Gillingham FC Academy

Gillingham FC Academy runs a category 3 academy based in Kent. They focus on elite youth development to nurture young talent.

The Academy’s official X (formerly Twitter) account is @GFC_Academy.

The younger age groups train at the University of Kent, Canterbury, with some matches also held at Sheppey United FC’s Total Power Stadium in Sheerness.

The Academy operates across three phases: the Foundation phase (Under-7 to Under-11), which includes six Development and Advanced Centres across Sittingbourne, Folkestone, Medway, Canterbury, Dartford and Maidstone; the Youth Development phase (Under-12 to Under-16); and the Professional Development phase (Under-17 to Under-21).

Academy Competitions

Each season, the Academy competes across the standard slate of competitions for Category Three clubs:

• U17 Professional Development League Cup – an English youth football tournament for players aged 17 and under.
• U18 Professional Development League Cup – established for the 2021/22 season, featuring 32 teams divided into eight groups of four, with group winners advancing to the knockout stages.
• U18 Youth Alliance Cup – an EFL-organised youth tournament for Under-18 teams from League One and League Two clubs competing in the EFL Youth Alliance. It follows a format similar to the EFL Trophy, beginning with a regional group stage before progressing to a national knockout phase.
• FA Youth Cup – the traditional nationwide knockout competition open to academy sides across English football.
• Kent Senior Cup – a county knockout competition involving senior and academy sides from clubs across Kent.

2025/26 Season

The Academy enters the 2025/26 season under Academy Manager Bryan Bull and Under-18s Head Coach Mark Patterson.

In March 2026, Scott Wagstaff was appointed the club’s new Youth Team Manager, succeeding Joe Dunne, who had stepped down the previous month after 15 months in the role and went on to join Colchester United in a similar position.

Full details of players retained, released, or returned from loan following the 2024/25 season can be found on the club’s official retained list.

Academy Players on Loan 2025/26

• Taite Holtam (Goalkeeper) – Ashford United
• Harry Webster (Defender) – Ramsgate
• Logan Dobbs (Defender) – Welling United; Tonbridge Angels; Ramsgate
• Harry Bridle (Forward) – Whitehawk FC; Cray Wanderers
• Harry Waldock (Midfielder) – Cray Wanderers
• Damien Theodore (Forward) – Hassocks; Hastings United
• Cruz Beszant (Midfielder) – Ashford United
• Michael Luxton (Midfielder) – Sheppey United

Academy Players in the First Team 2025/26

Sam Gale (Defender, #30), Cruz Beszant (Midfielder, #33), Michael Luxton (Midfielder, #40).

International Players 2025/26

• Joe Orpwood (DF) – Northern Ireland U19
• Nayan Grant (DF) – Bermuda U20

2025/26 Tournament Groupings

In the U17 Professional Development League Cup, Gillingham’s Under-17s were grouped with Under-17 sides from Cambridge United, Northampton Town and Colchester United.

For the U18 Professional Development League Cup, the Under-18s were drawn in Group C against Charlton Athletic, AFC Wimbledon and Millwall, with fixtures scheduled for 26 August, 4 October and 22 November 2025.

Season Timeline

September 2025

• 20-year-old forward Joe Gbode completed a move to Luton Town for an undisclosed fee, having come through Gillingham’s academy after joining as an Under-15 and making his senior debut in an FA Cup tie at Cheltenham in November 2021.

October 2025

• Gillingham were drawn to face Sevenoaks Town in the second round of the Kent Senior Cup.
• Centre-back Logan Dobbs was recalled from his loan spell with Welling United.

November 2025

• Gillingham’s Under-18s were drawn at home against Forest Green Rovers in the FA Youth Cup second round.
• 18-year-old striker Stan Sargent signed his first professional contract with Gillingham FC.
• Goalkeeper Taite Holtam signed a new contract at Priestfield Stadium, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2027.
• Logan Dobbs was recalled from his loan spell at Tonbridge Angels.
• Gillingham’s Under-18s were drawn at home against Stevenage in the FA Youth Cup third round.

