Former captain Barry Fuller has called time on his Gillingham career and has left the club after deciding along with the club, to terminate his contract by mutual consent.

The 35-year-old former Player of the Year – and the man who skippered the Gills to Play Off success at Wembley in his first spell at the club, courtesy of Simeon Jackson’s goal against Shrewsbury Town in 2009.

He was brought back to Priestfield in the summer of 2018 by previous boss Steve Lovell and duly won the fans award after a terrific season, had previously activated his option of a further year at the club. But the ever popular full-back has now decided to leave the club as he seeks to continue his playing career elsewhere ahead of the 2020/21 season.

Speaking to the club’s official website Chairman Paul Scally paid tribute to Fuller; “I’d like to place on record my thanks and best wishes to Barry Fuller who has been a consummate professional throughout his two spells with the club,” the Chairman said

“He has been a terrific servant, a huge asset to the dressing room and we all wish him the very best of luck for the future.”

In a Gills career that spanned two spells – the first of which began in January 2008 – saw him appointed skipper the following October – and led the club out at Wembley in May 2009 just months after being diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia.

He left the club in July 2014 after manager Martin Allen decided not to renew his contract and after a successful spell with AFC Wimbledon – who ironically will now have been the opponents for Fuller’s final game at Priestfield in a Gillingham shirt – he returned to Kent in June 2018.

Across his two spells for the club, Fuller made 230 appearances – just thirty-one players have more Gills appearances in the club’s history – yet only scored the one goal – but what a goal – in the draw at Doncaster in the 2019/2020 season.