1995–96 Gillingham F.C. season

File:Tony pulis 2014.jpg (pictured in 2014) was appointed as the club's new manager.]]

The 1995–96 season was Gillingham's 64th season playing in the Football League and the 46th since the club was elected back into the League in 1950 after being voted out in 1938. It was the club's seventh consecutive season in the fourth tier of the English football league system, which since 1992 had been named the Football League Third Division.{{sfn|Brown|2003|pp=99–105}} In the 1994–95 season, Gillingham had finished 19th, three places off the bottom of the division.{{sfn|Sewell|1995|p=57}}

In January 1995, after nearly a decade of financial difficulties, the club had been declared insolvent and placed in administrative receivership with debts of approximately £2,000,000.{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=14}}{{Cite web

| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-commentary--little-pity-for-the-poor-relations-1613046.html

| title = Football Commentary : Little pity for the poor relations

| access-date = 9 August 2021

|date=27 March 1995

|first=Glenn |last=Moore

| work = The Independent

}} At the end of the 1994–95 season, with no rescue deal finalised, fans were unsure whether the club would still be in existence to start the next season;{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=81}} one takeover bid had already collapsed when the leader of the consortium resigned after adverse publicity surrounding his financial status.{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A170630473/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=2be7f796 | work = The Guardian | access-date = 14 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = Soccer: Kendall shock at 'ruthless' dismissal|first=Mark|last=Redding | date = 3 April 1995|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/united-in-row-over-injections-1614091.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/united-in-row-over-injections-1614091.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=United in row over injections|work=The Independent|first=Guy|last=Hodgson|date=2 April 1995|access-date=14 July 2021}}{{cbignore}} In early June, however, shareholders and creditors voted overwhelmingly to accept a takeover bid from Sevenoaks-based businessman Paul Scally, who paid a nominal fee to purchase the club.{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=105}}{{Cite web |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/FA_Cup/Story/0,,650495,00.html |title=Scally's rocky road to Highbury |access-date=26 May 2011 |date=15 February 2002 |first=Paul |last=Kelso |work=The Guardian

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080126191836/http://football.guardian.co.uk/FA_Cup/Story/0%2C%2C650495%2C00.html

|archive-date=26 January 2008 |url-status=live

}} The deal was finalised at the end of the month, one day before a deadline imposed on the club by the Football League to be out of receivership or face expulsion, and Scally was officially named as the club's new chairman.{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=109}}{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A171368914/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=35e3592e | work = The Observer |first=John|last=Farrell| access-date = 21 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = Football: Inglorious for Wigan | date = 13 August 1995|url-access=subscription }} He appointed former Gillingham player Tony Pulis to the vacant position of manager;{{sfn|Sewell|1995|p=307}} Pulis had been out of football for a year since leaving the manager's job at AFC Bournemouth.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=264}}

Pulis significantly rebuilt the team ahead of the new season, with eight new players joining the club. Three new signings were announced at the same time as Scally's takeover and the appointment of Pulis: forward Leo Fortune-West joined from non-League club Stevenage Borough for a transfer fee of £5,000, which was donated by Gillingham's official supporters' club from funds collected earlier in the year as part of its efforts to save the club,{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=122}} goalkeeper Jim Stannard was signed from Fulham,{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=306}} and Kevin Rattray arrived from non-League club Woking.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=270}} Subsequent signings included midfielder Mark O'Connor, who had previously played for the club between 1989 and 1993; he had played under Pulis's management at Bournemouth.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=237}} Midfielder Dave Martin joined from Bristol City on a free transfer and was immediately installed as the new club captain.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=210}} Simon Ratcliffe joined from Brentford,{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=269}} and shortly before the first match of the season, Mark Harris and Dominic Naylor arrived from Swansea City and Plymouth Argyle respectively.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|pp=150, 231}} The team prepared for the new season with a number of friendly matches, including one against Premier League club Chelsea, who sent a full-strength team including high-profile new signings Ruud Gullit and Mark Hughes. The match drew a crowd of over 10,000, with many more turned away, and provided a significant funding boost for the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/chelsea-debutants-come-out-in-style-1593338.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/chelsea-debutants-come-out-in-style-1593338.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Chelsea debutants come out in style|work=The Independent|first=Glenn|last=Moore|date=25 July 1995|access-date=2 July 2021}}{{cbignore}} Gillingham adopted a new first-choice kit featuring blue and black striped shirts; the away shirts, to be worn in the event of a clash of colours with the home team, were red and black. The team were forced to wear the previous season's kit for the first four games, however, as the suppliers of the new kit failed to deliver it on time.{{Cite AV media| publisher = Gillingham F.C.|date=1996| title = Going Up: A Year to Remember | type=DVD|time=12:37–13:46}}

