Gillingham defender Sam Gale is hoping to push on to another level after a year to remember.
The 21-year-old central defender played in all but four league games during the calendar year of 2025 after quickly establishing himself as a key player at the club.
Gale’s impressive form earned him a long-term contract at the club and he admits the year couldn’t have gone much better for himself.
He said: “I’m really grateful for the managers who have shown faith in me and obviously the gaffer (Gareth Ainsworth) most recently with this prolonged spell.
“He’s been really good for me, the boys have been really good for me. I’m learning with every game. I feel like I’m getting better with every game. I’ve been really grateful for these 12 months.
“I finished 2024 with my first start against Wimbledon, and 2025 has been great. I’ve pretty much been involved in every game, barring a few maybe, once when I was suspended.
“I’ve played a big part in the team, I feel like that part’s growing. I’m getting better, I’m getting more mature. I’m trying to help the lads more in terms of being vocal, which has just come with experience.
“I don’t think the year could have gone any better, maybe slightly more positive in terms of our league standing, but we’ve done alright, and it’s so tight, and we can attack 2026 and hopefully get up the table.”
Gale was recalled to the Gills from his loan at Chelmsford in December 2024. He ended the year with his first start for the club, thrust into face AFC Wimbledon on December 30 that year.
A few weeks later he started the match against Grimsby Town and remained an ever-present during John Coleman’s stint as manager, agreeing a deal keeping him at the Gills until 2027 last February, and then in November signing another new contract.
He remained an ever-present when Gareth Ainsworth took charge. Gale’s only missed one league match this season, through suspension.
He’s obviously going to attract attention, as a young player with plenty of promise, but the Gills aren’t looking to cash in.
Managing director Joe Comper said: “The only way Sam Gale leaves the club is if we get a really, really good offer.
“He’s playing every week here, he’s happy here, he’s a really great person to have in our team and in our building and the only way that changes is if someone makes an offer to us and to Sam that neither of us can refuse.
“We’re certainly not touting him out to try and sell him out, absolutely not.”
The Gills have switched often this season from a three-man central defensive unit to a regular back four, and variations in between.
“I’m a player who will play anywhere for the team,” said the young defender.
“I’ve been moved around a lot. I’ve played with a lot of partners this season.
“I think people need to remember that that’s a big reason maybe why we haven’t been able to build as much momentum as we’d like, that the injuries have really disrupted us.
“You only have to look at the different defensive pairings and combinations that we’ve had this season. It’s not easy, but it’s not an excuse.
“Everyone who plays is high quality. I like that I’m proving I can be versatile because that gets me in the team and if I can keep doing that, I’ll only get better.”
Gale had been paired up with Conor Masterson again before the recent break, after the Irishman returned from injury. Andy Smith is also vying for the role and Shad Ogie is behind the trio in the pecking order.
On those players he is battling with for a centre-half position, Gale said: “I relish that. We had a conversation as a centre-back group at the start of the season that this is an unbelievable group and we’re going to push each other. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out like that.
“Shad and Conor picked up injuries early in the season, so it turned out me and Smudge were playing pretty much every game, but (loan player) Travis (Akomeah) showed what he could do.
“Conor and Shad are back around it and even Robbie (McKenzie) has shown he can play there, so there’s a real competition.
“We know we have to be on our toes, we’re going to push each other and hopefully that turns into clean sheets and wins.”
