1984–85 Gillingham F.C. season

English football club season February 2015 February 2015 Gillingham F.C. 1984–85 Charles CoxBradley Triggs 1994 392 Keith Peacock Third Division 4th FA Cup Fourth round League Cup Second round Associate Members' Cup First round Tony Cascarino (16) Tony Cascarino (20) 8,881 vs Leeds United (25 September 1984) 963 vs Colchester United (23 January 1985) 1983–84 1985–86 _whiteborder _whitecollarplain _whiteborder _bluesides 0000ff 0000ff 0000ff FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 000000 000000 During the 1984–85 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 53rd season in which Gillingham competed in the Football League, and the 35th since the club was voted back into the league in 1950. Gillingham started the Third Division season with five wins in the first seven games and were challenging for a place in the top three of the league table, which would result in promotion to the Second Division. The team's performances then declined, culminating in a 7–1 defeat to York City in November which left them in mid-table. They then won 12 out of 16 games to climb to second place, before a poor run in March meant that they again dropped out of the promotion places. Gillingham finished the season fourth in the table, missing promotion by one place. Gillingham also competed in three knock-out competitions, reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup and the second round of the Football League Cup but losing in the first round of the Associate Members' Cup. The team played 56 competitive matches, winning 30, drawing 9, and losing 17. Tony Cascarino was the club's leading goalscorer, scoring 20 goals in all competitions. Keith Oakes made the most appearances, playing 54 times. The highest attendance recorded at the club's home ground, Priestfield Stadium, was 8,881 for a League Cup game against Leeds United in September. Background and pre-season thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Steve Bruce|Steve Bruce left the club prior to the new season. The 1984–85 season was Gillingham's 53rd season playing in the Football League and the 35th since the club was elected back into the League in 1950 after being voted out in 1938. It was the club's 11th 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.Brown 2003 83–90, 114 In the 10 seasons since then, the team had achieved a best finish of fourth place, one position away from promotion to the Second Division, in the 1978–79 season.Brown 2003 83–90, 114 The club had never reached the second level of English football in its history.http://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 fourth 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.Gillingham Vs Newport County Matchday Programme Management Talk 25 August 1984 Keith Peacock Dave Mehmet was the team's captain.Elligate 2009 201 Having attracted the attention of several First Division clubs, the highly rated young defender Steve Bruce left the club before the new season to join Norwich City for a transfer fee of £135,000.Triggs 2001 70 In his place, Gillingham signed two experienced defenders, Keith Oakes from Newport County and Joe Hinnigan from Preston North End.Triggs 2001 160, 236 The club also signed two players who were out of contract: Tarki Micallef, a midfielder who had last played for Newport, and Dave Shearer, a forward who had most recently played for Grimsby Town. Another forward, Paul Shinners, joined Gillingham from semi-professional club Fisher Athletic.Triggs 2001 220, 289, 292 The team prepared for the new season with friendlies against Brighton & Hove Albion of the Second Division and near-neighbours Maidstone United, the previous season's champions of the Alliance Premier League, the highest level of non-League football.Gillingham Vs Newport County Matchday Programme Action Flashback 25 August 1984 The club also held an open day, during which supporters could obtain players' autographs and watch a specially-arranged training session.Gillingham Vs Newport County Matchday Programme Open Day Pictorial 25 August 1984 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, comprised red shirts, black shorts and black socks.Dunk 1985 171 Home appliance manufacturer Zanussi signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with the club, meaning that the company name was displayed on the players' shirts.Gillingham Vs Newport County Matchday Programme Gills Chat Tony Hudd 25 August 1984 Third Division August–December thumb|right|upright=1.3|alt=Aerial view of Bootham Crescent football stadium|Gillingham suffered a heavy defeat in November at Bootham Crescent (pictured in 2021), home of York City. Gillingham's first game of the season was at home to Newport on 25 August; Oakes made his debut against his former club and Hinnigan also played his first game for Gillingham. The match ended in a 1–1 draw; Tony Cascarino scored Gillingham's first goal of the season.Dunk 1985 170 A week later, he scored again as the team gained