File:Mark_O'Connor_footballer.jpg (pictured in 2013) suffered a broken leg in November and missed the rest of the season.]]

Gillingham began the season with a 2–1 victory at home to Wigan Athletic; new signings Martin, Naylor, Fortune-West, Ratcliffe, Stannard, O'Connor and Harris all made their debuts for the club and Fortune-West scored the winning goal.{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=105}} Seven days later Dennis Bailey, who had joined the club from Queens Park Rangers shortly after the opening game,{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=48}} made his league debut and scored in a 3–0 win over Lincoln City. The team's winning run extended to four games with victories over Cambridge United and Barnet, after which Gillingham were top of the league table; it was the first time that Gillingham had opened a league season with four wins.{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=123}} The winning run came to an end with a defeat by Colchester United on 2 September and in the next two games the team only managed two draws and dropped to second place in the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-3/12-September-1995/|title=League Division 3 table after close of play on 12 September 1995|work=11v11|publisher=AFS Enterprises|access-date=15 July 2021}}{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A170515299/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=4c73a239 | work = The Guardian | access-date = 16 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = Soccer: Scally puts wag back into Gillingham – Martin Thorpe meets the Third Division club's off-field saviour who cannot prevent a 1-0 defeat by Colchester| date = 4 September 1995|first=Martin|last=Thorpe|url-access=subscription }}

The team held another promotion-chasing team, Chester City, to a 1–1 draw and then secured two more wins without conceding a goal. The second of these, at home to Rochdale, drew an attendance of 7,782, the largest of the season to date and the highest attendance for a league game at Priestfield Stadium since 1989.{{sfn|Brown|2003|pp=99–105}}{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A171370930/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=25280802 | work = The Observer | access-date = 21 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = Football: Buoyant Gills are on the crest of a wave| date = 8 October 1995|first=Tom|last=Watt|url-access=subscription }} Alex Watson, recently signed on loan from Pulis' former club Bournemouth,{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=328}} scored the only goal of that game.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=168}} Pulis was named the divisional Manager of the Month for September, the first time that a Gillingham manager had achieved this feat for ten years.{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A115373842/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=77c56d02 | work = The Times | access-date = 16 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = Gillingham find a new way forward; Football| date = 9 October 1995|first=David|last=Powell|url-access=subscription }} Gillingham achieved their biggest win of the season on 21 October, defeating Doncaster Rovers 4–0.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=168}} After this result, Gillingham were three points clear of second-placed Preston North End and had conceded only five goals in thirteen matches, fewer than half the number allowed by any other team in the division.{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-3/21-October-1995/|title=League Division 3 table after close of play on 21 October 1995|work=11v11|publisher=AFS Enterprises|access-date=11 July 2021}} The team only scored a single goal across the next three games, however, achieving a 1–1 draw and two 0–0 draws, after which they had slipped to third in the table.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=168}}{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-3/04-november-1995/|title=League Division 3 table after close of play on 4 November 1995|work=11v11|publisher=AFS Enterprises|access-date=12 July 2021}}

