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1910-11 Southern Lge Div 1
Position 18th (out of 20)
Once again scoring goals was the problem as the team struggled at the wrong end of table. A woeful away record didn’t help either. In the FA Cup they fared slightly better reaching the 1st round proper before losing at home to the eventual winners Bradford City 1-0. In a previous round Jock Taylor scored 5 goals in the 7-0 defeat of the Royal Engineers.
Jock Taylor
1911-12 Southern Lge Div 1
Position 18th (out of 20)
Another disappointing season saw the team finish 3rd from bottom once again. While scoring goals was still a problem it was the defence that was also causing concern this time as they conceded the most goals (72) in the division. Half-Back Jack Mahon was an ever present during the season and he was the clubs first player to receive a representive honour when he was picked to play for the Southern Lge v the Football Lge in 1910.
Jack Mahon
1912-13 Southern Lge Div 1
Position 15th (out of 20)
This was the first season that the team were to be known as Gillingham FC instead of New Brompton (even though it wasn’t made official until June 1913). It was also the first season that they played in blue and red rather than black and white stripes. By January the team were bottom of the table but the last 15 games saw an huge improvement and they finished well clear of the relegation places although once again they were the lowest scoring team in the division. In the FA Cup 1st round last seasons winners Barnsley attracted a record crowd of over 11,321. Charlie Hafekost who played 22 games and scored 5 goals during the season was transferred to Liverpool in 1914 after being recommended by the Gills manager Sam Gilligan.
Charlie Hafekost
1913-14 Southern Lge Div 1
Position 13th (out of 20)
Ex Liverpool forward Sam Gilligan was unveiled as the clubs new player-manager at the start of the 1913-14 season and it proved to be a decent appointment. Results improved from the previous season and the club enjoyed a good Cup run which ended rather unluckily in a 2-0 defeat at Anfield against the managers former club. The average attendance was over 6000 for the first time and the directors decided to erect a brand new main stand during the summer of 1914.
Sam Gilligan
1914-15 Southern Lge Div 1
Position 20th (out of 20)
Any excitement at the start of the season soon evaporated with the onset of the 1st World War. The season carried on until April 1915 but by then thoughts were elsewhere. For the record it was the clubs worst season as a Southern League side and they finished rock bottom. To make matters worse the new main stand which had only just been finished was destroyed by a gale in December 1914. Right back Andrew Mosley who made 167 appearances for the club was sadly killed during the battle of Passchendaele in August 1917.
Andrew Mosley
1919-20 Southern Lge Div 1
Position 22nd (out of 22)
The first season after the end of the war was pretty much the same as before as the team once again finished in last place. Fielding a settled side was the main problem as 39 players were used, including 6 different goalkeepers. Attendances held up though as gates averaged just over 6000. The club were involved in another FA Cup marathon as it took 4 games to finally beat Swansea - The last game being played at Stamford Bridge. Arthur Wood was the club's leading scorer - despite having a metal plate inserted in his head during the war and being unable to head the ball!
Arthur Wood