their first win of the campaign, defeating Orient 4–2; Shearer made his debut as a substitute.Dunk 1985 170 Victories against Cambridge United and Wigan Athletic, in both of which Cascarino scored, meant that after four games Gillingham were top of the Third Division league table.Dunk 1985 170https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/15-September-1984/ League Division 3 Table After Close of Play on 15 September 1984 11v11 AFS Enterprises 27 March 2023 On 18 September, Gillingham were defeated for the first time during the season, losing 2–0 away to Hull City, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121799763 Hull Daily Mail 28 March 2023 Newspapers.com limited Two-Goal Billy Sinks Leaders Simon Redfern 19 September 1984 but then won their next two league games and were third in the table at the end of September.Dunk 1985 170https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/30-September-1984/ League Division 3 Table After Close of Play on 30 September 1984 11v11 AFS Enterprises 28 March 2023 In the first match of October, Gillingham were 3–0 down to Plymouth Argyle in the second half but scored three goals, including two in the last five minutes, to secure a draw. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121822719 The Daily Telegraph 28 March 2023 Newspapers.com limited Gillingham Draw After Trailing 3–0 3 October 1984 The team then lost three consecutive league games, culminating in a 5–2 defeat away to Brentford.Dunk 1985 170 Martin Robinson, a forward newly-signed from Charlton Athletic, made his debut on 13 October against Bristol City.Dunk 1985 170Triggs 2001 276 David Fry, the club's reserve goalkeeper, replaced the injured Ron Hillyard for the Brentford game, and retained his place until late November.Dunk 1985 170 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123164938 Western Daily Press 19 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Riley Ends a Goal Famine Colin Price 15 October 1984 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123165507 Hull Daily Mail 19 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Hillyard Milestone 23 November 1984 Gillingham defeated Reading on 23 October to record their first win for five games,Dunk 1985 170 and were moments away from beating Bradford City four days later but conceded a last-minute equaliser. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121995680 The Sunday Telegraph 31 March 2023 Newspapers.com limited Saints So Easily Bear Their Cross 28 October 1984 The team's first match of November was away to York City and resulted in a 7–1 defeat; it was the first time Gillingham had conceded seven goals in a game since 1961.Elligate 2009 169 The poor run of results meant that the team had slipped to 11th out of 24 teams in the Third Division.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/03-November-1984/ League Division 3 Table After Close of Play on 03 November 1984 11v11 AFS Enterprises 27 March 2023 Robinson scored his first goal for the club to secure a 1–0 win away to Burnley on 6 November, which would prove to be the first of four consecutive league victories.Dunk 1985 170 Shearer scored the winner in a 2–1 victory at home to Rotherham United and repeated the feat as Gillingham won by the same score away to Bolton Wanderers on 24 November, the first time Bolton had lost a Third Division match at home since August.Dunk 1985 66, 170 Hillyard returned to the team against Bolton and made his 450th appearance for Gillingham.Dunk 1985 170 Shearer extended his run of scoring in consecutive league games with two goals in a 4–0 win at home to Preston North End on 1 December, which took Gillingham back up to third in the table.Dunk 1985 170https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/01-December-1984/ League Division 3 Table After Close of Play on 01 December 1984 11v11 AFS Enterprises 19 April 2023 The team's winning run came to an end with a 2–0 defeat away to Lincoln City on 15 December; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123170057 The Observer Sean Piper 19 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Divisions 3 & 4 16 December 1984 a week later Gillingham beat Doncaster Rovers 1–0 despite having to play more than half the game with only ten players after John Leslie had to be substituted and subsequently John Sharpe also went off injured. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122154658 Sunday People 2 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Ron's a Top Brave Jack Donnelly 23 December 1984 The team's final home match of 1984 was against Derby County on 26 December; the attendance of 7,140 was the highest of the season for a Third Division match at Priestfield Stadium.Brown 2003 94 Gillingham won 3–2 despite having Mehmet sent off; the midfielder angrily pulled off his shirt and threw it at the referee as he walked off the pitch.Elligate 2009 201 Three days later the team beat Bristol Rovers 4–1, their seventh win in eight league games,Dunk 1985 170 and ended 1984 second in the table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/31-December-1984/ League Division 3 Table After Close of Play on 31 December 1984 11v11 AFS Enterprises 30 March 2023 January–May thumb|right|upright=1.3|alt=Footballer Jim McDonagh and a referee|Jim McDonagh (left) joined the club on loan after Ron Hillyard was injured. The team's first match of 1985 was a 2–0 defeat away to AFC Bournemouth on 1 January. Gillingham finished the game with only nine players after both Terry Cochrane and Shearer were sent off; it was the first time in the club's history that two Gillingham players had been dismissed in the same game.Elligate 2009 10 Eleven days later, Jeff Johnson was the fourth Gillingham player to be sent off in less than three weeks when he was dismissed in a 2–0 win over Orient; Shearer was injured in the same game and would not play again until March.Dunk 1985 170 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121997083 Sunday Mirror 31 March 2023 Newspapers.com limited Jeff is a Bad Boy Too 13 January 1985 Robinson scored both goals in the victory, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123163697 The Observer 19 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Football Results 13 January 1985 and also scored in the team's first two league games of February, a draw with Swansea City and a win over York City. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123163891 The Observer 19 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Hird Herds the Goals 3 February 1985 Sean Piper https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123164000 The Observer 19 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Divisions 3 & 4 24 February 1985 Jonathan Foster Hillyard again suffered an injury against Hull City on 26 February which was expected to keep him out of the team for up to six weeks. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123164139 Sandwell Evening Mail 19 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Sports Lines 28 February 1985 Fry took his place and conceded only one goal in the next three games,Dunk 1985 170 which included a 2–0 win over Brentford on 9 March during which Mehmet scored from the first penalty kick awarded to Gillingham since the previous May.Gillingham Vs Bristol City Matchday Programme Facts & Stats 16 March 1985 David Garth Victory over Newport County on 12 March meant that Gillingham had won 12 out of their last 16 league games and were second in the table.Dunk 1985 170https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/31-March-1985/ League Division 3 Table After Close of Play on 19 March 1985 11v11 AFS Enterprises 4 April 2023 Gillingham's unbeaten run came to an end with a 3–1 defeat to Bristol City on 16 March; Fry was dropped for the next game and replaced by the Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Jim McDonagh, whom Peacock had signed on loan from Notts County.Dunk 1985 170Triggs 2001 213 Another new signing, defender Dave Rushbury, made his debut on 23 March against Millwall,Triggs 2001 282 a game which Gillingham lost 2–1. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123170353 The Sunday Telegraph 19 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited No Spot Prize Mike Regan 24 March 1985 A draw against Burnley, who were struggling near the bottom of the table, left Gillingham in fifth place at the end of March, two positions below the places which would result in promotion.Dunk 1985 98, 170https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/31-March-1985/ League Division 3 table after close of play on 31 March 1985 11v11 AFS Enterprises 20 April 2023 Derek Hales, a veteran forward signed from Charlton Athletic, made his debut against Burnley in place of Shearer, who had suffered another injury in the match against Millwall.Dunk 1985 170Triggs 2001 146 Gillingham beat Cambridge United on 2 April to end a run of four games without a win, before losing to Derby four days later, after which they were in fourth place.Dunk 1985 170https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/06-April-1985/ League Division 3 Table After Close of Play on 06 April 1985 11v11 AFS Enterprises 6 April 2023 Hales scored his first goal for the team in a 3–2 victory over AFC Bournemouth on 9 April.Dunk 1985 170 Four days later Gillingham played Rotherham United, who were in poor form having won only once in their previous eleven league games;Dunk 1985 310 Rotherham won 1–0 meaning that Gillingham failed to reduce the gap between themselves and third-placed Millwall, who also lost.Dunk 1985 238https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/13-April-1985/ League Division 3 Table After Close of Play on 13 April 1985 11v11 AFS Enterprises 6 April 2023 Gillingham beat Walsall 1–0 on 16 April, but a defeat and a draw in their next two games meant that they were again in fifth place at the end of April.Dunk 1985 