1934–35 Gillingham F.C. season

English football club season July 2025 Gillingham 1934–35 Fred Mavin Jack KnightBradley Triggs 1994 392 Third Division South 20th FA Cup First round Third Division South Cup First round Bill Baldwin (13) Bill Baldwin (13) 9,233 vs Coventry City (26 December 1934) 1,000 vs Luton Town (26 September 1934) _collarwhite _blue_top 0000ff 0000ff 0000ff ffffff 000000 1933–34 1935–36 During the 1934–35 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 15th season in which Gillingham competed in the Football League. Gillingham won two of their first four games of the season but then won only once in the next eleven league games; they were in 18th place out of 22 teams in the league table at the end of November. During a match on 1 December, Gillingham's Sim Raleigh suffered a head injury and died later that day. The team ended 1934 with five consecutive defeats during which they conceded 24 goals. After only winning 4 out of 22 games between August and December, Gillingham performed better in the second half of the campaign, with 7 victories in 20 games between January and May. An unbeaten run of seven games during March and April helped ensure that they finished the season in 20th place, avoiding by one place the need to apply for re-election to the league for the following season. Gillingham competed in two knock-out competitions but were eliminated in the first round of both the FA Cup and the Third Division South Cup. The team played 44 competitive matches, winning 11, drawing 13 and losing 20. Bill Baldwin was the club's top goalscorer with 13 goals, all scored in the league. Fred Lester made the most appearances, playing in all 44 games. The highest attendance recorded at the club's home ground, Priestfield Road, during the season was 9,233 for a league match against Coventry City on 26 December 1934. Background and pre-season thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Fred Mavin|Fred Mavin (pictured in 1912, during his playing days) was the team's manager. The 1934–35 season was Gillingham's 15th season playing in the third and lowest level of the Football League.Soar Tyler 1983 110 The club had been among the founder members of the Football League Third Division in 1920, which featured only southern teams and was renamed the Third Division South a year later when a parallel Third Division North was created.Soar Tyler 1983 110 In Gillingham's 14 seasons in this division, the team had consistently struggled, only finishing in the top half of the league table twice.Soar Tyler 1983 110 They had finished in the bottom two places on four occasions, requiring them each time to apply for re-election to the League, most recently in the 1931–32 season.Soar Tyler 1983 110Mitchell Reeves Tyler 2013 140 In the 1933–34 season they had finished in 17th place out of 22 teams.Soar Tyler 1983 110 Fred Mavin was the team's manager,Triggs 1999 42 a post he had held since 1932. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177428874 The East Kent Times and Mail 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Gillingham's new manager 20 January 1932 2 Alan Ure served as team trainer.Triggs 1999 42 There was some turnover in the club's playing squad; Arthur Mills and Allan Scott, two of Gillingham's highest goalscorers during the previous season,Brown 2003 47 both moved on,Triggs 2001 24, 28 as did another forward, Fred Liddle.Triggs 2001 22 In their place, the club signed four new forwards: Wilf Crompton from Burnley,Triggs 2001 14 Bill Baldwin from Southport,Triggs 2001 10 Albert Orr from Torquay United,Triggs 2001 24 and Dick Doncaster from Reading.Triggs 2001 16 Joe Wiggins, a full-back, joined the club from Leicester City,Triggs 2001 32 and Harry Randle, a half-back, arrived from Southend United.Triggs 2001 26 The team's first-choice kit was Gillingham's usual blue shirts and white shorts.Triggs 1999 42 Pre-season matches between Football League members were not permitted at the time, 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 48Bradley Triggs 1994 424 Gillingham staged such a match in August and Doncaster and Orr were among the scorers as the "Blues" beat the "Reds". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/172682102 Evening Standard 19 May 2025 Newspapers.com subscription The final soccer trial matches 18 August 1934 23 Third Division South August–December thumb|right|alt=Highfield Road football stadium|Gillingham lost on Christmas Day at Coventry City's Highfield Road ground (pictured in 1982). Gillingham's first match of the season was at their own ground, Priestfield Road, against Torquay United;Brown 2003 48 Wiggins, Crompton, Baldwin, Orr, and Doncaster all made their debuts for Gillingham.Triggs 2001 10, 16, 24, 26, 32 Sim Raleigh, Gillingham's highest goalscorer during the previous season,Brown 2003 47 scored all the goals in a 3–0 victory; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/172009028 Sunday Dispatch 9 May 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Hat-trick start 26 August 1934 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177419917 Western Morning News 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Torquay backs' poor day 27 August 1934 10 it was the only hat-trick scored by a Gillingham player during the season.Brown 2003 48 Four days later, Randle made his debut against Millwall;Triggs 2001 26 Gillingham were hindered by playing into the wind and sun in the first half, and the glare contributed to George Barrie scoring an own goal as Millwall took a 2–0 lead before half-time and went on to win 3–1. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19340830/259/0014 Daily Herald 21 July 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription Splendid start 30 August 1934 14 Gillingham's first away game of the season resulted in a second consecutive defeat as they were beaten 3–0 by Reading. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177131024 Evening Standard 21 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Reading v. Gillingham 1 September 1934 23 On 8 September, Crompton scored two goals as Gillingham beat Northampton Town 3–1 at Priestfield Road; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177131095 "Commodore" Sunday Dispatch 21 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Kind Gillingham 9 September 1934 19 it was the start of a run of seven games in which he scored a total of six goals.Brown 2003 48 A week after the victory over Northampton, he scored to secure a 1–1 draw after Gillingham had fallen behind to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177415047 "Beverley" Daily Echo 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Missed chances 17 September 1934 7 and he was on the scoresheet again on 17 September when Gillingham lost 3–2 away to Millwall. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177429400 The Guardian 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Millwall win again 18 September 1934 4 Despite creating the majority of the scoring chances, Gillingham lost 2–1 at home to Watford on 22 September; in the closing minutes Gillingham could have been awarded a penalty kick when one of Watford's full-backs cleared the ball from the goal line with his hand, but the referee failed to notice the infringement. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177345106 "Commodore" Sunday Dispatch 24 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Accepted chances 23 September 1934 19 A 2–2 draw with Newport County on 29 September, in which Crompton scored again,Brown 2003 48 meant that Gillingham were in 16th place out of 22 teams in the Third Division South league table at the end of the month.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/30-September-1934/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 30 September 1934 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 30 May 2025 Gillingham ended a four-game winless run by beating Exeter City on 6 October;Brown 2003 48 Barrie scored the first goal and provided the final pass for Raleigh to score the other. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177428406 Western Morning News 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Late goal 8 October 1934 12 A week later, Crompton gave his team the lead over Bristol City in the first minute, but Gillingham conceded three goals in the second half and lost the game. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177450648 Western Daily Press 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription City's brilliant revival in second half 15 October 1934 4 Following a goalless draw at home to Queens Park Rangers in what the Daily Herald described as a "game of missed chances", https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177349045 Daily Herald 24 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Missed chances 22 October 1934 17 Gillingham lost 2–0 away to Crystal Palace. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177451242 The Daily Telegraph 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Dawes and Carson in fine form for Palace against Gillingham 29 October 1934 16 In the team's first game of November, a goal from Raleigh secured a 1–1 draw at home to Aldershot. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177451559 Sunday Dispatch 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Robb saves Aldershot 4 November 1934 19 On 10 November, Gillingham lost 3–0 away to Swindon Town, meaning that they had scored only one goal in their last four matches. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177451012 Daily Herald 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Easy for Swindon 12 November 1934 17Brown 2003 48 The match was the final Gillingham appearance for Crompton, the team's joint top scorer for the season up to this point;Brown 2003 48 later in the month he was transferred to Luton Town after just 14 appearances for Gillingham.Triggs 2001 14 Doncaster, who had not played since September, replaced him for the next game, against Southend United,Brown 2003 48 and scored his team's first goal in a 2–2 draw; Fred Cheesmur, a former Gillingham player,Triggs 2001 14 scored both of Southend's goals. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177413154 Sunday Mercury 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Gillingham 2, Southend United 2 18 November 1934 16 At the end of the month, Gillingham were in 19th place in the league table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/30-November-1934/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 30 November 1934 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 2 June 2025 On 1 December, Gillingham played at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in a match which finished 0–0. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177429771 "Commodore" Sunday Dispatch 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription A tragic game 2 December 1934 21 Early in the game, Raleigh and a Brighton player clashed heads while both jumping for the ball.Elligate 2009 187 Raleigh played on but collapsed during the second half; he was taken to a nearby hospital but died during the evening. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/172008883 Sunday Dispatch 9 May 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Accidents during matches 2 December 1934 1Elligate 2009 187 An inquest took place shortly afterwards which attributed the death to a haemorrhage and recorded a verdict of accidental death. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/175399339 Birmingham Gazette 27 June 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Inquest on Gillingham player 6 December 1934 1 A week after Raleigh's death, Gillingham beat Cardiff City 2–0 to achieve their first victory for more than two months, but they then ended 1934 with five consecutive defeats, in which they conceded a total of 24 goals.Brown 2003 48 The run began on 15 December with a 6–3 defeat at home to Charlton Athletic, who were top of the league table going into the game; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177430390 The Daily Telegraph 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Gillingham outclassed by Charlton 17 December 1934 15https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/14-December-1934/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 14 December 1934 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 25 July 2025 it was the first time Gillingham had conceded as many goals in a match since the previous December.Brown 2003 47–48 Against Bristol Rovers on 22 December, Gillingham fell 3–1 behind but scoring twice to bring the scores level; they conceded a fourth goal and lost the game. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177430195 Western Daily Press 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Changing fortunes in Rovers' game at Eastville 24 December 1934 3 Gillingham played Coventry City on both 25 and 26 December; at the time it was traditional for teams in the Football League to play home and away matches against the same opponents on the two days.https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/football-christmas-day-match-history-victorian-tradition FourFourTwo 25 July 2025 What happened to football on Christmas Day? The lost history of a Victorian tradition 23 December 2024 Paul Brown On Christmas Day, Gillingham were beaten 4–0 at Coventry's Highfield Road ground; the Birmingham Gazette reported that Gillingham had James Harvey, their goalkeeper, to thank for the fact that they were not defeated by a wider margin. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/172887193 Birmingham Gazette 22 May 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Coventry City's easy task 27 December 1934 8 The teams met again at Priestfield Road on Boxing Day and Coventry scored three early goals and eventually won 5–2. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177343631 Birmingham Gazette 24 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Wily Jones upsets Gillingham 27 December 1934 10 Gillingham's final match of 1934 ended in a 5–0 defeat to Torquay United; the result meant that at the end of the calendar year Gillingham were in 20th place in the league table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177429934 Western Morning News 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Another big score by Torquay "Tork" 31 December 1934 12https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/31-December-1934/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 31 December 1934 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 25 July 2025 January–May thumb|right|alt=The Recreation Ground football stadium in Aldershot|Gillingham lost heavily in March at the Recreation Ground (pictured in 1982), the home of Aldershot. Gillingham ended their run of defeats in their first game of 1935 with a 1–1 draw at home to Reading, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177089942 "Commodore" Sunday Dispatch 20 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Gillingham players hurt 6 January 1935 19 but followed this with a 2–1 defeat away to Northampton Town two weeks later. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177090212 "Cobbler" Sunday Dispatch 20 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription A good move 20 January 1935 21 The match was the first of a run in which Gillingham alternated between away defeats and home victories over ten games.Brown 2003 48 In their final game of January, Gillingham won a match at Priestfield Road for the first time in nearly four months,Brown 2003 48 beating Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 3–1. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177090563 "Commodore" Sunday Dispatch 20 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Home victory 27 January 1935 19 Hugh Vallance, who had left the club in 1932, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177413697 Daily Herald 25 June 2025 Newspapers.com subscription To referee cup final 9 April 1932 14 scored the opening goal in his first appearance after re-joining Gillingham days earlier.Brown 2003 48 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177413631 "Beverley" Daily Echo 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Sports gossip 24 January 1935 9 Roy Bethell and Doncaster added to Gillingham's lead before their opponents scored a late consolation goal. In their first match of February, Gillingham lost 3–1 away to Watford, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177091617 Daily Herald 20 June 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Watford find that outside-left 4 February 1935 17 a result which took Watford up to 2nd place in the league table but meant that Gillingham were now in the bottom two places.