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2000–01 Gillingham F.C. season

During the 2000–01 English football season, Gillingham F.C. competed in the Football League First Division, the second tier of the English football league system. It was the 69th season in which Gillingham competed in the Football League, and the 51st since the club was voted back into the league in 1950. In the preceding season, Gillingham had beaten Wigan Athletic in the Second Division play-off final to gain promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time in the club's history. Having led the team to promotion, manager Peter Taylor left the club after a single season to become manager of FA Premier League club Leicester City and was replaced by veteran player Andy Hessenthaler. In his first season as manager, he led Gillingham to a mid-table finish in the First Division.

Gillingham
2000–01 season
ChairmanPaul Scally
ManagerAndy Hessenthaler
First Division13th
FA CupFourth round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Marlon King (15)
All: Marlon King (15)
Highest home attendance10,518 (v Crystal Palace, 26 December 2000)
Lowest home attendance2,743 (v Torquay United, 22 August 2000)

Gillingham also competed in two knock-out tournaments. In the FA Cup the team reached the fourth round but then lost to Chelsea of the Premier League. The team were also eliminated from the Football League Cup by a Premier League team, losing to Manchester City in the second round. Gillingham played 52 competitive matches, winning 15, drawing 17, and losing 20. Marlon King, a new signing at the start of the season, was the team's top goalscorer with 15 goals. Vince Bartram and Chris Hope made the most appearances; both played in all 52 of the team's matches. The highest attendance recorded at the club's home ground, Priestfield Stadium, was 10,518 for the visit of Crystal Palace on 26 December.

Background and pre-season edit

 
Paul Shaw (pictured in 2011) was one of the club's summer signings.

The 2000–01 season was Gillingham's 69th season playing in the Football League and the 51st since the club was elected back into the League in 1950 after being voted out in 1938. In the previous season, the team had finished third in the Football League Second Division and qualified for the play-offs for promotion to the First Division.[1] After defeating Stoke City in the semi-finals, Gillingham beat Wigan Athletic in the final to reach the second tier of the English football league system for the first time in the club's history.[2][3] Following promotion, Gillingham offered a new contract to manager Peter Taylor to remain in charge for the 2000–01 season. He rejected it, however, and left to take over at FA Premier League team Leicester City, replacing Martin O'Neill, who had moved to Celtic.[4] Veteran Gillingham player Andy Hessenthaler was appointed player-manager to replace Taylor, his first managerial appointment.[5][6]

The club signed three new players ahead of the first competitive game of the new season, two of whom were forwards. Hessenthaler's first signing as manager was Marlon King, a forward, who joined from Barnet of the Third Division for a transfer fee of £250,000 (equivalent to £530,000 in 2023). King, aged 20, had reportedly attracted interest from Premier League clubs and was viewed as a highly promising prospect for the future.[7] The second new forward to join the club was Paul Shaw, who was signed from Millwall for £450,000 (equivalent to £960,000 in 2023), at the time the third-highest transfer fee paid by Gillingham.[8] The third new signing was a defender: Chris Hope arrived from Scunthorpe United for £250,000 (equivalent to £530,000 in 2023).[9] In an interview with the Sunday Times, Hessenthaler stated that he had "told the boys we want to try and make the play-offs".[10] Despite this, Gillingham were picked as one of the three teams most likely to be relegated from the First Division by Jason Tomas of The Observer.[11]

The club adopted a new kit, replacing the previous season's blue and black striped shirts, black shorts and black socks with plain blue shirts, white shorts and blue socks. The away kit, to be worn in the event of a clash of colours with the home team, consisted of white shirts, blue shorts and white socks.[12] The team prepared for the new season with a number of friendly matches, including one against Manchester City of the Premier League.[13] At the start of the season, building work was ongoing at the club's home ground, Priestfield Stadium. The new Medway Stand, replacing an older grandstand demolished a year earlier, was open to spectators but the work had not been completed on all its facilities.[14][15][16]

First Division edit

August–December edit

 
Junior Lewis (pictured in 2009) scored the goal which secured Gillingham's first ever win in the second tier of English football.

Gillingham's first match in the second tier of English football was at home to Stockport County.[17] Guy Butters scored the club's first goal at that level in the second minute of the game, but Stockport scored three times to claim the win.[17][18] Hessenthaler described the result as "a wake-up call".[14] Shaw and Hope made their debuts in the starting line-up and King made his as a substitute;[19] Shaw was stretchered off in the first half after suffering an ankle injury which would keep him out of the team for the next six weeks.[8][14][20] Andy Thomson replaced him in the starting line-up for the game away to Tranmere Rovers, which Gillingham lost 3–2.[21] In both of the next two First Division games, at home to Portsmouth and away to Burnley, Gillingham took the lead but then conceded an equalising goal; each of the matches finished as a draw.[22] The Guardian's correspondent wrote that Gillingham were the better team against Portsmouth although Hessenthaler said that his team's play had been "a little bit too predictable".[23] After four games, Gillingham were 21st in the 24-team league table.[24] The team won their first league match of the season at the fifth attempt, defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 at Priestfield with a fourth-minute goal by Junior Lewis,[25][26] but then lost away to Grimsby Town. In the second half of September, Gillingham won at home to struggling Huddersfield Town, managed by former Gillingham player Steve Bruce,[27] but then lost 3–0 away to Fulham, who continued a run of having won every First Division game since the start of the season. Hessenthaler commented "we just couldn't get near them ... quite frankly I'm pleased it was only 3–0".[28][29] King was included in the starting line-up for the first time in early September but after failing to score in five starts he reverted to the role of substitute, with Thomson preferred as a starter.[19]

Gillingham drew 4–4 away to Wimbledon on 14 October,[30] the only match in the entirety of the First Division during the 2000–01 season to feature eight or more goals,[31] which prompted Hessenthaler to say "We'll be straight back on the training ground to work on our defending as we keep getting punished by decent sides." His opposite number Terry Burton noted that the Gillingham team had taken on the qualities which Hessenthaler displayed as a player, saying "Their spirit epitomises what their manager is all about ... He gives 100 per cent and has taken that infectious enthusiasm into management".[30] Gillingham then failed to score any goals in the next four league matches.[32] Carl Asaba, the team's top goalscorer in all competitions at this point in the season,[33] was substituted in the second of these games, a goalless draw at home to Barnsley, after injuring his hamstring;[34] he would not play again for more than six weeks.[19] Iffy Onuora, who had been a regular in the team in the second half of the previous season but had yet to start a game in the 2000–01 season, replaced him for the next five games but then reverted to being used only as a substitute.[19][35] The goalless run came to an end with a 2–1 victory away to Sheffield United on 4 November, Gillingham's first league win for seven games and first away league win of the season,[36] but the team then lost both their next two games 3–1.[32] King scored his first goal for the club in the second of these defeats.[32] Victory away to Blackburn Rovers in the last game of November, achieved despite Shaw being sent off, left Gillingham 14th in the table. Ron Clarke of the Sunday Times wrote that Blackburn had been arrogant in their approach to the game in the first half and allowed Gillingham to score two simple goals.[37][38]

