2004–05 Gillingham F.C. season

English football club season February 2015 February 2015 Gillingham 2004–05 Andy Hessenthaler (until 23 November) multiple caretaker managers (23 November – 7 December) Stan Ternent (from 7 December) Paul Scally Championship 22nd FA Cup Third round League Cup First round Darius Henderson (9) Darius Henderson (9) 10,810 (v. Cardiff City, 30 April 2005) 3,108 (v. Northampton Town, 24 August 2004) _collarwhite 0000ff 0000ff 0000ff ffff00 ffff00 ffff00 ffff00 ffff00 2003–04 2005–06 During the 2004–05 English football season, Gillingham F.C. competed in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system. It was the 73rd season in which Gillingham competed in the Football League and the 55th since the club was voted back into the league in 1950. It was Gillingham's fifth consecutive season in the second tier of the English league system, to which the club had gained promotion for the first time in 2000. Gillingham began the season with two victories in their first three games, but results rapidly declined thereafter. Between early September and late November, the team won only once in 14 games, leaving them in 23rd place in the 24-team league table. After a 4–1 defeat to Crewe Alexandra on 20 November, Andy Hessenthaler resigned as the team's manager, a position he had held since 2000. Stan Ternent took over as manager in early December and results improved slightly, but at the end of 2004 the team were still within the bottom three places which at the end of the season would result in relegation to the third tier of English football. In the last 15 games of the season, Gillingham only lost twice, but the run included 9 draws. Going into the final game of the season, Gillingham were in 21st place in the table and could still be relegated. A 2–2 draw against Nottingham Forest, combined with the results of two other games, meant that Gillingham finished in 22nd place and were relegated, ending a five-season spell in the second tier. The club also competed in two knock-out tournaments, but in both the FA Cup and the Football League Cup they were eliminated at the earliest possible stage. Gillingham played 48 competitive matches, winning 12, drawing 14, and losing 22. Darius Henderson was the team's top goalscorer with 9 goals. Paul Smith made the most appearances, playing 43 times. The highest attendance recorded at the club's home ground, Priestfield Stadium, was 10,810 for the final home game of the season against Cardiff City. Background and pre-season thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Iwan Roberts|Iwan Roberts (pictured in 2004) joined Gillingham as a player-coach. The 2004–05 season was Gillingham's 73rd season playing in the Football League and the 55th since the club was elected back into the League in 1950 after being voted out in 1938.Rollin Rollin 2000 34–35 In the 1999–2000 season, Gillingham beat Wigan Athletic in the Second Division play-off final to reach the second tier of the English football league system for the first time in the club's history.https://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 In the team's first three seasons at this level, they finished in mid-table, ending the season in 13th place out of 24 teams in the 2000–01 season, 12th in 2001–02, and 11th in 2002–03. In the 2003–04 season, they finished in 21st place, level on points with 22nd-placed Walsall, avoiding relegation to the third tier only because their goal difference of −19 was one better than Walsall's −20.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/31-may-2004/ League Division 1 end of season table for 2003–04 season 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 20 September 2024 20 September 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240920101407/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-1/31-may-2004/ livehttps://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/may/10/match.walsall Walsall pay heaviest penalty The Guardian Adrian Milledge 10 May 2004 20 September 2024 7 October 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241007084317/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/may/10/match.walsall liveElligate 2009 84 At the start of the 2004–05 season, Andy Hessenthaler was the team's player-manager, a position he had held since 2000.Rollin Rollin 2004 189 Wayne Jones retained his position of first-team coach from the previous season,Rollin Rollin 2003 188Rollin Rollin 2004 188 and he was joined by a second coach as the club signed Iwan Roberts, a veteran forward who had been released by Norwich City after seven seasons,Rollin Rollin 2005 477 to a player-coach position.https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/roberts-hoping-to-thrive-at-prie-a13747/ Roberts hoping to thrive at Priestfield 2 July 2004 27 October 2024 Kent Online KM Media Group Gillingham further boosted their attacking options by signing another forward, Darren Byfield, who had last played for Sunderland.