Chairman Dr Clifford Grossmark Football League Fourth Division 1st League Cup Fourth Round | Manager Freddie Cox FA Cup First Round | |
Top goalscorer League: Brian Gibbs (17)
All: Brian Gibbs (18) | ||
The 1963–64 season was the thirty-second season in which football club Gillingham F.C. competed in the Football League, and the fourteenth since the club's return to the League in 1950. Gillingham finished the season as champions of the Football League Fourth Division, the only honour the club has ever won at a professional level, and also reached the fourth round of the Football League Cup, a feat which the club did not repeat for over thirty years.
Contents
Football League
Manager Freddie Cox stuck mainly to the team which had finished in fifth place in the previous season, his only major signing being that of veteran Crewe Alexandra defender Geoff Hudson. The Gillingham team was noted for its strong defensive capabilities, and this was borne out as the Gills conceded only two goals in their first ten matches. Goalkeeper John Simpson went on to set a new club record by conceding only 30 goals all season, and the team finished the season level on 60 points with Carlisle United, but with a fractionally better goal average, and so claimed the championship in the tightest finish in Football League history.
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; Pts = Points
FA Cup
As a Fourth Division club, Gillingham entered the FA Cup at the first round, but were beaten 4–1 by Queens Park Rangers of the Third Division.
Football League Cup
Gillingham entered the League Cup at the first round stage and defeated Bristol City, followed by a win over Bury in the second round. In the third round the Gills were drawn away to Bristol Rovers of the Third Division. After holding Rovers to a draw, the Gills emerged victorious in a replay at Priestfield Stadium to set up a fourth round match away to Leicester City of the First Division. Top-flight opposition proved too much for Gillingham, who were beaten 4–1 at Filbert Street.
Squad statistics
Gillingham used a total of 22 players during the course of the season, two of whom, Mike Burgess and John Simpson, featured in all 52 competitive matches. Brian Gibbs was also ever-present in Football League matches, and finished the season as the team's top scorer, with 18 goals in all competitions.