Gillingham Director of Football, Andy Hessenthaler, has told KSN he is always looking at local clubs to loan out some of the club’s youth players.

Hessenthaler was speaking exclusively to KSN at the charity game at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium on Friday night where a former pros XI including the likes of Des Walker and Dave Beasant beat the Soccer Elite side 5-0.

The Gills have always looked to loan out some of their fringe players and youth team squad to Kent clubs and this season has been no different with Alex Brown having played for Maidstone United before his release by the club this week.

With Maidstone United playing so well in the Ryman League Division One South, Hessenthaler admitted it made sense for a club like Gillingham to look at loaning out some of their younger players to one of their old rivals:

“They’re flying and Alex came in and did very well for someone who is young and looking at getting a bit of experience.”

“If we can help out some of these smaller local clubs with players, we will always do that.”

The former Gillingham manager went on to explain how he was impressed with the set up at Maidstone United following their return to the town last summer and his belief the 3G pitch could catch on in non league:

“It’s much better than it ever was at Luton Town back in the days. Commercially it is fantastic and they haven’t had a game off throughout the bad period of weather we’ve had.”

“They’re also getting 1,500 – 2,000 people through the gates, so the revenue is fantastic. I don’t think it will catch on at the higher levels of football, but at the lower levels I think there will be more and more teams looking at installing these pitches.”

Hessenthaler showed throughout the ninety minutes of the game that he hadn’t lost the enthusiasm to play the game, pulling the strings in the heart of midfield as Dover Athletic manager Nicky Forster and former Wales international defender Andy Legg bagged braces in the 5-0 win.

Having played into his forties, Hessenthaler is an example of a player that came into the game late and kept playing as long as he could for the love of the game, telling KSN how he was thrilled to have been back playing alongside former Gills players Steve Lovell, Richard Carpenter, Neil Smith and Simon Osborn amongst others:

“It’s been a privilege to have been asked to play in the game with such great pros. The game is for three great charities and it’s a fantastic set up now at Maidstone United, so I was thrilled to be asked to play.”

One player that Hessenthaler was keen to be playing with once again was former Watford team-mate and England striker Luther Blissett:

“I used to play with Luther and used to have to do all his running for him when he came back to England from Milan. To have been on the same pitch as these guys is an honour.”

“It’s always a fun night, but serious when the whistle blows as we all retain that competitive edge.”

“It’s great to see them all and Steve (Lovell) doesn’t look like he’s getting any older.”

Lovell rolled back the years after a five year stint at The Gills at the end of the 80’s and into the early 90’s that saw the striker score 94 goals, including a few against Maidstone United in the league.

Spells in non league followed for Lovell who at the age of 52 now works for Charlton Athletic in their youth set up and he told KSN how he was thrilled to be back playing with some old friends at the new Gallagher Stadium:

“It’s nice, it’s a great facility and like Andy says it’s nice that they’ve come back home. The club have been well supported throughout this season.”

“We love doing these things and it’s great to be back playing with all the boys once again. There’s something family orientated about football and we love the buzz of playing.”

Meanwhile, Lovell was equally full of praise about the 3G surface:

“I like it and of course you have to look at it in a commercial sense especially in non league football with the revenue it can bring in.”

“Whether it will catch on at the top level, I don’t know. The games will never be called off though, so I think non league clubs should all look at it.”