Victory over Scarborough on 18 November took Gillingham back into second place in the division.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=168}} A week later, the team played Fulham in a match noted for its aggression; two Fulham players were sent off and close to the end of the game Gillingham's O'Connor suffered a broken leg after a rough tackle by an opponent.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=237}} This incident led to a mass brawl involving almost every player on the pitch; both clubs were later fined by the football authorities for failing to control their players.{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=182}}{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A115358559/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=044bb948 | work = The Times | access-date = 21 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = Clubs charged by FA; Football| date = 8 December 1995|url-access=subscription }} O'Connor would not play another game for more than a year after the injury and was forced to retire from professional football in 1997.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=237}} The scheduled game against Chester City on 9 December was postponed,{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A171373496/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=cbf07632 | work = The Observer | access-date = 16 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = Football (League Review): Rampant Rams on rise under Bald Eagle | date = 10 December 1995|first=Stephen|last=Bradfield|url-access=subscription }} allowing Preston North End to move above Gillingham into second place on goal difference.{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-3/09-december-1995/|title=League Division 3 table after close of play on 9 December 1995|work=11v11|publisher=AFS Enterprises|access-date=16 July 2021}} The team played away to Preston on 23 December in front of a crowd of 10,682, the largest attendance of the season for any match involving Gillingham.{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=105}}{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=168}} The game between the two promotion contenders ended in a 0–0 draw. Gillingham's final match of 1995 resulted in a 1–0 victory over Plymouth Argyle; the year ended with Gillingham in second place, two points behind Chester City, although Chester had played one more game.{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-3/31-december-1995/|title=League Division 3 table after close of play on 31 December 1995|work=11v11|publisher=AFS Enterprises|access-date=11 July 2021}} Gillingham would remain in the top two positions for the rest of the season.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=168}}

File:Castle, Steve.jpg (pictured in 2020) scored on his debut for the club in February.]]

Gillingham began 1996 with consecutive wins over Leyton Orient, Chester City, and Lincoln City. The first of these victories took the team back to the top of the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-3/01-january-1996/|title=League Division 3 table after close of play on 01 January 1996|work=11v11|publisher=AFS Enterprises|access-date=13 July 2021}} Against Chester, Steve Butler, who had joined the club from Cambridge United in December,{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=76}} achieved the team's only hat-trick of the season, scoring all three goals in a 3–1 victory in a 17-minute spell.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=76}}{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A67287118/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=73d5ea43 | work = The Independent | access-date = 22 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = Butler's hat-trick lifts Gillingham to top| date = 10 January 1996|first=Simon|last=O'Hagan|url-access=subscription }} On 3 February, the team were held to a 0–0 draw by Cambridge after both Ratcliffe and Fortune-West were sent off, reducing the Gillingham team to nine players.{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=29}}{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A72174117/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=bc53b160 | work = Sunday Times | access-date = 22 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = The Football Column; Opinion| date = 4 February 1996|url-access=subscription }} By mid-February, Gillingham were eight points ahead of second-placed Preston and had still only conceded 10 goals in 29 matches; the second-best defensive record in the division was held by Preston, who had conceded 25 goals, and only two other teams in the division had allowed fewer than 30.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=168}}{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-3/15-february-1996//|title=League Division 3 table after close of play on 15 February 1996|work=11v11|publisher=AFS Enterprises|access-date=15 July 2021}} Midfielder Steve Castle joined on loan from Birmingham City and scored on his debut against Hereford United on 17 February.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=84}} The team failed to score any goals in the next three games, however, resulting in a draw and two defeats.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=168}} Striker Bailey, who had scored six goals in his first 13 games for the club, had now gone 19 games without scoring at all.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=168}}