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/3914019.stm Byfield joins Gillingham BBC Sport 21 July 2004 27 October 2024 Rod Wallace, a forward who had spent two injury-hit seasons with Gillingham,https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/injury-hit-wallace-leaves-priest-a12822/ Injury-hit Wallace leaves Priestfield 2 May 2004 8 November 2024 Kent Online KM Media Group was released by the club and left professional football altogether. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158645749 The Daily Telegraph 8 November 2024 Newspapers.com Club guide John Ley 6 August 2004 38Hugman 2015 875 After playing in a blue and black kit during the previous season,https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/3004886.stm Shirty fans win kit battle BBC News 19 June 2003 19 September 2024 7 October 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241007081744/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/3004886.stm live the club switched to blue shirts with white sleeves, blue shorts, and blue socks.Rollin Rollin 2005 190 The change kit, to be worn in those away games where there was a clash of colours with the home team, was all yellow.Rollin Rollin 2005 190 Before the new season, the second tier of English football, previously called the Football League First Division, was renamed the Football League Championship.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/jun/10/newsstory.sport3 Division One renamed The Championship The Guardian 10 June 2004 13 June 2024 11 August 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170811182319/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/jun/10/newsstory.sport3 live Previewing the season, The Sunday Telegraph reported that a leading bookmaker gave Gillingham odds of 200/1 of becoming champions of the division, the longest of any team; the newspaper noted that Gillingham "face[d] a hard season" but that they might "hang on to live another day". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/157688734 The Sunday Telegraph 23 October 2024 Newspapers.com Team-by-team guide to the Championship 1 August 2004 80 Writing in the matchday programme for the first home game of the season, Hessenthaler said "we've already been told by one paper that we are going to finish 23rd [...] we have proved them all wrong over the last four years and we'll do it again this year".Gillingham Vs Leeds United Matchday Programme Gillingham F.C. Write Gills off at your peril 10 August 2004 9 Football League Championship August–December thumb|right|upright=1.2|alt=Footballer Darren Byfield|Darren Byfield (pictured in 2011) scored twice in the first three games of the season. Gillingham's first match of the season was away to Ipswich Town; both Byfield and Roberts made their debuts.Rollin Rollin 2005 192, 193 Midway through the first half, Byfield passed the ball to Paul Smith, the team's captain,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/3535696.stm Smith faces pay cut BBC Sport 4 August 2004 7 November 2024 who scored Gillingham's first goal of the campaign, but Ipswich scored twice to win the game.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/3942097.stm Ipswich 2–1 Gillingham BBC Sport 7 August 2004 21 October 2024 Hessenthaler described both the goals which his team had conceded as "sloppy". Gillingham's first game of the season at their home ground, Priestfield Stadium,Rollin Rollin 2005 192 was against Leeds United, who had been relegated from the top-tier FA Premier League at the end of the previous season after 14 years at the highest level of English football.Rollin Rollin 2005 219 The attendance of 10,739 was the largest for a game at the stadium since the previous September.Rollin Rollin 2004 190 Byfield scored a goal within the first five minutes and Roberts added a second; Leeds scored in the second half but Gillingham held on for a 2–1 victory.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3942243.stm Gillingham 2–1 Leeds BBC Sport 10 August 2004 23 October 2024 Hessenthaler told the press "For endeavour, desire and commitment I thought we were tremendous. If we do that every game we won't be in the bottom three like everyone expects us to be this season." Four days later, the same two players scored in another 2–1 victory over Preston North End;https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/3544412.stm Gillingham 2–1 Preston BBC Sport 14 August 2004 23 October 2024 Mark Saunders suffered a broken leg and would not play again during the season.Rollin Rollin 2005 193 After losing to Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers without scoring a goal in either game,Rollin Rollin 2005 192 Gillingham finished August with a 2–1 victory over Burnley, in which Roberts and Byfield once again scored the goals, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158719904 The Daily Telegraph 9 November 2024 Newspapers.com Hessenthaler is facing FA wrath Peter Gardner 31 August 2004 38 leaving