1988–89 Gillingham F.C. season
1988–89 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Roy Wood (until February 1989)[1] Martin Lukehurst (thereafter) | ||
Manager | Paul Taylor (until 26 October) Bill Collins and Damien Richardson (caretakers, 26 October – 31 October) Keith Burkinshaw (31 October – 11 April) Keith Blunt (caretaker, 11 April –18 April) Damien Richardson (caretaker 18 April – 5 May, permanent thereafter) | ||
Third Division | 23rd | ||
FA Cup | First round | ||
League Cup | Second round | ||
Associate Members' Cup | First round | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Steve Lovell (14) All: Steve Lovell (17) | ||
Highest home attendance | 5,871 vs Fulham (26 December 1988) | ||
Lowest home attendance | 1,970 vs Fulham (10 December 1988) | ||
| |||
During the
Gillingham also competed in three
Background and pre-season
The
Gillingham's
Third Division
August–December
Gillingham's first game of the season took place at their home ground,
On 25 October, Gillingham lost 5–0 away to
Gillingham's league results alternated between victory and defeat for the remainder of 1988. Lovell scored twice in a 2–1 win away to Northampton Town on 18 December to take his total league goals for the season to 10; no other Gillingham player had scored more than twice in Third Division games.[13] It was Gillingham's second consecutive away victory following a run of seven away games without a win dating back to early September.[13] On 26 December the team lost 1–0 at home to Fulham in front of a crowd of 5,871, the largest attendance of the season at Priestfield.[24] Gillingham's final match of 1988 resulted in a 1–0 win over Port Vale,[13] who had been second in the league table going into the game;[25] Gillingham finished the year still 22nd in the Third Division, although their position had improved as they were now below 20th place only on goal difference.[26]
January–May
Gillingham began the new year with a 3–0 defeat away to
Burkinshaw continued to sign new players; Tim O'Shea, a defender who had joined from Leyton Orient, played for the first time against Brentford. Two new players debuted on 11 February against Bristol City: another new arrival from Tottenham, midfielder Billy Manuel, and Alan Reeves, a defender signed on loan from Norwich City.[32] Francis Joseph, a forward signed from Sheffield United, debuted against Preston North End on 28 February.[33] Gillingham lost their first two games of March and remained bottom of the table.[34] Pat Gavin, a forward signed on a trial basis from Hanwell Town of the semi-professional Spartan League,[35] made his debut on 14 March against Wolverhampton Wanderers and scored Gillingham's only goal in a 6–1 defeat;[36] it was the first time Gillingham had conceded six goals in a game since December 1987.[37] Gavin also scored in both of the next two games, including a 2–1 win at home to Wigan Athletic on 24 March which gave Gillingham their first victory of 1989.[13] Three days later the team won away to Fulham by the same score, the first occasion on which they had won two consecutive Third Division games since the previous September.[13]
On 11 April, with the team bottom of the Third Division, Burkinshaw resigned as manager.
Match details
- Key
|
|
- Results[13]
Date | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|
27 August 1988 | Swansea City (H)
|
2–3 | Peacock, Lovell | 4,437 |
3 September 1988 | Aldershot (A) | 2–0 | Shipley, Lovell | 2,477 |
10 September 1988 | Sheffield United (H) | 2–1 | Lovell, Lillis | 5,041 |
17 September 1988 | Huddersfield Town (A)
|
1–1 | Lovell | 4,688 |
20 September 1988 | Mansfield Town (A) | 1–2 | Lovell | 3,153 |
24 September 1988 | Reading (H) | 0–1 | 4,469 | |
1 October 1988 | Brentford (A) | 0–1 | 4,839 | |
4 October 1988 | Bristol City (H) | 0–1 | 3,102 | |
8 October 1988 | Chesterfield (H) | 0–1 | 2,901 | |
15 October 1988 | Southend United (A) | 1–2 | Lovell | 3,200 |
22 October 1988 | Bury (H) | 3–4 | Lillis, Lovell (pen.), Cooper | 2,850 |
25 October 1988 | Preston North End (A) | 0–5 | 6,390 | |
29 October 1988 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (H) | 1–3 | Lovell | 5,288 |
5 November 1988 | Cardiff City (A) | 0–1 | 3,658 | |
8 November 1988 | Blackpool (H) | 1–0 | Burley | 3,541 |
12 November 1988 | Bristol Rovers (A) | 0–2 | 4,826 | |
26 November 1988 | Notts County (A) | 2–1 | Quow, Smith | 4,611 |
3 December 1988 | Chester City (H) | 0–2 | 3,329 | |
18 December 1988 | Northampton Town (A) | 2–1 | Lovell (2, 1 pen.) | 3,829 |
26 December 1988 | Fulham (H) | 0–1 | 5,871 | |
