Gillingham players and supporters held a minute’s applause at Priestfield on Saturday to honour former manager Gerry Summers

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,