On 9 March, first-placed Gillingham drew 1–1 at home to second-placed Preston; the crowd of 10,595 was the largest attendance of the season at Priestfield Stadium.{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=105}} During the following week, with the team having only scored one goal in five games, Pulis bolstered his attacking options by signing striker John Gayle on loan from Stoke City.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=131}} Gayle scored the only goal on his debut in a 1–0 victory over Mansfield Town and scored again a week later in a 1–1 draw with Leyton Orient.{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=105}} The next game resulted in a 2–0 defeat to Rochdale, after which Gillingham fell to second place in the table and were overtaken by Preston, who would go on to remain atop the division for the rest of the season.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|pp=168, 284}} On 6 April, Gillingham beat Hartlepool United 2–0. It was the 25th game of the season in which Stannard had kept a clean sheet, breaking the previous club record set by John Simpson in the 1963–64 season.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=167}}

After an unbeaten run of six games following the defeat to Rochdale, Gillingham went into the penultimate match of the season away to Fulham knowing that victory would clinch promotion to the Second Division. Although the match ended in a 0–0 draw, third-placed Bury's failure to defeat Exeter City meant that promotion was still confirmed.{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=72}} Gillingham's final match resulted in a 1–0 victory at home to Scarborough. The team finished the season in second place, three points behind Preston and four points ahead of third-placed Bury.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=547}} The season was notable for the team's strong defence but also the low number of goals they scored; in only 12 out of 46 games did the team score more than one goal, and the total of 49 goals scored was the lowest of any team that finished in the top half of any of the Football League's three divisions.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|pp=546–547}} In March, Keith Pike of The Times had characterised the Gillingham team as "an army of six-footers able to belt the ball into orbit and tackle themselves into a frenzy" and stated that their approach to the game was effective but unattractive to watch and had "no craft, no flair, no guile".{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A115114470/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=e02ca805 | work = The Times |first=Keith|last=Pike| access-date = 22 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = Gillingham happy to win points, not friends; Football| date = 11 March 1996|url-access=subscription }} After the final game of the season, the same writer said that Gillingham had "not endeared themselves to the third division and, with luck, will get found out in the second".{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A115101475/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=809d37a8 | work = The Times |first=Keith|last=Pike| access-date = 22 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = Gillingham remain mean to the last after securing record; Football| date = 6 May 1996|url-access=subscription }}

;Key

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

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

{{col-2}}

• pen. = Penalty kick
• o.g. = Own goal

{{col-end}}

;Results{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=105}}

{{main|1995–96 Football League#Third Division}}

{{Featured article}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|float=left

|teamwidth=auto

|title=Football League Third Division final table, leading positions

|res_col_header=PR

|team1=PRE|name_PRE=Preston North End

|team2=GIL|name_GIL=Gillingham

|team3=BUR|name_BUR=Bury

|team4=PLY|name_PLY=Plymouth Argyle

|team5=DAR|name_DAR=Darlington

|team6=HER|name_HER=Hereford United

|team7=COL|name_COL=Colchester United

|win_PRE=23|draw_PRE=17|loss_PRE=6|gf_PRE=78|ga_PRE=38

|win_GIL=22|draw_GIL=17|loss_GIL=7|gf_GIL=49|ga_GIL=20

|win_BUR=22|draw_BUR=13|loss_BUR=11|gf_BUR=66|ga_BUR=48

|win_PLY=22|draw_PLY=12|loss_PLY=12|gf_PLY=68|ga_PLY=49

|win_DAR=20|draw_DAR=18|loss_DAR=8|gf_DAR=60|ga_DAR=42

|win_HER=20|draw_HER=14|loss_HER=12|gf_HER=65|ga_HER=47

|win_COL=18|draw_COL=18|loss_COL=10|gf_COL=61|ga_COL=51

|col_CP=|text_CP=Division Champions, promoted

|result1=CP

|col_P=|text_P=Promoted

|result2=P|result3=P

|col_PP=|text_PP=Participated in play-offs

|result4=PP|result5=PP|result6=PP|result7=PP

|update=complete|title_source={{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=547}}

}}

{{-}}

File:Elm_Park,_the_former_home_of_Reading_FC.jpg, home of Reading.]]

