latter match Arthur Sykes, deputising for Fox in goal, only handled the ball three times in the entire game.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19250330/044/0003 Forward frailty at Gillingham Athletic News 3 30 March 1925 2 April 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription At the end of March, Gillingham were in 12th place in the table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/31-March-1925/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 31 March 1925 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 31 March 2025 In their first match of April, Gillingham lost 2–0 to Swansea Town, who were chasing the divisional championship and were dominant even with four reserve players in the team due to injuries.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19250406/044/0003 Swansea succeed Athletic News 3 6 April 1925 1 April 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription Gillingham ended their four-match goalless run with a 3–1 victory over Norwich City on 10 April; Joe Craddock debuted in the forward line after impressing with his performances for the club's reserve team.Triggs 2001 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169251564 8 Daily Herald 31 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham's rally 11 April 1925 After Norwich led at half-time, Marshall scored twice for Gillingham and Berry added a third. After the victory, Gillingham drew three consecutive games for the second time in 1925.Brown 2003 38 The run began one day after the match against Norwich, as Marshall scored a late equaliser after Gillingham had fallen behind to Exeter City; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169410171 2 Western Morning News 2 April 2025 Newspapers.com limited Another point for Exeter 13 April 1925 the next two games resulted in goalless draws with Norwich City and Bristol Rovers. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169427219 2 Devon and Exeter Gazette 2 April 2025 Newspapers.com limited Norwich City, 0 : Gillingham, 0 14 April 1925 The Athletic News reported that the quality of play in the latter game was so poor that many spectators left before the end.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19250420/040/0003 Bristol Rovers disappoint Athletic News 3 20 April 1925 2 April 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription In the penultimate game of the season, Craddock scored his first Football League goal to give Gillingham a 1–0 victory at home to Newport County.Brown 2003 38 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169411843 10 Daily Herald 2 April 2025 Newspapers.com limited County down 27 April 1925 Gillingham's five-match unbeaten run came to an end with a 2–0 defeat away to Millwall in the final game of the season;Brown 2003 38 both goals were scored in the final ten minutes of the game. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169324566 20 The People 1 April 2025 Newspapers.com limited Millwall just win 3 May 1925 Gillingham finished the season in 13th place in the league table, meaning that they had improved their final position for a fourth consecutive season.Soar Tyler 1983 194 League match details Key In the result column, Gillingham's score is shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick ResultsBrown 2003 3810Apr b DateOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance30 August 1924Luton Town (A)0–08,0003 September 1924Brentford (H)1–0Hall5,5006 September 1924Watford (H)0–06,0008 September 1924Brentford (A)1–2Hall6,00013 September 1924Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic (H)0–05,50020 September 1924Brighton & Hove Albion (A)0–211,00027 September 1924Plymouth Argyle (H)0–38,0004 October 1924Bristol City (A)1–2Marshall9,00011 October 1924Swindon Town (H)1–1Hall7,00018 October 1924Aberdare Athletic (A)1–2Brown3,00022 October 1924Millwall (H)1–0Hall3,00025 October 1924Northampton Town (A)0–17,0001 November 1924Charlton Athletic (H)2–0Brown (2)2,0008 November 1924Queens Park Rangers (A)1–1Hall9,00015 November 1924Merthyr Town (H)2–1Brown, Marshall6,00022 November 1924Reading (A)1–0Hall6,0006 December 1924Exeter City (A)3–3Brown, Berry, Hall6,00020 December 1924Newport County (A)0–28,00025 December 1924Southend United (H)3–1Hook, Marshall (2)8,00026 December 1924Southend United (A)0–49,00027 December 1924Luton Town (H)4–1Marshall, Ramsell (2), Chance1,0003 January 1925Watford (A)2–1Berry, Brown5,00017 January 1925Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic (A)0–36,00024 January 1925Brighton & Hove Albion (H)2–0Chance (2)6,00031 January 1925Plymouth Argyle (A)0–210,4017 February 1925Bristol City (H)1–1Chance5,00011 February 1925Bristol Rovers (H)0–04,00014 February 1925Swindon Town (A)0–25,00021 February 1925Aberdare Athletic (H)2–0Marshall (pen.), Brown5,00028 February 1925Northampton Town (H)0–16,0007 March 1925Charlton Athletic (A)0–27,00014 March 1925Queens Park Rangers (H)1–0Crockford5,00018 March 1925Swansea Town (H)0–03,80021 March 1925Merthyr Town (A)0–04,00028 March 1925Reading (H)0–05,0004 April 1925Swansea Town (A)0–211,30010 April 1925Norwich City (H)3–1Marshall (2), Berry6,00011 April 1925Exeter City (H)1–1Marshall6,50013 April 1925Norwich City (A)0–012,00018 April 