170https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/30-April-1985/ League Division 3 Table After Close of Play on 30 April 1985 11v11 AFS Enterprises 6 April 2023 Hillyard returned to the team for the game at home to Lincoln City on 4 May. Gillingham were losing the match 2–1 with five minutes remaining, but then scored twice to secure a 3–2 victory, although the win did not improve their position in the table.Dunk 1985 170 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123170988 The Observer 19 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Divisions 3 & 4 5 May 1985 Jonathan Fosterhttps://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/04-May-1985/ League Division 3 Table After Close of Play on 04 May 1985 11v11 AFS Enterprises 19 April 2023 A 3–2 defeat against Bristol Rovers on 7 May meant that, even though Gillingham beat Doncaster Rovers four days later, they were now ten points off third place with only two games left and therefore a maximum of six more points available, making promotion an impossibility.Dunk 1985 170https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-three/11-May-1985/ League Division 3 Table After Close of Play on 11 May 1985 11v11 AFS Enterprises 19 April 2023 Shearer returned to the team for the penultimate game of the season, a 2–0 win away to Reading.Dunk 1985 170 It was Gillingham's tenth league win of the season away from home, a new club record.Elligate 2009 87 The team's final game of the season was at home to Wigan Athletic; Shearer, who had not scored a goal in his previous six appearances, scored Gillingham's only league hat-trick of the season in a 5–1 victory.Dunk 1985 170 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123140721 Manchester Evening News 19 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Wigan take 5, too! 18 May 1985 Gillingham finished the season in fourth place and thus missed out on promotion by one place. 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 +ResultsDunk 1985 170DateOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance25 August 1984Newport County (H)1–1Cascarino3,4221 September 1984Orient (A)4–2Cascarino, Corbett (o.g.), Leslie, Oakes2,7508 September 1984Cambridge United (H)3–0Cascarino, Leslie, Mehmet3,35215 September 1984Wigan Athletic (A)1–0Cascarino3,19818 September 1984Hull City (A)0–26,42022 September 1984Walsall (H)3–0Cascarino (2), Leslie4,10229 September 1984Swansea City (A)1–0Mehmet3,7842 October 1984Plymouth Argyle (H)3–3Cascarino, Hinnigan, Oakes4,4426 October 1984Millwall (H)1–4Sage6,88113 October 1984Bristol City (A)0–27,08820 October 1984Brentford (A)2–5Cochrane, Oakes4,05323 October 1984Reading (H)4–1Cascarino (2), Cochrane, Wood (o.g.)3,56827 October 1984Bradford City (H)2–2Weatherly, Cascarino3,8963 November 1984York City (A)1–7Shearer2,9216 November 1984Burnley (A)1–0Robinson3,57810 November 1984Rotherham United (H)2–1Mehmet, Shearer3,56824 November 1984Bolton Wanderers (A)2–1Cochrane, Shearer4,3611 December 1984Preston North End (H)4–0Cascarino, Shearer (2), Welsh (o.g.)4,05515 December 1984Lincoln City (A)0–21,92022 December 1984Doncaster Rovers (A)1–0Cochrane3,03526 December 1984Derby County (H)3–2Hinnigan, Shearer (2)7,14029 December 1984Bristol Rovers (H)4–1Cochrane, Hinnigan, Robinson, Shearer6,5981 January 1985AFC Bournemouth (A)0–24,50012 January 1985Orient (H)2–0Robinson (2)4,8992 February 1985Swansea City (H)1–1Robinson4,82123 February 1985York City (H)1–0Robinson5,19326 February 1985Hull City (H)1–0Mehmet6,0512 March 1985Bradford City (A)1–1Shearer8,3449 March 1985Brentford (H)2–0Hinnigan, Mehmet (pen.)5,79912 March 1985Newport County (A)3–0Cascarino, Mehmet, Musker2,12916 March 1985Bristol City (H)1–3Cascarino6,36919 March 1985Plymouth Argyle (A)1–1Mehmet (pen.)4,85223 March 1985Millwall (A)1–2Mehmet8,23029 March 1985Burnley (H)1–1Oakes5,9352 April 1985Cambridge United (A)2–1Mehmet, Robinson1,8036 April 1985Derby County (A)0–110,0029 April 1985AFC Bournemouth (H)3–2Cochrane, Hales, Robinson5,25713 April 1985Rotherham United (A)0–13,02216 April 1985Walsall (A)1–0Cascarino3,58520 April 1985Bolton Wanderers (H)2–3Hinnigan, Cochrane5,13227 April 1985Preston North End (A)0–03,1904 May 1985Lincoln City (H)3–2Mehmet (2), Robinson3,2197 May 1985Bristol Rovers (A)2–3Robinson, Shaw2,76111 May 1985Doncaster Rovers (H)2–1Cascarino, Mehmet2,33214 May 1985Reading (A)2–0Cascarino, Mehmet2,09117 May 1985Wigan Athletic (H)5–1Collins, Oakes, Shearer (3, 1 pen.)2,604 Partial league table 1984–85 Football League#Third Division main WDL left auto Football League Third Division Final Table, Leading Positions PR BOU Bradford City MID Millwall SWI Hull City GIL Gillingham BRI Bristol City 28 10 8 77 45 26 12 8 73 42 25 12 9 78 49 25 8 13 80 62 24 9 13 74 47 Division Champions, promoted CP Promoted P P complete https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1984-85.html Season 1984–85 Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 17 March 2023 FA Cup As a Third Division club, Gillingham entered the 1984–85 FA Cup at the first round stage; their opponents were a semi-professional team, Windsor & Eton of the Isthmian League. Gillingham took a 2–0 lead but conceded a goal close to the end of the game and only a save from Fry in injury time denied Windsor & Eton a draw. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121528166 Reading Evening Post 24 March 2023 Newspapers.com limited Brave Windsor Go Out Clive Baskerville 19 November 1984 In the second round, Gillingham beat Colchester United of the Fourth Division 5–0; Shearer scored a hat-trick in the team's biggest away win of the season.Brown 2003 94 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122678855 Sunday Sun 11 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Not So Proud Now! 9 December 1984 The teams from the First and Second Divisions entered the competition at the third round stage and Gillingham were paired with Cardiff City of the Second. Several key players were missing, as Mehmet, Cochrane and Shearer were all suspended and Cascarino injured. Leslie scored a late winner to secure a 2–1 victory and send Gillingham into the fourth round, where they played away to Ipswich Town of the First Division. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122679144 The Daily Telegraph 11 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Leslie Hits the Winner David Luddy 22 January 1985 In front of 16,547 spectators at Portman Road, Gillingham came back from two goals down to draw level but then conceded a third goal and were eliminated from the competition. Although the winning goal came courtesy of a lucky deflection off a Gillingham player, Peacock conceded that Ipswich deserved to win as they had been the better team over the whole game. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122679356 The Daily Telegraph 11 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Ipswich Cash in on Deflection Roger Malone 28 January 1985 FA Cup match results Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal +ResultsDunk 1985 465, 468, 472DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance17 November 1984FirstWindsor & Eton (H)2–1Mehmet, Cascarino3,5978 December 1984SecondColchester United (A)5–0Shearer (3), Robinson, Cascarino4,48721 January 1985ThirdCardiff City (H)2–1Robinson, Leslie5,45226 January 1985FourthIpswich Town (A)2–3Leslie, Sage16,547 Football League Cup As a Third Division team, Gillingham entered the 1984–85 Football League Cup at the first round stage and played Colchester United. Gillingham won both legs of the two-legged tie and progressed to the next round by an aggregate score of 5–2.Dunk 1985 436, 438 In the second round, they played Leeds United of the Second Division. The first leg drew an attendance of 8,881, the largest of the entire season at Priestfield;Brown 2003 94 after Gillingham conceded a goal in the first half, Cascarino quickly equalised but Leeds scored again shortly before the end of the game. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122729190 The Guardian 12 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Veterans Keep Leeds on Wright Path Simon Inglis 26 September 1984 For the second leg, Shearer was included in the starting line-up for the first time and scored an early goal to level the aggregate score. Both teams scored again before half-time, but Leeds scored two goals in the second half to win the tie 5–3 on aggregate and eliminate Gillingham from the League Cup.Brown 2003 94 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122729312 The Guardian 12 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Old Guard Restore Order Phil Shaw 11 October 1984 Football League Cup match results Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal +ResultsDunk 1985 436, 438, 440, 443DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance28 August 1984First (first leg)Colchester United (H)3–2Weatherly, Mehmet, Leslie2,6894 September 1984First (second leg)Colchester United (A)2–0Weatherly (2)2,16225 September 1984Second (first leg)Leeds United (H)1–2Cascarino8,88110 October 1984Second (second leg)Leeds United (A)2–3Shearer, Cascarino11,109 Associate Members' Cup Gillingham entered the 1984–85 Associate Members' Cup, a competition exclusively for Third and Fourth Division clubs, at the first round stage, and were again paired with Colchester, meaning that the two teams had met in three different competitions during the season. The tournament was regarded as of little importance and the first leg of the two-legged tie drew an attendance of only 963, the lowest recorded for a competitive match at Priestfield since the Second World War.Brown 2003 56–94 Teenagers Paul Collins, who had made only one previous appearance for the first team, and Ian Young, who had made none, were both included in a Gillingham team held to a 2–2 draw by their Fourth Division opponents.Brown 2003 94 Two weeks later, Colchester won the second leg 2–0, eliminating Gillingham from the competition by an aggregate score of 4–2.Dunk 1985 447, 448 Associate Members' Cup match results Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal +ResultsDunk 1985 447, 448DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance23 January 1985First (first leg)Colchester United (H)2–2Oakes, Shinners9635 February 1985First (second leg)Colchester United (A)0–21,762 Player details thumb|right|upright|Tony Cascarino was the team's top goalscorer.