All bar one of the ‘awards’ have been voted for by the readers of Gills365.co.uk – and for selected awards, we’ve also included an ‘honourable mention’ for another candidate whose achievements deserve recognition. There is also the Gills365 Man of the Year award, chosen by the Editor, yours truly.
So, who won what? Here’s a rundown of who you voted for:
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Most people found this one a very tough decision, seeing as the team played abysmally for much of the season. Indeed, the general opinion was that no one player excelled throughout the season. However, when comparing the performances of all the players in the squad, one name stood out from the rest. Taking over 45% of the total vote, the winner by a landslide was DARIUS HENDERSON.
The big striker didn’t get a look-in under Andy Hessenthaler – and looked set for a move away from Priestfield, but his determination to succeed at Championship level saw him reject the advances of Swindon, despite a successful loan spell at the County Ground, for the opportunity to challenge for a first team place at Gillingham. When Stan Ternent arrived, Henderson quickly became the club’s number one striker and currently heads the club’s scoring charts for the season with nine. Highlights include a scoring twice to secure a huge win over Wigan at Priestfield, and a magnificent performance at Millmoor against Rotherham, where, despite playing with a virus, he scored the crucial third goal to seal victory.
The clear runner-up, as voted for by Gills365 readers, was his strike partner for much of the season, MAMADY SIDIBE. His tireless work for the team and marked improvement since Ternent’s arrival saw him establish himself as a clear fans’ favourite. If he was a better player in front of goal, he may well have been the Player of the Year, but Hendo’s goals gave him the edge, so it seems.
Gills365’s Player of the Season: DARIUS HENDERSON
Runner-up: MAMADY SIDIBE
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE SEASON
The result of this vote was clear-cut. Despite losing his place in the side in recent weeks, ANDREW CROFTS took a whopping 75% of the total vote to secure the Gills365 Young Player of the Season award.
A tough-tackling midfielder, Crofts’ early chances in the first team were perhaps too soon for him, as he struggled to adapt to the pace and aggression of the game in the then-Division One. However, in season 2004/2005, Crofts has come to the fore as one of the Gills-most talented youngsters. Stan Ternent rated Crofts so highly that he decided to sign him on a four-year deal, despite telling the club’s senior pros they’d have to wait until the end of the season for a new deal.
He may have been a substitute in recent weeks, but he will return next season, and promises to be an integral part of the Gillingham lineup in 2005/2006.
Runner-up for this honour was pretty clear cut, once Crofts was established as the winner. MATTY JARVIS has scored three times for the Gills this season – and he is fast developing into a cracking attacking player for the Gills. Crofts saw more playing time in Season 2004/2005 – and that may have seen him take the award over Jarvis, but Matty deserves equal credit for his performances this season.
Gills365’s Young Player of the Season: ANDREW CROFTS
Runner-up: MATTY JARVIS
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE SEASON
In a season that saw a remarkable turnaround in fortunes, Gillingham had a number of worthy contenders for the award of Most Improved Player, but yet again, the vote MAMADY SIDIBE takes the honour of Gills365’s Most Improved Player of the Season.
A tall, pacy frontman, Sidibe has been a somewhat raw talent in previous seasons, but season 2004/2005 has seen him develop his game noticeably, particularly since the arrival of Stan Ternent and Ronnie Jepson. Now in Mama Sidibe Gillingham possess a striker with real presence – and someone who causes havoc in opposition defences.
Since the arrival of Ronnie and Stan, Sidibe seems to be playing with a lot more purpose to his game – and his work ethic has been superb. He still has his critics, who point to his almost non-existent scoring record, but where Mama has shown great improvement is in his ability to create goals for others. His performances in a number of matches this season have deserved a goal, but sadly Mama’s composure in front of goal is still something he needs to work on. Under Ronnie and Stan’s tutelage, I’m sure we’ll see more goals from the big man in season 2005/2006.
In a category which could have seen votes for a host of players, such was the transformation when Stan Ternent took over, there was only really one other player that received substantial support. This year was ANDREW CROFTS’ breakthrough season – and he took his chances superbly and looks set to feature heavily in our future league campaigns. His performances in midfield saw him take a well-deserved runner-up spot in this category.
Gills365’s Most Improved Player of the Season: MAMADY SIDIBE
Runner-up: ANDREW CROFTS
ANTI-PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Clubs are always happy to give out awards to those players whose performances have deserved recognition, but many fans would be equally happy to let players know when they have been distinctly underwhelmed by players’ performances too. In this regard, we’ve created a new award, the Anti-Player of the Season. 
This award goes to the player who the fans have felt that we would have been better playing with ten men, rather than having them out on the pitch. It’s harsh, perhaps, but in this day and age, when players are paid handsomely, they should be prepared to accept criticism when it’s due, as well as the inevitable praise when things go well.
