Gillingham fans got to pay their respect to former boss Gerry Summers on Saturday.
Summers managed the Gills between October 1975 and May 1981, taking charge of close to 300 games. He died last week at the age of 90.
There was a minute’s applause at Priestfield on Saturday afternoon ahead of the League 2 game against Grimsby Town.
During his playing career he turned out for the likes of Sheffield United, West Brom and Hull before becoming manager of Oxford United and then the Gills in the mid-70s.
He came close to taking the Gills to promotion in the 1979 season.
A statement from the Gills said: “Everyone at Priestfield Stadium sends its thoughts and condolences to Gerry’s family, friends and loved ones at this very difficult time.”
His death was announced by his daughter Kate Licence on social media last week, saying: “My hero dad passed away after fighting a hard battle, now at peace! RIP Dad.”
Gills season ticket holder Stuart Lewis messaged: “For many now middle-aged Gills fans Gerry Summers will always be a legend and so deserved that promotion in 1979 we sadly just missed out on. He’ll never be forgotten.”
Another fan added: “Great manager for the Gills – made us believe we were a top-two division team.”
Tim Craddock added: “I started going (to the Gills) in the 1970s…he was a hero to me at that age. We had some great years, playing really good football under him. I met him once and he was a gent…”
Stephen Hook wrote: “I remember talking to him at Walderslade squash club when I was a schoolboy.
“His Gills teams were my favourite in over 50 years of watching the Gills.”
The Gills finished 12th and then 7th in Summers’ first two full seasons in Division 3 before a fourth-place finish at the end of the 1978/79 season, just two points behind champions Shrewsbury Town.
Gillingham won their final two games but it wasn’t quite enough to go up and they finished the campaign beaten at home only once.
One game towards the end of that season that proved costly was a 3-1 loss at Swindon Town – a game which had been played just a month after the infamous match at Priestfield which sparked the long-standing rivalry.
The Gills finished 15th and 16th in his next two seasons and Summers went on to coach at Leicester City and Derby County.