As a Third Division team, Gillingham entered the 1995–96 FA Cup in the first round and were drawn to play away to Wycombe Wanderers of the Second Division. Bailey scored as Gillingham held their higher-division opponents to a draw, meaning that a replay was required.{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A115365192/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=c2c37a1a | work = The Times | access-date = 16 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = Bailey goal grants Gillingham second opportunity; Football| date = 14 November 1995|first=Keith|last=Pike|url-access=subscription }} Gillingham won the replay 1–0 when veteran Wycombe defender Terry Howard scored an own goal.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=599}} In the second round, Gillingham played semi-professional club Hitchin Town of the Isthmian League and won 3–0.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=600}} The Premier League and Football League First Division teams entered the competition in the third round and Gillingham were paired with Reading of the First Division. Although Martin scored a goal to give Gillingham the lead at half time, Reading scored three times after the break to eliminate Gillingham from the competition. Gillingham finished the game with nine players after both Neil Smith and Martin were sent off and Pulis was also ejected from the technical area for arguing with the referee.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=603}}{{sfn|Elligate|2009|p=12}}

;Key

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

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

{{col-2}}

• pen. = Penalty kick
• o.g. = Own goal

{{col-end}}

;Results{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=105}}

Gillingham entered the 1995–96 Football League Cup in the first round and were drawn against Bristol Rovers of the Second Division. The first round was played over two legs, with the first taking place at Priestfield. Naylor scored his first of only two goals for the club as Gillingham held their higher-level opponents to a 1–1 draw.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=576}} Bristol Rovers won the second leg 4–2, however, meaning that Gillingham were eliminated from the competition, losing 5–3 on aggregate.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=576}}

;Key

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

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

{{col-2}}

• pen. = Penalty kick
• o.g. = Own goal

{{col-end}}

;Results{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=105}}

The 1995–96 Football League Trophy, a tournament exclusively for Second and Third Division teams, began with a preliminary round in which the teams were drawn into groups of three, contested on a round-robin basis. Gillingham were grouped with Cardiff City and Hereford United, both of the Third Division. In their first match of the tournament, Gillingham lost 3–2 to Cardiff.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|pp=587–588}} As Cardiff had already drawn with Hereford, they were now guaranteed to top the group and progress to the next round and Gillingham needed to beat Hereford to finish second and join them. A 2–2 draw, however, meant that Gillingham's participation in the competition ended at the earliest stage.{{sfn|Rollin|1996|p=589}} The game drew a crowd of 1,866, the lowest attendance at Priestfield during the season.{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=105}}

;Key

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

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

{{col-2}}

• pen. = Penalty kick
• o.g. = Own goal

{{col-end}}

;Results{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=105}}

File:Leo Fortune-West 3.png (pictured in 2008) was the team's top scorer.]]