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/02-February-1935/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 02 February 1935 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 20 July 2025 Gillingham rebounded in their next game, achieving their highest-scoring victory of the seasonBrown 2003 48 when they beat fellow strugglers Newport County 5–0 at Priestfield Road. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177143557 Western Mail 21 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription County meet Gillingham at their best 11 February 1935 4 The game was goalless at half-time but, in what the Western Mail called an "extraordinary reversal", Gillingham's forwards dominated the game in the second period, scoring twice within five minutes of the restart and adding three further goals before the end of the match. Doncaster scored one goal and set up three more. A week later, Gillingham lost 2–0 away to Exeter City, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177200041 Daily Herald 22 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Two poor sides 18 February 1935 17 but they ended February with a 1–0 home victory over Bristol City. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177206758 Western Daily Press 22 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription City fail to impress at Gillingham 25 February 1935 4 The team's contrasting performances at home and away continued in early March.Brown 2003 48 In the first match of the month, they lost 2–0 away to Queens Park Rangers, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177352074 Daily Herald 24 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Rangers revival 4 March 1935 17 but a week later they beat Crystal Palace by the same score at Priestfield Road; Doncaster scored a goal direct from a corner kick, assisted by a strong wind, and Baldwin added a second late in the game to complete the victory. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177359274 "Commodore" Sunday Dispatch 24 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Palace lack ideas 10 March 1935 29 On 16 March, Gillingham suffered their heaviest defeat since DecemberBrown 2003 48 as they lost 4–1 away to Aldershot. After the home team took the lead, Doncaster scored an equaliser almost immediately, but Aldershot scored twice more before half-time. The Daily Herald reported that Gillingham "showed great dash" in the second period, but their opponents' defence was too strong for them and Aldershot added a fourth goal late in the game. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/174434464 Daily Herald 13 June 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Aldershot superior 18 March 1934 17 Having previously failed to go more than three consecutive games without defeat at any point since the start of the season,Brown 2003 48 Gillingham began an unbeaten run of seven games with a 2–0 victory at home to Swindon Town on 23 March, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177144161 "Commodore" Sunday Dispatch 21 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Supporters pleased 24 March 1935 29 which they followed with four consecutive draws.Brown 2003 48 In their final match of March, they held Southend United to a goalless draw, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/174573672 Sunday Mercury 15 June 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Southend United 0, Gillingham 0 31 March 1934 17 the first time since before Christmas that they had played an away game and not been defeated.Brown 2003 48 Gillingham began April with a home game against Luton Town,Brown 2003 48 who were in third place in the league table going into the match.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/05-April-1935/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 05 April 1935 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 20 July 2025 Baldwin gave his team the lead but Luton equalised and the game finished 1–1. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177379560 "Commodore" Sunday Dispatch 24 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Luton's fine defence 7 April 1935 29 It was the final Gillingham appearance for George Kidd,Brown 2003 48 who was transferred to Luton days later. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177379918 Sunday Sun 24 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription The sportsman's hub 14 April 1935 18 A week later, Gillingham drew 1–1 away to Brighton & Hove Albion, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177380233 "Saxon" Sunday Dispatch 24 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Plans went astray 14 April 1935 29 the first time all season that they had played two consecutive away games without defeat.Brown 2003 48 On 19 April, Gillingham achieved their fourth consecutive draw,Brown 2003 48 the game with Clapton Orient finishing 2–2. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177418483 Daily Herald 25 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Palace "rampant" 20 April 1932 14 They extended their unbeaten run to seven matches with consecutive 1–0 victories over Cardiff City, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177381134 Sunday Mercury 24 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Gillingham 1, Cardiff City 0 21 April 1935 12 and Clapton Orient.Brown 2003 48 The unbeaten run had lifted Gillingham to 18th place in the league table,https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/20-April-1935/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 20 April 1935 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 22 July 2025 but they slipped back to 20th place after a 2–0 defeat away to Charlton Athletic on 27 April, a result which clinched the championship of the division for Charlton. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177380697 Sunday Mirror 24 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Charlton make sure 28 April 1935 42https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/division-three-south/27-April-1935/ Division Three (South) table after close of play on 27 April 1935 11v11 Association of Football Statisticians 24 July 2025 Gillingham's penultimate game of the season was away to Luton Town; Bethell and Baldwin gave Gillingham a 2–0 lead but they then conceded two goals and the game ended in a draw, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177217355 Daily Herald 22 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Southend get six : Luton shock 2 May 1935 18 meaning that Gillingham ended the season having won only once in 21 league games away from home.Brown 2003 48 Three days later, they ended the season with a 1–1 draw at home to Bristol Rovers.Brown 2003 48 The away team took an early lead but Harry Anstiss scored an equaliser. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177216439 Western Daily Press 22 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Referee lectures the Rovers 6 May 1935 4 Gillingham were subsequently awarded two penalty kicks, one of which had to be retaken because of an infringement, but they missed the target with all three kicks. The result meant that they finished the season 20th in the league table, avoiding the need to apply for re-election by one place.Soar Tyler 1983 203 Match details Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal ResultsBrown 2003 48 DateOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance25 August 1934Torquay United (H)3–0Raleigh (3)8,12829 August 1934Millwall (H)1–3Forsyth (o.g.)8,6691 September 1934Reading (A)0–39,6818 September 1934Northampton Town (H)3–1Raleigh, Crompton (2)6,93815 September 1934Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic (A)1–1Crompton6,20817 September 1934Millwall (A)2–3Crompton, Anstiss8,87722 September 1934Watford (H)1–2Doncaster (pen.)4,40429 September 1934Newport County (A)2–2Crompton, Williams5,4606 October 1934Exeter City (H)2–1Barrie, Raleigh6,06413 October 1934Bristol City (A)1–3Crompton9,86220 October 1934Queens Park Rangers (H)0–05,89827 October 1934Crystal Palace (A)0–212,9423 November 1934Aldershot (H)1–1Raleigh4,86310 November 1934Swindon Town (A)0–35,28917 November 1934Southend United (H)2–2Doncaster, Baldwin4,1681 December 1934Brighton & Hove Albion (H)0–04,1158 December 1934Cardiff City (A)2–0Varty, Syred8,46315 December 1934Charlton Athletic (H)3–6Varty, Randle (pen.), Baldwin5,10122 December 1934Bristol Rovers (A)3–4Baldwin (2), Randle (pen.)7,27025 December 1934Coventry City (A)0–424,22626 December 1934Coventry City (H)2–5Bethell (2)9,23329 December 1934Torquay United (A)0–53,4085 January 1935Reading (H)1–1Baldwin5,09419 January 1935Northampton Town (A)1–2Anstiss3,78326 January 1935Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic (H)3–1Vallance, Bethell, Doncaster2,6722 February 1935Watford (A)1–3Baldwin9,6229 February 1935Newport County (H)5–0Doncaster, Baldwin (2), Vallance, Anstiss3,68916 February 1935Exeter City (A)0–24,22023 February 1935Bristol City (H)1–0Anstiss4,7132 March 1935Queens Park Rangers (A)0–28,1579 March 1935Crystal Palace (H)2–0Doncaster, Baldwin2,71216 March 1935Aldershot (A)1–4Doncastergoalcorr b3,51523 March 1935Swindon Town (H)2–0Baldwin, Vallance3,79630 March 1935Southend United (A)0–05,9366 April 1935Luton Town (H)1–1Baldwin4,13913 April 1935Brighton & Hove Albion (A)1–1Doncaster5,22719 April 1935Clapton Orient (A)2–2Doncaster, Baldwin8,13120 April 1935Cardiff City (H)1–0Anstiss5,82022 April 1935Clapton Orient (H)1–0Doncaster7,03427 April 1935Charlton Athletic (A)0–213,7821 May 1935Luton Town (A)2–2Bethell, Baldwin3,9964 May 1935Bristol Rovers (H)1–1Anstiss3,815 Partial league table 1934–35 Football League#Third Division South main WDL left auto Football League Third Division South final table, bottom positions yes 2 19 EXE Cardiff City GIL Gillingham REA Southend United BRE Newport County 13 9 20 62 82 11 13 18 55 757 11 9 22 65 78 10 5 27 54 112 Required to apply for re-election R R complete Soar Tyler 1983 203 Cup matches FA Cup As a Third Division South club, Gillingham entered the 1934–35 FA Cup in the first round; they were paired with fellow Third Division South team Bristol City. After a goalless first half, Gillingham fell 1–0 behind early in the second period; they had a chance to equalise when they were awarded a penalty kick but Fred Lester missed.