Saunders calls it a day

He sacrificed his holiday this summer in order to prove his fitness and desire to new management duo Neale Cooper and Ronnie Jepson and they rewarded him with a short-term deal until the end of this calendar year.

Sadly, it seems that despite working tirelessly during last season and throughout this summer, the injury looks to have got the better of him.

Talking to the official Gills website, he said, "Last week the specialist advised me to retire. It's not that I can't play football again he is saying that if I lightened the load of training then my leg may get a little easier.

"I'm not sure yet what I'll do I'm just going to think about it for a couple of weeks, I'm contracted here until the end of this month and I have told the Gaffer that if he needs me I will make myself available.

"I have been told to call it a day and I have to listen to what the specialist is saying."

Saunders, who made 207 career appearances for the Gills, scoring 18 goals, was a superb example to any young pro looking to forge a career in the game.

He worked his way from the non-league scene (at Tiverton) to the Championship and the FA Cup quarter finals with Gillingham, stopping at Plymouth along the way.

Throughout his career he was a tough-tackling midfielder who led by example on the field. He played in just about every position for the Gills, including a spell between the sticks when Vince Bartram was sent off one weekend.

His energetic box-to-box play and crunching tackles made him an instant favourite, with the "OOOH ARRR, Mark Saunders" chant often being heard sung from the terraces.

He was a key member of the great Gills side of the late nineties and early 2000s, and his goals helped win a number of memorable matches.

Fans will remember his introduction from the bench as a second striker against Sheffield Wednesday when we were 1-0 down - and his superb goal, struck from the edge of the area, brought the Gills right back into the match, and eventually helped them to a magnificent win.

Probably his second most memorable goal came at Portman Road in November 2003. Coming on as a sub with just ten minutes remaining, Saunders struck a memorable last-gasp winner to shock title hopefuls Ipswich and seal one of Gillingham's most memorable away victories in the Championship.

Mark Saunders was one of the most popular players at Gillingham in recent years, and I'm sure all the Gills support will wish him all the best in whatever he chooses to do next.

Good luck Saundo, and all the best.