Stannard made the most appearances of any Gillingham player during the season; he played in 53 of the team's 54 matches, missing only one game in the Football League Trophy.{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=105}} In his 46 Third Division appearances, he kept 29 clean sheets and conceded only 20 goals, both new Football League records for a 46-match season.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=306}} At the end of the season, he was elected by his fellow professionals into the PFA Team of the Year for the Third Division.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=352}} No other player played in every league game; Bailey came closest, playing 45 times, followed by Harris with 44.{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=105}} Three players played in only one match during the season: Steve Brown, Alan Nicholls and Kevin Bremner. Brown, who had only joined the club in March 1995 but did not figure in Pulis' plans once he took over as manager, left the club early in October to join Lincoln City.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=68}} Nicholls joined the club on a one-month contract to serve as cover for Stannard and played once in the League Trophy.{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=127}} His one-month contract was not extended and he joined non-League club Stalybridge Celtic but was killed in a motorcycle accident on 25 November.{{cite news|last1=James|first1=Stuart|title=Alan Nicholls, the maverick goalkeeper who should have played for England but died far too young|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/19/alan-nicholls-maverick-goalkeeper-plymouth|access-date=30 June 2021|work=The Guardian |date=19 November 2015}} Bremner, the coach of the club's youth team, played as a substitute in a League Trophy match; it was his only appearance for Gillingham.{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=127}} Fortune-West was the team's top goalscorer; he scored 12 goals in Third Division matches, 2 in the FA Cup and 1 in the League Cup for a total of 15 goals. Bailey was the only other player to reach double figures, scoring 10 goals. Chairman Scally registered himself as a player towards the end of the season in the hope that, if the club had already secured promotion, he would be able to play in the final game and thereby win a bet with friends, but Pulis refused to select him.{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A67123304/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=a29ed8f6 | work = The Independent | access-date = 22 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = That was the weekend that was | date = 1 April 1996|first=Jon|last=Culley|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite web | url = https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A67113891/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=35f102b5 | work = The Independent on Sunday | access-date = 21 July 2021 | via = Gale | title = Chairman gutted by Gills exclusion; Gillingham 1 Fortune-West 21 Scarborough 0 Attendance: 10,421 | date = 5 May 1996|first=Stan|last=Hey|url-access=subscription }}

{{refbegin}}

FW = {{Fb position, MF = {{Fb position, GK = {{Fb position, DF = {{Fb position

{{refend}}

The club's players and officials celebrated promotion with an open-top bus parade through the streets of Rochester, Chatham, and Gillingham.{{citation|journal=Gillingham V Scarborough Matchday Programme|title=From The Top|date=4 May 1996|first=Paul|last=Scally}}{{Cite AV media| publisher = Gillingham F.C.|date=1996| title = Going Up: A Year to Remember | type=DVD|time=1:24:56–1:25:14}} Following promotion, Pulis again overhauled his squad ahead of the upcoming season in the Second Division, and several players who had played significant roles in the 1995–96 season moved on. Martin, who had captained the team to promotion, and Naylor both left the club after a single season and joined Leyton Orient.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|pp=210, 231}} Gary Micklewhite, one of the few players to have been with the club before Pulis' arrival and to have remained a regular in the team during the 1995–96 season, retired from professional football and joined non-League club Slough Town.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=220}} Gillingham signed a number of new players, including spending a new club record fee to sign Watford's Andy Hessenthaler, who would go on to have a long association with the club as player and subsequently manager.{{sfn|Triggs|2001|p=156}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17991390|title=Andy Hessenthaler steps down as Gillingham manager|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=14 July 2021|date=8 May 2012}} In the 1996–97 season, the team secured a mid-table finish in their first season at the higher level, finishing 11th in the Second Division.{{sfn|Brown|2003|p=106}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book | last = Brown | first = Tony | title = The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record | publisher = Soccerdata | year = 2003 | isbn = 1-899468-20-X |location=Nottingham}}
• {{cite book | last = Elligate | first = David | title = Gillingham FC On This Day | publisher = Pitch Publishing | year = 2009 | isbn = 978-1-9054-1145-0 |location=Durrington}}
• {{cite book|editor-last1=Rollin|editor-first1=Glenda|editor-last2=Rollin |editor-first2=Jack |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1996–97 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |date=1996 |isbn=978-0747277811 |ref={{harvid|Rollin|1996}}|location=London}}
• {{cite book|editor-last1=Sewell |editor-first1=Albert |title=News of the World Football Annual 1995–96 |publisher=Invincible Press |date=1995 |isbn=9780855432331 |location=London}}
• {{cite book | first=Roger|last= Triggs | title=The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club| publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd | year=2001| isbn=0-7524-2243-X|location=Stroud}}

{{Gillingham F.C. seasons}}

{{1995–96 in English football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1995-96 Gillingham F.C. season}}

Category:Gillingham F.C. seasons

Gillingham Fc Season, 1995-96