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004848/19341126/634/0020 Gillingham penalty missed at critical stage Daily Express 20 26 November 1934 16 May 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription Bristol City then scored a second goal and Gillingham lost the match 2–0 and were eliminated from the competition at the earliest stage. Match details Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal ResultsBrown 2003 51 DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance24 November 1934FirstBristol City (A)0–210,055 Third Division South Cup Gillingham entered the 1934–35 Third Division South Cup, a knock-out tournament exclusively for the teams in that division, in the first round; their opponents were Luton Town. The match drew an attendance reported at 1,000, by far the smallest crowd of the season at Priestfield Road.Brown 2003 48 Gillingham took the lead in the first half but had to play the entire second period with only ten men after Harry Marsden was injured.subs ahttps://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19340927/317/0018 Pease the winner Daily Herald 18 27 September 1934 16 May 2025 British Newspaper Archive subscription Luton scored three times in the second half to win and eliminate Gillingham from the competition. Match details Key In result column, Gillingham's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal ResultsBrown 2003 48 DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance26 September 1934FirstLuton Town (H)1–3Williams1,000 Players thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Harry Anstiss|Harry Anstiss made 34 appearances. During the season, 24 players made at least one appearance for Gillingham.Brown 2003 48 Lester made the most, playing in every one of the team's 44 matches; no other player made more than 37 appearances.Brown 2003 48 Two players took part in fewer than five matches.Brown 2003 48 Baldwin was the team's top goalscorer with 13 goals, all recorded in league matches; no other player scored more than nine times.Brown 2003 48 +Player statisticsBrown 2003 48PlayerPositionThird Division SouthFA CupThird Division South CupTotalApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsHarry AnstissFW 3361000346Leslie BalcombeFW 1200000120Bill Baldwin footballerFW 321310103413George Barrie footballerHB 3110010321Roy BethellFW 2641000274Wilf CromptonFW 1460010156Dick DoncasterFW 3290000329Alex Forbes Alex S. ForbesHB 40000040James Harvey footballerGK 1501010170Tom Holland footballer, born 1902GK 2700000270Tom Hopkins footballerHB 1200000120George Kidd footballerFW 3501010370Fred Lester footballer, born 1911FW 4201010440Harry MarsdenFB 3101010330George Nicol footballerFW 30000030Albert Orr footballerFW 1200000120Sim RaleighFW 1561010176Harry RandleHB 3221010342Charlie Robinson footballerHB 1101000120Thomas SyredFW 81001091Hugh VallanceFW 53000053William VartyFW 1021000112Joe WigginsFB 1200000120Bert Williams footballer, born 1905FW 81001192 FW = Forward, HB = Half-back, GK = Goalkeeper, FB = Full-back Aftermath Following the season, there was again some turnover in the club's playing squad, especially the forwards, as Anstiss, Bethell, and Crompton all moved on.Triggs 2001 10, 12, 14 In their place, Gillingham signed George Tadman,Triggs 2001 32 who would go on to be the team's leading goalscorer in the 1935–36 season,Triggs 2001 347 Jimmy Watson, and William Duncan.Triggs 2001 16, 32 Gillingham's performances improved over the subsequent two seasons; the team finished the 1935–36 season in 16th place and a year later they ended the season in the top half of the table, finishing 11th.Soar Tyler 1983 110 Mavin resigned from his position as manager at the conclusion of the 1936–37 season;Elligate 2009 94 Ure took his place, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/177216086 Leicester Evening Mail 22 July 2025 Newspapers.com subscription New Gillingham manager 28 May 1937 18 but under his management Gillingham finished the 1937–38 season in last place in the table and were therefore again required to apply for re-election.Mitchell Reeves Tyler 2013 140 They received fewer votes in the ballot than Ipswich Town, who had applied to join the Third Division South from the Southern League,Soar Tyler 1983 114 and thus lost their place in the Football League. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109170307 The Daily Telegraph 8 September 2022 Newspapers.com subscription Ipswich Town F.C. in Third Division 31 May 1938 23 After playing non-League football either side of the Second World War, Gillingham were elected back into the Football League in 1950 when the two Third Divisions were expanded from 22 to 24 clubs each.Mitchell Reeves Tyler 2013 140 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109225807 The Daily Telegraph Frank Coles 9 September 2022 Newspapers.com subscription 4 more clubs in League 5 June 1950 11 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. goalcorr The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record by Tony Brown lists Baldwin as the scorer of this goal, but multiple contemporary newspaper reports credit Doncaster. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/174435103 Sunday Dispatch 13 June 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Four quick goals 18 March 1934 28 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/174435272 The People 13 June 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Aldershot 4, Gillingham 1 18 March 1934 28 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 Elligate David Gillingham FC On This Day Pitch Publishing 2009 978-1-9054-1145-0 Mitchell Colin Reeves Jon Tyler Daniel The History of English Football Clubs New Holland Publishers 2013 978-1-78009-449-6 Soar Phil Martin Tyler Encyclopedia of British Football 1983 CollinsWillow 978-0-00218-049-8 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 Fc Season, 1934-35