them 10th in the Championship league table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/31-august-2004/ League Championship table after close of play on 31 August 2004 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 9 November 2024 Gillingham's first match of September ended in a 4–0 defeat to Sunderland at Priestfield; Hessenthaler was again critical of his team, telling the press "It was schoolboy defending for their goals and that's not acceptable."https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/3615254.stm Gillingham 0–4 Sunderland BBC Sport 11 September 2004 28 October 2024 Patrick Agyemang scored twice to secure a 2–2 draw away to Coventry City on 15 September,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/3647110.stm Coventry 2–2 Gillingham BBC Sport 15 September 2004 28 October 2024 but Gillingham lost their next seven games.Rollin Rollin 2005 192 The run began with a 3–1 defeat away to Reading; Dave Kitson, whom Gillingham had tried unsuccessfully to sign during the previous season,https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/gills-stung-by-perpetuini-injury-a11241/ Gills stung by Perpetuini injury 29 December 2003 30 October 2024 Kent Online KM Media Group scored a hat-trick for Reading in the first half of the game.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/3647150.stm Reading 3–1 Gillingham BBC Sport 17 September 2004 30 October 2024 Gillingham lost home games to Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City without scoring a goal and finished September in 20th place in the league table, one point above the bottom three positions which would result in relegation to League One at the end of the season. Darius Henderson, a forward who had joined Gillingham in January but suffered a serious injury in only his sixth game for the team,Rollin Rollin 2004 191Gillingham Vs Reading Matchday Programme Gillingham F.C. From the gaffer Andy Hessenthaler Andy Hessenthaler 21 February 2004 7 played for the first time since March in the defeat to Leicester.Rollin Rollin 2005 193Rollin Rollin 2004 191 Roberts was absent from the team for the whole of October;Rollin Rollin 2005 193 three of the games he missed were the result of a suspension issued by the Football Association, the governing body of the sport in England, after the publication of an autobiography in which he contended that he had deliberately injured an opposing player during his time at Norwich. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158046553 The Daily Telegraph 29 October 2024 Newspapers.com Roberts slams FA Mark Hodgkinson 23 October 2004 98 When he returned, he was unable to regain his place in the starting line-up and was used almost exclusively as a substitute.Rollin Rollin 2005 193 Henderson scored his first goal of the season to give Gillingham the lead over Plymouth Argyle on 2 October, but Plymouth scored twice in the final minute of the game to win 2–1.Rollin Rollin 2005 193, 304 On 17 October, Sheffield United had what BBC Sport called a "comfortable win" over Gillingham at Priestfield; Paul Shaw, who had left Gillingham during the previous season, scored twice against his former club in a 3–1 victory.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/3718510.stm Gillingham 1–3 Sheff Utd BBC Sport 17 October 2004 31 October 2024 Gillingham followed this with two defeats away from home, 3–1 to Millwall and 2–1 to West Ham United, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158657971 The Daily Telegraph 8 November 2024 Newspapers.com Millwall do enough Nicholas Harling 20 October 2004 37 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158658102 The Daily Telegraph 8 November 2024 Newspapers.com Zamora accepts challenge Mark Hodgkinson 25 October 2004 39 after which they were in 23rd place in the table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/23-october-2004/ League Championship table after close of play on 23 October 2004 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 9 November 2024 Mark Hodgkinson of The Daily Telegraph wrote that in the game against West Ham, Gillingham were "so short of self-belief that they were delighted at conceding just the three goals". Although Gillingham ended their losing run with a 1–0 victory at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 30 October, thanks to the first senior-level goal scored by the teenager Matt Jarvis,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/3947127.stm Gillingham 1–0 Wolves BBC Sport 30 October 2004 29 October 2024 they remained in 23rd place in the league table, above only Rotherham United, who had yet to win a league game during the season.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/30-october-2004/ League Championship table after close of play on 30 October 2004 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 29 October 2024 Gillingham kept a further two clean sheets in their first two games of November, securing 0–0 draws against Watford and Sheffield United,Rollin Rollin 2005 192 two teams in the top half of the table, but remained in the bottom three places themselves.