Gillingham began December with consecutive league defeats at home to Birmingham City and away to Norwich City,[39][40] but then beat Preston North End 4–0 at Priestfield,[41] beginning an unbeaten league run which would ultimately last for nine games.[32] Asaba scored twice against Preston on his return to the starting line-up.[21][41] The team's final game of 2000 resulted in a 4–1 win at home to Crystal Palace; Asaba scored the team's first hat-trick of the season but Shaw was again carried off on a stretcher after suffering another ankle injury, although on this occasion he did not miss any games.[21][42][43] The attendance of 10,518 was the highest for any match at Priestfield during the season.[33] An aggressive confrontation took place shortly before the end of the first half involving players from both teams which led to both clubs being fined by the Football Association four months later.[44] The result left Gillingham 13th in the table at the end of the year.[45]

January–May edit

Gillingham's first four league matches of 2001 were all drawn. The first two, away to Portsmouth and at home to Burnley, finished goalless, and Gillingham followed this with a 2–2 draw away to Crystal Palace and a 1–1 draw away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.[32][46] Following the Crystal Palace game, Brian Scovell of the Sunday Telegraph described Gillingham as "one of the best organised sides in the First Division".[47] King replaced Asaba in the starting line-up against Wolverhampton Wanderers, his first start since before Christmas, and scored his team's goal; he would go on to start every game for the remainder of the season.[21] Gillingham extended their unbeaten league run with victories at home to Grimsby Town and away to Huddersfield Town, in both of which King scored the winning goal. Hessenthaler was extremely pleased with his team's recent performances and told the media "If we can now consolidate this year, our aim will then be to do what Crewe have done and see if we can stay in this division for the next four or five years".[32][48] Huddersfield manager Lou Macari contended that Gillingham were "the kind of team capable of upsetting anybody in this division".[49] The wins took Gillingham into the top half of the table in 12th place,[50] but the unbeaten run came to an end in the next game with a 1–0 defeat at home to Queens Park Rangers.[32] Gillingham lost their next two games, 2–0 at home to Fulham and 2–1 away to Sheffield Wednesday. Asaba scored against Sheffield Wednesday after coming on a substitute in what would prove to be his last appearance for Gillingham; he was transferred to Sheffield United in March.[21][51]

Although the series of consecutive defeats ended with a 0–0 draw at home to Wimbledon on 6 March, it meant that Gillingham had only scored once in the last four matches and slipped to 15th in the league table.[52] Onuora replaced Shaw against Wimbledon, his first start since November; Shaw had still yet to score a goal since his transfer to the club.[32] On 10 March, Gillingham came back from 3–1 down to draw 3–3 away to Bolton Wanderers, King scoring the equaliser in the final five minutes of the game,[53][54] and then won at home to Tranmere Rovers with goals from King and Onuora, who had now been the starting forwards for three consecutive matches and would remain so for the rest of the season.[21][55] Hessenthaler signed another forward, Guy Ipoua, from Scunthorpe United for £25,000 (equivalent to £50,000 in 2023),[56] but he was used only as a substitute for the remainder of the season.[19] Shaw returned to the starting line-up against Barnsley on 25 March but was now used in a linking role between the midfield and the forwards rather than as an all-out attacking player.[8] Onuora scored the team's second hat-trick of the season in a 4–3 win at home to Norwich City on 7 April and Gillingham then scored four goals for a second consecutive game as they defeated Sheffield United 4–1; Shaw scored his first goal for the club in the latter game.[32][57][58] The next two games, however, resulted in defeats to Crewe Alexandra and West Bromwich Albion.[32]

Victory in the game away to Nottingham Forest on 28 April would mean that Gillingham were sufficiently far ahead of the bottom three places that they could not finish in a relegation position. King scored the only goal in a 1–0 win which ensured that the team would be playing in the First Division again the following season.[59][60] In the final match of the 2000–01 season, Gillingham played Blackburn Rovers, who had already clinched promotion to the Premier League, at Priestfield. Blackburn held the lead for most of the game, but King scored an equaliser in the last minute to secure a draw.[61] Gillingham ended their first season in the second tier of English football 13th in the league table.[62]

Match details edit

Key

  • In result column, Gillingham's score shown first
  • H = Home match
  • A = Away match

Results[32]

