1973–74 Gillingham F.C. season

The 1973–74 season was the forty-second season in which football club Gillingham F.C. competed in the Football League, and the twenty-fourth since the club's return to the League in 1950. Gillingham finished the season as runners-up in the Football League Fourth Division, gaining promotion back to the Third Division three years after dropping down from it. Brian Yeo equalled the club record of 31 Football League goals in a season, set by Ernie Morgan 18 years earlier.

Gillingham
1973–74 season
ChairmanDr Clifford Grossmark
ManagerAndy Nelson
Football League Fourth Division2nd
FA CupFirst Round
League CupSecond Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Brian Yeo (31)
All: Brian Yeo (32)
Highest home attendance12,577 vs Peterborough United (3 April 1974)
Lowest home attendance3,864 vs Doncaster Rovers (29 September 1973)

Football League

Manager Andy Nelson retained a largely unchanged squad from the previous season, making no new signings during the summer. The team began the season with a defeat to Crewe Alexandra, but then recorded four wins and three draws in the next nine games, including a 7–2 defeat of Scunthorpe United. After the 2–1 defeat to Exeter City on 6 October the team then went on a run of 20 games without defeat before losing 2–0 to Stockport County on 10 March. Two further defeats followed in March but the team hung on to finish the season in second place, three points behind Peterborough United, and gain promotion. Striker Brian Yeo scored his 31st league goal of the season in the 2–0 win over Lincoln City on 24 April, equalling the club record set by Ernie Morgan in the 1955–56 season.

Date Opponents H / A Result
F – A		 Scorers Attendance
25 August 1973Crewe AlexandraA0–12,091
1 September 1973Newport CountyH1–1Yeo3,971
8 September 1973Swansea CityA3–0Lindsey, Yeo, Tydeman2,144
12 September 1973Scunthorpe UnitedH7–2Yeo 3, Wilks, Richardson 2, Tydeman4,610
15 September 1973DarlingtonH0–15,446
18 September 1973Rotherham UnitedA1–0Yeo3,757
22 September 1973Hartlepool UnitedA1–1Jacks1,399
29 September 1973Doncaster RoversH5–1Yeo, Wilks, Richardson 2, Peach3,864
3 October 1973Rotherham UnitedH1–1Yeo5,330
6 October 1973Exeter CityA1–2Peach4,744
13 October 1973BuryH3–0Hill, Yeo 24,531
20 October 1973Chester CityA4–2Peach, Yeo 2, Richardson2,187
23 October 1973Scunthorpe UnitedA1–1Jacks2,544
27 October 1973Stockport CountyH2–1Peach, Wilks5,777
31 October 1973Bradford CityA0–02,567
3 November 1973ReadingA1–0Yeo8,248
10 November 1973Torquay UnitedH2–1Yeo 26,201
14 November 1973WorkingtonH4–0Wilks 3, Yeo6,804
17 November 1973Mansfield TownA2–2Yeo, Peach2,908
1 December 1973BrentfordA3–0Richardson 2, Galvin5,748
8 December 1973Colchester UnitedH4–1Richardson, Wilks 2, Jacks8,411
22 December 1973Doncaster RoversA2–1Tydeman, Jacks1,878
26 December 1973Northampton TownH3–1Yeo 311,313
29 December 1973Swansea CityH1–1Jacks9,960
1 January 1974Newport CountyA3–3Jacks, Wilks, Peach5,888
5 January 1974BarnsleyH1–1Richardson6,825
12 January 1974DarlingtonA3–1Richardson, Peach, Yeo2,204
20 January 1974Crewe AlexandraH3–0Yeo, Richardson, Jacks11,478
3 February 1974Lincoln CityA3–2Wilks, Yeo 27,154
10 February 1974Hartlepool UnitedH3–0Opponent own goal, Wilks, Yeo8,724
17 February 1974BuryA2–3Opponent own goal, Coxhill8,813
23 February 1974Exeter CityH2–1Yeo, Wilks7,994
3 March 1974Northampton TownA0–08,583
10 March 1974Stockport CountyA0–21,940
17 March 1974Chester CityH1–0Richardson7,481
23 March 1974Torquay UnitedA1–0Richardson2,887
26 March 1974BarnsleyA1–3Richardson5,132
30 March 1974ReadingH0–17,140
3 April 1974Peterborough UnitedH1–0Lindsey12,577
6 April 1974WorkingtonA3–3Richardson 2, Jacks1,181
13 April 1974Mansfield TownH2–2Lindsey, Yeo7,972
15 April 1974Bradford CityH2–0Yeo, Wilks7,720
20 April 1974Colchester UnitedA2–0Yeo 210,007
24 April 1974Lincoln CityH2–0Yeo, Tydeman9,094
27 April 1974BrentfordH1–0Hill9,319
1 May 1974Peterborough UnitedA2–4Lindsey, Wilks17,569


Pld
W
D
L
F
A
Pts
46
25
12
9
90
49
62

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; Pts = Points

FA Cup

As a Fourth Division club, Gillingham entered the FA Cup at the first round, but were beaten 3–2 by Cambridge United of the Third Division.

Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F – A		 Scorers Attendance
24 November 1973 First Cambridge United A 2–3 Richardson, Tydeman 4,831

Football League Cup

Gillingham entered the League Cup at the first round stage and defeated Colchester United, but were knocked out in the second round by Carlisle United.

Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F – A		 Scorers Attendance
16 August 1973 First Colchester United H 4–2 Peach, Quirke, Wilks, Yeo 3,991
5 September 1973 Second Carlisle United H 1–2 Richardson 7,871

Squad statistics

Gillingham used only 19 players in total over the course of the season with two, George Jacks and Dick Tydeman, playing in all 49 competitive matches and five others making over 40 appearances.

Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Glenn Aitken1500000150
Dave Coxhill3011000311
Dave Galvin3411000351
Mike Gibson4101020440
Kenny Hill2420020262
George Jacks4681020498
Joe Jacques4201020450
Kevin Johnson10000010
Graham Knight2301000240
Keith Lindsey3740020394
David Peach2771021308
Dave Quirke2000021221
Damien Richardson431611214618
Ken Rogers10000010
Ian Thorpe50000050
Dick Tydeman4641120495
Alan Wilks431410214615
Dave Wiltshire20000020
Brian Yeo433110214632

See also
  • Gillingham F.C. seasons

References
  • Brown, Tony (2003). The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record. Soccerdata. ISBN 1-899468-20-X.
  • Triggs, Roger (1984). Gillingham Football Club: A Chronology 1893–1984. Kent County Libraries.
  • Bradley, Andy; Roger Triggs (1994). Home of the Shouting Men: Complete History of Gillingham Football Club 1893–1993. Gillingham F.C. ISBN 0-9523361-0-3.
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