Gillingham Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Gillingham, Kent, playing in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system, as of the 2025–26 season. The club was formed in 1893 as New Brompton F.C., a name which was retained until 1912, and has played home matches at Priestfield Stadium throughout its history. The club joined The Football League (now called the English Football League) in 1920, was voted out of the league in favour of Ipswich Town at the end of the 1937–38 season, but returned to the league 12 years later after it was expanded from 88 to 92 clubs. Between 2000 and 2005, Gillingham played in the second tier of the English football league system for the only time in the club's history, achieving a highest league finish of eleventh place in 2002–03. The club's first team have competed in numerous nationally and regionally organised competitions, and all players who have played 50 or more such matches, either as a member of the starting eleven or as a substitute, are listed below.

Jock Robertson, the team's captain when Gillingham first entered the League in 1920, made a total of 388 appearances, a club record which stood for over ten years until overtaken by Charlie Marks, although Marks' total of 434 appearances includes those made while the club played outside the Football League. Goalkeeper John Simpson was the first Gillingham player to make over 600 appearances. Another goalkeeper, Ron Hillyard, set a new record of 655 appearances in the early 1990s, although Simpson still holds the record for appearances solely in the Football League. The club's all-time top goalscorer, with 149 career goals, is Brian Yeo, who also shares the record for the most League goals scored in a season with Ernie Morgan.

Key The list is ordered first by number of appearances, and then date of debut. Appearances as a substitute are included. This feature of the game was introduced in the Football League at the start of the 1965–66 season. Statistics are correct up to the end of the 2025–26 season. + Positions keyPre-1960s1960s–GKGoalkeeperFBFull backDFDefenderHBHalf backMFMidfielderFWForward