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/06-november-2004/ League Championship table after close of play on 6 November 2004 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 9 November 2024 They failed to score again at home to Derby County on 13 November, losing 2–0. A week later, they lost 4–1 away to Crewe Alexandra;https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4008967.stm Crewe 4–1 Gillingham BBC Sport 20 November 2004 25 October 2024 three days later, Hessenthaler resigned as manager, but was retained as a player.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4035041.stm Hessenthaler steps down at Gills BBC Sport 2007-04-12 2004-11-23 John Gorman, who had been appointed assistant manager the previous month,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/3716672.stm Gorman to join Gillingham BBC Sport 5 October 2004 31 October 2024 took over as caretaker manager. He resigned a week later, after overseeing a 2–1 victory over Nottingham Forest,Rollin Rollin 2005 192 to take the manager's job at Wycombe Wanderers.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wycombe_wanderers/4054089.stm Gorman appointed Wycombe manager BBC Sport 2007-04-12 2004-11-30 Roberts, Smith, and the club's youth team coach Darren Hare were collectively put in charge for the next game,https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/diary-of-a-footballing-nomad-490141.html Diary of a footballing nomad Iwan Roberts The Independent Iwan Roberts 23 December 2008 10 May 2005 London 18 February 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160218110238/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/diary-of-a-footballing-nomad-490141.html live a 3–1 defeat to Cardiff City on 4 December.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4047653.stm Cardiff 3–1 Gillingham BBC Sport 4 December 2004 21 October 2024 Three days later, the club appointed Stan Ternent as manager on a two-and-a-half-year contract.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4071489.stm Gills unveil Ternent as manager BBC Sport 2007-04-12 2004-12-07 Ternent, who had more than 25 years of managerial experience,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/2815693.stm Ternent ready for Watford Paul Fletcher BBC Sport 6 March 2003 21 October 2024 had been dismissed as manager of Burnley six months earlier.https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/dec/07/newsstory.sport7 Gills plump for Ternent The Guardian 7 December 2004 21 October 2024 His first game in charge ended in a 2–0 defeat to Wigan Athletic, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158730354 The Sunday Telegraph 9 November 2024 Newspapers.com Jewell happy after Wigan sparkle Richard Copeman 12 December 2004 80 but a week later Gillingham gained their first win under his leadership with a 3–1 victory over Rotherham United. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158730534 The Sunday Telegraph 9 November 2024 Newspapers.com Leaders feel the heat from McCarthy Huw Turbervill 19 December 2004 74 On 26 December, Gillingham took the lead over Brighton & Hove Albion but conceded two goals in the final 12 minutes of the game and lost 2–1.Rollin Rollin 2005 106, 192 Gillingham's last game of 2004 was a 3–1 victory over Coventry City on 28 December; Ian Cox became only the second Gillingham player of the season to score two goals in a game.Rollin Rollin 2005 192 Despite the victory, Gillingham remained in the relegation places at the end of the calendar year.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/31-december-2004/ League Championship table after close of play on 31 December 2004 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 25 October 2024 January–May thumb|right|upright=1.2|alt=Footballer Jay McEveley|Jay McEveley (pictured in 2007) joined Gillingham on loan in the second half of the season. Gillingham began 2005 with a goalless draw at home to Reading in a game played in very poor conditions on New Year's Day.https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/little-too-late-as-gillingham-resist-5344841.html Little too late as Gillingham resist Norman Fox The Independent 2 January 2005 22 October 2024 Two days later, they held Sunderland, who were in third place in the table,https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/02-january-2005/ League Championship table after close of play on 2 January 2005 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 7 November 2024 to a 1–1 draw; after failing to beat their struggling opponents, the Sunderland team were booed by their own supporters. After the game, Ternent told the press "With the injuries we have, this is a satisfactory result. Hopefully eight more wins can keep us up."https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4129775.stm Sunderland 1–1 Gillingham BBC Sport 31 October 2024 4 January 2005 Gillingham continued their unbeaten league run with a 1–1 draw with Plymouth Argyle, but then lost 2–0 to Leicester City on 22 January.Rollin Rollin 2005 192 Hessenthaler, who had been included in the starting line-up only twice since resigning as manager, made his final appearance of the season against Leicester;Rollin Rollin 2005 193 days later he joined Hull City on a three-month loan. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158645903 The Daily Telegraph 8 November 2024 Newspapers.com Mandaric and Lowe agree to call a truce John Ley 28 January 2005 43 Michael Flynn, a midfielder newly signed from Wigan Athletic,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4230531.stm Gillingham land Flynn from Latics 2 February 2005 4 November 2024 BBC Sport made his debut against Watford on 5 February,Rollin Rollin 2005 193 which ended in Gillingham's second consecutive 2–0 defeat.Rollin Rollin 2005 192 A goalless draw with Millwall a week later meant that Gillingham had scored only two goals in six league games in 2005 and remained in the relegation places.Rollin Rollin 2005 192https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/12-february-2005/ League Championship table after close of play on 12 February 2005 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 4 November 2024 Henderson scored the team's first goal for over a month on 19 February away to Wolverhampton Wanderers,Rollin Rollin 2005 192 and it appeared that Gillingham had won when Flynn gave them a 2–1 lead in the 90th minute, but the home team scored in injury time to secure a draw. Ternent was unhappy about the late goal, telling the media "First of all there was a foul on our centre-back and then the lad has handled it. Sometimes you need a bit of a break to go your way, a break that makes all the difference, and things haven't been going for us lately."https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4259897.stm Wolves 2–2 Gillingham BBC Sport 4 November 2024 19 February 2005 Gillingham lost 1–0 to West Ham United on 22 February,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4279689.stm Gillingham 0–1 West Ham BBC Sport 5 November 2024 22 February 2005 but four days later won for the first time in 2005,Rollin Rollin 2005 192 Henderson scoring twice in a 2–1 victory over Wigan Athletic,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4279885.stm Gillingham 2–1 Wigan BBC Sport 5 November 2024 26 February 2005 who were top of the Championship league table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/25-february-2005/ League Championship table after close of play on 25 February 2005 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 5 November 2024 Trevor Haylett of The Sunday Telegraph wrote that the introduction as a substitute of the forward Mamady Sidibé, who had not played since 1 January due to an achilles tendon injury, changed the course of the game in Gillingham's favour.Rollin Rollin 2005 193 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158530841 The Sunday Telegraph 6 November 2024 Newspapers.com Sidibe comes out of the woodwork Trevor Haylett 27 February 2005 91 Roberts, who had not started a match since November,Rollin Rollin 2005 193 was loaned to Cambridge United for the remainder of the season on 1 March.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cambridge_utd/4308869.stm Roberts completes Cambridge move BBC Sport 7 November 2024 1 March 2005 Gillingham beat fellow strugglers Rotherham United 3–1 on 5 March, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158675126 The Independent 8 November 2024 Newspapers.com Ledley's strike gives Bluebirds something to sing about 6 March 2005 118 the first time the team had won two consecutive games since the previous August.Rollin Rollin 2005 192 On 10 March, Gillingham signed two players, Jonathan Douglas and Jay McEveley, on loan from Blackburn Rovers of the FA Premier League.https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/young-guns-join-gills-on-loan-a17407/ Young guns join Gills on loan Kent Online KM Media Group 10 March 2005 24 November 2024 Luke Cawdell https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158478220 The Daily Telegraph 5 November 2024 Newspapers.com Charlton angered by switch of fixtures John Ley 11 March 2005 41 Both made their debut two days later against Leeds United and would play in every game for the remainder of the season.Rollin Rollin 2005 193 Chris Hope gave Gillingham the lead in the first half against Leeds, but 15 minutes into the second they were reduced to ten men when Henderson was sent off after a physical altercation with an opponent. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Gillingham held onto their lead until nine minutes from the end of the game when they conceded a goal; the game ended in a 1–1 draw.