Highlights from the Gillingham FC Academy 2025–26 season showcasing progress along the EPPP development pathway for youth players.
Based in Kent, Gillingham FC Academy runs a category 3 academy.
- Academy Manager: Bryan Bull
- Under-18s Head Coach: Mark Patterson
Gillingham Retained List 2025
View the complete list of Gillingham players who have been retained, released, or have returned to their parent clubs following loan spells.
Gillingham Academy Players On Loan 2025/26
Youth players on loan.
- 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) Hassock; Hastings United
- Cruz Beszant (Midfielder) Ashford United
- Michael Luxton (Midfielder) Sheppey United
Gillingham Academy Products in the First Team 2025/26
- Sam Gale (Defender) #30
- Cruz Beszant (Midfielder) #33
- Michael Luxton (Midfielder) #40
Gillingham Academy International Players 2025/26
- Joe Orpwood (Defender) Northern Ireland U19
- Nayan Grant (Defender) Bermuda U20
Academy Competitions
U17 Professional Development League Cup
The U17 Professional Development League Cup is an English youth football tournament created for players aged 17 and under.
U17 PDL Cup Group Stage
Gillingham will play against Under-17 teams from Cambridge United, Northampton Town and Colchester United.
- Gillingham U17 won away against Colchester United U17 (0 – 1)
- Sullivan Booth
- Gillingham U17 won at home against Cambridge U17 (4 – 2)
- Alfie Cross (2)
- Stan Sargent
- Freddie Carruthers
- Gillingham U17 lost away against Northampton Town U17 (2 – 1)
- Freddie Carruthers
Knockout Stage
- Gillingham U17 lost at home against Portsmouth U17 (2 – 3)
- Kelly Adams
- Billy Doy
U18 Professional Development League Cup
Established for the 2021/22 season, the Professional Development League Cup features 32 teams divided into eight groups of four.
The group winners advance to the knockout stages.
U18 Professional Development League Cup Group Stage
Gillingham U18 are drawn in Group C against under-18 teams: Charlton Athletic, AFC Wimbledon and Millwall.
Fixtures Schedule (Group C)
- Match Round 1 (Tuesday 26 August 2025) Gillingham v Millwall
- Match Round 2 (Saturday 4 October 2025) Charlton Athletic v Gillingham
- Match Round 3 (Saturday 22 November 2025) Gillingham v AFC Wimbledon
- Gillingham U18 won at home against Millwall U18 (6 – 1)
- Gillingham U18 won away against Charlton Athletic U18 (0 – 2)
- Gillingham U18 lost at home against AFC Wimbledon U18 (1 – 6)
U18 Youth Alliance Cup
The EFL Youth Alliance Cup is a youth football tournament in England, organized by the English Football League (EFL). It features under-18 teams from League One and League Two clubs that compete in the EFL Youth Alliance, the league system for these academies.
The competition follows a format like the EFL Trophy, beginning with a regional group stage before progressing to a national knockout phase.
Designed to foster young talent at lower-tier EFL clubs, the tournament provides a structured competitive environment beyond regular league matches.
U18 Youth Alliance Cup Group Stage
- Gillingham U18 won at home against Bromley U18 (2 – 1)
- Stan Sargent
- Cruz Beszant
Youth Alliance Cup Semi Final
- Gillingham U18 lost at home against Luton Town U18 (1 – 2)
FA Youth Cup
First Round Proper
Gillingham U18 have been drawn away against Hertford Town U18
- Gillingham U18 won away against Hertford Town U18 (2 – 4)
- Sullivan Booth
- Stan Sargent (2)
- Michael Luxton
Second Round Proper
Gillingham U18 have been drawn at home against Forest Green Rovers U18
- Gillingham U18 won at home against Forest Green Rovers U18 (2 – 2) (4 – 2 on Pens)
- Michael Luxton
- Sullivan Booth
Third Round Proper
Gillingham U18 have been drawn at home against Stevenage U18
- Gillingham U18 lost at home against Stevenage U18 (0 – 2)
Kent Senior Cup
First Round
Bye
Second Round
Gillingham have been drawn at home against Sevenoaks Town
- Gillingham won away against Sevenoaks Town (0 – 2)
Quarter Final
- Gillingham lost away against Tonbridge Angels (4 – 3)
- Louie Dayal
- Damien Theodore
- Sulli Booth
Gillingham Academy News
14th May 2025
The following apprentices have been offered professional contracts with Gillingham FC: Harry Bridle, Ben Clark (six-month deal), Logan Dobbs, and Harry Waldock.
1st September 2025
Joe Gbode has completed a move to Luton Town for an undisclosed fee.
The 20-year-old forward came through Gillingham’s academy after joining as an U15 and made his senior debut in an FA Cup clash at Cheltenham in November 2021.
17th October 2025
Gillingham will face Sevenoaks Town FC in the second round of the Kent Senior Cup on Wednesday, December 3, at the Bourne Stadium.
29th October 2025
Gillingham can confirm that centre-back Logan Dobbs has been recalled from his loan spell with Welling United.
4th November 2025
Gillingham U18s will host Forest Green Rovers in the FA Youth Cup second round proper on Tuesday, November 18th, with kick-off at 7:00 pm.
14th November 2025
18-year-old striker Stan Sargent has signed his first professional contract with Gillingham FC.
Taite Holtam has signed a new contract at MEMS Priestfield Stadium, keeping the goalkeeper at the club until the summer of 2027.
20th November 2025
Gillingham will face Sevenoaks in the second round of the Kent Senior Cup on Wednesday, December 3, at the Bourne Stadium, with kick-off at 7:30 PM.
27th November 2025
Logan Dobbs has been recalled from his loan spell at Tonbridge Angels
Gillingham U18s will host Stevenage U18 in the FA Youth Cup third round proper on Wednesday, December 17 at Priestfield, with kick-off at 7.00 pm.
2nd December 2025
Gillingham U17 were knocked out of the U17 PDL Cup after a narrow 2–3 loss to Portsmouth at Holm Park.
17th December 2025
Gillingham U18s’ FA Youth Cup journey came to an end in the third round with a 2-0 defeat to Stevenage U18s.