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1980–81 Gillingham F.C. season

Gillingham F.C.
1980–81 season
ChairmanClifford Grossmark[1]
ManagerGerry Summers
Third Division15th
FA CupSecond round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Ken Price (11)
All: Ken Price (13)
Highest home attendancetbc
Lowest home attendancetbc

During the 1980–81 English football season, Gillingham F.C. competed in the Football League Third Division, the third tier of the English football league system. It was the 49th season in which Gillingham competed in the Football League, and the 31st since the club was voted back into the league in 1950. The team won only twice in their first 12 games of the season and their form remained poor; by the end of 1980, they were in 21st place in the Third Division league table, a position which if maintained at the end of the season would result in relegation to the Fourth Division. Trevor Lee, signed for a new club record transfer fee, made his debut in January and was the team's highest-scoring player in the second half of the season. With two games remaining, Gillingham could still potentially be relegated, but victory in their final home match of the season secured another season in the Third Division. The team's manager, Gerry Summers, was dismissed from his post shortly after the season ended.

Gillingham also took part in two knockout competitions during the season. They were eliminated in the second round of the FA Cup after two replays by another Kent-based team, Maidstone United of the fifth-tier Alliance Premier League, in what was seen a shock result. They also reached the second round of the Football League Cup. The team played 54 competitive matches, winning 15, drawing 21, and losing 18. Ken Price was the team's top goalscorer, with 13 goals. Andy Ford and Mark Weatherly made the most appearances, each playing 50 times. The highest attendance recorded at the club's home ground, Priestfield Stadium, was 9,099 for the initial FA Cup match against Maidstone United.

Background and pre-season

The 1980–81 season was Gillingham's 49th season playing in the Football League and the 31st since the club was elected back into the League in 1950 after being voted out in 1938.[2] It was the club's seventh consecutive season in the Football League Third Division, the third tier of the English football league system, since the team gained promotion from the Fourth Division in 1974.[2] In the six seasons since then, Gillingham had achieved a best finish of fourth place, one position away from promotion to the Second Division, in the 1978–79 season.[3] The club had never reached the second level of English football in its history.[4][5]

Gerry Summers was the team's manager, a position he had held since 1975;[6] Alan Hodgkinson was assistant manager.[3] Summers signed three new players prior to the new season. Peter Henderson, a winger, joined the club from Chester and Andy Ford, a defender, arrived from Swindon Town, both for transfer fees of £30,000.[7] Kevin Lloyd, a forward, joined Gillingham on a free transfer from Cardiff City.[8] The players' kit for the season consisted of Gillingham's usual blue shirts, white shorts and white socks.[3] The away kit, to be worn in the event of a clash of colours with the home team, consisted of red and white halved shirts with red shorts and socks.[9] Speaking to the press before the start of the season, Summers said that it was "now or never" in terms of the club gaining promotion, but Gillingham were seen as outsiders by bookmakers.[10] With regard to his plans for the season, the manager said "I want only battlers and I don't care if they're lacking in technical aspects. So long as they've got guts and character, then we've all got a chance."[10]

Third Division

August–December

Fellows Park football stadium, Walsall
Gillingham drew 3–3 at Fellows Park, home ground of Walsall, on 1 November.

Gillingham's first league game of the season was away to Exeter City on 16 August;[11] Ford scored Gillingham's goal in a 2–1 defeat.[12] Three days later, Gillingham played their first league match at their home ground, Priestfield Stadium, of the campaign.[11] Henderson scored his first goal for the club and Damien Richardson added a second to give Gillingham a 2–0 victory over Reading.[11][13] Henderson scored again four days later as his team drew 1–1 with Barnsley, who had to play almost the entire game with only ten men after one of their players was sent off just three minutes after the kick-off.[14]

The team ended 1980 with two games on consecutive days, both of which ended in defeat.[11] On Boxing Day, they played Millwall at Priestfield.[11] After falling a goal behind, Gillingham equalised through Mark Weatherly but then conceded for a second time in the final ten minutes of the game; it was the first time that Millwall had won an away game in the Football League for over a year.[15] The next day, Gillingham played away to Colchester United; once again they fell a goal behind, equalised, but then conceded a late winner, this time in the final minute of the match.[16] Gary Sutton, an eighteen-year-old goalkeeper, made his debut against Colchester in place of Ron Hillyard, who missed a game for the first time since April 1978.[17][18] At the end of the calendar year, Gillingham were in 21st place in the Third Division league table,[19] a position which if maintained at the end of the season would result in relegation to the Fourth Division.[11]

January–May

Footballer Steve Bruce
A goal from Steve Bruce on 24 January gave Gillingham their second consecutive 1–0 victory.