Players

NameNationalityPositionGillingham careerAppearancesGoalsNotesUnless stated otherwise, appearances and goals taken from GK1974–19916550 GK1957–19726160 FW/DF1974–198954355 MF1946–195852313DF2014–2015, 2015–2020, 2021–2025 43917 DF1943–195743410 MF1969–1977, 1981–198441918 MF1997–2005, 2005–200639626 DF1919–19333951 FW1963–1975387149 DF/MF1997–2001, 2002–2005, 2007–2009, 2010–201237930 MF1996–200636336Brown lists one appearance for Hessenthaler in the EFL Trophy in the 1996–97 season, which is missing from his Soccerbase record as Soccerbase at present only records data for that competition from the 1997–98 season onwards. FW1972–1981357102 DF1958–19683556 DF1997–200531910 FW1976–198329489 FW1962–1969284110 DF1969–197727620 FW1986–1993275104 DF1970–197927410MF1909–19202715 FW1981–1987269110 DF2000–200626415 DF1967–19742543 MF1991–199725315FW1936–1949253113 DF1991–199825117 FW1963–19692517MF2012–2017, 2024–24747 FW1975–198223877 DF1979–198423737 DF 2020– 23319 DF1978–19852322 DF2008–2012, 2018–20202301 GK2012–20182230FW2010–2011, 2013, 2013–201722381 GK1997–20042220 FW1958–196622251 DF1958–196322116 MF1947–195522136 MF1960–196522021 DF1955–19612204 DF1931–19372110FW1946–1952209120 FW1920–192620755 MF1998–200620618 DF1976–198120511 DF1969–197420531 MF1976–198120412 MF1962–19682043 DF1950–19552041 MF1976–198120314 GK1951–19562010 DF/FW1998–2005 1996 DF1996–20031994 MF2001–2009, 201619719 MF/DF1985–1988, 1991–199219619MF2006–201119515 DF1986–19901941 DF1996–200219317DF1946–195119211 MF1989–1993, 1995–199718810 DF1967–19721888 MF2001–2007, 2010–201218710 MF1953–1958, 1964–19661826MF2013–20181819 MF1966–197118010FW1896–190318076DF2010–20151798 DF1990–19961797 DF1964–19701793DF2005–2007, 2009–20131789FW1946–195317862 DF1929–19341784DF1910–19151780 MF1966–197117712 MF1972–197617421 FW1929–193517334 FW1996–1998, 1999–200217255 DF 2017–2021 17110 DF1981–19861715 FW1971–197617134 DF1987–199217016 DF 2015–2017, 2020–2022 1685 MF2008–201216719DF2003–20081676 FW1920–1924, 1930–19311658MF1911–192016516 DF1951–19561640 FW1953–195716377 DF1974–197816011 DF1981–19861597 MF 2016–2020 15711DF2007–20111573FW1919–19201569 MF1982–198615543 GK1935–19391540 DF1957–19621532 FW2000–200415129MF1903–19081480 FW2007–201214715 DF1997–20031472 DF1968–197114728unknownMF1902–19071462 FW1951–195514525 DF1987–19951435 MF1950–19551432MF1946–19511427unknownGK1909–19151420MF1909–19151425 MF1990–19971415 FW1952–195614028DF1947–19511403 FW1958–196113915unknownMF1898–19041393 FW1995–1999, 1999–200013825 DF1971–19771388DF2017–2022 1374 GK2001–20061370 MF1975–19811378FW1909–191313745 GK 2014–2016, 2022–2023, 2023–2026 1360 FW2011–201513645 MF1978–198313528 MF1957–19601355 DF1990–19961341FW1945–195313445MF2019–20231315 FW1986–198913114 MF1983–198613121 MF1920–192413115 GK1995–19991280 DF1984–19871279MF1905–19091273 GK1932–19361260 DF1998–20031251 DF1988–19921252 DF1981–19851255 MF1966–197012527 DF 2022, 2023, 2023–2026 12411 MF1995–199812413 FW1932–19351242 MF2010, 2011–201412223 DF2008–20121226 MF2003–200712216 DF1996–20001220FW1984–198712131unknownDF1908–19121210FW2005–200912017 MF1988–1991, 1995–19971204 DF1962–19661202 FW1935–193812045FW1984–198811950 FW1958–196111966 MF1934–19371192 GK1922–19251190DF/MF 2023–20261177 MF 2023– 1171FW2008–201111623 FW2000–200411647 FW1965–196811634DF 2024–2026 1151FW2008–201011542 FW2002–200511413 FW1967–19711149 FW1924–192711421 DF2008–20131136MF/DF1993–19961134MF1986–198811323 DF1965–19681134GK1947–19511130 MF1929–19321131 MF1925–19311131DF1936–19461130DF2007–20121123unknownFW1908–191411236MF2010, 2011–201411111DF1991–19941112MF1923–19271113GK2007–20101090MF2020–20231084DF2002–20071082FW1923–192710830FW1908–191110816 GK 2017–2019 1070MF1982–19851076 MF 2023–2026 1063MF1986–19891065DF1984–19871068MF2012, 2019–2020, 2021–2023 10512MF2004–200710521GK1989–19931050DF1979–19831044FW1964–196710427MF2009, 2015–2017 10315FW1995–199810313unknownDF/GK1905–19081031 DF 2015, 2015–2020 1023 