1925Bristol Rovers (A)0–06,00025 April 1925Newport County (H)1–0Craddock5,0002 May 1925Millwall (A)0–210,000 Partial league table 1924–25 Football League#Third Division South main WDL left auto Football League Third Division South final table, positions 11 to 15 yes 2 11 EXE Watford REA Norwich City GIL Gillingham BRE Reading CHA Charlton Athletic 17 9 16 38 47 14 13 15 53 51 13 14 15 35 44 14 10 18 37 38 13 12 17 46 48 complete Soar Tyler 1983 194 FA Cup thumb|right|upright=1.5|alt=A cartoon depicting a football match between Gillingham and Barrow|The Daily News published a cartoon lamenting the bad weather conditions during the third replay between Gillingham and Barrow. Gillingham entered the 1924–25 FA Cup in the fifth qualifying roundCollett 2003 307 and were drawn to play Kettering Town of the Southern League. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/169397445 16 Leicester Mercury 2 April 2025 Newspapers.com limited Southern League 24 November 1924 The match took place at Rockingham Road, Kettering's home ground, and ended in a 1–1 draw, meaning that a replay at Priestfield Road was required.Collett 2003 307 In the second match, Gillingham scored four goals in the first half and went on to win 6–2, despite having to play with only ten men for much of the second half after Davis was injured.subs a https://www.newspapers.com/clip/167253282 2 Western Morning News 5 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham qualify 4 December 1924 In the sixth and final qualifying round, Gillingham played Barrow of the Football League Third Division NorthSoar Tyler 1983 193 at Priestfield Road. A game in which both teams' defences were dominant ended in a 0–0 draw.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19241215/042/0003 Barrow's reward Athletic News 3 15 December 1924 6 March 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription Barrow took the lead in the replay at their home ground, Holker Street, but Norman Jones scored an equaliser for Gillingham; unlike in the first match, scores being level at the end of the regulation 90 minutes meant that 30 minutes of extra time were played, but no further goals were scored. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/167739355 16 The Daily Telegraph 11 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Barrow and Gillingham draw 19 December 1924 The second replay took place at a neutral venue, Molineux Stadium, the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Syd Smith gave Gillingham the lead but Barrow equalised; extra time was again played but once again the match finished with scores level. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/167810346 8 Birmingham Gazette 12 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Another draw! 23 December 1924 The third replay took place at Arsenal Stadium in London on 30 December and was played in heavy rain; the Birmingham Gazette reported that the pitch was "scarcely fit for play" and that "mud and slush reduced everything down to a game of chance". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/167870372 8 Birmingham Gazette 13 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Inseparable companions 31 December 1924 Barrow took the lead from a penalty kick but Hall equalised for Gillingham and the game ended in another draw, setting up a fourth replay. The two teams thus equalled the record for the greatest number of replays required to settle an FA Cup tie; Gillingham themselves (then known as New Brompton) had been involved in the record-setting tie 25 seasons earlier when they had needed four replays to defeat Woolwich Arsenal. One day after the third replay, Gillingham and Barrow met again at The Den, the home ground of Millwall. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/167871491 16 The Daily Telegraph 13 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Barrow beat Gillingham 1 January 1925 Barrow scored twice in the first half and, although Marshall pulled a goal back from a penalty kick in the second half, Gillingham lost 2–1 and were eliminated from the competition; the teams had played for a total of nine hours before Barrow achieved victory. Cup match details Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match N = Match played at a neutral venue pen. = Penalty kick ResultsBrown 2003 38 DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance29 November 1924Fifth qualifyingKettering Town (A)1–1Brown8,9863 December 1924Fifth qualifying (replay)Kettering Town (H)6–2Brown (2), Hall (2), Marshall, Berry8,20213 December 1924Sixth qualifyingBarrow (H)0–09,00018 December 1924Sixth qualifying (replay)Barrow (A)1–1 (a.e.t.)Jones3,60022 December 1924Sixth qualifying (second replay)Barrow (N)1–1 (a.e.t.)Smith2,34230 December 1924Sixth qualifying (third replay)Barrow (N)1–1 (a.e.t.)Hall2,32531 December 1924Sixth qualifying (fourth replay)Barrow (N)1–2Marshall (pen.)4,242 Players thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Jock Robertson|Jock Robertson missed only four games. During the season, 24 players made at least one appearance for Gillingham.Brown 2003 38 Marshall made the most, missing only one game.Brown 2003 38 Chance, Brown, Jones and Jock Robertson all played in at least 45 of the team's 49 games, and