30 December 1988 | Port Vale (H) | 1–0 | Cooper | 4,706 |
2 January 1989 | Wigan Athletic (A) | 0–3 | 3,090 | |
6 January 1989 | Bolton Wanderers (A) | 1–2 | Peacock | 4,187 |
14 January 1989 | Aldershot (H) | 1–1 | Peacock | 3,781 |
21 January 1989 | Sheffield United (A) | 2–4 | West, Cooper | 9,336 |
28 January 1989 | Huddersfield Town (H)
|
1–2 | Peacock (pen.) | 3,530 |
4 February 1989 | Brentford (H) | 0–0 | 4,002 | |
11 February 1989 | Bristol City (A) | 0–1 | 7,319 | |
18 February 1989 | Chesterfield (A) | 1–3 | Lovell | 3,432 |
25 February 1989 | Southend United (H) | 1–1 | Walker | 3,574 |
28 February 1989 | Preston North End (H) | 1–3 | Burley | 3,031 |
4 March 1989 | Bury (A) | 0–1 | 4,313 | |
11 March 1989 | Cardiff City (H) | 1–2 | Boyle (o.g.) | 2,927 |
14 March 1989 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) | 1–6 | Gavin | 12,574 |
19 March 1989 | Swansea City (A)
|
2–3 | Gavin, Lillis | 4,252 |
24 March 1989 | Wigan Athletic (H) | 2–1 | Gavin, Peacock | 3,244 |
27 March 1989 | Fulham (A) | 2–1 | Peacock (2) | 6,476 |
1 April 1989 | Northampton Town (H) | 1–0 | Gavin | 3,466 |
4 April 1989 | Bolton Wanderers (H) | 0–1 | 3,096 | |
8 April 1989 | Port Vale (A) | 1–2 | Lovell | 5,358 |
15 April 1989 | Mansfield Town (H) | 3–0 | Gavin, Peacock, Joseph | 2,594 |
22 April 1989 | Reading (A) | 2–1 | Lovell, Gavin | 3,511 |
28 April 1989 | Bristol Rovers (H) | 2–3 | Lovell (pen.), Smith | 4,044 |
1 May 1989 | Blackpool (A) | 1–4 | Peacock | 2,152 |
6 May 1989 | Chester City (A) | 0–2 | 2,106 | |
13 May 1989 | Notts County (H) | 2–1 | Gavin, Manuel | 2,877 |
Partial league table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19 | Blackpool | 46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 56 | 59 | −3 | 55 | |
20 | Northampton Town | 46 | 16 | 6 | 24 | 66 | 76 | −10 | 54 | |
21 | Southend United | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 56 | 75 | −19 | 54 | Relegated |
22 | Chesterfield | 46 | 14 | 7 | 25 | 51 | 86 | −35 | 49 | |
23 | Gillingham | 46 | 12 | 4 | 30 | 47 | 81 | −34 | 40 | |
24 | Aldershot | 46 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 48 | 78 | −30 | 37 |
Cup matches
FA Cup
As a Third Division team, Gillingham entered the
Match details
- Key
|
|
- Results[48]
Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
19 November 1988 | First | Peterborough United (H) | 3–3 | Lovell, Quow, Smith | 4,509 |
23 November 1988 | First (replay) | Peterborough United (A) | 0–1 | 4,494 |
Football League Cup
As a Third Division team, Gillingham entered the
Match details
- Key
|
|
- Results[51]
Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 August 1988 | First (first leg) | Cambridge United (A) | 2–1 | Walker, Lovell | 1,909 |
6 September 1988 | First (second leg) | Cambridge United (H) | 3–1 | Lovell, Lillis (2) | 3,066 |
27 September 1988 | Second (first leg) | Millwall (A) | 0–3 | 6,590 | |
11 October 1988 | Second (second leg) | Millwall (H) | 1–3 | Quow | 5,729 |
Associate Members' Cup
The 1988–89 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 included fellow Third Division teams Brentford and Fulham. Gillingham first played Brentford and lost 2–0;[52] Brentford had already defeated Fulham and with maximum points from their two games were guaranteed to top the group,[52] meaning that the result of the match between Gillingham and Fulham would determine which team joined them in the first round proper. The match took place at Priestfield and drew a crowd of 1,970, the lowest recorded at the stadium during the season. Gillingham won 2–1 and moved on to the first round,[53] where they were drawn to play Torquay United of the Fourth Division; despite playing a team from the lower division, Gillingham lost the game 3–0 and their participation in the competition came to an end.[54]
Match details
- Key
|
|
- Results[55]
Date | Round | Opponents | Result | Goalscorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
29 November 1988 | Group stage | Brentford (A) | 0–2 | 3,713 | |
10 December 1988 | Group stage | Fulham (H) | 2–1 | Lillis, Peacock | 1,970 |
17 January 1989 | First | Torquay United (A) | 0–3 | 1,844 |
Players
Thirty-two players made at least one appearance for Gillingham during the season. Burley made the most; he played in 54 of the team's 55 competitive matches, missing only the second leg of the first round of the League Cup.[24] Gavin Peacock had the second highest number of appearances, with 52, and four other players played between 40 and 50 times: Dave Smith, Lovell, Ian Docker and Paul Haylock. Two players made only one appearance: Eamonn Collins, who had a brief loan spell at Gillingham,[56] and Irvin Gernon, who was transferred to Reading early in the season.[57]
