1985–86 Gillingham F.C. season
Southern section semi-finals | |||
Top goalscorer | League: Tony Cascarino (14) All: Tony Cascarino (21) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Highest home attendance | 8,983 vs Derby County (4 January 1986) | ||
Lowest home attendance | 1,464 vs Brentford (29 January 1986) | ||
| |||
During the
Gillingham also competed in three
Background and pre-season
The 1985–86 season was Gillingham's 54th season playing in the Football League and the 36th since the club was elected back into the League in 1950 after being voted out in 1938. It was the club's 12th 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 11 seasons since then, the team had achieved a best finish of fourth place, one position away from promotion to the Second Division, a feat achieved in both the 1978–79 and 1984–85 seasons.[2] The club had never reached the second level of English football in its history.[3]
Peacock signed two new players before the season started.
Third Division
August–December
The team's first game of the Third Division season was away to
Gillingham's unbeaten Third Division run ended with a 2–1 defeat at home to
The team were undefeated in five league games in November, including three consecutive victories in which they scored a total of 12 goals.[10] On 9 November, Gillingham scored five goals for the second consecutive home game, beating Walsall 5–2, and followed the win by defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 away from home and Doncaster Rovers 4–0 at Priestfield,[10] after which the team were third in the table, behind second-placed York only on goal difference.[20] The unbeaten run ended with a 1–0 defeat away to Bristol Rovers on 14 December and Gillingham then lost 3–2 away to Darlington six days later.[10] The team ended the year with a 1–1 draw at home to Bristol City; Cascarino scored Gillingham's goal to take his total of league goals for the season to 10.[10] The result left Gillingham eighth in the table at the end of 1985, four points below the three promotion places.[21]
January–May
Gillingham began 1986 with an away game against Reading, who had lost only twice in 24 Third Division games and were top of the table, 19 points clear of second-placed Derby.[21] Goals from Byrne and Elsey gave Gillingham a 2–1 victory over the league leaders.[22][23] Wins away to Bolton Wanderers and at home to Lincoln City took Gillingham up to second in the table.[24] The team began February with a 4–0 win at home to Notts County and a 2–0 victory against Bournemouth.[10] Gillingham remained unbeaten until the end of February, taking their total of consecutive Third Division games without defeat to nine;[10] Peacock was awarded the Third Division Manager of the Month award for February.[25] On 1 March, Gillingham were defeated for the first time in 1986, losing 2–0 away to York.[26] This game was the first in a run of six consecutive matches without a win,[10] which resulted in Gillingham dropping to fifth in the table.[27]
Cascarino suffered a serious injury in the defeat to
Gillingham won their next two games but then lost 1–0 at home to
Match results
Key
|
|
Date | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|
17 August 1985 | Lincoln City (A) | 0–1 | 2,099 | |
24 August 1985 | Darlington (H) | 1–1 | Sage | 2,929 |
26 August 1985 | Bristol City (A) | 2–1 | Cascarino (2) | 6,052 |
31 August 1985 | Bolton Wanderers (H) | 2–1 | Hinnigan, Cascarino | 2,773 |
7 September 1985 | Notts County (A) | 1–1 | Byrne | 3,624 |
14 September 1985 | Chesterfield (H) | 1–1 | Cascarino | 3,101 |
17 September 1985 | Wigan Athletic (H) | 2–0 | Mehmet (pen.), Elsey | 3,401 |
21 September 1985 | Bury (A) | 2–1 | Mehmet, Cochrane | 2,802 |
28 September 1985 | York City (H) | 1–2 | Collins | 3,509 |
1 October 1985 | Plymouth Argyle (A) | 0–3 | 4,135 | |
5 October 1985 | Blackpool (A) | 2–2 | Elsey, Cascarino | 4,571 |
12 October 1985 | Cardiff City (H) | 2–0 | Oakes, Weatherly | 3,367 |
19 October 1985 | AFC Bournemouth (A) | 3–2 | Cascarino (2), Shearer | 3,561 |
