2 months ago
Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth says he wants his players to follow the example of tireless midfielder Robbie McKenzie.
The 27-year-old former Hull player remains a key cog in the centre of the park for the Gills, and is closing in on 250 appearances for the club.
"We've had chats, me and Robbie, and I'm loving seeing the way he's playing at the moment," Ainsworth told BBC Radio Kent.
"He's coming off because he's got nothing left. That's what I want all my players to do, empty the tanks.
"That's my sort of team. We've got to be fit in this league, but organised and also defensively solid."
#gillingham
The 27-year-old former Hull player remains a key cog in the centre of the park for the Gills, and is closing in on 250 appearances for the club.
"We've had chats, me and Robbie, and I'm loving seeing the way he's playing at the moment," Ainsworth told BBC Radio Kent.
"He's coming off because he's got nothing left. That's what I want all my players to do, empty the tanks.
"That's my sort of team. We've got to be fit in this league, but organised and also defensively solid."
#gillingham
2 months ago
Live updates from 23 matches across League One and League Two
League One: Two games at 12:30 BST - Notts County v Bradford, Leyton Orient v Wycombe
Nine games at 15:00 including Stockport v Leicester, Mansfield v Huddersfield, Sheff Wed v Wigan
League Two: Crawley v Cheltenham, Grimsby v Bristol Rovers in two early kick-offs
Ten games at 15:00 including York v Swindon, Barnet v Accrington, Gillingham v Tranmere
#including #notts #leyton
League One: Two games at 12:30 BST - Notts County v Bradford, Leyton Orient v Wycombe
Nine games at 15:00 including Stockport v Leicester, Mansfield v Huddersfield, Sheff Wed v Wigan
League Two: Crawley v Cheltenham, Grimsby v Bristol Rovers in two early kick-offs
Ten games at 15:00 including York v Swindon, Barnet v Accrington, Gillingham v Tranmere
#including #notts #leyton
2 months ago
Follow live text and score updates from 19 matches across League One & Two (all 19:45 kick-offs)
League One: In our featured games, Bradford host Cambridge, Huddersfield welcome Oxford & Bromley take on Leyton Orient.
Doncaster v Notts County, Leicester v Plymouth, Peterborough v Stevenage & Wycombe v Sheffield Wednesday make up the remaining four fixtures.
League Two: In our main matches, Crewe welcome Walsall, Rochdale meet Shrewsbury & Tranmere host Rotherham
Bristol Rovers v Colchester, Cheltenham v York, Chesterfield v Gillingham, Exeter v Barnet, Fleetwood v Oldham, Northampton v Crawley, Salford v Newport & Swindon v Port Vale complete the L2 fixtures
#host #follow
League One: In our featured games, Bradford host Cambridge, Huddersfield welcome Oxford & Bromley take on Leyton Orient.
Doncaster v Notts County, Leicester v Plymouth, Peterborough v Stevenage & Wycombe v Sheffield Wednesday make up the remaining four fixtures.
League Two: In our main matches, Crewe welcome Walsall, Rochdale meet Shrewsbury & Tranmere host Rotherham
Bristol Rovers v Colchester, Cheltenham v York, Chesterfield v Gillingham, Exeter v Barnet, Fleetwood v Oldham, Northampton v Crawley, Salford v Newport & Swindon v Port Vale complete the L2 fixtures
#host #follow
2 months ago
Chelsea's Carabao Cup campaign begins at Stamford Bridge on Thursday against a Luton Town side still chasing a repeat of their sole major trophy, the 1988 League Cup.
History is firmly against the visitors: Luton have been eliminated in eight of their last nine EFL Cup ties against Premier League opposition, while Chelsea have advanced from 27 of their last 28 EFL Cup ties against sides from outside the top flight, a run stretching back to a penalty-shootout exit to Burnley in November 2008.
Luton head into the match unbeaten across three fixtures this season, coming from behind to beat Reading 4-3 on the opening weekend before a 2-2 draw with newly-promoted Notts County and a 3-0 win over Gillingham in the first round. Chelsea, by contrast, are still finding their feet under Xabi Alonso, whose competitive debut brought a 3-2 win at Fulham three days earlier. Thursday offers the new head coach an early look at squad depth before a testing run of fixtures ahead.
Date: Thursday, 27 August 2026Kick-off: 19:30 BSTVenue: Stamford BridgeReferee: Elliot BellLast meeting: Luton Town 2-3 Chelsea, Premier League, 30 December 2023
Jordan Henderson (wrist) and Emmanuel Emegha (hamstring) remain sidelined, and Wesley Fofana is suspended, serving the second of a two-match ban carried over from a red card against Sunderland last season. Moises Caicedo and Marco Palestra both missed the win at Fulham after picking up injuries in training and remain doubts, with Caicedo more likely to return for the weekend. Alonso is expected to make wholesale changes and could hand full debuts to several summer signings.