Date Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance
12 August 2000 Stockport County (H) 1–3 Butters 9,429
19 August 2000 Tranmere Rovers (A) 2–3 Asaba, Southall (pen.) 8,355
25 August 2000 Portsmouth (H) 1–1 Thomson 8,741
28 August 2000 Burnley (A) 1–1 Asaba 15,611
2 September 2000 Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) 1–0 Lewis 10,017
9 September 2000 Grimsby Town (A) 0–1 4,512
13 September 2000 Queens Park Rangers (A) 2–2 Asaba, Hessenthaler 10,655
16 September 2000 Huddersfield Town (H) 2–1 Butters, Smith 8,503
23 September 2000 Fulham (A) 0–3 13,032
30 September 2000 Sheffield Wednesday (H) 2–0 Butters, Thomson 9,099
6 October 2000 Bolton Wanderers (H) 2–2 Smith, Onuora 9,311
14 October 2000 Wimbledon (A) 4–4 Thomson (2), Saunders, Asaba 9,030
17 October 2000 Watford (A) 0–0 12,356
21 October 2000 Barnsley (H) 0–0 9,030
25 October 2000 Birmingham City (A) 0–1 26,044
28 October 2000 Crewe Alexandra (H) 0–1 8,347
4 November 2000 Sheffield United (A) 2–1 Smith, Thomson 14,028
12 November 2000 Nottingham Forest (H) 1–3 Onuora 9,884
18 November 2000 West Bromwich Albion (A) 1–3 King 16,410
25 November 2000 Blackburn Rovers (A) 2–1 Hessenthaler, Curtis (o.g.) 18,061
2 December 2000 Birmingham City (H) 1–2 King 9,247
9 December 2000 Norwich City (A) 0–1 16,725
16 December 2000 Preston North End (H) 4–0 Asaba (2), Ashby, King 8,198
23 December 2000 Stockport County (A) 2–2 Lewis, King 6,095
26 December 2000 Crystal Palace (H) 4–1 Asaba (3), Onuora 10,518
1 January 2001 Portsmouth (A) 0–0 14,526
13 January 2001 Burnley (H) 0–0 9,331
20 January 2001 Crystal Palace (A) 2–2 Saunders (2) 18,823
3 February 2001 Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) 1–1 King 26,627
10 February 2001 Grimsby Town (H) 1–0 King 8,633
17 February 2001 Huddersfield Town (A) 3–2 Saunders (2), King 10,576
20 February 2001 Queens Park Rangers (H) 0–1 10,432
24 February 2001 Fulham (H) 0–2 9,931
3 March 2001 Sheffield Wednesday (A) 1–2 Asaba 18,702
6 March 2001 Wimbledon (H) 0–0 8,841
10 March 2001 Bolton Wanderers (A) 3–3 King (2), Southall 13,161
20 March 2001 Tranmere Rovers (H) 2–1 King (pen.), Onuora 7,810
25 March 2001 Barnsley (A) 1–3 King 13,609
31 March 2001 Preston North End (A) 0–0 13,550
7 April 2001 Norwich City (H) 4–3 Hope, Onuora (3) 9,608
14 April 2001 Sheffield United (H) 4–1 Onuora, King (2), Shaw 9,502
16 April 2001 Crewe Alexandra (A) 1–2 Hope 7,051
21 April 2001 West Bromwich Albion (H) 1–2 Onuora 9,920
28 April 2001 Nottingham Forest (A) 1–0 King 20,670
1 May 2001 Watford (H) 0–3 9,098
6 May 2001 Blackburn Rovers (H) 1–1 King (pen.) 10,319

Partial league table edit

Football League First Division final table, positions 10–16[63]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
10 Sheffield United 46 19 11 16 52 49 +3 68
11 Nottingham Forest 46 20 8 18 55 53 +2 68
12 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 14 13 19 45 48 −3 55
13 Gillingham 46 13 16 17 61 66 −5 55
14 Crewe Alexandra 46 15 10 21 47 62 −15 55
15 Norwich City 46 14 12 20 46 58 −12 54
16 Barnsley 46 15 9 22 49 62 −13 54

Cup matches edit

FA Cup edit

As a First Division team, Gillingham entered the 2000–01 FA Cup at the third-round stage in early January. The team played AFC Bournemouth of the Second Division and won 3–2.[64] Hessenthaler suffered a serious knee injury and would not play again during the season.[33][65] In the fourth round, Gillingham were paired with Chelsea of the Premier League, who had eliminated Gillingham from the competition at the quarter-final stage in the previous season.[66] By half-time, Gillingham were 3–0 down to their higher-level opponents.[67] In the second half Shaw and Onuora both scored to reduce the deficit to a single goal, but Gillingham could not bring the scores level, and in the final minute Chelsea's Eiður Guðjohnsen scored to seal his team's win. Gillingham were thus eliminated from the FA Cup by Chelsea for the second consecutive season. Hessenthaler commented that "We made it hard for ourselves with our performance in the first half. You could see the difference in the leagues then and their class but we're disappointed with the way we defended".[67][68]

Match details edit

Key

  • In result column, Gillingham's score shown first
  • H = Home match
  • A = Away match

Results

Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance
6 January 2001 Third AFC Bournemouth (A) 3–2 Hope, Hessenthaler, Shaw 7,403
28 January 2001 Fourth Chelsea (H) 2–4 Shaw, Onuora 10,419

League Cup edit

Gillingham entered the 2000–01 Football League Cup in the first round and were paired with Torquay United of the Third Division. In front of a crowd of 2,743, the lowest attendance recorded at Priestfield during the season,[33] Gillingham won the first leg of the two-legged tie 2–0. Torquay won the second leg at their own ground, Plainmoor, 3–2, but Gillingham progressed to the next round by an aggregate score of 4–3.[69] In the second round, Gillingham played Manchester City, the first competitive meeting between the two teams since City defeated Gillingham in the Second Division play-off final in May 1999.[70][71] Gillingham held their higher-level opponents to a 1–1 draw at Maine Road in the first leg, prompting Oliver Kay of The Times to suggest that City would struggle to win the tie overall,[72] but Gillingham lost the second leg at Priestfield 4–2 and were thus eliminated from the competition.[73]

Match details edit

Key

  • In result column, Gillingham's score shown first
  • H = Home match
  • A = Away match

Results

Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance
22 August 2000 First (first leg) Torquay United (H) 2–0 Asaba, Thomson 2,743
5 September 2000 First (second leg) Torquay United (A) 2–3 Asaba, Aggrey (o.g.) 1,351
20 September 2000 Second (first leg) Manchester City (A) 1–1 Smith 17,408
26 September 2000 Second (second leg) Manchester City (H) 2–4 Thomson (2) 6,520

Players edit

 
Marlon King (pictured in 2012) was the team's top goalscorer.
 
Player-manager Andy Hessenthaler (pictured in 2009) made 27 appearances.
 
Andrew Crofts (pictured in 2008) made his professional debut at the age of 16.[74]

Twenty-eight players made at least one appearance for Gillingham during the season. Bartram and Hope made the most appearances; both played every one of the team's 52 competitive matches. As they were in the starting line-up for every game and not substituted at any point, both played every minute of competitive football during the team's season.[75] Five players made only one appearance each. Three of them were teenagers from the club's youth team, who were selected to make their debuts for the first team once Gillingham had secured their place in the First Division for another season. Of these, Andrew Crofts would go on to play nearly 200 times for the Gillingham first team and later play in the Premier League and for the Wales national team,[74][76] but the single appearances made by Mark Lovell and Michael Phillips would prove to be the entirety of the two players' professional careers.[77]

Thirteen players scored at least one goal for Gillingham during the season. King was the top scorer with 15 goals, all of them in First Division matches. Two other players reached double figures: Asaba scored 10 league goals and 12 in total and Onuora 9 league goals and 10 in total.[33]