Gillingham's first match of 1981 was a goalless draw at Priestfield Stadium against Rotherham United.[11] On 8 January, Gillingham signed the forward Trevor Lee from Colchester United for a transfer fee of £90,000, a new record for the highest fee paid by the club to sign a player.[20] He was expected to make his debut on 10 January against Burnley, but the match was postponed due to a viral outbreak among the Burnley players, and he instead made his debut a week later in an away game against Sheffield United. Gillingham won 1–0, Ford scoring the only goal from a penalty kick ten minutes from the end of the game.

Gillingham's final game of the season was away to Charlton Athletic, who had already clinched promotion to the Second Division. After Gillingham conceded a goal, Lee quickly equalised, but the home team scored again in the second half to secure a 2–1 victory. Lee's goal was his sixth for Gillingham, making him the team's highest scorer in the period since he was signed.[11] The result meant that Gillingham finished the season 15th in the league table, six places above the relegation positions.[11]

League match results

Key

Results
Date Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance
16 August 1980 Exeter City (A) 1–2 Ford 3,630
19 August 1980 Reading (H) 2–0 Henderson, Richardson 5,193
23 August 1980 Barnsley (H) 1–1 Henderson 5,222
30 August 1980 Chesterfield (A) 0–2 5,535
6 September 1980 Newport County (H) 3–2 Hughes, Price, Henderson 4,712
13 September 1980 Carlisle United (A) 0–0 3,029
16 September 1980 Huddersfield Town (H) 0–0 5,092
20 September 1980 Plymouth Argyle (A) 1–4 Price 6,719
27 September 1980 Oxford United (H) 1–1 Richardson 4,137
30 September 1980 Huddersfield Town (A) 0–1 7,716
4 October 1980 Blackpool (A) 0–4 6,588
7 October 1980 Swindon Town (H) 0–0 4,066
11 October 1980 Fulham (H) 1–0 Westwood 4,730
18 October 1980 Rotherham United (A) 0–2 5,903
20 October 1980 Brentford (A) 3–3 Price (2), Westwood 6,790
25 October 1980 Hull City (H) 2–0 Bruce, Westwood 4,100
28 October 1980 Sheffield United (H) 2–2 Bruce, Westwood 4,976
1 November 1980 Walsall (A) 3–3 Nicholl, Westwood, Price 4,060
4 November 1980 Swindon Town (A) 0–0 4,719
8 November 1980 Portsmouth (H) 0–1 6,623
12 November 1980 Reading (A) 1–0 Hughes 4,648
15 November 1980 Exeter City (H) 1–5 Westwood 3,725
29 November 1980 Burnley (A) 2–3 White, Nicholl 5,767
6 December 1980 Charlton Athletic (H) 0–1 8,775
20 December 1980 Chester (A) 2–1 Crabbe, Price 1,740
26 December 1980 Millwall (H) 1–2 Weatherly 4,603
27 December 1980 Colchester United (A) 1–2 Price 3,879
3 January 1981 Rotherham United (H) 0–0 3,748
17 January 1981 Sheffield United (A) 1–0 Ford (pen.) 8,778
24 January 1981 Chesterfield (H) 1–0 Bruce 5,022
31 January 1981 Barnsley (A) 3–3 White, Lee, Price 13,703
7 February 1981 Carlisle United (H) 0–1 4,927
14 February 1981 Newport County (A) 1–1 Lee 5,152
21 February 1981 Oxford United (A) 1–1 Lee 3,641
28 February 1981 Plymouth Argyle (H) 0–1 4,396
7 March 1981 Blackpool (H) 3–1 White (2), Price 3,424
14 March 1981 Fulham (A) 2–3 Price, Ford 5,445
21 March 1981 Brentford (H) 2–0 Overton, White (pen.) 3,916
28 March 1981 Hull City (A) 2–2 Lee (2) 3,309
3 April 1981 Walsall (H) 1–0 Price 4,112
7 April 1981 Burnley (H) 0–0 4,412
11 April 1981 Portsmouth (A) 0–0 9,172
18 April 1981 Colchester United (H) 0–0 4,408
20 April 1981 Millwall (A) 0–0 4,214
25 April 1981 Chester (H) 2–1 Bruce, Cottam (o.g.) 3,228
2 May 1981 Charlton Athletic (A) 1–2 Lee 9,367