#premier #fulham
History is firmly against the visitors: Luton have been eliminated in eight of their last nine EFL Cup ties against Premier League opposition, while Chelsea have advanced from 27 of their last 28 EFL Cup ties against sides from outside the top flight, a run stretching back to a penalty-shootout exit to Burnley in November 2008.
Luton head into the match unbeaten across three fixtures this season, coming from behind to beat Reading 4-3 on the opening weekend before a 2-2 draw with newly-promoted Notts County and a 3-0 win over Gillingham in the first round. Chelsea, by contrast, are still finding their feet under Xabi Alonso, whose competitive debut brought a 3-2 win at Fulham three days earlier. Thursday offers the new head coach an early look at squad depth before a testing run of fixtures ahead.
Date: Thursday, 27 August 2026Kick-off: 19:30 BSTVenue: Stamford BridgeReferee: Elliot BellLast meeting: Luton Town 2-3 Chelsea, Premier League, 30 December 2023
Jordan Henderson (wrist) and Emmanuel Emegha (hamstring) remain sidelined, and Wesley Fofana is suspended, serving the second of a two-match ban carried over from a red card against Sunderland last season. Moises Caicedo and Marco Palestra both missed the win at Fulham after picking up injuries in training and remain doubts, with Caicedo more likely to return for the weekend. Alonso is expected to make wholesale changes and could hand full debuts to several summer signings.
#premier #fulham
3 months ago
League action is back!
The Royals narrowly went through to the second round of the Carabao Cup last Saturday, beating Bromley on penalties. It was Joel Pereira that had the last laugh in that game, saving Ethon Archer's penalty, but plaudits should go to Kyreece Lisbie, who had a great game.
Lewis Wing missed a penalty but the captain settled that by kicking off the scoring in the shootout. It will be Stevenage that Reading play in the next round (which I predicted), so we will be able to focus on the league at least.
Luton Town beat Gillingham 3-0 in the cup, with their campaign getting off to a smoother start than the Royals'. Goals by Nahki Wells, Bennadict Benagr and Giddeon Kouda sealed the deal for the Hatters, who face Chelsea in the next round. So it is likely Luton will also be focusing on the league, but these games are never predictable.
We finally hit matchday one of League One, with Reading vs Luton kicking off at 12:30 on Saturday. It will be available on Sky Sports and will be played at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, which has a capacity of 24,161. The referee to take us into league action will be Leigh Doughty.
#saturday #reading #action
The Royals narrowly went through to the second round of the Carabao Cup last Saturday, beating Bromley on penalties. It was Joel Pereira that had the last laugh in that game, saving Ethon Archer's penalty, but plaudits should go to Kyreece Lisbie, who had a great game.
Lewis Wing missed a penalty but the captain settled that by kicking off the scoring in the shootout. It will be Stevenage that Reading play in the next round (which I predicted), so we will be able to focus on the league at least.
Luton Town beat Gillingham 3-0 in the cup, with their campaign getting off to a smoother start than the Royals'. Goals by Nahki Wells, Bennadict Benagr and Giddeon Kouda sealed the deal for the Hatters, who face Chelsea in the next round. So it is likely Luton will also be focusing on the league, but these games are never predictable.
We finally hit matchday one of League One, with Reading vs Luton kicking off at 12:30 on Saturday. It will be available on Sky Sports and will be played at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, which has a capacity of 24,161. The referee to take us into league action will be Leigh Doughty.
#saturday #reading #action
3 months ago
Stockport County have signed St Mirren forward Mikael Mandron on a one-year contract.
The 31-year-old arrives at Edgeley Park on the back of his most prolific season for five years, with his seven goals in eight ties helping the club to win the Scottish League Cup for only the second time in their history.
Altogether, he scored 13 goals and provided 10 ****** ists last season.
That was Mandron's third season at St Mirren Park, after a nomadic senior career spent at Sunderland, Eastleigh, Wigan Athletic, Colchester United, Gillingham, Crewe Alexandra and Motherwell, before he joined St Mirren in 2023.
Mandron joined Sunderland as a scholar at 17 after coming through the French youth system, and he was called up to the Scotland Under-20 squad in 2013.
#mirren #mandron #park #stockport
The 31-year-old arrives at Edgeley Park on the back of his most prolific season for five years, with his seven goals in eight ties helping the club to win the Scottish League Cup for only the second time in their history.
Altogether, he scored 13 goals and provided 10 ****** ists last season.
That was Mandron's third season at St Mirren Park, after a nomadic senior career spent at Sunderland, Eastleigh, Wigan Athletic, Colchester United, Gillingham, Crewe Alexandra and Motherwell, before he joined St Mirren in 2023.