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4321381.stm Leeds 1–1 Gillingham BBC Sport 5 November 2024 12 March 2005 The unbeaten run continued with a 2–1 victory over Stoke City and a goalless draw with Ipswich Town which lifted Gillingham out of the relegation places with seven games of the season remaining.Rollin Rollin 2005 192https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/19-march-2005/ League Championship table after close of play on 19 March 2005 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 9 November 2024 Willie Donachie, Ipswich's assistant manager, told the press "Gillingham are a tough side to play against and created the better chances. If they had a natural goalscorer, we would've been in trouble."https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4343495.stm Gillingham 0–0 Ipswich BBC News 19 March 2005 8 November 2024 Smith, Gillingham's captain, scored a goal in injury time to secure a draw away to Preston North End in the team's first match of April, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158717788 The Independent 9 November 2024 Newspapers.com Preston in nervy scrap for spoils Geoff Brown 3 April 2005 118 and they followed this with a third consecutive draw three days later, Flynn scoring against Queens Park Rangers in a match which finished 1–1.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4403647.stm QPR 1–1 Gillingham BBC News 5 April 2005 9 November 2024 With five games remaining, Gillingham were in 21st place, above the relegation positions on goal difference.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/05-april-2005/ League Championship table after close of play on 5 April 2005 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 7 November 2024 On 9 April, Gillingham extended their unbeaten run to eight gamesRollin Rollin 2005 192 and climbed to 18th in the table when Henderson scored to give them a 1–0 victory at home to Burnley. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158720275 The Independent 9 November 2024 Newspapers.com Roberts revives Wigan's hopes Geoff Brown 10 April 2005 119https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/09-april-2005/ League Championship table after close of play on 9 April 2005 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 9 November 2024 A minor controversy arose when the matchday sponsorship package for the game was purchased by the anti-immigration UK Independence Party; the associated advertising in the matchday programme was withdrawn under pressure from the Professional Footballers' Association, the trade union for players.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/vote_2005/england/4423931.stm UKIP sponsors Championship match BBC News 8 April 2005 6 November 2024 Gillingham drew for the fourth time in five games on 16 April when their game with another relegation-threatened team, Crewe Alexandra, finished 1–1;Rollin Rollin 2005 192 a week later they lost for the first time since February as promotion contenders Derby County beat them 2–0.Rollin Rollin 2005 192 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158720557 The Independent 9 November 2024 Newspapers.com Wigan fire blanks but stay second Geoff Brown 24 April 2005 120 Another draw, 1–1 against Cardiff City, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/158730670 The Independent 9 November 2024 Newspapers.com Coventry end with demolition Derby Geoff Brown 1 May 2005 121 meant that, going into the final game of the season, away to Nottingham Forest, Gillingham were two points above the bottom three places,https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/07-may-2005/ League Championship table after close of play on 7 May 2005 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 28 October 2024 but could still be relegated depending on their own result and those achieved by other teams. After conceding a goal in the first half, Gillingham scored twice and were winning with six minutes of the game remaining; a victory would ensure that they escaped relegation regardless of the outcome of other games. On the 85-minute mark, Gillingham conceded a second goal and, despite having two late goalscoring opportunities, they could not regain the lead; the game ended in a 2–2 draw. As Crewe Alexandra won their final game and Brighton & Hove Albion secured a draw, Gillingham's failure to win meant that they were relegated.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4500797.stm Nottm Forest 2–2 Gillingham BBC Sport 8 May 2005 22 September 2024 24 May 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060524051343/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4500797.stm live In a reversal of the previous season's conclusion, Gillingham finished the campaign in 22nd place, level on points with 21st-placed Crewe but with a goal difference (–21) which was one worse than that of their rivals.