The voting for this award was keenly contested between two candidates, but as the votes were counted, there was, yet again, a clear winner. With over 50% of the vote, striker DARREN BYFIELD ‘earns’ the Gills365 Anti-Player of the Season award.
It could have been so different for Darren. He started off like a house on fire – and with striker partner Iwan Roberts, we looked like we had a potent forward line. However, the goals quickly dried up, which was not entirely Byfield’s fault. The entire team was playing appallingly at the time. However, the general attitude of our new-boy striker was clearly rubbing supporters up the wrong way. Far too quick to both go to ground and complain to officials while the game continued, Byfield gradually built a reputation as something of a drama queen – and stories of abusive comments aimed at supporters, both those of Gillingham and their opposition, serve to damage his reputation further. Rarely acknowledging the Gills travelling support seems to be another Byfield trait.
Perhaps the most frustrating facet of Byfield – and probably the main reason why he topped this vote – is the fact that he is clearly a talented player. If only he could be more enthusiastic and committed to the cause. When we signed him from Sunderland, both Mackem fans and Rotherham fans told us he’d look good to start with, then become increasingly lazy. The results of this vote suggest many Gills fans tend to agree. We all know he CAN play, but sadly, it seems he doesn’t want to.
Gills365’s Anti-Player of the Season: DARREN BYFIELD
GOAL OF THE SEASON
This was quite possibly the most pointless award to vote for, as only one Gillingham player received any votes. Unsurprisingly, that man was Gills skipper Paul Smith. He took 100% of the vote to win the Gills365 Goal of the Season award.
After a poor season last year, it is fair to say that Smudger struggled for large parts of this season. He started off with a bang, scoring a superb breakaway goal at Portman Road for Gillingham’s first of the season and following that up with a great performance against Leeds at Priestfield. However, Smudger’s form dipped dramatically, along with most of the team. It was only the arrival of Stan Ternent that woke Smith and the rest of the side, from its slumber. We then saw Smith put in some superb performances from midfield – and to the surprise of the Gills faithful, he even chipped in with some crucial goals!
His late, late header against Preston gave the Gills a totally undeserved share of the points at Deepdale, then less than a week later, he hit the net again, but in far more spectacular style.
With just 10 minutes remaining, the score was 1-1 between Gillingham and Stoke – when Michael Flynn launched a long throw into the Stoke penalty area. The ball was headed clear, but only to Smith, who produced a stunning swerving, dipping volley, which rocketed into the top right hand corner of the net. Priestfield went beserk, Smith ran round the pitch with a combination of elation and shock on his face – and Ronnie Jepson later commented that Smith must have had his eyes shut when he hit it.
If he scores goals like that with his eyes shut, then perhaps we should blindfold him! A great goal – and one worthy of winning our Gills365 Goal of the Season Award.
Smith may have been the only Gills player to receive votes, but one other player received a vote – and certainly deserves an honourable mention for one of THE own-goals of the season. Step forward PAOLO VERNAZZA. The former Gunners midfielder, on loan at Rotherham from Watford, produced a quite stunning lob to beat Mike Pollitt, (his own goalkeeper) from all of 40 yards. It was a quite magnificent goal, totally unsavable and certainly worthy of an honourable mention.
Gills365’s Goal of the Season: PAUL SMITH v STOKE CITY
Honourable mention: PAOLO VERNAZZA (Rotherham United) own goal
PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON
This award was for the fans to decide what was their best display of the season, either by the team as a whole or by an individual player. There were plenty of nominees for this category, but 50% of the Gills365 voters plumped for one memorable team performance in possibly THE match of the season at Priestfield. GILLINGHAM 2-1 WIGAN ATHLETIC.
Gillingham took the lead through Darius Henderson before Nathan Ellington slammed home an equaliser for the visitors just two minutes later. We feared the worst when Gary Teale’s curling effort dipped past Steve Banks, but it cannoned off the crossbar to safety. Then Jason Roberts (more of whom later) somehow managed to produce the miss of the season, heading against the post from two yards out. Mama Sidibe then fed Henderson, who produced a superb finish to take all three points in a memorable victory.
An honourable mention in this category must go to DARIUS HENDERSON for his battling performance at Millmoor against Rotherham, despite being very ill indeed. Ronnie Jepson told the press after the match that Hendo wasn’t really fit to play and that the big striker spent most of halftime throwing up in the dressing room. Hendo cleaned himself up, went out for the second half and played superbly, capping his performance off with Gillingham’s third goal in a hugely-important 3-1 victory.