22 October 1985 | Derby County (H) | 1–2 | Mehmet | 4,613 |
26 October 1985 | Swansea City (H)
|
5–1 | Shearer (3), Hales (2, 1 pen.) | 3,082 |
2 November 1985 | Newport County (A)
|
1–1 | Byrne | 1,970 |
6 November 1985 | Rotherham United (A) | 1–1 | Weatherly | 2,316 |
9 November 1985 | Walsall (H) | 5–2 | Hales (2), Cascarino, Shearer, Robinson | 3,339 |
23 November 1985 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) | 3–1 | Cochrane, Shearer (2) | 3,543 |
30 November 1985 | Doncaster Rovers (H) | 4–0 | Robinson, Mehmet (pen.), Cochrane, Shearer | 3,519 |
14 December 1985 | Bristol Rovers (A) | 0–1 | 4,224 | |
20 December 1985 | Darlington (A) | 2–3 | Shearer, Cascarino | 2,072 |
28 December 1985 | Bristol City (H) | 1–1 | Cascarino | 4,672 |
1 January 1986 | Reading (A) | 2–1 | Byrne, Elsey | 10,665 |
11 January 1986 | Bolton Wanderers (A) | 1–0 | Cochrane | 5,232 |
18 January 1986 | Lincoln City (H) | 2–0 | Cochrane, Weatherly | 4,397 |
25 January 1986 | Chesterfield (A) | 1–1 | Hinnigan | 2,521 |
1 February 1986 | Notts County (H) | 4–0 | Robinson (2), Oakes, Musker | 4,368 |
8 February 1986 | AFC Bournemouth (H) | 2–0 | Cascarino, Hales | 3,895 |
15 February 1986 | Wigan Athletic (A) | 3–3 | Elsey, Weatherly, Mehmet | 5,017 |
22 February 1986 | Bury (H) | 1–0 | Weatherly | 4,212 |
1 March 1986 | York City (A) | 0–2 | 4,351 | |
4 March 1986 | Plymouth Argyle (H) | 1–1 | Cascarino | 3,490 |
8 March 1986 | Blackpool (H) | 2–2 | Cascarino, Robinson | 4,537 |
15 March 1986 | Cardiff City (A) | 1–1 | Cascarino | 2,505 |
18 March 1986 | Brentford (H) | 1–2 | Robinson | 3,582 |
22 March 1986 | Swansea City (A)
|
2–2 | Sage, Weatherly | 3,364 |
29 March 1986 | Reading (H) | 3–0 | Tempest (2), Horrix (o.g.) | 5,710 |
31 March 1986 | Brentford (A) | 2–1 | Robinson, Elsey | 4,702 |
4 April 1986 | Rotherham United (H) | 3–0 | Hales, Weatherly, Robinson | 4,525 |
7 April 1986 | Derby County (A) | 0–2 | 11,351 | |
12 April 1986 | Walsall (A) | 1–4 | Tempest | 3,884 |
19 April 1986 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) | 2–0 | Hales, Mehmet (pen.) | 3,681 |
25 April 1986 | Doncaster Rovers (A) | 3–2 | Robinson, Tempest, Hales | 1,659 |
29 April 1986 | Newport County (H)
|
0–1 | 2,566 | |
3 May 1986 | Bristol Rovers (H) | 2–0 | Robinson, Mehmet (pen.) | 2,050 |
Partial league table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Reading | 46 | 29 | 7 | 10 | 67 | 51 | +16 | 94 | Division Champions, promoted |
2 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 88 | 53 | +35 | 87 | Promoted |
3 | Derby County | 46 | 23 | 15 | 8 | 80 | 41 | +39 | 84 | |
4 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 82 | 48 | +34 | 83 | |
5 | Gillingham | 46 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 81 | 54 | +27 | 79 | |
6 | Walsall | 46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 90 | 64 | +26 | 75 |
Cup matches
FA Cup
As a Third Division team, Gillingham entered the 1985–86 FA Cup in the first round and were drawn to play Northampton Town of the Fourth Division. Cascarino, Mehmet and Cochrane scored to give Gillingham a 3–0 win.[40][41] In the second round, Gillingham played Bognor Regis Town of the Isthmian League; before the game Bognor manager Jack Pearce commented on Gillingham's recent levels of goalscoring, telling the press, "The reports I've had from my spies are frightening. The way Gillingham are scoring goals we will have to board our goals up."[42] Cascarino scored twice as Gillingham defeated the semi-professional team 6–1.[41][43] The teams from the top two divisions of the Football League entered the competition at the third-round stage; Gillingham missed out on higher-level opposition and were paired with fellow Third Division side Derby County.[44] The initial match at Priestfield drew an attendance of 8,983, Gillingham's largest home crowd of the season.[38] The game ended in a 1–1 draw, necessitating a replay at Derby's Baseball Ground.[45] The score was again 1–1 at the end of the regulation 90 minutes; the rules of the competition meant that on this occasion 30 minutes of extra time were played, during which Derby scored twice more to win 3–1 and eliminate Gillingham from the competition.[44][46]
