This weekend could see a big milestone for Max Ehmer as he’s set to join the Gillingham 200 club.

Mad March has begun for Steve Lovell and his Gillingham side with a draw at Fleetwood Town and with home games coming up in the next week against two of the sides directly below them (Oxford United and Bristol Rovers), one man Lovell will be looking at to carry the Gills through will be skipper Max Ehmer – but for Ehmer (if selected), Saturday will see him join a very special club – the Gillingham FC 200 club!

Ehmer who was brought to the club by Peter Taylor five years ago will make his 200th appearance for the club – just the 50th player to do so in the club’s 126 year history!

“It’s an honour!” the Gills skipper told KSN in an exclusive interview as we reflected on his five years at Priestfield and his hopes for the future with the focus very much on the current battle that Lovell’s side find themselves in which could well come to a head in the next few weeks.

“To play that many games in this era where people change clubs all the time – it’s good to be settled! It helps me and my family and I’m enjoying every game here – except the ones that we lose of course – but I still love going out there and playing for the Gills. Hopefully I can go and get to 250 now as I’m really enjoying my football.”

“Initially came on loan from QPR in the November time (of 2014) did either two or three months and then until the end of the season. Peter Taylor first brought me to the club and then Andy Hessenthaler took over with the “Gang of Four” before Justin Edinburgh came in, that’s when I signed to the end of the season and then I signed permanently that summer.”

But where did it all begin for the Gills skipper? “I started playing with Ascot United when I was aged six or seven and had trials with QPR and Portsmouth and signed for Rangers when I was about eleven until I eventually signed on a one year scholar and two years pro.”

“I spoke to Peter Taylor on the phone and it was a no brainer for me to come here really,” Max told us.

“When I came in straight away, I could just tell that he was not so much in a bad way with a defensive coach, he wanted people to do their jobs and a structure and at the time being a defender, that suited me as I didn’t want to have to think about too many things and he didn’t want us to concentrate on too much apart from our defending. We got a couple of not bad results to start with, but it didn’t work out our way.”

“Then we picked up some good results under the “Gang of Four” beating Sheffield United and MK Dons I think, and then Justin (Edinburgh) came in with nothing much changing as the four of them stayed on, but I got on well, with Justin as he was more attacking minded. Every manager is different, and I really enjoyed that too.”

Ady Pennock’s appointment as Gills boss also handed Ehmer the captain’s armband. “I found out just before the first game under Ady that he was going to make me captain and I was as proud as you could be… It almost couldn’t have come from anyone better being a centre half at the club and captain as Ady had been – he obviously saw something in me that he really liked, and I’ll always cherish that!”

But who is the best he’s played for? Smiling, Ehmer told us, “I know every player is going to say that the manager at any particular time is going to be their favourite, but this Gaffer has definitely been my favourite, not like miles ahead of anyone, he’s just been my favourite as he gives you your freedom – I’m not just saying that as he’s the Gaffer now.”

“If someone else came in, I’d still say that as he and his staff just suit me the best I think – it’s not that I’m not good with managers constantly getting onto me, but this Gaffer… I know when I’ve made a mistake and will hold my hands up no problem, but with certain managers I’ve had before, are in your ear every five minutes when you’ve already made a mistake.”

“The training is sharp and what the boys want to do – there have been times where training has been tedious but now, we don’t get that as there’s a lot of changing through the week as we prepare different things from different teams. It’s all very much match related with an eye on a Saturday afternoon!”

But this Saturday, will surely be a bit special for Ehmer, who also became a father for the second time this week when his wife gave birth to a baby daughter – mother and child both doing very well.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Max continued, “It’s a great honour to top 200 appearances as it doesn’t happen at one club very often these days does it – there are few players like John Terry these days who played their way through at one team and played all the way through despite managers changing… It’s the way the modern game is that very, very few players seem to stay and fight for places and move on instead.”

“We know that it’s a big month – it could look good on myself as skipper in Gabby’s absence, but I will always try and lead whether I’m officially skipper or not – it;s “only” an armband to do certain things with the referee – I try to be a captain all of the time! I’m really enjoying it – I try and keep everyone organised and I think that you can get other people to do your jobs for you defending first and foremost.”

“It was tough losing Gabby – I’ve played next to him for so long – I enjoy playing with the others too – you get used to playing next to boys. When it’s constantly chopping and changing, then it’s hard.”

“For instance, Gabs isn’t a football player and he’ll be the first to admit that, but Alex and Connor both will – so you end up dropping to get the ball, Gabs not so much as he’s not really an option to pass to even though he would say yes!”

“Gabs is one of the best defenders I’ve played next to, but ball playing isn’t really his thing though, he’ll be the first to admit that. It’s just knowing who you’re playing next to and adapting your game to theirs as they adapt to you – I’m sure that I do things that they have to adapt to things too when they play with others!”

“The fans have been great and have always stuck by us – the support’s been unreal, and we can’t complain. Look at Sunderland on a Tuesday night; some were able to make the massive commitment of coming to cheer us on and whilst we appreciate that, we also more than appreciate those who turn up week in, week out at Priestfield as we know that not everyone can do every game even if they want to!”

“Please keep sticking with us – we’ve a good month of games ahead of us and we’re confident that we can get over the fifty point mark as soon as we can and keep backing us. The way the table has got so close has surprised us – after we conceded that last minute goal at Fleetwood, looking at the table and realising that we could have been thirteenth with those two extra points – I know that it’s “only” two points, but sitting in eighteenth, knowing that we were so close to being five places higher, we’re starting to look at getting in that top half as we know just how close and tight it’s become.”