Partial league table

Main article: 1980–81 Football League § Third Division
Football League Third Division final table, positions 15–21[11]
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
15 Gillingham 46 12 18 16 48 58 −10 42
16 Millwall 46 14 14 18 43 60 −17 42
17 Swindon Town 46 13 15 18 51 56 −5 41
18 Chester 46 15 11 20 38 48 −10 41
19 Carlisle United 46 14 13 19 56 70 −14 41
20 Walsall 46 13 15 18 59 74 −15 41
21 Sheffield United 46 14 12 20 65 63 +2 40 Relegated to Fourth Division

Cup matches

FA Cup

As a Third Division team, Gillingham entered the 1980-81 FA Cup at the first-round stage in November; they were drawn to play Dagenham of the semi-professional Isthmian League.

In the second round, Gillingham were paired with another Kent-based team, Maidstone United of the Alliance Premier League, the highest tier of non-League football.[21][22] The interest in a match between the county's two leading teams meant that the match drew an attendance of 9,099, the highest of the season at Priestfield Stadium. The match finished 0–0 meaning that a replay was required; in the second half a shot from Gillingham's Danny Westwood hit the goalpost and a header from his team-mate Dean White struck the crossbar but the Third Division team could not manage to score a goal.

The replay took place at Maidstone's stadium, the Athletic Ground.

The result was seen as humiliating for Gillingham and the biggest victory in the history of their semi-professional opponents.[21][22][23] Speaking 35 years later, Barry Watling, Maidstone's manager at the time of the victory, highlighted that several of his team had previously played for Gillingham and added "They’d been told they weren’t good enough, they’d dropped out of the league and they’d gone back there and proved a point. It was fantastic".[24]

FA Cup match results

Key

Results
Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance
22 November 1980 First Dagenham (H) 2–1 Price, Ford 4,390
13 December 1980 Second Maidstone United (H) 0–0 9,099
16 December 1980 Second (replay) Maidstone United (A) 0–0 (a.e.t.) 7,465
22 December 1980 Second (second replay) Maidstone United (H) 0–2 7,941

Football League Cup

As a Third Division team, Gillingham entered the 1980-81 Football League Cup in the first round, which took place before the first league match of the season.

League Cup match results

Key

Results
Date Round Opponents Result Goalscorers Attendance
9 August 1980 First (first leg) Colchester United (A) 2–0 Price, Bruce 2,514
12 August 1980 First (second leg) Colchester United (H) 2–1 Ford, Bruce 5,220
27 August 1980 Second (first leg) Blackburn Rovers (A) 0–0 7,316
2 September 1980 Second (second leg) Blackburn Rovers (H) 1–2 (a.e.t.) Bruce 6,315

Players

During the season, 23 players made at least one appearance for Gillingham. Mark Weatherly and Andy Ford made the most, both playing in 50 matches. Ken Price, Ron Hillyard, John Crabbe, and Steve Bruce all took part in more than 40 games. Lloyd made the fewest appearances, playing only twice. His two appearances, both as a substitute, were the only games he played for Gillingham, meaning that he left the club without ever being named in a starting line-up. Price was the team's top goalscorer, with 11 goals in the Third Division and 13 in total. No other player scored more than seven goals. Ford won the club's Player of the Year award.

Footballer Pat Walker
Pat Walker (pictured in 2008) played 24 times.
Footballer Terry Nicholl
Terry Nicholl made 38 appearances.
Player statistics[25]
Player Position Third Division FA Cup Football League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Micky Adams DF 13 0 0 0 1 0 14 0
Tony Bottiglieri MF 4 0 2 0 0 0 6 0
Steve Bruce DF/MF 41 4 1 0 4 3 46 7
John Crabbe MF 36 1 4 0 2 0 42 1
Nigel Donn MF 2 0 0 0 2 0 4 0
Colin Duncan MF 32 0 1 0 4 0 37 0
Andy Ford DF 42 3 4 1 4 1 50 5
Peter Henderson FW 7 3 0 0 4 0 11 3
Ron Hillyard GK 37 0 4 0 4 0 45 0
Billy Hughes MF 23 2 3 0 2 0 28 2
Trevor Lee FW 18 6 0 0 0 0 18 6
Kevin Lloyd FW 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
Terry Nicholl MF 34 2 4 0 0 0 38 2
John Overton DF 25 1 4 0 4 0 33 1
Ken Price FW 41 11 4 1 3 1 48 13
Damien Richardson GK 13 2 0 0 1 0 14 2
John Sharpe DF 26 0 4 0 4 0 34 0
Gary Sutton GK 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
Pat Walker FW 23 0 1 0 0 0 24 0
Mark Weatherly DF/MF 43 1 3 0 4 0 50 1
Danny Westwood FW 18 6 3 0 2 0 23 6
Dean White MF 34 5 3 0 1 0 38 5
Charlie Young DF 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0

