Gills News Desk

GILLS v HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN - BIG MATCH REPORT

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:06:12 +0100

Gills in their new strip (pictured left) looked inventive and lively for most of the game and took the lead in this pre-season friendly against Scottish Premier League Hearts but eventually lost by virtue of two well-taken goals from the visitors.

Gills were quick out of the blocks and had the better of the first half exchanges with a team that Hess might be thinking is the nucleus of the side that could start the League Two campaign against Cheltenham.

AKINFENWA COULD BE THE TARGET IF BIG MAC FAILS

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:17:40 +0100

A big target man playing up front, in what will be a physical League Two campaign, is just one issue on the management table for Gills Andy Hessenthaler.

The much travelled striker, Adebayo Akinfenwa (pictured left), could be just the man to fill such a position and solve Andy’s managerial problem.

28 year old Adebayo, who played in League Two last season with Northampton, couldn’t agree a new deal with the Club and is now a free agent.

In a total of 88 games for the Cobblers, Adebayo has scored 37 times, including 17 last season alone, making him a hot property in the lower league striker stakes.

CONCORD RANGERS v GILLS - BIG MATCH REPORT

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:46:11 +0100

Canvey Island based Concord Rangers had played three won three of their pre-season friendlies, impressively scoring eleven times without conceding a goal, before coming up against a Gills XI who had won their last five.

In this match, Concord showed more enterprise and determination and deservedly improved their pre-season record to four wins in four played and still not conceding as they beat a poor Gills team effort by two goal to zip.

ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL GOALIE SIGNS FOR GILLS ©

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:16:26 +0100

Goalkeeper Lance Cronin (see video left) signed for Gills today joining the Andy Hess Promotion Express as cover for the current number one goalie Alan Julian.

Lance has performed extremely well during the Gills pre-season campaign so far and deserves manager Andy Hess confidence of a one-year deal with options.
Andy said, "He’s done enough for me and he can only get better."

HESSY: IT WAS A GOOD GAME AND A GOOD TEST

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:09:19 +0100

Speaking to BBC Radio Kent after playing two pre-season friendlies against Bishop’s Stortford and Ebbsfleet United on consecutive days, Gills manager Andy Hessenthaler said, “We changed the team around from the night before and used the opportunity of playing two games to give the majority of our squad ninety minutes under their belts and that was the exercise.”

He continued, “In an ideal world we probably wouldn’t have played the two games, but Liam Daish phoned up and it’s a nice pitch here and they’re local so it was a good friendly to use for both teams. We got a lot out of it last night and again today tested our fitness.”

GILLS INJURY CRISIS MOUNTS AS LEAGUE APPROACHES

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:43:54 +0100

Gills manager Andy Hessenthaler is facing his first real crisis since returning to Priestfield with an injury list to key players that is hampering Gills pre-season preparations and threatens a successful League Two start.

The latest addition to the sick list was Gills captain Barry Fuller (pictured right following his injury).

Barry has a medial ligament injury to his right knee sustained in the match against Ebbsfleet when he had to come off after only 19 minutes. He is to undergo further tests to find the extent of this latest injury.

EBBSFLEET v GILLS - EXCLUSIVE VIDEO REPORT ©

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:42:21 +0100

Gills continued on their pre-season schedule with yet another away win at Ebbsfleet United. This was their fourth away win and fifth win in seven pre-season friendlies.

Manager Andy Hessenthaler will be pleased that the commitment shown and the development of the squad over the last few weeks has been encouraging for the League Two season ahead.

In particular Chris Palmer and Luke Rooney have been on target and Tony Sinclair is proving to be a real find along with the returning Danny Spiller.

On Monday it is expected that former Fleet goalie, Lance Cronin will sign for the Gills.

The exclusive GillsConnect video (top right) shows a little of the action from the Ebbsfleet game and the picture (bottom right) shows a small section of the Gills fans who made the short trip to Stonebridge Road.

EBBSFLEET UNITED v GILLS - BIG MATCH REPORT

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:45:40 +0100

This was the seventh game in Gills pre-season calendar, a visit to near neighbours Ebbsfleet United, and another competent display by the improving Gills under manager Andy Hessenthaler.

This 1-2 away victory was hard earned against a hard working Ebbsfleet side that battled throughout and dominated the majority of the second half. Ultimately Gills had that little extra and finished the job with a well-worked goal.

BISHOPS STORTFORD v GILLS - BIG MATCH REPORT

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:42:56 +0100

Luke Rooney (left) scored a hat trick in Gills 4-1 win against Bishops Stortford as he continued his impressive form in the pre-season games.

Andy Hessenthaler promised that Gills squad players would get 90 minutes on the pitch over the two games scheduled for this weekend against Bishops Stortford and Ebbsfleet.

TONY SINCLAIR AND DANNY SPILLER BOTH SIGN

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:17:33 +0100

Gills manager Andy Hessenthaler has signed centre-back Tony Sinclair (left), who started his career in the Gills youth team, but drifted into non-league where he played for Beckenham, Fisher, Welling and then released last season by Woking. Danny Spiller has also signed - see below.

Tony Sinclair has had a very successful pre-season at Gills having started in all five matches and his consistency has earned him a one-year contract from the Club with a further year option.