Mandron joined Sunderland as a scholar at 17 after coming through the French youth system, and he was called up to the Scotland Under-20 squad in 2013.
#mirren #mandron #park #stockport
3 months ago
Barnsley have signed defender Sam Gale from Gillingham for an undisclosed fee.
Gale, 21, has signed a three-year deal with the League One club, who have the option to extend the contract by a further year.
Centre-back Gale made his senior debut for Gillingham in 2021 aged 17 and made 67 appearances in all for the Kent side, including 44 last season.
Barnsley boss Daniel Stendel told the club website: "He is a young defender with excellent potential, but also someone who has already shown he can perform consistently in senior football.
"He has a strong mentality, is comfortable on the ball and has the physical attributes we look for in a centre-back.
#barnsley #centre #signed #year
Gale, 21, has signed a three-year deal with the League One club, who have the option to extend the contract by a further year.
Centre-back Gale made his senior debut for Gillingham in 2021 aged 17 and made 67 appearances in all for the Kent side, including 44 last season.
Barnsley boss Daniel Stendel told the club website: "He is a young defender with excellent potential, but also someone who has already shown he can perform consistently in senior football.
"He has a strong mentality, is comfortable on the ball and has the physical attributes we look for in a centre-back.
#barnsley #centre #signed #year
3 months ago
Walsall have made their 10th signing of the summer transfer window with the arrival of Harrogate Town winger Reece Smith on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
The 24-year-old featured in all but one of Harrogate's League Two games last term, having joined from non-league Maidenhead United where he came through the academy and spent four and a half seasons in the first team.
Smith, who played in Harrogate's 2-0 win at the Pallet-Track Stadium in the penultimate game of last season, said his move to Walsall felt like "a big step up" and added boss Lee Grant's plan to use him on the left or as a number 10 was "music to my ears".
Grant, who is putting the finishing touches to his first pre-season at the club having taken charge in May, described the deal for Smith as "another coup" for the Saddlers having been keen to sign him for "a very long time".
Walsall begin the new campaign in the Carabao Cup at Bristol City on 6 August before opening their League Two programme away to Gillingham the following Saturday.
#year
The 24-year-old featured in all but one of Harrogate's League Two games last term, having joined from non-league Maidenhead United where he came through the academy and spent four and a half seasons in the first team.
Smith, who played in Harrogate's 2-0 win at the Pallet-Track Stadium in the penultimate game of last season, said his move to Walsall felt like "a big step up" and added boss Lee Grant's plan to use him on the left or as a number 10 was "music to my ears".
Grant, who is putting the finishing touches to his first pre-season at the club having taken charge in May, described the deal for Smith as "another coup" for the Saddlers having been keen to sign him for "a very long time".
Walsall begin the new campaign in the Carabao Cup at Bristol City on 6 August before opening their League Two programme away to Gillingham the following Saturday.
#year
4 months ago
Wigan Athletic have signed goalkeeper Joe Walsh on a season-long loan from Championship side Queens Park Rangers.
The 24-year-old came through Gillingham's academy and went on to make his first-team debut in 2019 before joining QPR in January 2021.
He went on to make his league debut for the Rs in 2023-24 and established himself in their squad, making 23 Championship appearances last term.
"It makes you feel wanted. I heard a few different teams were looking at me, and once I knew Wigan were interested, I tried to do everything I could to get here," he said.
The 24-year-old came through Gillingham's academy and went on to make his first-team debut in 2019 before joining QPR in January 2021.
He went on to make his league debut for the Rs in 2023-24 and established himself in their squad, making 23 Championship appearances last term.
"It makes you feel wanted. I heard a few different teams were looking at me, and once I knew Wigan were interested, I tried to do everything I could to get here," he said.
5 months ago
Long-serving Portsmouth defender Connor Ogilvie has signed a new two-year contract with the club.
The 30-year-old has made 196 appearances and scored 13 goals since joining the club from Gillingham five years ago.
He helped Pompey win the League One ***** le in 2024 and has gone on to be a regular in the side in the Championship.
"The fact that, whenever fit, he has always featured since I've been at the club shows just how valuable he is to our team," Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho told the club website.
"He made a vital contribution to our League One ***** le success a couple of seasons ago and quickly adapted to playing in the Championship.
The 30-year-old has made 196 appearances and scored 13 goals since joining the club from Gillingham five years ago.
He helped Pompey win the League One ***** le in 2024 and has gone on to be a regular in the side in the Championship.
"The fact that, whenever fit, he has always featured since I've been at the club shows just how valuable he is to our team," Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho told the club website.
"He made a vital contribution to our League One ***** le success a couple of seasons ago and quickly adapted to playing in the Championship.