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

Aftermath

Former footballer Keith Peacock
Keith Peacock (pictured in 2025) was appointed the club's new manager.

Summers was dismissed from his post at the end of the season, partly due to controversy surrounding his decision to release several popular players, including Damien Richardson, from their contracts.[26][27] Summers announced his intention to sue the club for unfair dismissal, telling the press "I obviously don't expect to get my job back but there is the matter of compensation which was promised to me and has not been forthcoming."[27] In July, Keith Peacock was appointed as the club's new manager; he had most recently worked as the assistant manager of Tampa Bay Rowdies in the United States.[28][29] In his first season in charge, Gillingham finished in 6th place in the Third Division.

References

  1. ^ Elligate 2009, p. 173.
  2. ^ a b Brown 2003, pp. 83–90, 114.
  3. ^ a b c Rollin 1980, p. 175.
  4. ^ Soar & Tyler 1983, p. 110.
  5. ^ "Second Time Lucky for Gills". BBC Sport. 28 May 2000. Archived from the original on 3 March 2003. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
  6. ^ Rollin 1993, p. 235.
  7. ^ Triggs 2001, pp. 119, 153.
  8. ^ Triggs 2001, p. 175.
  9. ^ "Gills putting on the style". Kent Evening Post. 4 August 1980. p. 24. Retrieved 16 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ a b Hudd, Tony (4 August 1980). "The future is what matters, says Summers". Kent Evening Post. p. 25. Retrieved 16 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rollin 1981, p. TBC.
  12. ^ "Football results". The Observer. 17 August 1980. p. 24. Retrieved 9 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Mares, Simon (20 August 1980). "Reading out of luck as Gills take the chances". Reading Evening Post. p. 14. Retrieved 10 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Gillingham 1 Barnsley 1". Sunday Mirror. 24 August 1980. p. 37. Retrieved 16 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Injury blow to Millwall's day". Daily Mirror. 27 December 1980. p. 31. Retrieved 9 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Southend beat the blues". Sunday People. 28 December 1980. p. 45. Retrieved 9 February 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Triggs 2001, p. TBC.
  18. ^ Brown 2003, pp. 88–90.
  19. ^ "League Division 3 table after close of play on 31 December 1980". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  20. ^ Triggs 2001, p. 192.
  21. ^ a b Ward-Smith, Paul (23 December 1980). "Maidstone storm through". The Daily Telegraph. p. 16. Retrieved 9 January 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b Elligate 2009, p. 198.
  23. ^ Hudd, Tony (24 December 1980). "Watling's wonders win glory". Kent Messenger. p. 36.
  24. ^ Tucker, Craig (22 December 2020). "Forty years today since non-league Maidstone United beat Football League Gillingham after FA Cup trilogy". Kent Online. KM Media Group. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  25. ^ Brown 2003, p. 90.
  26. ^ Elligate 2009, p. 92.
  27. ^ a b "Gerry's legal fight". Sandwell Evening Mail. 6 November 1981. p. 48. Retrieved 18 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Elligate 2009, p. 114.
  29. ^ "Peacock is Gills' Boss - On the Wing!". Evening Standard. 14 July 1981. p. 35. Retrieved 15 May 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

Works cited

  • Brown, Tony (2003). The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record. Soccerdata. ISBN 1-89946-820-X.
  • Elligate, David (2009). Gillingham FC On This Day. Pitch Publishing. ISBN 978-1-9054-1145-0.
  • Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. Queen Anne Press. ISBN 978-0-36202-017-5.
  • Rollin, Jack, ed. (1981). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1981–82. Queen Anne Press. ISBN 978-0-36202-046-5.
  • Rollin, Jack, ed. (1993). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1993–94. Headline Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-74727-895-5.
  • Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (1983). Encyclopedia of British Football. CollinsWillow. ISBN 978-0-0021-8049-8.
  • Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
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