THE GROUND
MEMS Priestfield Stadium
Redfern Avenue
Gillingham
Kent
ME7 4DD
Priestfield, as it is commonly known, has been home to Gillingham FC since the club was founded in 1893.
The land on which the stadium now stands was bought by the founders of New Brompton Football Club, which later became Gillingham, when the club was conceived.
The ground was redeveloped in the late 1990s and is now an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 11,582.
However, work at one end of the ground – now known as The Brian Moore End – was not completed and there is a temporary, uncovered structure that has been in place for almost a decade.
Visiting fans are given a section of that stand, which can hold up to 3.400 supporters.
THE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
It is approximately 45 miles from Griffin Park to the Priestfield by road.
Drivers will usually head in to Gillingham on the A2, which can be accessed from junction 2 of the M25, and then take the A289 to within a mile of the ground.
The ground itself is located in a residential area and there is no parking on the streets around the ground.
There are car parks nearby or drivers will have to leave their cars a little way from the ground.
The nearest station to the ground is Gillingham (Kent), which is served by Southeastern train services.
Supporters travelling by rail can get services from London Victoria, London Bridge or London Charing Cross, trains also pass through London Waterloo East.
The station is around a ten minute walk from the ground.
The Supporters’ Association will be running coaches to every game this season – details of times and prices will be announced in due course.
THE FIXTURES
Brentford will play away to Gillingham on Saturday August 17.
The Bees then welcome The Gills to Griffin Park on Saturday January 25.
THE RECENT HISTORY
Gillingham were promoted to League One last season, three years after they were relegated to the fourth tier.
The Kent side have moved up and down the leagues in the last 20 years but will be hoping to now continue an upward trend.
The Gills came in to the Football League in the 1920s and apart from a period where they lost a bid for re-election just before World War II they were a team that played exclusively in Division Three and Four.
They started up upward trend in the 1990s, soon after Paul Scally took control of the club, won promotion to the third tier in 1996 and then to the second tier for the first time ever in 2000 – a year after they had lost the Division Two Play-Off Final to Manchester City on penalties despite being 2-0 up with seconds remaining.
They spent five years in the second tier before relegation in 2005 and went down again in 2008, only to bounce back in 2009 before relegation again back to the fourth tier in 2010.
They just missed out on the League Two Play-Offs in 2011 and 2012 but got it right last year.
Under new manager Martin Allen, Gillingham won seven of their first eight League Two games, drawing the other, and flew to the top of the table.
Despite a few wobbles, particularly just before the end of 2012 – when they won two of eight league games – and just before Easter – when they won two of seven – they sealed promotion and the League Two title, eventually winning it by four points.
THE MANAGER
Martin Allen took charge of Gillingham just under a year ago after leaving Barnet for the third time.
The 47-year-old needs little introduction to Brentford fans after spending just over two years in charge at Griffin Park.
Allen was dubbed ‘Mad Dog’ during a playing career that saw him feature for Queen’s Park Rangers, West Ham United, Portsmouth and Southend United before he moved into coaching as assistant manager at Reading.
He spent a year in charge of Barnet before arriving at Griffin Park.
He kept Brentford up from an improbable position in 2004 and led The Bees to two Play-Off Semi-Finals and the FA Cup Fifth Round twice before his departure in 2006.
Since then he has managed Milton Keynes Dons, Leicester City and Cheltenham Town before he was appointed by Barnet in March 2011.
He then left after 19 days to take charge at Notts County and help them stay up but was sacked after less than a year.
He went back to Barnet for a third time last April and helped keep them in the Football League by taking charge of their last three league games.
At the end of the season he moved to Gillingham where he won promotion for the first time.
THE TOP SCORER
Danny Kedwell scored 16 goals in all competition for Gillingham last season, 14 of them in League Two.
The 29-year-old was born in Gillingham and played non-league football in the Kent area before ending up at AFC Wimbledon.
He scored the winning spot kick as the Kingston side won promotion to the Football League in a Blue Square Bet Premier Play-Off Final penalty shoot-out against Luton Town but then left to join Gillingham.
He scored 14 goals in his first season with The Gills and went two better last term.
THE KEY MEN
Gillingham’s League Two title was built on a mean defence and a large former Brentford contingent.
The Gills conceded just 19 goals in 46 league games and even though they only scored 66, fewer than the three teams below them, they won more points.
There was a strong Brentford connection in that back four.
Stuart Nelson played 45 games in goal while Leon Legge joined The Gills during the season to help them over the line and Andrew Frampton played 30 League Two games.
Matt Fish and Adam Barrett were the other defensive lynchpins – playing 44 and 43 games respectively – while Joe Martin played 38 games.
In midfield Chris Whelpdale scored seven goals in 41 league appearances while Myles Weston scored eight in 37 games while playing on the left of midfield or in attack.
Another former Bee Charlie Allen – who was on the books as a youngster while his dad, Gillingham manager Martin, was in charge at Griffin Park – played 32 games in midfield while Deon Burton, also formerly of Brentford, scored 12 league goals in attack.
Former Peterborough United midfield player Charlie Lee was also heavily involved.
The majority of those players are staying on for next season although Frampton turned down a new contract and is reported to be about to join AFC Wimbledon.
Gillingham have added to their squad with the signing of another ex-Brentford man – striker Antonio German, who was on loan in Kent last season.
Midfield player Amine Linganzi has also joined The Gills from Accrington Stanley.
THE FIRST MEETING
November 9 1901, Southern League Division One – Brentford 3 New Brompton 2
Brentford line-up: Spicer; Gilmour, Robson; McEleny, Regan, Stormont; McElhaney, McLeod, Logan, Turnbull, Shanks
Brentford goal scorers: McElhaney, Shanks, Logan
Brentford came from 2-0 down at half time to pick up their first ever win in the Southern League First Division
THE LAST MEETING
February 2 2010, Coca-Cola League One – Brentford 4 Gillingham 0
Brentford line-up: Szczesny; Foster, Legge, Smith, Dickson; Saunders (sub Ainsworth), O’Connor, Diagouraga, Weston; Akinde (sub Cort), MacDonald (sub Strevens)
Subs (not used): Moore, Phillips, Wood, Hunt
Brentford goal scorers: MacDonald (2), Weston (2)
Brentford romped to a home win against a Gillingham side heading for relegation.
Click here for a full match report.
THE MEMORABLE DAY
January 7 1984, FA Cup Third Round – Gillingham 5 Brentford 3
Brentford line-up: Roche; Rowe, Bolton, McNichol, P. Roberts; Bullivant, Hurlock, Joseph, G. Roberts (sub Booker); Mahoney, Cassells
Brentford goal scorers: G. Roberts, Hurlock, Cassells
Brentford were 3-1 up with 11 minutes to go but conceded four late goals to lose cup tie.