Match results
Key
|
|
Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 November 1985 | First | Northampton Town (H) | 3–0 | Cascarino, Mehmet, Cochrane | 3,991 |
7 December 1985 | Second | Bognor Regis Town (H) | 6–1 | Cascarino (2), Robinson, Shearer, Cochrane, Hales | 4,228 |
4 January 1986 | Third | Derby County (H) | 1–1 | Robinson | 8,983 |
13 January 1986 | Third (replay) | Derby County (A) | 1–3 ( a.e.t. )
|
Robinson | 10,959 |
Football League Cup
Gillingham entered the
Match results
Key
|
|
Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
20 August 1985 | First (first leg) | Southend United (A) | 1–1 | Shearer | 2,008 |
3 September 1985 | First (second leg) | Southend United (H) | 2–0 | Cascarino (2) | 3,106 |
24 September 1985 | Second (first leg) | Portsmouth (H) | 1–3 | Cascarino | 4,617 |
8 October 1985 | Second (second leg) | Portsmouth (A) | 1–2 | Dillon (o.g.) | 7,629 |
Associate Members' Cup
The 1985–86 Associate Members' Cup, a tournament exclusively for Third and Fourth Division teams, began with a preliminary round in which the teams were drawn into groups of three, contested on a round-robin basis; Gillingham's group also contained fellow Third Division sides Derby County and Brentford.[53] Gillingham's first match of the tournament was away to Derby and came just nine days after the FA Cup third round replay between the two teams. On this occasion Gillingham won 2–0 with goals from Robinson and Cascarino.[54] Seven days later Gillingham played Brentford at Priestfield; the attendance of 1,464 was Gillingham's lowest crowd of the season.[38] The match finished 1–1, giving Gillingham four points from their two games; as Brentford's game against Derby ended in a draw, Gillingham topped the group and progressed to the southern section quarter-finals.[55]
Gillingham's next opponents were Cambridge United of the Fourth Division; the game, held at Priestfield on 24 January, again drew an attendance of less than 2,000. Goals from Paul Collins and Joe Hinnigan secured a 2–0 win for Gillingham.[56] The southern section semi-final did not take place until April and paired Gillingham with fellow Third Division side Bristol City.[57] Hinnigan was sent off for a foul on Steve Neville, which assistant manager Taylor described in his next programme notes as "totally unjust",[58] and the game ended 3–0 to Bristol City, ending Gillingham's participation in the tournament; Bristol City went on to win the Associate Members' Cup final at Wembley Stadium.[59]
Match results
Key
|
|
Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
22 January 1986 | Preliminary (southern section) | Derby County (A) | 2–0 | Robinson, Cascarino | 3,721 |
29 January 1986 | Preliminary (southern section) | Brentford (H) | 1–1 | Hales | 1,464 |
24 February 1986 | Quarter-finals (southern section) | Cambridge United (H) | 2–0 | Collins, Hinnigan | 1,812 |
16 April 1986 | Semi-finals (southern section) | Bristol City (A) | 0–3 | 5,707 |
Players
Twenty players made at least one appearance for Gillingham during the season. Hillyard, Sage and Elsey made the most appearances: all three were in the starting line-up for all 58 competitive matches, and as neither Hillyard or Sage was substituted in any game, both played every minute of competitive football of Gillingham's season.[11] Two other players, Cochrane and Oakes, made 50 appearances. The veteran Hillyard made his 500th appearance for the club in January, only the third Gillingham player to reach this milestone.[61] Teenager Graham Westley made the fewest appearances during the season; he made his professional debut in the final game of the season, the first of only two games he played for Gillingham before dropping into non-League football.[62] Tong and Ian Macowat were the only other players to make fewer than 10 appearances during the season.