Lovell was the team's top goalscorer, with 14 goals in Third Division matches and a total of 17 in all competitions. It was the second consecutive season in which he was Gillingham's top scorer.[58] Peacock was second highest scorer with 10 goals and Gavin had the third highest total with 7, despite joining the club with only two months of the season remaining.[35]
Player | Position | Third Division
|
FA Cup | League Cup | Associate Members' Cup | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Peter Beadle | FW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
George Burley | DF | 46 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 2 |
Brian Clarke | DF | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
Eamonn Collins | MF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Mark Cooper | FW | 18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 3 |
Ian Docker | MF | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 0 |
Tony Eeles | MF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Pat Gavin | FW | 13 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 7 |
Irvin Gernon | DF | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Lindon Guscott | FW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Ivan Haines | DF | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
Paul Haylock | DF | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
Ron Hillyard | GK | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
Francis Joseph | FW | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |
Phil Kite | GK | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
Jason Lillis | FW | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 28 | 6 |
Steve Lovell | FW | 39 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 17 |
Billy Manuel | MF | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
Tim O'Shea | DF | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
Gavin Peacock | MF | 44 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 52 | 10 |
Ricky Pearson | DF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Andy Perry | FW | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
Trevor Quow | MF | 20 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 3 |
Alan Reeves | DF | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
George Shipley | MF | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
Dave Smith | FW | 42 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 49 | 3 |
Mark Stimson | DF | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
Steve Walford | DF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Alan Walker | DF | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 2 |
Mark Weatherly | DF | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
Gary West | DF | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
Jerry Williams | MF | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
FW = Forward, MF = Midfielder, GK = Goalkeeper, DF = Defender
Aftermath
Peacock was voted the club's player of the year, but following the team's relegation he was signed by AFC Bournemouth of the Second Division,[59] as was Phil Kite.[60] Smith and Burley also left the club.[61] After he impressed during his trial period with the club, Gillingham signed Gavin to a three-year contract at the end of the season, but it was not registered with the Football League, and Leicester City of the Second Division signed the player, which they were able to do without having to pay any transfer fee as he was not technically under contract at Gillingham. After a Football League inquiry, Gavin's move to Leicester was ruled valid, but it was agreed that he should be loaned back to Gillingham for the 1989–90 season. He could not recapture his previous form, however, and scored only once in 39 games.[62]
Richardson remained as manager for the 1989–90 season,[63] and veteran player Ron Hillyard was appointed to be his assistant.[64] For much of the season, Gillingham were in contention for promotion back to the Third Division at the first attempt, but the team slipped down the table after losing six consecutive games in the latter stages of the season and finished 14th in the Fourth Division.[65] The club ultimately spent seven seasons at the fourth level of English football before achieving promotion in 1996.[66]
References
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Rollin 1990, p. 253.