Gills365’s Performance of the Season: THE WHOLE TEAM v WIGAN
Honourable mention: DARIUS HENDERSON v ROTHERHAM UNITED
OTHER AWARDS:
Best opposition player to face the Gills this season: NATHAN ELLINGTON (Wigan Athletic)
Most overrated player to face the Gills this season: JASON ROBERTS (Wigan Athletic)
Best team to face Gillingham this season: SUNDERLAND
Worst team to face Gillingham this season: ROTHERHAM UNITED
Best goal conceded this season: NATHAN ELLINGTON (Wigan Athletic) v Gills at Priestfield
Best opposition fans: LEEDS, ROTHERHAM, IPSWICH and CARDIFF received equal votes
Best referee to officiate a Gills match this season: JARNAIL SINGH took 75% of all votes cast
Worst referee to officiate a Gills match this season: RAY OLIVIER took 50% of the vote, mainly thanks to one of the worst penalty decisions seen at Priestfield in many a year in the Gills v Brighton fixture.
AND FINALLY…
THE GILLS365 MAN OF THE SEASON
Despite having to endure a particularly rotten season for the most part, there were still a small handful of worthy candidates for the Gills365 Man of the Year honour, which is an Editor's award (i.e. chosen by me!). I’ve picked a shortlist of candidates who are worthy of particular praise this season and listed them below:
MAMADY SIDIBE has taken an awful amount of stick from certain sections of the Gills fanbase since his arrival from Swansea two seasons ago. He’s certainly rough around the edges as a player – and we all know his shortcomings as a goalscorer, but when it comes to sheer heart and commitment to the Gills cause, there can be few players who can favourably compare their contribution to this season to Big Mama’s.
His status as a cult hero was finally confirmed at Rotherham, when the chant of “Mama Sidibe…is keeping us up” rang round Millmoor after his crucial goal put the Gills 2-1 up. The “Si-di-be, my lord” song soon followed – and you could see his confidence soar with the backing from the fans. His reaction to Cardiff's equaliser on Saturday showed that he really cares - and for me, he's one of THE men of the season.
Next, the most obvious name to go on this list. STAN TERNENT’s arrival at Priestfield sparked a quite amazing turnaround in fortunes in the New Year. The team were no better than useless before his arrival – and over the course of 24 games he’s turned them into a cohesive unit that are notoriously difficult to beat. Who’d have thought anyone would have said that about us back in October and November?
Stan’s no-nonsense approach to management clearly brought a number of Gills players back down to earth with a bump. Some responded in the right way, by reproducing the sort of form we’ve missed over the last two seasons.
Others have fallen out of favour and not had much of a look-in. The net result has been improved results, much-improved performances and a team for the Gilingham fans to be proud of once again. Without Stan, we’d be preparing for League One already. With him, we’ve a chance to save ourselves from what looked a lost situation back in the winter. All we can say is thank you Stan…and please stay!
So far I’ve mentioned a player and a manager – and now I’ll mention a supporter. After Andy Hessenthaler left to be replaced by Stan Ternent, Gills fans went to matches in trepidation rather than in high spirits. Stan’s arrival certainly helped improve performances on the pitch, but there was a huge turning point in the season as far as the Gills support was concerned. The away crowds have been traditionally loud and positive, but the home crowds have been rather more difficult to impress. Cue Gillingham fan WOLFIE. In late-February he set about waking up the Priestfield crowd and came up with ‘The 12th Man’ campaign, which basically called on each and every Gills fan inside Priestfield to start making some racket and really get behind the team.
Announcements were aired over the tannoy before the Wigan match – and leaflets were handed out – and they had the desired effect. At the Wigan match, the crowd was simply fantastic – and played a huge part in helping the Gills to their best win of the last two seasons as they defeated the promotion-chasing Latics 2-1. Wolfie was singled out for praise by Gills chairman Paul Scally in his next matchday programme, but Wolfie was disgracefully ejected from Priestfield just weeks later for daring to try to encourage some of the quieter members of the Rainham End to sing.
He’s absolutely stitched-on to be Gillingham’s fan of the year – and should feel proud that he’s gone over and above the call of duty to support his team this season. I bumped into him for the first time outside the Blues Rock Café on Saturday – while he was in the process of trying to get Batman and Robin into the BRC. It certainly seems to me that he wants everyone to enjoy following the Gills – and that he’ll go out of his way to help achieve that goal.
As a Gills fan, my enjoyment of games has certainly improved hugely since Wolfie’s campaign to get Priestfield rocking – and hopefully we can spread that ‘awayday’ atmosphere throughout the Gills stands during home games next season. It was a close one between him and Stan, but for being the major catalyst behind the improved atmosphere at games towards the end of the season, my Gills365 Man of the Year goes to Wolfie.