After impressing in midweek at Grimsby Town, young Gillingham starlet Sam Gale is hoping for a first start at MEMS Priestfield this weekend as Gills chase their first win of new boss John Coleman’s reign.
For young Gale, his only previous appearance at Priestfield came under Steve Evans when he was just sixteen-years-old, a five-minute substitute appearance but after being recalled from a loan spell at Chelmsford City just before Christmas.
The youngster from Sevenoaks has been on the edges of first team selection and got his chance on Tuesday, and is now hoping to keep his place to start a home game in Gillingham colours for the very first time.
Speaking to KSN at this week’s briefing, Gale admitted, “As a Sevenoaks boy, it means everything to pull on a Gillingham shirt! I was thinking about it after Grimsby, if my career ends right now, I would have made appearances for this club!
“Obviously, I don’t want it to, but every time I pull on the shirt it’s an honour and I feel the weight of the badge in a good way, this club means everything to me; it’s a massive honour!”
“I’ve done three years in non-League in three different loans and I have been well prepared for the sorts of battles that we’re facing with the only difference being, the lads that I’m playing against now are League Two players who mix it physically but they can play as well!”
“Overall, I thought Tuesday was a really strong performance,” Gale told us, “I think there was a lot to build on and we are gutted that we didn’t get the three points, I thought we dealt with conditions really well as the wind was swirling up there and it was raining on a heavy bobbly pitch.
“We soaked up a bit of pressure first half with the wind against us, but never really came under any threat of conceding but carried some threat ourselves on the counter attack and grabbed our goal, which was a bit lucky but I though we worked hard to get it!
“Second half was disappointing as we controlled the whole game really, felt comfortable and it was disappointing that we couldn’t get over the line, but definitely something we can build on!”
“I’ve thrived off being involved with the first team. The last couple of years have been difficult here and there as I have had tastes of it, and then gone away for periods of time, every year the goal been “go away and come back ready to play” and finally I feel like I am. I thrive being around the lads every day and the environment with the manager and learning as it’s such a good environment to be in and learn!”
“The loans that I have had have massively helped me and I cannot credit the clubs enough – I have played under three brilliant managers starting with Jack Midson at Sheppey, Chris Agutter at Hastings last year and then Robbie Simpson at Chelmsford – three different styles of management and I have learned so much from all of them, and I’ve really learned what it’s like to play for three points.
“And when I’ve come back here and I am suddenly in the changing room, it means a lot as I have had to work hard to get back into this position or get into this position, so I don’t take it for granted – definitely!”