Fifteen players scored at least one goal for Gillingham. Cascarino was top scorer with 14 goals in Third Division matches, 3 in the FA Cup, 3 in the League Cup, and 1 in the Associate Members' Cup for a total of 21 in all competitions; Robinson was the second-highest scorer both in league games and overall, with 10 in the Third Division and 14 in total. Shearer and Hales both also reached double figures. It was the second of three consecutive seasons in which Cascarino was Gillingham's top scorer.[63]
Player | Position | Third Division
|
FA Cup | League Cup | Associate Members' Cup | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
David Byrne | MF | 23 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 3 |
Tony Cascarino | FW | 34 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 21 |
Terry Cochrane | FW | 38 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 50 | 7 |
Paul Collins | MF | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 32 | 2 |
Karl Elsey | MF | 46 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 58 | 5 |
Derek Hales | FW | 29 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 35 | 10 |
Ron Hillyard | GK | 46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 58 | 0 |
Joe Hinnigan | DF | 39 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 47 | 3 |
Ian Macowat | DF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Dave Mehmet | MF | 31 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 8 |
Russell Musker | MF | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
Keith Oakes | DF | 40 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 50 | 2 |
Martin Robinson | FW | 33 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 41 | 14 |
Mel Sage | DF | 46 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 58 | 2 |
Peter Shaw | DF | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
Dave Shearer | FW | 23 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 11 |
Dale Tempest | FW | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 |
David Tong | MF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Mark Weatherly | DF | 38 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 49 | 7 |
Graham Westley | FW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
FW = Forward, MF = Midfielder, GK = Goalkeeper, DF = Defender
Aftermath
Cascarino was voted into the
References
- ^ a b c Peacock, Keith (24 August 1985). "Top Comment". Gillingham vs Darlington Matchday Programme.
- ^ a b Brown 2003, pp. 83–90, 114.
- ^ "Second time lucky for Gills". BBC Sport. 28 May 2000. Archived from the original on 3 March 2003. Retrieved 6 August 2008.
- ^ Bateson 1986, p. 252.
- ^ Dunk 1986, p. 169.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 93.
- ^ Triggs 2001, pp. 77, 110.
- ^ Elligate 2009, p. 117.
- ^ Dunk 1986, pp. 169, 171.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Dunk 1986, p. 170.
- ^ a b c d e Dunk 1986, p. 171.
- ^ Bradley, Andy (15 August 1987). "Extra Time". Gillingham vs Blackpool Matchday Programme.
- ^ a b Bradley & Triggs 1994, p. 318.
- ^ Dunk 1986, pp. 170–171.
- ^ "League Division 3 table after close of play on 21 September 1985". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ "League Division 3 table after close of play on 1 October 1985". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ Dunk 1986, pp. 150, 170.
- ^ a b Peacock, Keith (22 October 1985). "Top Comment". Gillingham vs Derby County Matchday Programme.