Player statistics[33][78][79]
No. Player Position First Division FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 Vince Bartram GK 46 0 2 0 4 0 52 0
2 Mark Patterson DF 28 0 2 0 3 0 33 0
3 Roland Edge DF 20 0 2 0 3 0 25 0
4 Paul Smith MF 42 3 2 0 2 1 46 4
5 Barry Ashby DF 40 1 1 0 3 0 44 1
6 Guy Butters DF 12 3 1 0 4 0 17 3
7 Nicky Southall MF 44 2 2 0 3 0 49 2
8 Andy Hessenthaler MF 23 2 1 1 3 0 27 3
9 Carl Asaba FW 25 10 0 0 3 2 28 12
11 Ty Gooden MF 18 0 0 0 2 0 20 0
12 Nyron Nosworthy DF 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
14 Marcus Browning MF 31 0 1 0 4 0 36 0
15 Mark Saunders MF 35 5 1 0 2 0 38 5
16 Marlon King FW 38 15 2 0 3 0 43 15
17 Adrian Pennock DF 35 0 2 0 0 0 37 0
18 Chris Hope DF 46 2 2 1 4 0 52 3
23 Richard Rose DF 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
24[a] Junior Lewis MF 17 2 2 0 4 0 23 2
24[a] Mark Lovell FW 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
25[a] Brian McGlinchey DF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
25[a] Michael Phillips MF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
26 Kevin James MF 7 0 0 0 1 0 8 0
27[a] Andy Thomson FW 24 5 1 0 3 3 28 8
27[a] Andrew Crofts MF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
28 Rodney Rowe FW 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
29 Iffy Onuora FW 31 9 2 1 0 0 33 10
30 Paul Shaw FW 33 1 2 2 0 0 35 3
31 Guy Ipoua FW 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0

FW = Forward, MF = Midfielder, GK = Goalkeeper, DF = Defender

a. ^ Lovell, Phillips and Crofts were not allocated squad numbers until late in the season and were given numbers worn earlier in the season by players who had since left the club.

Aftermath edit

After the final game of the season, Hessenthaler told the media that his team had exceeded pre-season expectations, saying "to finish 13th is a fantastic effort and we've proved a few pundits and experts wrong".[80] Gillingham's final league position improved in each of the next two seasons, culminating in the club's best ever finish of 11th in the First Division in the 2002–03 season.[81][82] The team then spent two further seasons in the second tier before being relegated in 2005.[83]