TONY SINCLAIR SIGNS AND COMPLETES FULL CIRCLE

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:28:31 +0100

Gills manager Andy Hessenthaler has signed centre-back Tony Sinclair (pictured left), who actually started his career in the Gillingham youth team, but drifted into non-league where he played for Beckenham, Fisher, Welling and then released last season by Woking.

Tony Sinclair has had a very successful pre-season at Gills having started in all five matches and his consistency has earned him a one-year contract from the Club with a further year option.

GILLS v POSH - EXCLUSIVE VIDEO REPORT ©

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:49:00 +0100

Andy Hessenthaler was welcomed back to Priestfield with cheers, loud and prolonged applause for his first game in charge of the Gills since 2004.

The Gills team put on an excellent display and beat League One Peterborough United by four goals to one.

The two videos on the right depict the Priestfield atmosphere and show some of the action from both periods including a couple of the Gills goals.

Peterborough, who had a pre-season friendly against Premiership Aston Villa on Monday fielded a weakened side.

However this Gills victory was well deserved as they convincingly took the game to Posh and won easily.

Manager Hessenthaler will know that there are much harder tests to come during the League Two season.

GILLS v PETERBOROUGH - BIG MATCH REPORT

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:49:56 +0100

Gills produced a slick, and at times, exciting quick passing performance to easily beat a Peterborough side that was clearly second string but did include Rene Howe who was on loan to Gills last season.

The small 1,064 crowd, spread out in the Medway Stand, cheered loud and clapped long as the returning Gills manager Andy Hessenthaler walked to the dug out for his first match at Priestfield since 2004.

FOUR PLUS CODY OUT TO IMPRESS AGAINST POSH

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:28:40 +0100

Four Gills triallists tonight will be under the spotlight against League One Peterborough United trying to provide manager Andy Hessenthaler with confidence that they are worthy of a contract for the coming season.

The triallists hoping for contracts are goalkeeper Lance Cronin (pictured left), defender Tony Sinclair and midfielders Danny Spiller and former Ajax youngster Stanley Aborah.

In addition new striker Cody McDonald will be out to impress the Priestfield faithfull on his home debut that he is the man to fill Simeon Jackson’s boots and score the goals that will ensure promotion come next May.

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:27:20 +0100

Gills comfortably won their European encounter against RUFC Calais 4-0 in a bad tempered match that was the equal to last year’s pre-season ‘friendly’ in what was a rough, tough affair with a lot of heavy tackles resulting in four bookings.

GillsConnect exclusive videos (right) show some of the action and atmosphere at the Julien Denis Stadium as the Gills took on a very similar physical RUFC Calais team.

The top right video shows an exasperated Andy Hessenthaler expecting a 15.00 local time start but the Calais players and officials had originally been told the kick-off not until 17.00. The game eventually started at 16.05 after Hess protested.

The top right video also features a couple of the Gills goals, and the build up, scored by Luke Rooney after two minutes and Dennis Oli in the 49th minute.

RUFC CALAIS v GILLS - BIG MATCH REPORT

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 20:33:18 +0100

Gills comfortably beat RUFC Calais this afternoon to record their second away win in succession. Three first half goals from Luke Rooney, Stefan Payne and Chris Palmer put Gills in a commanding position and an early second half strike from Dennis Oli made the victory complete.

Many of the Gills fans who made the short trip across the English Channel to the Stade Juilen Denis were left wondering whether the pre-season friendly with Calais RUFC would actually go ahead after our opponents failed to show up by 3.00 pm local time.

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:59:05 +0100

Now that hot-shot Simeon Jackson has left the Gills and signed for Norwich it leaves Gills with the distinct problem of not having a proven, consistent striker on their books. That is presumably why the £600,000 > £1m. deal involving Simeon also included Norwich striker Cody McDonald coming the other way on a season long loan.

This is good business by Gills Chairman Paul Scally and will obviously help placate the Priestfield fans and increase Hessenthaler’s options. Will be even better if some of the Simeon Jackson fee is also made available to manager Andy Hessenthaler for help in boosting his overall squad skill.

The YouTube video above shows, at Gills level, Cody can score with the best of them - watch as Cody nets 19 goals in just 17 games for Dartford. This goal scoring exploit then attracted interest from Norwich, Crystal Palace, Charlton and Reading.

Cody eventually signed for Norwich City in February 2009 and scored on his debut against Cardiff although has found opportunities scarce in the Norwich first team since. However, Cody did score against the Gills last season in a Cup match.

While GillsConnect and the majority of Gills fans thank Simeon Jackson for his goal scoring record at Gills - 42 goals - and wish him well in his future career - they will no doubt be hoping that Cody McDonald rediscovers his scintillating Dartford goal scoring form.

SIMEON ON HIS WAY TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:39:09 +0100

Norwich City of the Championship have finally got their man and signed Simeon Jackson, Gills consistent top striker of the past two seasons, for a reported £600,000 fee today.

Jackson is reported to have flown to Germany to join the Canaries at their pre-season training camp.

Last month the Canaries made a bid for the Canadian International that was refused by the Club but an increase total plus a loan player was enough to persuade Gills Chairman Paul Scally to accept.

DARTFORD v GILLS - BIG MATCH REPORT

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:32:30 +0100

Gills got back to winning ways with a good all round performance in their pre-season friendly at Princes Park. Josh Gowling and trialist Tony Sinclair looked solid in the centre of defence with trialist keeper Lance Cronin also in confident mood throughout.