Former Gillingham midfielder Danny Spiller has told KSN how he still holds the club close to his heart and hopes to return one day.
Spiller left The Gills last summer after his second spell at the club came to an end, going on to join Conference Premier side Luton Town.
However, injury has plagued the 31 year old and he has yet to make his debut for the Hatters.
Spiller made 187 appearances for The Gills over two spells which took in ten years at Priestfield and went on to become a fan’s favourite. The Maidstone born midfielder was also to have spells with Millwall, Wycombe Wanderers and Dagenham & Redbridge, but it will be his time at Gillingham that he holds in highest regard and told KSN how he welcome the opportunity to return to the club in some capacity in the future:
“I’d love to be part of Gillingham in some way, shape or form again in the future. I will never say never to anything and it has been a real pleasure to have spent such a large part of my career at Gillingham.”
“I’ve got a lot of good friends around the club and I’d love to be part of the set up again, even if it is just as a fan.”
Spiller has been unlucky with injuries throughout his career and after leaving Gillingham for Millwall in the summer of 2007, he went on to play just 21 games in three seasons.
Having been released by The Gills last summer, Spiller was hoping to kickstart his career at Luton Town, but again he has been hampered by an injury and he told KSN how he is hoping to be back playing later this year:
“Unfortunately, after I joined Luton Town, I had some problems with my achilles. I had the problem with it when I was at Gills when I was eighteen and it was something the surgeon told me that would probably reoccur in about ten years time.”
“It has crepy back up on me again and it’s a little bit of bone that’s in my achilles tendon that needs removing. It’ll be a four to six month rehab, so I can’t wait to get back playing again.”
“I have had a few injuries in my career and never failed to get back from one of them yet and I plan to come back stronger once again.”
Meanwhile, Spiller had his first taste of management a few weeks ago as he took charge of the Soccer Elite FA side against a former pros eleven at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium.
Being the other side of the white line was a novel experience for Spiller, but one he said he enjoyed and was impressed with the surroundings and what Maidstone United are doing in the Ryman League:
“My brother (Lee) has recently got involved with Soccer Elite and Maidstone United Football Club. The surroundings at Maidstone are second to none for a non league side at this level.”
“Jay Saunders is doing a fantastic job and he is looking to take them up this season. It would be great for the town and the club and it’s nothing less than they deserve for such a good set up that they’ve got going on.”