Gills Statto Pack

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 09/02/2001

After last week's Wimbledon Statto Pack contained little information about common Past Players (there was only one!), this week we will look a lot more closely at the players that have turned out in the Blue of Gillingham and the Black and White of Grimsby.

But first of all, the all time Gillingham vs Town record reads:

P27 W14 D7 L6

Did You Know?

Town have never lost a home game to Gillingham in their 14 meetings.

The last encounter between the two sides was back in September, in Lennie Lawrence’s first home game. The game ended 1-0 to the Mariners, with a Steve Livingstone goal after just one minute. After the game, Sky Sports reported: "Livingstones lucky lob leaves Lennie Lawrence laughing"- Hmmmm….

The last game at the Priestfield was a 2-0 victory for Town in the triumphant 1997/98 season.

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Three players who played for Town before the war were WALLY BATTISTE, DAVID CHALMERS and HUGH MILLAR. Firstly, Walter Battiste, who made 31 appearances after joining Town permanently in 1919. In his time he was a right half and went on to play for the Gills from 1920-1924, using his clear pace to good effect, making 148 appearances for the Kent side.

David Chalmers made just 5 appearances for the Mariners in his 5 year stay. He was a forward by name, but could play anywhere on the park. After a seemingly unhappy time at Blundell Park, Chalmers was then transferred to Gillingham in 1919. But his career at the Priestfield was short-lived after he tragically died in 1920 aged 28.

Left back Hugh Millar made his league debut with the Mariners after training as a youth with Gillingham. He made 26 appearances from 1921- 1924. Millar's best season was 1922/23 when he made 15 appearances in the Northern section league.

ARTHUR HUGHES was another rookie who made his league debut with Grimsby, despite a 4 year association with Notts County and Nottingham Forest. In this time he broke his ankle and was out for a year, which jeopardised his chances of ever getting in the first team. However in the 25 games he played for Town, he scored 11 before moving to the Gills in 1955 before playing non-league football.

Another player who died prematurely was Billy Evans, a utility player who spent 2 years at the Priestfield Stadium before moving to Blundell Park. Between 1955 and 1958 Evans played 102 times, scoring 28 goals. In 1958 he retired to become Town’s trainer, until he died at the age of 39 in 1960.

The much travelled ROD GREEN was the Mariners leading scorer in 1966/67 with 12 goals in 23 league games. Before that spell, he scored 17 goals in 33 games for Gillingham in the 1964/65 season after a £9,000 move from Bradford PA. After his time at Blundell Park he went to Luton, Watford then South African side Durban Spurs in 1970. Green is now manager of a furniture reproduction business.

ALLAN GAUDEN was member of Towns 4th Division title team in 1971/72 making 16 appearances down the wing. The next season he made a further 39 appearances for the Mariners. Gauden was then sold to Hartlepool before he moved to Gillingham when he made a total of 41 appearances in his spell from 1974- 1976. He was then manager of Willington and Durham City before he became a fireman until 1991 when he retired.

Finally, current Gillingham winger NICKY SOUTHALL (pictured at top) made 72 appearances for Town from 1995-1997. He was comfortable on the left or right but was forced out of the team by Italian legend Ivano Bonetti. Then, when Alan Buckley returned he was no longer needed and left Town for a free. Since then, the hard-working player has clocked up over 100 games for the Gills and is expected to be in the team that faces the Mariners on Saturday.

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