three other players made more than 40 appearances.Brown 2003 38 At the other end of the scale, Charles Orford was the only player to make just one appearance; it was the only game he played for Gillingham's first team and the only appearance he made in the Football League for any club during his career.Brown 2003 124Joyce 2004 199 Marshall was top goalscorer with 11; Hall and Brown both also reached double figures, scoring 10 times.Brown 2003 38 No other player scored more than five goals.Brown 2003 38 +Player statisticsBrown 2003 3810Apr bPlayerPositionThird Division SouthFA CupTotalApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsBill Berry footballer, born 1904FW 37361434Fred Brown footballer, born 1895FW 397734610Charlie Butler English footballerFB 21040250George Chance footballerFW 40470474George Cook footballer, born 1904HB 701080Joe Craddock footballerFW 310031Harold CrockfordFW 710071Charles Davis footballerHB 502070Dick EdmedFW 301040Freddie Fox footballerGK 36070430Tommy Hall footballer, born 1891FW 377734410Dick HendrieFB 25030280Albert HookHB 20170271Norman Jones footballerHB 39071461Jimmy Keegan footballerFW 400040Frank Marshall footballer, born 1904FW 419724811Charles OrfordHB 100010Len RamsellFW 10210112Jock Robertson FB38070450Jack Rutherford footballer, born 1892HB 29000290Syd Smith footballer, born 1895FW 403171Arthur Sykes footballer, born 1902GK 600060Alf VangoHB 500050Thomas Wilkinson footballerFW 500050 FW = Forward, HB = Half-back, GK = Goalkeeper, FB = Full-back Aftermath Less than three weeks after the final match of the domestic season, Fox played for England in an international match against France; the club has at times listed him as the first player to gain an international cap while on Gillingham's books,Gillingham FC History (1893–) Gillingham F.C. 8 August 2022 15 November 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071115155803/http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10416%2C00.html dead http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10416%2C00.html but although he was still with Gillingham when the team selection was announced on 24 April, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/167330929 Birmingham Gazette 6 March 2025 Newspapers.com To meet France 25 April 1925 he was transferred to Millwall before the match actually took place.Elligate 2009 91 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/167330953 Evening Standard 6 March 2025 Newspapers.com Millwall's new custodians 27 April 1925 Gillingham improved their final position again in the 1925–26 season, ending the campaign in 10th place, the first time the team had finished in the top half of the league table since entering the Football League.Soar Tyler 1983 189–194 Curtis left the club at the end of that campaign to become manager of Brentford; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/167107739 1 The Football Argus 3 March 2025 Newspapers.com limited Personalities in the Third Division 1 May 1926 after his departure, it would be seven seasons before Gillingham finished in the top half again.Soar Tyler 1983 195–201 Footnotes a. subs The concept of substitutes was not introduced to English football until the 1960s; previously, an injured player had to play on or else the team had to continue with a reduced number of players.https://www.theguardian.com/football/when-saturday-comes-blog/2015/sep/18/fifty-years-substitutions-football-sport Fifty years of substitutions in football: from necessary novelties to tactical tools The Guardian Peter Bateman 18 September 2015 22 October 2023 1 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231001105929/https://www.theguardian.com/football/when-saturday-comes-blog/2015/sep/18/fifty-years-substitutions-football-sport live b. 10Apr Brown records that Marshall scored once and Berry twice against Norwich City on 10 April, but contemporary newspaper reports indicate that it was the opposite way round.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004848/19250411/388/0010 Led by an amateur Daily Express 10 11 April 1925 1 April 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscriptionhttps://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005049/19250411/161/0009 A Gillingham revival London Daily Chronicle 9 11 April 1925 1 April 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription References Works cited Bradley Andy Roger Triggs Home of the Shouting Men: Complete History of Gillingham Football Club 1893–1993 Gillingham F.C. 1994 978-0-9523361-0-5 Brown Tony The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record Soccerdata 2003 978-1-89946-820-1 Mike Collett The Complete Record of the FA Cup 2003 SportsBooks Limited 978-1-89980-719-2 Elligate David Gillingham FC On This Day Pitch Publishing 2009 978-1-905411-45-0 Michael Joyce Football League Players' Records 1888 – 1939 Soccerdata 2004 978-1-899468-67-6 Soar Phil Martin Tyler Martin Tyler Encyclopedia of British Football 1983 CollinsWillow 978-0-0021-8049-8 Roger Triggs Images of England: Gillingham Football Club Tempus Publishing Ltd 1999 978-0-75241-567-3 Roger Triggs The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club Tempus Publishing Ltd 2001 978-0-75242-243-5 Category:Gillingham F.C. seasons Gillingham