Gillingham Town FC are hoping to hear this month whether they will be playing in a higher league next season with near neighbours Sherborne and Wincanton.

The Gills currently play in the Dorset Premier League, one level below their two rivals who play in the Toolstation Western Division One. All clubs were forced to finish their season early, with lockdowns and bad weather meaning there was not enough time to complete fixtures.

The absence of fans, and income, was another important factor.
But the Football Association is thought to be pressing ahead with plans for reorganisation of non-league football, first mooted to happen last season and now being revived.
With no automatic promotion possible, the FA is expected to base any decisions on how teams have fared in their two part- seasons. Gillingham were lying fifth when this season was called off, and third last season.

“The FA is trying to do the restructuring this season regardless of what happened in the leagues. We’ve been led to believe they will make a decision in three or four weeks’ time,” said manager Paul Down. Gillingham, along with Hamworthy Rec and Dorchester Sports, have all applied to be promoted from the Dorset Premier League – but the other two want to join the Wessex League.”

“It’s all to do with making leagues more localised, and saving players and officials travel time and costs. Playing Sherborne, Wincanton – and Warminster – locally and at a higher level could also encourage more fans, says Gills chairman Pat Fricker. We want to get the crowds back up to 100, and we are good to go,” he said.

The pitch and stadium are up to standard, and the club would only need to add floodlights, which Fricker believes would be feasible by August and the start of the next season.

But Pat is kicking on, with plans to convert a standing area into a seated stand for 150, and drive crowd capacity up to 300. A new clubhouse is also in the pipeline, with work hoped to begin this summer.

The chairman’s ambitions for the ground are also matched by his ambitions for the team – up to the Western League Premier division, and then on the Southern League, where both Salisbury and Wimborne play.

Support Us

Thank you all so, so much for the love and appreciation you’ve shown us since we launched the New Blackmore Vale.

Please show your support and add a review on our Facebook page or on Google.