|alt=Head and shoulders shot of footballer Tony Cascarino During the season, 26 players made at least one appearance for Gillingham. Oakes made the most, playing in 54 of the team's 56 competitive games; Mehmet and Cascarino both played 50 or more times. Young made the fewest appearances, playing only once. His appearance in an Associate Members' Cup game was the only match he played for Gillingham and he never played in the Football League for any club.Brown 2003 127Hugman 2005 935 Four other players made fewer than five appearances during the season, including another teenager, Paul Edwards, who played as a substitute in both Associate Members' Cup games.Brown 2003 94 He was the only player to appear for Gillingham during the season without being selected in the starting line-up at any point,Brown 2003 94 and like Young he did not make any other first-team appearances.Brown 2003 127 Fifteen players scored at least one goal for Gillingham. Cascarino was top scorer with 16 goals in Third Division matches, 2 in the FA Cup, and 2 in the League Cup for a total of 20 in all competitions; Shearer was the second-highest scorer with 16 and Mehmet and Robinson also reached double figures. It was the first of three consecutive seasons in which Cascarino was Gillingham's top scorer.Triggs 2001 348 +Player statisticsBrown 2003 94PlayerPositionThird DivisionFA CupFootball League CupAssociate Members' CupTotalApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsTony CascarinoFW 43162242105020Terry CochraneMF 357303000417Paul Collins English footballerMF 6100002081Paul Edwards 1MF 0000002020David FryGK 110100020140Derek HalesFW 111000000111Ron HillyardGK 250304000320Joe HinniganDF 375403010455Jeff Johnson footballerMF 250104020320John Leslie footballerFW 203224110276Ian MacowatDF 2000002040Jim McDonaghGK 100000000100Dave MehmetMF 45132141105215Tarki MicallefMF 2000000020Russell MuskerMF 281402000341Keith OakesDF 455404011546Martin Robinson footballerFW 33104200103812Dave RushburyDF 120000000120Mel SageDF 361414000442John Sharpe footballerDF 1010002040Peter Shaw footballerDF 411404000491Dave ShearerFW 23122321002716Paul ShinnersFW 4020002181John SittonDF 5000002070Mark WeatherlyDF 351204320434Ian Young 1MF 0000001010 FW = Forward, MF = Midfielder, GK = Goalkeeper, DF = Defender Aftermath Writing in the matchday programme for the final game of the season, Peacock acknowledged that the club's supporters would be disappointed at the team's failure to secure promotion, and said that to achieve it in the subsequent season, "we must improve our performance level by 10 per cent".Gillingham Vs Wigan Athletic Matchday Programme Management Talk 17 May 1985 Keith Peacock Cochrane won the club's Player of the Year award.On This Day... https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/2013/january/on-this-day23/ 23 March 2023 Gillingham F.C. 23 January 2013 Richard Day Cascarino was voted into the Professional Footballers' Association Team of the Year for the Third Division by his fellow professionals, the fourth consecutive season in which a Gillingham player had been selected.Triggs 2001 352 During the break between seasons, there was speculation that he might move to a higher-level club, with Coventry City of the First Division reported to be interested in signing him, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122725988 Coventry Evening Telegraph 12 April 2023 Newspapers.com limited Forest 'No' to City Bid 13 June 1985 Neville Foulger but ultimately he remained at Gillingham. With a largely unchanged squad, Gillingham were again contenders for promotion in the 1985–86 season. They were in the top three as late as early April, but three defeats in the last six games meant that they finished fifth and again missed out.Dunk 1986 170–171 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 Bradley Andy Roger Triggs Home of the Shouting Men: Complete History of Gillingham Football Club 1893–1993 Gillingham F.C. Gillingham 1994 978-0-9523361-0-5 Brown Tony The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record Soccerdata 2003 978-1-899468-20-1 Nottingham Dunk Peter Rothmans Football Yearbook 1985–86 Queen Anne Press 1985 978-0-35610-872-8 London Dunk Peter Rothmans Football Yearbook 1986–87 Queen Anne Press 1986 978-0-35612-334-9 London Elligate David Gillingham FC On This Day Pitch Publishing 2009 978-1-9054-1145-0 Durrington Barry Hugman Barry Hugman The PFA Premier and Football League Players' Records 1946–2005 Queen Anne Press 2005 978-1-85291-665-7 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