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/31-may-2005/ League Championship end of season table for 2004–05 season 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 22 September 2024 Reviewing each Championship team's season, BBC Sport said that Gillingham "showed tremendous character but couldn't quite pull it off."https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4517563.stm Championship review 2004/05 BBC Sport 5 November 2024 10 May 2005 League 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 2005 192DateOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance 7 August 2004 Ipswich Town (A)1–2Smith23,130 10 August 2004 Leeds United (H)2–1Byfield, Roberts10,739 14 August 2004 Preston North End (H)2–1Byfield, Roberts7,073 21 August 2004 Stoke City (A)0–213,234 27 August 2004 Queens Park Rangers (H)0–17,391 30 August 2004 Burnley (A)2–1Roberts, Byfield11,574 11 September 2004 Sunderland (H)0–48,775 15 September 2004 Coventry City (A)2–2Agyemang (2)11,966 18 September 2004 Reading (A)1–3Byfield13,867 25 September 2004 Brighton & Hove Albion (H)0–18,365 28 September 2004 Leicester City (H)0–26,089 2 October 2004 Plymouth Argyle (A)1–2Henderson13,665 17 October 2004 Sheffield United (H)1–3Bromby (o.g.)6,964 19 October 2004 Millwall (A)1–2Nowland10,722 23 October 2004 West Ham United (A)1–3Byfield25,247 30 October 2004 Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)1–0Jarvis9,112 2 November 2004 Watford (H)0–07,009 6 November 2004 Sheffield United (A)0–016,598 13 November 2004 Derby County (H)0–28,015 20 November 2004 Crewe Alexandra (A)1–4Henderson6,128 27 November 2004 Nottingham Forest (H)2–1Henderson (pen.), Johnson8,784 4 December 2004 Cardiff City (A)1–3Johnson10,623 11 December 2004 Wigan Athletic (A)0–28,451 18 December 2004 Rotherham United (H)3–1Hope, Jarvis, Vernazza (o.g.)8,576 26 December 2004 Brighton & Hove Albion (A)1–2Crofts6,420 28 December 2004 Coventry City (H)3–1Byfield, Cox (2)8,734 1 January 2005 Reading (H)0–08,570 3 January 2005 Sunderland (A)1–1Henderson27,147 15 January 2005 Plymouth Argyle (H)1–1Crofts8,451 22 January 2005 Leicester City (A)0–223,457 5 February 2005 Watford (A)0–215,188 12 February 2005 Millwall (H)0–09,127 19 February 2005 Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)2–2Henderson, Flynn24,949 22 February 2005 West Ham United (H)0–19,510 26 February 2005 Wigan Athletic (H)2–1Henderson (2)7,209 5 March 2005 Rotherham United (A)3–1Flynn, Sidibé, Henderson4,367 12 March 2005 Leeds United (A)1–1Hope27,995 15 March 2005 Stoke City (H)2–1McEveley, Smith7,766 19 March 2005 Ipswich Town (H)0–09,311 2 April 2005 Preston North End (A)1–1Smith15,054 5 April 2005 Queens Park Rangers (A)1–1Flynn16,431 9 April 2005 Burnley (H)1–0Henderson9,447 16 April 2005 Crewe Alexandra (H)1–1Southall10,315 23 April 2005 Derby County (A)0–227,481 30 April 2005 Cardiff City (H)1–1Jarvis10,810 8 May 2005 Nottingham Forest (A)2–2Melville (o.g.), Sidibé24,800 Partial league table 2004–05 Football League#Championship main WDL left auto Football League Championship final table, bottom positions PR 20 NOR Brighton & Hove Albion SOU Crewe Alexandra GIL Gillingham NOT Nottingham Forest ALD Rotherham United 13 12 21 40 65 12 14 20 66 86 12 14 20 45 66 9 17 20 42 66 5 14 27 35 69 Division Champions, promoted CP Promoted P Relegated R R R complete Cup matches FA Cup As a Championship team, Gillingham entered the 2004–05 FA Cup at the third round stage in January; their opponents were Portsmouth of the FA Premier League. Portsmouth scored early in the second half and won 1–0 to eliminate Gillingham from the competition. Ternent told the media that "we have gone out with our heads held high because we had a lot of injuries and it was always going to be tough because Portsmouth are a strong team."https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/4139437.stm Portsmouth 1–0 Gillingham BBC Sport 8 January 2005 23 October 2024 FA Cup 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 2005 624DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance8 January 2005 ThirdPortsmouth (A)0–114,252 Football League Cup As a Championship team, Gillingham entered the 2004–05 Football League Cup at the first round stage in August; their opponents were Northampton Town of League Two, two levels below the Championship.Rollin Rollin 2005 275 The match drew an attendance of 3,108, by far the lowest of the season at Priestfield.Rollin Rollin 2005 192, 603, 624 Northampton scored two goals in the first half and, although Gillingham pulled a goal back through Sidibé early in the second period, they were beaten 2–1 by their lower-level opponents and eliminated from the competition.Rollin Rollin 2005 603 League Cup 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 2005 603DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance24 August 2004 FirstNorthampton Town (H)1–2Sidibé3,108 Players thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Paul Gallacher|Paul Gallacher (pictured in 2010) was one of four goalkeepers to play for Gillingham during the season. thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Matt Jarvis|The future England