It’s fixture release day on Thursday and manager Neil Harris is as excited as the fans. A busy summer on and off the pitch has got the Gills well prepared for a challenge at the top end of League 2 and with more than 3,000 season tickets sold - a 10-year high - the club will be well backed from the stands.
More: Harris speaks out about striker interest Fans will be eager to see who the Gills kick off their season against, with League 2 getting under way on August 5. “I very much get excited by it too,” said Harris. “First game of the season is key, first home game is key, Boxing Day is key, Swindon home and away, vital. “It’s just an opportunity to start planning but I do get excited by the fixtures. “Ideally, I’d love to be at home first game of the season, at home with the feelgood factor.
But if we are away first game, when we come back here on the following Saturday so be it.” Gillingham will also find out their opponents in the Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy on Thursday.
All 72 EFL clubs enter at the first-round stage, with the 12 Premier League sides not involved in Europe taking part in round two.