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Works cited edit

2000, gillingham, season, during, 2000, english, football, season, gillingham, competed, football, league, first, division, second, tier, english, football, league, system, 69th, season, which, gillingham, competed, football, league, 51st, since, club, voted, . During the 2000 01 English football season Gillingham F C competed in the Football League First Division the second tier of the English football league system It was the 69th season in which Gillingham competed in the Football League and the 51st since the club was voted back into the league in 1950 In the preceding season Gillingham had beaten Wigan Athletic in the Second Division play off final to gain promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time in the club s history Having led the team to promotion manager Peter Taylor left the club after a single season to become manager of FA Premier League club Leicester City and was replaced by veteran player Andy Hessenthaler In his first season as manager he led Gillingham to a mid table finish in the First Division Gillingham2000 01 seasonChairmanPaul ScallyManagerAndy HessenthalerFirst Division13thFA CupFourth roundLeague CupSecond roundTop goalscorerLeague Marlon King 15 All Marlon King 15 Highest home attendance10 518 v Crystal Palace 26 December 2000 Lowest home attendance2 743 v Torquay United 22 August 2000 Home coloursAway colours 1999 20002001 02 Gillingham also competed in two knock out tournaments In the FA Cup the team reached the fourth round but then lost to Chelsea of the Premier League The team were also eliminated from the Football League Cup by a Premier League team losing to Manchester City in the second round Gillingham played 52 competitive matches winning 15 drawing 17 and losing 20 Marlon King a new signing at the start of the season was the team s top goalscorer with 15 goals Vince Bartram and Chris Hope made the most appearances both played in all 52 of the team s matches The highest attendance recorded at the club s home ground Priestfield Stadium was 10 518 for the visit of Crystal Palace on 26 December Contents 1 Background and pre season 2 First Division 2 1 August December 2 2 January May 2 3 Match details 2 4 Partial league table 3 Cup matches 3 1 FA Cup 3 1 1 Match details 3 2 League Cup 3 2 1 Match details 4 Players 5 Aftermath 6 References 6 1 Works citedBackground and pre season edit nbsp Paul Shaw pictured in 2011 was one of the club s summer signings The 2000 01 season was Gillingham s 69th season playing in the Football League and the 51st since the club was elected back into the League in 1950 after being voted out in 1938 In the previous season the team had finished third in the Football League Second Division and qualified for the play offs for promotion to the First Division 1 After defeating Stoke City in the semi finals Gillingham beat Wigan Athletic in the final to reach the second tier of the English football league system for the first time in the club s history 2 3 Following promotion Gillingham offered a new contract to manager Peter Taylor to remain in charge for the 2000 01 season He rejected it however and left to take over at FA Premier League team Leicester City replacing Martin O Neill who had moved to Celtic 4 Veteran Gillingham player Andy Hessenthaler was appointed player manager to replace Taylor his first managerial appointment 5 6 The club signed three new players ahead of the first competitive game of the new season two of whom were forwards Hessenthaler s first signing as manager was Marlon King a forward who joined from Barnet of the Third Division for a transfer fee of 250 000 equivalent to 530 000 in 2023 King aged 20 had reportedly attracted interest from Premier League clubs and was viewed as a highly promising prospect for the future 7 The second new forward to join the club was Paul Shaw who was signed from Millwall for 450 000 equivalent to 960 000 in 2023 at the time the third highest transfer fee paid by Gillingham 8 The third new signing was a defender Chris Hope arrived from Scunthorpe United for 250 000 equivalent to 530 000 in 2023 9 In an interview with the Sunday Times Hessenthaler stated that he had told the boys we want to try and make the play offs 10 Despite this Gillingham were picked as one of the three teams most likely to be relegated from the First Division by Jason Tomas of The Observer 11 The club adopted a new kit replacing the previous season s blue and black striped shirts black shorts and black socks with plain blue shirts white shorts and blue socks The away kit to be worn in the event of a clash of colours with the home team consisted of white shirts blue shorts and white socks 12 The team prepared for the new season with a number of friendly matches including one against Manchester City of the Premier League 13 At the start of the season building work was ongoing at the club s home ground Priestfield Stadium The new Medway Stand replacing an older grandstand demolished a year earlier was open to spectators but the work had not been completed on all its facilities 14 15 16 First Division editAugust December edit nbsp Junior Lewis pictured in 2009 scored the goal which secured Gillingham s first ever win in the second tier of English football Gillingham s first match in the second tier of English football was at home to Stockport County 17 Guy Butters scored the club s first goal at that level in the second minute of the game but Stockport scored three times to claim the win 17 18 Hessenthaler described the result as a wake up call 14 Shaw and Hope made their debuts in the starting line up and King made his as a substitute 19 Shaw was stretchered off in the first half after suffering an ankle injury which would keep him out of the team for the next six weeks 8 14 20 Andy Thomson replaced him in the starting line up for the game away to Tranmere Rovers which Gillingham lost 3 2 21 In both of the next two First Division games at home to Portsmouth and away to Burnley Gillingham took the lead but then conceded an equalising goal each of the matches finished as a draw 22 The Guardian s correspondent wrote that Gillingham were the better team against Portsmouth although Hessenthaler said that his team s play had been a little bit too predictable 23 After four games Gillingham were 21st in the 24 team league table 24 The team won their first league match of the season at the fifth attempt defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 0 at Priestfield with a fourth minute goal by Junior Lewis 25 26 but then lost away to Grimsby Town In the second half of September Gillingham won at home to struggling Huddersfield Town managed by former Gillingham player Steve Bruce 27 but then lost 3 0 away to Fulham who continued a run of having won every First Division game since the start of the season Hessenthaler commented we just couldn t get near them quite frankly I m pleased it was only 3 0 28 29 King was included in the starting line up for the first time in early September but after failing to score in five starts he reverted to the role of substitute with Thomson preferred as a starter 19 Gillingham drew 4 4 away to Wimbledon on 14 October 30 the only match in the entirety of the First Division during the 2000 01 season to feature eight or more goals 31 which prompted Hessenthaler to say We ll be straight back on the training ground to work on our defending as we keep getting punished by decent sides His opposite number Terry Burton noted that the Gillingham team had taken on the qualities which Hessenthaler displayed as a player saying Their spirit epitomises what their manager is all about He gives 100 per cent and has taken that infectious enthusiasm into management 30 Gillingham then failed to score any goals in the next four