Sam Gale has seen the next generation coming through at Gillingham and likes what he sees.
The 20-year-old defender praised the club’s young prospects after a composed showing in Saturday’s pre-season draw with Reading, highlighting their maturity, work ethic, and readiness to step up.
Gale believes the emerging group—including the “three Harrys”—have what it takes to become key players at Priestfield – something he’s looking to do himself after a fine second half to the season last time around.
“Those boys showed what they can do,” said Gale.
“It’s up to everyone around them to keep helping them develop and stick with them because they’ll be big players for this football club..
“They showed they’re mature enough to be put in these situations and be trusted.”
Gale found his way into the Gills team midway through last season and hasn’t looked back.
With several senior players nursing injuries in the early weeks of pre-season, manager Gareth Ainsworth has been taking a look at the youth within the club.
Striker Harry Bridle and midfielder Harry Waldock have just signed pro deals and they’ve been involved in the opening two pre-season games, along with right-back Harry Webster. Injury has kept Logan Dobbs sidelined.
Youth players Cruz Beszant, Michael Luxton and Louie Dayal have also been involved, along with young professional Damien Theodore, who has impressed on the right of Gillingham’s attack. He signed from Burgess Hill Town in February.
Gale said: “When I was finishing off youth team football, the three Harrys were coming to the fore of it. I’ve seen them for a few years now.
“It’s a big gap from that 18 to 20 age. I think I felt it when I was first 18. I remember playing against Millwall two years ago out there (in a pre-season game) and I felt like it was a little bit too quick for me.”
Gale enjoyed loans out of the club to get him ready for league football and he’s now thriving. He’s keen to pass on the experience he’s gained while making the step up from youth football to senior level.
He said: “I feel like I’ve got responsibility for those younger lads who are just starting out now as pros, or maybe on their second year, to help lead them.
“Sometimes it’s difficult as an 18-year-old to go to one of the more experienced lads because you almost sometimes feel like, ‘who am I to be having conversations with them?’
“They’re all great people, but you don’t look at it like that when you’re 18.
“I feel like me being able to talk to them and talk them through games and help them around the building is something that I pride in myself and taking responsibility for.
“I’ve still got a long way to go yet. I’m still putting pressure on myself to try and replicate and better how I did last season. So I’m by no means the finished article.
“Hopefully they go on and do a lot better than me and they’re the ones we’re talking about in two years. At the moment, I’m trying to help them where I can.”
The Gills return to Priestfield this Saturday when they host Luton Town. Games against Ebbsfleet United and Dartford compete the pre-season calendar.
Players and management are hoping less pressure on them this season will help, as promotion hype has been replaced by talk of a two-year plan by the club’s top brass.
“I feel like we might have learned our lesson from previous years,” said the young defender.
“Obviously, I haven’t been involved from the start of previous seasons, but looking from the outside in, we’ve had good starts the last couple of seasons and then we’ve stalled a little bit.
“It’s a 46-game season. I’m pretty sure every team in this league will probably have aspirations of getting promoted. It’s just about staying the course.
“There are going to be bad results. There’s going to be really good results. Never get too high, never get too low. We’ve just got to keep ticking over, keep that points tally going and then hopefully we’re up there come the end of April.
“We’re not putting any expectations on what we’re going to do but in the group, we’re confident.”
