The club was formed in 1893 as New Brompton F.C.,[1] a name which was retained until 1912, and has played home matches at Priestfield Stadium throughout its history.
[4] Between 2000 and 2005, Gillingham played in the second tier of the English football league system for the only time in the club's history, achieving a highest league finish of eleventh place in 2002–03.
[4] The club's first team have competed in numerous nationally and regionally organised competitions, and all players who have played 50 or more such matches, either as a member of the starting eleven or as a substitute, are listed below.
Jock Robertson, the team's captain when Gillingham first entered the League in 1920, made a total of 388 appearances, a club record which stood for over ten years until overtaken by Charlie Marks, although Marks' total of 434 appearances includes those made while the club played outside the Football League.
Goalkeeper John Simpson was the first Gillingham player to make over 600 appearances.