Retro Gillingham Shirt – Gills Pride from Priestfield

Gillingham's roots stretch back to 1893, when the club was established as New Brompton to represent the dockyard towns of the Medway. Playing their earliest football as a Southern League outfit, the club adopted the Gillingham name in 1893, anchoring themselves firmly to the local identity that remains central to everything they do today. Election to the Football League came in 1920, and the Gills became founding members of the Third Division South, beginning what would be a long and characterful relationship with the lower tiers of the English game.

The 1960s brought one of the club's most celebrated eras. Under the stewardship of Basil Hayward and then Freddie Cox, Gillingham rose through the divisions and in 1964 won the Fourth Division title – a genuine landmark moment that gave the club and its supporters a taste of what was possible. The Priestfield crowd roared their approval as the Gills demonstrated they could compete at a higher level.

But it is the late 1990s and the turn of the millennium that most Gillingham fans recall with a mixture of pride and anguish. Under manager Peter Taylor, the club assembled a spirited squad that reached the 1999 First Division play-off final at Wembley against Manchester City. What followed became one of the most dramatic finales in English football history. Gillingham led 2-0 deep into injury time, seemingly on the verge of a place in the Premier League. City's Kevin Horlock pulled one back, then Paul Dickov equalised in the dying seconds. City won on penalties in a moment that crushed Gillingham hearts but cemented the match in football folklore forever. The Gills fans who witnessed it will never forget it.

Subsequent years brought promotions and relegations, managerial changes, and financial pressures familiar to clubs of this size. Through it all, Gillingham have endured – a testament to the loyalty of their supporters and the resilience embedded in the club's culture.

Gillingham's history is rich with players who became genuine legends on the Priestfield terraces. In the late 1990s golden period, striker Robert Taylor was a fan favourite whose work rate and goals epitomised everything the Taylor-era Gills stood for. Alongside him, Carl Asaba brought pace and guile that troubled even the most organised defences in the division.

Andy Hessenthaler deserves special mention – a combative, intelligent midfielder who later became manager and gave everything to the club across both roles. His leadership on and off the pitch defined the Gills' character during their most prominent era.

Goalkeeper Vince Bartram was another stalwart who represented reliability and professionalism at a time when the club was punching above its weight. Further back in history, Brian Yeo holds the club's all-time scoring record, a remarkable achievement that underlines his importance to Gillingham's story across the 1960s and 1970s.

Managerially, Keith Peacock remains a revered figure, having given decades of service to the club in various capacities. Peter Taylor's ability to organise a team that could compete at the highest level of the Championship remains the high-water mark for Gillingham ambition. These players and managers did not just represent the club – they became the fabric of it, inspiring generations of young fans from the Medway towns to dream big.

The Gillingham retro shirt catalogue tells the story of a club that has always worn its colours with pride. The famous royal blue with white trim has been the backbone of Gills kits across the decades, though the specific shades and design details have evolved fascinatingly over time. The 1980s brought classic double-diamond and shadow-stripe designs that collectors now prize for their quintessentially English football aesthetic.

The 1990s kits, particularly those worn during the Peter Taylor era, are among the most sought-after retro Gillingham shirts on the market today. These feature the bold, slightly boxy cuts of that decade, often paired with sponsors of the time that now feel wonderfully nostalgic. The away kits from this period – often in white or yellow – add variety to any serious collection.

Earlier kits from the 1970s carry that distinctive simplicity of the era, with minimal branding and a focus on the club's core identity. The Priestfield embroidery details and badge evolution across decades make shirt collecting a genuinely educational journey through the club's history. With 33 retro Gillingham shirts available in our shop, there is something for every era of supporter.