league matches 32 Carl Asaba the team s top goalscorer in all competitions at this point in the season 33 was substituted in the second of these games a goalless draw at home to Barnsley after injuring his hamstring 34 he would not play again for more than six weeks 19 Iffy Onuora who had been a regular in the team in the second half of the previous season but had yet to start a game in the 2000 01 season replaced him for the next five games but then reverted to being used only as a substitute 19 35 The goalless run came to an end with a 2 1 victory away to Sheffield United on 4 November Gillingham s first league win for seven games and first away league win of the season 36 but the team then lost both their next two games 3 1 32 King scored his first goal for the club in the second of these defeats 32 Victory away to Blackburn Rovers in the last game of November achieved despite Shaw being sent off left Gillingham 14th in the table Ron Clarke of the Sunday Times wrote that Blackburn had been arrogant in their approach to the game in the first half and allowed Gillingham to score two simple goals 37 38 Gillingham began December with consecutive league defeats at home to Birmingham City and away to Norwich City 39 40 but then beat Preston North End 4 0 at Priestfield 41 beginning an unbeaten league run which would ultimately last for nine games 32 Asaba scored twice against Preston on his return to the starting line up 21 41 The team s final game of 2000 resulted in a 4 1 win at home to Crystal Palace Asaba scored the team s first hat trick of the season but Shaw was again carried off on a stretcher after suffering another ankle injury although on this occasion he did not miss any games 21 42 43 The attendance of 10 518 was the highest for any match at Priestfield during the season 33 An aggressive confrontation took place shortly before the end of the first half involving players from both teams which led to both clubs being fined by the Football Association four months later 44 The result left Gillingham 13th in the table at the end of the year 45 January May edit Gillingham s first four league matches of 2001 were all drawn The first two away to Portsmouth and at home to Burnley finished goalless and Gillingham followed this with a 2 2 draw away to Crystal Palace and a 1 1 draw away to Wolverhampton Wanderers 32 46 Following the Crystal Palace game Brian Scovell of the Sunday Telegraph described Gillingham as one of the best organised sides in the First Division 47 King replaced Asaba in the starting line up against Wolverhampton Wanderers his first start since before Christmas and scored his team s goal he would go on to start every game for the remainder of the season 21 Gillingham extended their unbeaten league run with victories at home to Grimsby Town and away to Huddersfield Town in both of which King scored the winning goal Hessenthaler was extremely pleased with his team s recent performances and told the media If we can now consolidate this year our aim will then be to do what Crewe have done and see if we can stay in this division for the next four or five years 32 48 Huddersfield manager Lou Macari contended that Gillingham were the kind of team capable of upsetting anybody in this division 49 The wins took Gillingham into the top half of the table in 12th place 50 but the unbeaten run came to an end in the next game with a 1 0 defeat at home to Queens Park Rangers 32 Gillingham lost their next two games 2 0 at home to Fulham and 2 1 away to Sheffield Wednesday Asaba scored against Sheffield Wednesday after coming on a substitute in what would prove to be his last appearance for Gillingham he was transferred to Sheffield United in March 21 51 Although the series of consecutive defeats ended with a 0 0 draw at home to Wimbledon on 6 March it meant that Gillingham had only scored once in the last four matches and slipped to 15th in the league table 52 Onuora replaced Shaw against Wimbledon his first start since November Shaw had still yet to score a goal since his transfer to the club 32 On 10 March Gillingham came back from 3 1 down to draw 3 3 away to Bolton Wanderers King scoring the equaliser in the final five minutes of the game 53 54 and then won at home to Tranmere Rovers with goals from King and Onuora who had now been the starting forwards for three consecutive matches and would remain so for the rest of the season 21 55 Hessenthaler signed another forward Guy Ipoua from Scunthorpe United for 25 000 equivalent to 50 000 in 2023 56 but he was used only as a substitute for the remainder of the season 19 Shaw returned to the starting line up against Barnsley on 25 March but was now used in a linking role between the midfield and the forwards rather than as an all out attacking player 8 Onuora scored the team s second hat trick of the season in a 4 3 win at home to Norwich City on 7 April and Gillingham then scored four goals for a second consecutive game as they defeated Sheffield United 4 1 Shaw scored his first goal for the club in the latter game 32 57 58 The next two games however resulted in defeats to Crewe Alexandra and West Bromwich Albion 32 Victory in the game away to Nottingham Forest on 28 April would mean that Gillingham were sufficiently far ahead of the bottom three places that they could not finish in a relegation position King scored the only goal in a 1 0 win which ensured that the team would be playing in the First Division again the following season 59 60 In the final match of the 2000 01 season Gillingham played Blackburn Rovers who had already clinched promotion to the Premier League at Priestfield Blackburn held the lead for most of the game but King scored an equaliser in the last minute to secure a draw 61 Gillingham ended their first season in the second tier of English football 13th in the league table 62 Match details edit Key In result column Gillingham s score shown first H Home match A Away matchpen Penalty kick o g Own goal Results 32 Date Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance 12 August 2000 Stockport County H 1 3 Butters 9 429 19 August 2000 Tranmere Rovers A 2 3 Asaba Southall pen 8 355 25 August 2000 Portsmouth H 1 1 Thomson 8 741 28 August 2000 Burnley A 1 1 Asaba 15 611 2 September 2000 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 1 0 Lewis 10 017 9 September 2000 Grimsby Town A 0 1 4 512 13 September 2000 Queens Park Rangers A 2 2 Asaba Hessenthaler 10 655 16 September 2000 Huddersfield Town H 2 1 Butters Smith 8 503 23 September 2000 Fulham A 0 3 13 032 30 September 2000 Sheffield Wednesday H 2 0 Butters Thomson 9 099 6 October 2000 Bolton Wanderers H 2 2 Smith Onuora 9 311 14 October 2000 Wimbledon A 4 4 Thomson 2 Saunders Asaba 9 030 17 October 2000 Watford A 0 0 12 356 21 October 2000 Barnsley H 0 0 9 030 25 October 2000 Birmingham City A 0 1 26 044 28 October 2000 Crewe Alexandra H 0 1 8 347 4 November 2000 Sheffield United A 2 1 Smith Thomson 14 028 12 November 2000 Nottingham Forest H 1 3 Onuora 9 884 18 November 2000 West Bromwich Albion A 1 3 King 16 410 25 November 2000 Blackburn Rovers A 2 1 Hessenthaler Curtis o g 18 061 2 December 2000 Birmingham City H 1 2 King 9 247 9 December 2000 Norwich City A 0 1 16 725 16 December 2000 Preston North End H 4 0 Asaba 2 Ashby King 8 198 23 December 2000 Stockport County A 2 2 Lewis King 6 095 26 December 2000 Crystal Palace H 4 1 Asaba 3 Onuora 10 518 1 January 2001 Portsmouth A 0 0 14 526 13 January 2001 Burnley H 0 0 9 331 20 January 2001 Crystal Palace A 2 2 Saunders 2 18 823 3 February 2001 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 1 1 King 26 627 10 February 2001 Grimsby Town H 1 0 King 8 633 17 February 2001 Huddersfield Town A 3 2 Saunders 2 King 10 576 20 February 2001 Queens Park Rangers H 0 1 10 432 24 February 2001 Fulham H 0 2 9 931 3 March 2001 Sheffield