- ^ "League Division 3 table after close of play on 26 October 1985". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ "League Division 3 table after close of play on 30 November 1985". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ a b "League Division 3 table after close of play on 31 December 1985". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ Elligate 2009, p. 10.
- ^ O'Hagan, Simon (2 January 1986). "Football: Gillingham show no reverence". The Times. p. 12. Retrieved 29 March 2022 – via Gale.
- ^ "League Division 3 table after close of play on 18 January 1986". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
- ^ Hudd, Tony (18 March 1986). "Gills Chat". Gillingham vs Brentford Matchday Programme.
- ^ Elligate 2009, p. 44.
- ^ "League Division 3 table after close of play on 22 March 1986". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ Triggs 2001, pp. 315, 320.
- ^ Dunk 1986, p. 302.
- ^ "League Division 3 table after close of play on 31 March 1986". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ O'Hagan, Simon (8 April 1986). "Football: Gillingham are out of their class". The Times. p. 12. Retrieved 29 March 2022 – via Gale.
- ^ Brown 2003, pp. 94–95.
- ^ "League Division 3 table after close of play on 12 April 1986". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ Bradley & Triggs 1994, p. 320.
- ^ Elligate 2009, p. 74.
- ^ "League Division 3 table after close of play on 29 April 1986". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ Elligate 2009, p. 77.
- ^ a b c d Brown 2003, p. 95.
- ^ Dunk 1986, p. 406.
- ^ Dunk 1986, p. 467.
- ^ a b Bateson 1986, p. 74.
- ^ Newman, Paul (7 December 1985). "FA Cup: Bognor may have to put up the shutters". The Times. p. 12. Retrieved 29 March 2022 – via Gale.
- ^ Dunk 1986, p. 470.
- ^ a b Bateson 1986, p. 72.
- ^ Dunk 1986, p. 472.
- ^ Dunk 1986, p. 474.
- ^ Dunk 1986, pp. 467, 470, 472, 474.
- ^ Dunk 1986, pp. 437, 439.
- ^ Bateson 1986, p. 90.
- ^ Dunk 1986, p. 441, 443.
- ^ Bateson 1986, p. 89.
- ^ Dunk 1986, pp. 437, 439, 441, 443.
- ^ Dunk 1986, pp. 449, 450.
- ^ Dunk 1986, p. 449.
- ^ Dunk 1986, p. 450.
- ^ Dunk 1986, p. 451.
- ^ Dunk 1986, p. 452.
- ^ Taylor, Paul (29 April 1986). "Top Comment". Gillingham vs Newport County Matchday Programme.
- ^ Bateson 1986, p. 122.
- ^ Dunk 1986, pp. 449–452.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 351.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 332.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 348.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 352.
- ^ "Mel's six of the best". Chatham Standard. 7 May 1986. p. 1. Retrieved 29 March 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Elligate 2009, p. 124.
- ^ Brown 2003, p. 84.
- ^ Longmore, Andrew (11 May 1987). "Football: Rush bows out in the usual way". The Times. Retrieved 25 June 2021 – via Gale.
- ^ Elligate 2009, p. 89.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Elligate 2009, p. 96.
- Newspapers.com.
Works cited
- Bateson, Bill; Sewell, Albert, eds. (1986). News Of The World Football Annual 1986–87. London: Invincible Press. ISBN 978-0-85543-076-4.
- Bradley, Andy; Triggs, Roger (1994). Home of the Shouting Men: Complete History of Gillingham Football Club 1893–1993. ISBN 0-9523361-0-3.
- Brown, Tony (2003). The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record. ISBN 1-899468-20-X.
- Dunk, Peter, ed. (1986). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1986–87. London: ISBN 978-0-35612-334-9.
- Elligate, David (2009). Gillingham FC On This Day. ISBN 978-1-90541-145-0.
- Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. ISBN 978-0-75242-243-5.