internationalhttps://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/9436148.stm Gillingham pride at Matt Jarvis England call-up BBC Sport 25 March 2011 7 October 2024 9 October 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241009161246/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/9436148.stm live Matt Jarvis (pictured in 2012) made 30 appearances. During the season, 34 players made at least one appearance for Gillingham. Smith was the only player to make more than 40 appearances, playing 43 times. Byfield, Sidibé, Hope, and Nyron Nosworthy played in at least three-quarters of the team's 48 games. At the opposite end of the scale, nine players made fewer than five appearances. Dean Beckwith was the only player to take the field during the season without being named in a starting line-up; his two appearances as a substitute ultimately constituted the entirety of his Gillingham career.Hugman 2015 68 Henderson was the team's top goalscorer with nine goals. It was the second consecutive season in which no Gillingham player scored ten goals;Rollin Rollin 2004 192Rollin Rollin 2005 191 before this there had only been one season since the club's return to the Football League more than 50 years earlier when no Gillingham player had reached double figures.Brown 2003 60–112 +Player statisticsRollin Rollin 2005 193, 603, 624No. Squad numberPlayerPositionChampionshipFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1Steve Banks footballerGK 26010002702Nyron NosworthyDF 37000003703John Hills footballerDF 23000002304Paul Smith footballer, born 1971MF 41310104335Barry AshbyDF 22010102406Ian CoxDF 31210103327Nicky SouthallMF 33110003418Andy HessenthalerMF 17010001809Darius HendersonFW 329100033910Patrick Agyemang footballer, born 1980FW 132001014210.5 10No aMichael Flynn footballerMF 163000016311Tommy Johnson footballer, born 1971FW 8200008212Bertrand BossuGK 2000002013Jason Brown footballerGK 160001017014Leon Johnson footballerDF 8000109015Mark Saunders footballerMF 3000003016Richard Rose footballerDF 180101020017Andrew Crofts footballerMF 272100028218Chris Hope footballerDF 372100038219Iwan RobertsFW 203101022320Darren ByfieldFW 386100039621Matt JarvisMF 303001031322Danny SpillerMF 220001023023Matt BodkinFW 2010003024Adam NowlandMF 3100003124.5 24No aJay McEveleyDF 101000010125Alan PoutonMF 120001013026David PerpetuiniMF 3000104026.5 26No aJonathan DouglasMF 100000010028Dean BeckwithMF 1010002029Mamady SidibéFW 352001136330John Robinson footballer, born 1971MF 4000004030.5 30No aPaul GallacherGK 3000003031Dean Marney footballerMF 30000030 FW = Forward, MF = Midfielder, GK = Goalkeeper, DF = Defender a. No Player was allocated a squad number which had been worn earlier in the season by a player who had since left the club. Aftermath A week after the final game of the season, Ternent resigned as manager, less than six months into his two-and-a-half-year contract.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4549073.stm Ternent quits as Gillingham boss BBC Sport 15 May 2005 21 October 2024 Ronnie Jepson, who had served as his assistant manager, remained with the club. Roberts, who had been relieved of his coaching duties after falling out with Ternent and Jepson, was released from his contract and told the BBC that he had "been shown a total lack of respect by certain people."https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4184554.stm Roberts makes 'bitter' Gills exit BBC Sport 25 August 2005 29 October 2024 Neale Cooper was appointed to replace Ternent for the team's first season back in the third tier of English football,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4551195.stm Cooper named as Gillingham boss BBC Sport 21 May 2005 28 October 2024 but he also lasted less than six months in the job, resigning in November 2005 after a series of poor results.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4439918.stm Gillingham manager Cooper resigns BBC Sport 15 November 2005 28 October 2024 Gillingham would go on to be relegated and promoted between League One and League Two on multiple occasions but 2025 y have never returned to the second tier of English football.https://fbref.com/en/squads/5f01284a/history/Gillingham-Stats-and-History Gillingham FC Stats and History FBRef Sports Reference LLC 30 May 2024 30 May 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240530083714/https://fbref.com/en/squads/5f01284a/history/Gillingham-Stats-and-History live 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, West Sussex 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 Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2003–2004 Headline Book Publishing 2003 978-0-75531-227-6 London Rollin Glenda Rollin Jack Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2004–2005 Headline Book Publishing 2004 978-0-75531-311-2 London Rollin Glenda Rollin Jack Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2005–2006 Headline Book Publishing 2005 978-0-75531-384-6 London Category:Gillingham F.C. seasons Gillingham F.C.