Talk:History of Gillingham F.C.

the club

After taking over the club in 1995, Paul Scally set about redeveloping the KRBS Priestfield Stadium, aiming for the required facilities and capacity to sustain the club at a higher level and preparing to achieve the aim of top-flight football.

KRBS Priestfield is now barely recognisable from '95, boasting three splendid new stands which have transformed the face of Kent's only League ground. The ground is now an all-seated arena with a temporary stand at the Gillingham end of the ground. We call this The Brian Moore Stand, after the late great ITV commentator, who was a director with the club. Article continues Advertisement

Until Mr Scally's arrival The KRBS Priestfield Stadium hadn't really changed since early 1923 with the old main stand being the focal point of the ground. The only notable change in that time was when the Town End was extended during the 1950s and the ground remained that way until the recent development work.

The first work undertaken during the recent redevelopment was the £2.2m building of the new 2,600 capacity all-seater Gordon Road Stand, an area which had been closed for a few seasons for safety reasons. The height of the stand had a restriction put on it and becomes narrower the closer it gets to the Town End due to the road behind.

During the close season of 1999 The Rainham End was demolished and work began on providing a new all-seater stand housing 2,400 fans with no visual restrictions and new catering and toilet facilities for home supporters.

The stand was constructed during the summer and opened at the start of the 1999-2000 season. The stand is constructed using a steel frame and concrete terrace planks. The old sports centre behind The Rainham End was demolished to provide extra car parking.

Also in summer 1999 the main stand and part of the away terrace were demolished and the site flattened to make way for the most ambitious project - the construction of our new main stand - The Medway Stand as it was named following a poll of supporters.

The two-tier main stand was opened to supporters in the closing stages of 1999-2000 with the new players' areas ready for the start of the following campaign.

The Medway Stand was designed to accommodate far more than just the supporters and also houses the club's new administrative centre. The end adjacent to the away terrace is home to the players changing areas, physio rooms a hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room, staff offices, media centre, pressroom and kitchens.

Other facilities also now open are the new players' bar, lounge, cinema and snooker room providing the best accommodation possible for the players to eat and relax in.

The stand also offers 20 hospitality boxes and each box offers 10 people the comfort of eating and drinking in their own quality environment while still enabling guests an excellent view of the game outside, allowing them to soak up the wonderful atmosphere.

The ground floor area of the main stand houses the new main entrance, club megastore, family enclosure, business suite entrance and The Blues Rock Cafe.

The Town End terrace was demolished during the 2003/04 close season in readiness for the 'Brian Moore Stand', named after former Gillingham director and ITV football commentator Brian Moore. As mentioned above, temporary seating, with a capacity of approx 3,400, is now in place

the club

After taking over the club in 1995, Paul Scally set about redeveloping the KRBS Priestfield Stadium, aiming for the required facilities and capacity to sustain the club at a higher level and preparing to achieve the aim of top-flight football.

KRBS Priestfield is now barely recognisable from '95, boasting three splendid new stands which have transformed the face of Kent's only League ground. The ground is now an all-seated arena with a temporary stand at the Gillingham end of the ground. We call this The Brian Moore Stand, after the late great ITV commentator, who was a director with the club. Article continues Advertisement

Until Mr Scally's arrival The KRBS Priestfield Stadium hadn't really changed since early 1923 with the old main stand being the focal point of the ground. The only notable change in that time was when the Town End was extended during the 1950s and the ground remained that way until the recent development work.

The first work undertaken during the recent redevelopment was the £2.2m building of the new 2,600 capacity all-seater Gordon Road Stand, an area which had been closed for a few seasons for safety reasons. The height of the stand had a restriction put on it and becomes narrower the closer it gets to the Town End due to the road behind.

During the close season of 1999 The Rainham End was demolished and work began on providing a new all-seater stand housing 2,400 fans with no visual restrictions and new catering and toilet facilities for home supporters.

The stand was constructed during the summer and opened at the start of the 1999-2000 season. The stand is constructed using a steel frame and concrete terrace planks. The old sports centre behind The Rainham End was demolished to provide extra car parking.

Also in summer 1999 the main stand and part of the away terrace were demolished and the site flattened to make way for the most ambitious project - the construction of our new main stand - The Medway Stand as it was named following a poll of supporters.

The two-tier main stand was opened to supporters in the closing stages of 1999-2000 with the new players' areas ready for the start of the following campaign.

The Medway Stand was designed to accommodate far more than just the supporters and also houses the club's new administrative centre. The end adjacent to the away terrace is home to the players changing areas, physio rooms a hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room, staff offices, media centre, pressroom and kitchens.

Other facilities also now open are the new players' bar, lounge, cinema and snooker room providing the best accommodation possible for the players to eat and relax in.

The stand also offers 20 hospitality boxes and each box offers 10 people the comfort of eating and drinking in their own quality environment while still enabling guests an excellent view of the game outside, allowing them to soak up the wonderful atmosphere.

The ground floor area of the main stand houses the new main entrance, club megastore, family enclosure, business suite entrance and The Blues Rock Cafe.

The Town End terrace was demolished during the 2003/04 close season in readiness for the 'Brian Moore Stand', named after former Gillingham director and ITV football commentator Brian Moore. As mentioned above, temporary seating, with a capacity of approx 3,400, is now in place