Wednesday A 1 2 Asaba 18 702 6 March 2001 Wimbledon H 0 0 8 841 10 March 2001 Bolton Wanderers A 3 3 King 2 Southall 13 161 20 March 2001 Tranmere Rovers H 2 1 King pen Onuora 7 810 25 March 2001 Barnsley A 1 3 King 13 609 31 March 2001 Preston North End A 0 0 13 550 7 April 2001 Norwich City H 4 3 Hope Onuora 3 9 608 14 April 2001 Sheffield United H 4 1 Onuora King 2 Shaw 9 502 16 April 2001 Crewe Alexandra A 1 2 Hope 7 051 21 April 2001 West Bromwich Albion H 1 2 Onuora 9 920 28 April 2001 Nottingham Forest A 1 0 King 20 670 1 May 2001 Watford H 0 3 9 098 6 May 2001 Blackburn Rovers H 1 1 King pen 10 319 Partial league table edit Main article 2000 01 Football League First Division Football League First Division final table positions 10 16 63 Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 10 Sheffield United 46 19 11 16 52 49 3 68 11 Nottingham Forest 46 20 8 18 55 53 2 68 12 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 14 13 19 45 48 3 55 13 Gillingham 46 13 16 17 61 66 5 55 14 Crewe Alexandra 46 15 10 21 47 62 15 55 15 Norwich City 46 14 12 20 46 58 12 54 16 Barnsley 46 15 9 22 49 62 13 54Cup matches editFA Cup edit As a First Division team Gillingham entered the 2000 01 FA Cup at the third round stage in early January The team played AFC Bournemouth of the Second Division and won 3 2 64 Hessenthaler suffered a serious knee injury and would not play again during the season 33 65 In the fourth round Gillingham were paired with Chelsea of the Premier League who had eliminated Gillingham from the competition at the quarter final stage in the previous season 66 By half time Gillingham were 3 0 down to their higher level opponents 67 In the second half Shaw and Onuora both scored to reduce the deficit to a single goal but Gillingham could not bring the scores level and in the final minute Chelsea s Eidur Gudjohnsen scored to seal his team s win Gillingham were thus eliminated from the FA Cup by Chelsea for the second consecutive season Hessenthaler commented that We made it hard for ourselves with our performance in the first half You could see the difference in the leagues then and their class but we re disappointed with the way we defended 67 68 Match details edit Key In result column Gillingham s score shown first H Home match A Away matchpen Penalty kick o g Own goal Results Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance 6 January 2001 Third AFC Bournemouth A 3 2 Hope Hessenthaler Shaw 7 403 28 January 2001 Fourth Chelsea H 2 4 Shaw Onuora 10 419 League Cup edit Gillingham entered the 2000 01 Football League Cup in the first round and were paired with Torquay United of the Third Division In front of a crowd of 2 743 the lowest attendance recorded at Priestfield during the season 33 Gillingham won the first leg of the two legged tie 2 0 Torquay won the second leg at their own ground Plainmoor 3 2 but Gillingham progressed to the next round by an aggregate score of 4 3 69 In the second round Gillingham played Manchester City the first competitive meeting between the two teams since City defeated Gillingham in the Second Division play off final in May 1999 70 71 Gillingham held their higher level opponents to a 1 1 draw at Maine Road in the first leg prompting Oliver Kay of The Times to suggest that City would struggle to win the tie overall 72 but Gillingham lost the second leg at Priestfield 4 2 and were thus eliminated from the competition 73 Match details edit Key In result column Gillingham s score shown first H Home match A Away matchpen Penalty kick o g Own goal Results Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance 22 August 2000 First first leg Torquay United H 2 0 Asaba Thomson 2 743 5 September 2000 First second leg Torquay United A 2 3 Asaba Aggrey o g 1 351 20 September 2000 Second first leg Manchester City A 1 1 Smith 17 408 26 September 2000 Second second leg Manchester City H 2 4 Thomson 2 6 520Players edit nbsp Marlon King pictured in 2012 was the team s top goalscorer nbsp Player manager Andy Hessenthaler pictured in 2009 made 27 appearances nbsp Andrew Crofts pictured in 2008 made his professional debut at the age of 16 74 Twenty eight players made at least one appearance for Gillingham during the season Bartram and Hope made the most appearances both played every one of the team s 52 competitive matches As they were in the starting line up for every game and not substituted at any point both played every minute of competitive football during the team s season 75 Five players made only one appearance each Three of them were teenagers from the club s youth team who were selected to make their debuts for the first team once Gillingham had secured their place in the First Division for another season Of these Andrew Crofts would go on to play nearly 200 times for the Gillingham first team and later play in the Premier League and for the Wales national team 74 76 but the single appearances made by Mark Lovell and Michael Phillips would prove to be the entirety of the two players professional careers 77 Thirteen players scored at least one goal for Gillingham during the season King was the top scorer with 15 goals all of them in First Division matches Two other players reached double figures Asaba scored 10 league goals and 12 in total and Onuora 9 league goals and 10 in total 33 Player statistics 33 78 79 No Player Position First Division FA Cup League Cup Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals 1 Vince Bartram GK 46 0 2 0 4 0 52 0 2 Mark Patterson DF 28 0 2 0 3 0 33 0 3 Roland Edge DF 20 0 2 0 3 0 25 0 4 Paul Smith MF 42 3 2 0 2 1 46 4 5 Barry Ashby DF 40 1 1 0 3 0 44 1 6 Guy Butters DF 12 3 1 0 4 0 17 3 7 Nicky Southall MF 44 2 2 0 3 0 49 2 8 Andy Hessenthaler MF 23 2 1 1 3 0 27 3 9 Carl Asaba FW 25 10 0 0 3 2 28 12 11 Ty Gooden MF 18 0 0 0 2 0 20 0 12 Nyron Nosworthy DF 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 14 Marcus Browning MF 31 0 1 0 4 0 36 0 15 Mark Saunders MF 35 5 1 0 2 0 38 5 16 Marlon King FW 38 15 2 0 3 0 43 15 17 Adrian Pennock DF 35 0 2 0 0 0 37 0 18 Chris Hope DF 46 2 2 1 4 0 52 3 23 Richard Rose DF 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 24 a Junior Lewis MF 17 2 2 0 4 0 23 2 24 a Mark Lovell FW 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 25 a Brian McGlinchey DF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 25 a Michael Phillips MF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 26 Kevin James MF 7 0 0 0 1 0 8 0 27 a Andy Thomson FW 24 5 1 0 3 3 28 8 27 a Andrew Crofts MF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 28 Rodney Rowe FW 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 29 Iffy Onuora FW 31 9 2 1 0 0 33 10 30 Paul Shaw FW 33 1 2 2 0 0 35 3 31 Guy Ipoua FW 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 FW Forward MF Midfielder GK Goalkeeper DF Defender a Lovell Phillips and Crofts were not allocated squad numbers until late in the season and were given numbers worn earlier in the season by players who had since left the club Aftermath editAfter the final game of the season Hessenthaler told the media that his team had exceeded pre season expectations saying to finish 13th is a fantastic effort and we ve proved a few pundits and experts wrong 80 Gillingham s final league position improved in each of the next two seasons culminating in the club s best ever finish of 11th in the First Division in the 2002 03 season 81 82 The team then spent two further seasons in the second tier before being relegated in 2005 83 References edit Rollin amp Rollin 2000 p 33 Rollin amp Rollin 2000 pp 34 35 Second time lucky for Gills BBC Sport 28 May 2000 Archived from the original on 3 March 2003 Retrieved 4 July 2021 The Peter principle BBC Sport 12 June 2000 Archived from the original on 2 April 2021 Retrieved 7 August 2008 Triggs 2001 p 156 Gillingham Football