- ^ Brown 2003, pp. 83–90, 114.
- ^ Elligate 2009, pp. 202, 203.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Rollin 1988, p. 171.
- ^ "Gillingham Football Club". Gillingham Vs Swansea City Matchday Programme. 27 August 1988.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 271.
- ^ Rollin 1988, p. 237.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 72.
- ^ Triggs 2001, pp. 58, 115, 251.
- ^ "Match Report". Gillingham Vs Swansea City Matchday Programme. 27 August 1988.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Rollin 1989, p. 238.
- ^ Triggs 2001, pp. 72, 90.
- ^ a b Rollin 1989, p. 239.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 337.
- ^ "League Division Three table after close of play on 17 September 1988". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ "League Division Three table after close of play on 08 October 1988". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ a b Rollin 1989, p. 595.
- ^ Bateson & Sewell 1989, p. 265.
- ^ Welham, Ron (29 October 1988). "The Time for Change". Gillingham Vs Wolverhampton Wanderers Matchday Programme.
- ^ Elligate 2009, p. 166.
- ^ "League Division Three table after close of play on 05 November 1988". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ a b c Brown 2003, p. 98.
- ^ Rollin 1989, p. 414.
- ^ "League Division Three table after close of play on 31 December 1988". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ "League Division Three table after close of play on 06 January 1989". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 307.
- ^ "League Division Three table after close of play on 31 January 1989". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ "League Division Three table after close of play on 04 February 1989". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "League Division Three table after close of play on 28 February 1989". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ Triggs 2001, pp. 207, 240, 270.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 178.
- ^ "League Division Three table after close of play on 11 March 1989". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ a b Triggs 2001, p. 129.
- ^ a b Rollin 1989, pp. 238–239.
- ^ Brown 2003, pp. 97–98.
- ^ White, Clive (12 April 1989). "Norwich keep low profile". The Times. Retrieved 20 June 2022 – via Gale.
- ^ "Board warn: No cash for new players". Chatham News. 21 April 1988. Retrieved 18 June 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Request to Wembley; Football". The Times. 5 May 1989. Retrieved 20 June 2022 – via Gale.
- ^ Elligate 2009, p. 155.
- Newspapers.com.
- Nottingham Evening Post. Retrieved 18 June 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Rollin 1989, p. 237.
- ^ "League Division Four end of season table for 1988-89 season". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ Rollin 1989, p. 644.
- ^ Rollin 1989, p. 646.
- ^ Rollin 1989, p. 644, 646.
- ^ Rollin 1989, pp. 619, 621.
- ^ Rollin 1989, pp. 623, 625.
- ^ Rollin 1989, p. 619, 621, 623, 625.
- ^ a b Rollin 1989, p. 633.
- ^ Rollin 1989, p. 635.
- ^ Rollin 1989, p. 938.
- ^ Rollin 1989, pp. 633, 635, 938.
- ^ Rollin 1989, p. 410.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 131.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 348.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 251.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 187.
- ^ Triggs 2001, pp. 72, 299.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 130.
- ^ Bateson & Sewell 1992, p. 300.
- ^ Triggs 2001, p. 158.
- ^ Rollin 1990, p. 254.
- ^ Elligate 2009, p. 72.
Works cited
- Bateson, Bill; Sewell, Albert, eds. (1989). News of the World Football Annual 1989–90. London: Invincible Press. ISBN 0-85543-172-5.
- Bateson, Bill; Sewell, Albert, eds. (1992). News of the World Football Annual 1992–93. London: Invincible Press. ISBN 978-0-85543-188-4.
- Brown, Tony (2003). The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record. ISBN 1-899468-20-X.
- Elligate, David (2009). Gillingham FC On This Day. ISBN 978-1-9054-1145-0.
- Rollin, Jack, ed. (1988). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1988–89. London: ISBN 978-0-35615-880-8.
- Rollin, Jack, ed. (1989). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1989–90. London: ISBN 978-0-35617-910-0.
- Rollin, Jack, ed. (1990). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1990–91. London: ISBN 978-0-35617-911-7.
- Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. ISBN 978-0-75242-243-5.