Saturday’s home fixture against Walsall is the start of a “crazy” run of games for Gillingham.
The Gills began their League 2 campaign at Accrington and a free midweek leads them into a busy schedule.
Walsall’s visit is followed by a Carabao Cup first round tie against AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday at Priestfield and another Saturday-Tuesday round of matches after that, with a trip to Tranmere followed by a home game against Chesterfield.
Gillingham will play three successive games in midweek if they make it to round two of the Carabao Cup, scheduled for the week beginning August 25. They play Crewe the Saturday before and finish August at newly-promoted Oldham.
“It’s crazy,” boss Gareth Ainsworth said. “We could have 10 games in 36 days, I think it is, if the Wimbledon game goes well, which really is crazy at the start of the season.
“We’ve got a small squad. I’ve said that. I want to work with a small squad. Everyone’s got to take part. Everyone’s going to play games and everyone’s going to be ready for it but it does go mental.
“The boys will have had a couple of down days [after the opening weekend] and then we’ll get back into it.”
Gillingham’s start the next month against Fulham under-21s in the EFL Trophy, on Tuesday, September 2. In the group stage of the competition, the Gills also play Colchester United away on Tuesday, October 7 and Wycombe Wanderers at home on Tuesday, November 11, with all games kicking off at 7pm.
Walsall head to Priestfield this weekend, having started their season with a 2-1 win over Swindon.
The West Midlands side had a rollercoaster 2024/25 campaign, leading the division before a slump in form dropped them into the play-offs, losing the final 1-0 to Wimbledon.
Ainsworth knows the match will be a tough one.
He said: “We want to put a good show on for our home fans and make sure that we can create some chances.
“I think the creating against Accrington could have been just that little bit better. First half, we did, second half, we lost it a little bit.
“I’m really looking forward to a decent crowd because I know the Gills fans are desperate for this.
“We’ve got a tough game, one of the play-off contenders last year. We’ve got to make sure that we’re on our game.”