December 2025

• Gillingham’s Under-17s’ Professional Development League Cup campaign came to an end.
• Gillingham’s Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round.

February 2026

• Joe Dunne stepped down from his role as Youth Team Coach at Gillingham FC after 15 months in the position.

March 2026

• Scott Wagstaff was appointed the club’s new Youth Team Manager, replacing Joe Dunne, who left the club the previous month and has since joined Colchester United in a similar role.

2024/25 Season

A proud 2024/25 season for the Gillingham Academy saw the Under-17s reach the quarter-finals of the U17 Professional Development League Plate.

Bryan Bull served as Academy Manager throughout the campaign.

Scholars 2024/25

Fletcher Hegarty (Goalkeeper), Joe Orpwood (Defender), Kacper Kot (Defender), Zack Broadbent (Defender), Cruz Beszant (Midfielder), Louie Dayal (Midfielder), Michael Luxton (Midfielder), Stan Sargent (Forward), Zack Whitelock (Forward).

Academy Players on Loan 2024/25

• Sam Gale (Defender) – Chelmsford City
• Stanley Skipper (Midfielder) – Bowers & Pitsea
• Alex Giles (Defender) – Aveley FC
• Joshua Bayliss (Forward) – Margate FC
• Taite Holtam (Goalkeeper) – Herne Bay; Phoenix Sports; Ashford United
• Harry Waldock (Midfielder) – Ashford United
• Harry Webster (Defender) – Chatham Town
• Harry Bridle (Forward) – Herne Bay; Whitehawk
• Ben White (Midfielder) – Sutton Athletic
• Ben Clark (Midfielder) – Deal Town
• Logan Dobbs (Defender) – Burgess Hill Town

Academy Graduates in the First Team 2024/25

Joseph Gbode (Forward, #29), Sam Gale (Defender, #30), Alex Giles (Defender, #31), Taite Holtam (Goalkeeper, #33), Stanley Skipper (Midfielder, #43), Harry Webster (Defender, #40), Harry Waldock (Midfielder, #42).

International Players 2024/25

Joe Orpwood (Defender) – Northern Ireland U17.

2024/25 Tournament Groupings

In the U18 Youth Alliance Cup, Gillingham’s Under-18s were drawn in Group H against Under-18 sides from Sutton United, Bromley, Leyton Orient and AFC Wimbledon.

Season Timeline

October 2024

• Gillingham were drawn at home to Charlton Athletic in the first round of the FA Youth Cup.
• Gillingham secured a place in the second round of the FA Youth Cup following their tie against Charlton Athletic.

November 2024

• Gillingham’s Under-18s were drawn at home against Swindon Town in the FA Youth Cup second round, with the winners set to face Queens Park Rangers in the third round.
• Gillingham’s FA Youth Cup campaign came to an end in the second round, following their tie against Swindon Town.

December 2024

• Sam Gale made his first league debut, coming on against AFC Wimbledon.

January 2025

• Gillingham’s Under-18s secured top spot in their U18 Youth Alliance Cup group, booking a place in the Northern quarter-finals.
• Alex Giles was recalled from his loan spell at Aveley, having made 13 appearances across all competitions for the National League South side.

February 2025

• Nayan Grant secured a scholarship with Gillingham Academy following a successful trial, having previously played for Tonbridge Angels and represented Bermuda at Under-15 and Under-17 level.
• Damien Theodore joined the Gillingham academy from Burgess Hill Town.

April 2025

• Harry Webster won the Gillingham FC Academy Player of the Year award for the 2024/25 season.

May 2025

• Gillingham Football Club held its Academy Player of the Year Awards in the Great Hall for the Under-9s to Under-16s age groups.
• Apprentices Harry Bridle, Ben Clark (six-month deal), Logan Dobbs and Harry Waldock were offered professional contracts with Gillingham FC.

Released Academy Players (end of 2024/25)

Jimmy Heasman, Carter Sullivan, Ben White, Alex Giles (joined Chatham Town).