MF 2015–2019 9810DF1975–1980, 1983–19841022MF1987–19911013MF1979–19841015FW1968–19711019FW1963–196610122DF1945–194910112 FW1990–199310046DF1954–19571000FW1945–1946, 1950–195310061unknownFW1894–190010041 DF 2023–2026 991DF1905–1908990MF2001–2005985MF1929–1932980MF1925–1927, 1937982 FW 2017–2019 9740MF2007–20109713FW1953–19569738FW1908–19119620 DF2012–2015953FW2000–20039415FW1991–19969413MF1933–1937942FW2020–2022 9331 DF1974–1976933DF2014–20169211DF2013–2015928MF1998–2002923FW1953–19559212DF1934–1937921MF1898–1901928MF1988–1993915 DF 2017–2019 907 FW1998–20019040GK1986–1989900unknownMF1909–1912901 GK 2019–2021 890 FW 2017–2019 8918DF1963–1965891FW1932–19348934DF1924–1927892MF1957–1959885FW1935–19398810FW1932–19348819FW1921–19238824 GK 2022–2026 870MF1996–1997875DF1986–1988870FW1923–19268711GK1920–1922870GK1972–1974860unknownMF1897–1901861 DF2012–2015854MF1989–1992857GK1908–1910850 FW 2018–20208416FW1919–19228423FW2010–2011, 2013–20148321FW1969–19718312DF1936–1938832unknownFW1905–19088317DF1923–1925820MF2012–20148210DF1922–1924829unknownMF1909–1911822 MF 2023–2025 819FW2020–2022819 FW1998–2000, 2001–20028139MF1987–19898112FW1983–19858117DF1927–1929810GK2008–2011800DF1995–1997803DF1986–1988809FW1955–19578017FW1948–19518030unknownFW1911–19148013 FW 2023–2025 798FW2014–2016 7915DF1992–1996792MF1983–1986798FW1961–1967799DF1920–1923790FW1906–1908795FW2014–2016 784FW1999–2001788DF1989–1991782FW1992–19947826DF1980–1982785DF1923–1925780 DF 2022–2024 764 DF 2017–2019 760DF2008, 2009–2011760FW1988–19927615MF1972–1975761MF1932–1935761DF1920–1924762 FW 2015–2017 7512 FW1995–19987522DF1972–1975755GK1927–1929750 FW/DF 2023–2025 748DF2019–2021741DF2010–2012730FW1981–1983732FW1959–19617313GK1925–1927730unknownDF/GK1899–1901730 DF 2023–2025 7211FW1934–19367219FW1932–19347242DF1906–1908721MF 2024– 717 MF 2022–2024 712FW2004–20067120FW1961–19647115FW1961–19657110MF2014–2016 706DF1991–1995701DF1978–1980703FW1952–19557016DF1932–1934700DF1963–1966701DF1930–1932702unknownDF1903–1905703MF1999–2002697FW1992–19956916DF1973–1976692FW1913–19156916FW1996–19986829FW1955–1957687FW1926–1928689unknownFW1898–19016820unknownMF1894–1898681DF 2021–2026 671MF2014–2016 677DF1922–1924673FW1913–19156713DF1904–1906670 MF 2020–2022 669 MF 2016–2018 664DF2011–2013660MF2003–2007663FW1993–1995668FW1989–19916611DF1987–1989663FW1934–19366627 DF 2021–2023 650 DF 2015–2016, 2016, 2016–2017 65 1FW1999–20016522FW1998–1900652GK1992–1995650FW1930–19326518DF1896–1899652 MF 2022–2024 644DF2000–2006640DF1987–1991640DF1960–1962641FW1949–19526421DF1920–1922644FW2024–2026 626DF2014–2016 621FW2008–2011625MF1902–1904623FW 2024–2026 618FW2019–2021, 2022–20236110MF2011–2013616MF2008–2012616DF1992–1994610FW1966–19686117FW1949–19526110DF1931–1934610MF1926–1928610FW1912–19156117FW1901–19036119MF2008–2010601FW1993–1995603FW1990–1993602FW1987–19896011DF1976–1979601unknownGK1945–1948600unknownMF1937–1939600FW1927–19296030MF2013–2014590FW1959–19615926FW1926–19285924FW 2021–2025 584DF2009–2011584GK1983–1985580FW1962–19645821DF1902–1904580DF2003–2005573MF1984–1987574MF1952–1955570 FW1929–19305721FW1928–19295717FW1927–1931577FW1912–19145715FW1909–19115719 DF 2016–2018 566FW2002–2005569FW1935–1937568unknownFW1912–1914565 FW 2023–2024 559FW1970–1972559FW1980–19835414FW1975–1977549FW1971–1973540FW1937–1938544GK1904–1906540FW1902–1904542FW1899–1901548FW2000–2004534FW1995–1997533DF1988–1989532FW1957–19595326FW1932–19345320 MF 2018–2020 526 MF 2015–2017 523 DF1988–1992520FW1988–1989528FW1977–1981523MF1949–1951521FW1931–1932, 1933–1935527unknownFW1913–1915522MF2020, 2020–2021 5113FW2015–2016, 2020–20215113FW1992–1994515FW1989–1991510DF1970–1972511FW1950–19525132MF1921–1923510DF1909–1911510DF2025– 501FW1958–19605015DF2005–2007502FW1958–19605015GK1955–1957500unknownFW1946–19485023unknownFW1910–1920506unknownMF1908–1911505unknownMF1894–1897504

See also List of Gillingham F.C. players (25–49 appearances) List of Gillingham F.C. players (1–24 appearances)

References