Sunday Times 13 August 2000 p 70 Retrieved 23 November 2021 via Gale Triggs 2001 p 185 a b c Triggs 2001 p 288 Triggs 2001 p 162 Taylor Louise 13 August 2000 Upstarts Gillingham throw down gauntlet Football Sunday Times p 60 Retrieved 7 December 2021 via Gale Tomas Jason 6 August 2000 Football Nationwide League Countdown Nationwide predictions The Observer p 6 Retrieved 23 November 2021 via Gale A Season to Remember Gillingham Vs Blackburn Rovers Matchday Programme 28 29 6 May 2001 Munro Jim 30 July 2000 City slicker Football round up Sunday Times p 11 Retrieved 23 November 2021 via Gale a b c Wood Stephen 14 August 2000 Hessenthaler sees the flaws Football The Times p 5 Retrieved 27 October 2021 via Gale The Changing Face of KRBS Priestfield Gillingham F C 7 September 2007 Archived from the original on 15 November 2007 Retrieved 9 August 2021 Elligate 2009 p 105 a b Gillingham 1 3 Stockport BBC Sport 12 August 2001 Retrieved 18 November 2021 Elligate 2009 p 123 a b c d e Rollin amp Rollin 2001 p 185 Priestfield Diary Gillingham Vs Portsmouth Matchday Programme 17 25 August 2000 a b c d e f Rollin amp Rollin 2001 pp 184 185 Rollin amp Rollin 2001 pp 112 184 300 Football First Division Thomson makes point for new boys The Guardian 26 August 2000 p 2 Retrieved 23 November 2021 via Gale League Division 1 table after close of play on 28 August 2000 11v11 AFS Enterprises Retrieved 10 November 2021 Elligate 2009 p 136 Gillingham 1 0 Wolves BBC Sport 6 September 2000 Retrieved 7 November 2021 Wilson Peter 17 September 2000 Smith sends Bruce rock bottom The football round up Sunday Times p 15 Retrieved 17 November 2021 via Gale Rollin amp Rollin 2001 p 180 Brown Geoff 24 September 2000 Football Tigana enjoys life at the top The Independent on Sunday p 13 Retrieved 17 November 2021 via Gale a b Lee Marcus 16 October 2000 Football Gills join in Crazy Gang show The Independent p 5 Retrieved 24 November 2021 via Gale King Ian Mulrine Stephen 15 February 2006 England 2000 01 Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation Retrieved 17 November 2021 a b c d e f g h i j k Rollin amp Rollin 2001 p 184 a b c d e f Brown 2003 p 110 Johnson George 28 October 2000 Ming s Treatment Palace Gillingham Vs Crewe Alexandra Matchday Programme 24 Rollin amp Rollin 2000 p 177 Wilson Peter 5 November 2000 Fulham spoil Macari s day Football round up Sunday Times p 6 Retrieved 24 November 2021 via Gale Clarke Ron 26 November 2000 Careless Blackburn slip to surprise defeat Football Sunday Times p 7 Retrieved 24 November 2021 via Gale League Division 1 table after close of play on 30 November 2000 11v11 AFS Enterprises Retrieved 17 November 2021 Stephens Andy 4 December 2000 Horsfield gains due reward for his persistence Football The Times p 7 Retrieved 24 November 2021 via Gale Norwich 1 0 Gillingham BBC Sport 9 December 2000 Retrieved 24 November 2021 a b Gillingham 4 0 Preston BBC Sport 16 December 2000 Retrieved 24 November 2021 Gillingham 4 1 Crystal Palace BBC Sport 26 December 2000 Retrieved 7 November 2021 Priestfield Diary Gillingham Vs Chelsea Matchday Programme 17 28 January 2000 FA issues fines over Gillingham fracas Football The Times 12 April 2001 p 39 Retrieved 25 November 2021 via Gale League Division 1 table after close of play on 31 December 2000 11v11 AFS Enterprises Retrieved 10 November 2021 Willars Ian 5 February 2001 Jones s rebuilding task has to start soon Wolves 1 Gillingham 1 Birmingham Evening Mail p 50 Retrieved 25 November 2021 via Gale Scovell Brian 21 January 2001 Freedman reprieves woeful Palace Sunday Telegraph Retrieved 7 December 2021 via Gale Wilson Peter 18 February 2001 King s winner keeps Gills happy The football round up Sunday Times p 10 Retrieved 25 November 2021 via Gale Keeling Peter 19 February 2001 King crowns victory Daily Telegraph p 10 Retrieved 7 December 2021 via Gale League Division 1 table after close of play on 17 February 2001 11v11 AFS Enterprises Retrieved 19 November 2021 Gillingham 4 1 Sheff Utd BBC Sport 14 April 2001 Retrieved 25 November 2021 League Division 1 table after close of play on 6 March 2001 11v11 AFS Enterprises Retrieved 19 November 2021 Bolton 3 3 Gillingham BBC Sport 10 March 2001 Retrieved 18 November 2021 Slater Richard 11 March 2001 Football King crowns revival as Bolton fade away The Independent on Sunday p 3 Retrieved 25 November 2021 via Gale Onuora strike keeps Tranmere in the mire The Guardian 21 March 2001 p 30 Retrieved 25 November 2021 via Gale Ipoua I think my Gills days are numbered Kent Online Kent Messenger Group 17 March 2003 Retrieved 19 November 2021 Gillingham 4 3 Norwich BBC Sport 7 April 2001 Retrieved 18 November 2021 Gillingham 4 1 Sheff Utd BBC Sport 14 April 2001 Retrieved 18 November 2021 Elligate 2009 p 73 Nottm Forest 0 1 Gillingham BBC Sport 28 April 2001 Retrieved 18 November 2021 Redding Mark 7 May 2001 Football First Division No time to relax as Souness prepares for a bright future Gillingham 1 Blackburn Rovers 1 The Guardian p 11 Retrieved 10 November 2021 via Gale League Division 1 end of season table for 2000 01 season 11v11 AFS Enterprises Retrieved 10 November 2021 Rollin amp Rollin 2001 p 44 Rollin amp Rollin 2001 p 608 Brodkin Jon 24 January 2001 Football FA Cup countdown Thrills Gills and giants to kill Gillingham s player manager has Chelsea in his sights The Guardian p 30 Retrieved 25 November 2021 via Gale Kempson Russell 21 February 2001 Chelsea gambol at giant killers expense Football The Times p 28 Retrieved 2 September 2021 via Gale a b Chelsea defeat brave Gills BBC Sport 28 January 2001 Retrieved 7 November 2021 Brodkin Jon 29 January 2001 FA Cup fourth round Chelsea calm jangling nerves Gillingham 2 Chelsea 4 The Guardian p 3 Retrieved 25 November 2021 via Gale Rollin amp Rollin 2001 pp 585 588 Brown 2003 pp 108 110 Pike Keith 31 May 1999 City stage another Manchester late show The Times p 31 Archived from the original on 27 July 2021 Retrieved 3 April 2021 via Gale Kay Oliver 21 September 2000 Late goal by Weah saves City s blushes Worthington Cup The Times p 39 Retrieved 7 December 2021 via Gale Rollin amp Rollin 2001 pp 590 591 a b Wise Chris 18 May 2010 Norwich City target Brighton s Crofts Eastern Daily Press Retrieved 5 November 2021 Rollin amp Rollin 2001 pp 184 585 588 590 591 608 611 Andrew Crofts Newport sign veteran Wales midfielder BBC Sport 26 June 2018 Retrieved 5 November 2021 Hugman 2015 pp 518 678 Today s Teams Gillingham Vs Crewe Alexandra Matchday Programme 56 28 October 2000 Today s Teams Gillingham Vs Blackburn Rovers Matchday Programme 56 6 May 2001 Gillingham hold Blackburn BBC Sport 6 May 2001 Retrieved 7 November 2021 League Division 1 end of season table for 2001 02 season 11v11 AFS Enterprises Retrieved 18 November 2021 Gillingham 2 1 Palace BBC Sport 4 May 2003 Retrieved 17 November 2021 Nottm Forest 2 2 Gillingham BBC Sport 8 May 2005 Retrieved 18 November 2021 Works cited edit Brown Tony 2003 The Definitive Gillingham F C A Complete Record Nottingham Soccerdata ISBN 978 1 89946 820 1 Elligate David 2009 Gillingham FC On This Day Durrington Pitch Publishing ISBN 978 1 90541 145 0 Hugman Barry 2015 The PFA Premier and Football League Players Records 1946 2015 London G2 Entertainment ISBN 978 1 78281 167 1 Rollin Glenda Rollin Jack eds 2000 Rothmans Football Yearbook 2000 01 London Headline Book Publishing ISBN 978 0 74727 232 8 Rollin Glenda Rollin Jack eds 2001 Rothmans Football Yearbook 2001 02 London Headline Book Publishing ISBN 978 0 74727 260 1 Triggs Roger 2001 The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club Stroud Tempus Publishing ISBN 978 0 75242 243 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2000 01 Gillingham F C season amp oldid 1226077598, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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