The first away game of the season as Walsall travel the 140 mile trip south and around the M25 to the Priestfield Stadium to face Gillingham.
A location that @KingCrod will no doubt remind us is “a difficult place to go”!
The Opposition
After starting last season brightly and spending time at the top of the table in the first few months, Gillingham dropped off dramatically from November onwards and spent the rest of the season in the bottom half. Managers Mark Bonner (until 5th January) and John Coleman (until 25th March) couldn’t arrest the slide and Gareth Ainsworth was then appointed to cap the season off with a disappointing 17th place finish.
Recent incomings include Seb Palmer-Houlden (forward) from Bristol City and Andy Smith (defender) from Hull City for undisclosed fees and free transfers Sam Vokes (forward) from Wycombe Wanderers and Lenni Cirino (defender) from Clitheroe. Everyones favourite midfielder 
Bradley Dack 
signed a new 1 year deal keeping him at the Priestfield till summer 2026.
Their pre-season friendlies have seen just 2 wins out of 8 matches and their first game of the season away at Accrington Stanley was a 1-1 draw.
The Proposition
The Saddlers look to continue winning ways after a battling home win against Swindon Town which saw Evan Weir score a fantastic free kick, Brandon Comley sent off 
after 21 minutes, a penalty equaliser on 79 minutes from the Robins and a 91st minute winner 
from Connor Barrett sauntering through the middle of a flailing Swindon defence.
Special mention to the Hamburglar who was apparently moonlighting as a ref for the day and instead of stealing burgers, tried to steal the points from the Super Saddlers!!
Although with that penalty decision he probably had more in common with his nemesis Ronald McDonald … 
The Gills will be looking to improve on their performance against Accrington, only having 8 shots on goal with none of those on target. Their goal coming from the head of an Accrington defender.
The First Time
The first meeting between the sides, was in Division Three (South) on the 24th September 1927, which resulted in a 7-4 home win for Walsall, our best result against them.
The Worst Time
On the 9th November 1985, Walsall lost away at Gillingham 5-2 in a League Division Three game.
The Last Time
The 2 games last season were both draws with the re-arranged Tuesday night home game on 11th February 2025 ending 1-1 (our goal from Jamma) and the away game a few weeks later on 22nd March 2025 ending 0-0.
Played For Both
Darren Byfield is currently one of our first-team coaches and also a hero to Walsall fans for scoring the winning goal in the 2001 Second Division play-off final against Reading. Over 2 stints (2000-02 & 2009-10) with the Saddlers he scored 25 goals in 132 appearances.
He began his career with Aston Villa in 1997, and enjoyed loan spells with Preston North End, Northampton Town, Cambridge United, and Blackpool, before moving to Walsall in June 2000 and then made a £50,000 move to Rotherham United in March 2002. He was traded to Sunderland in February 2004, and then moved on to Gillingham five months later. He transferred to Millwall in June 2006, before joining Bristol City in August 2007. He moved on to Doncaster Rovers in July 2008, before linking up with Oldham Athletic in August 2009, having played on loan at the club during the previous season. His stay at Oldham lasted only a handful of games, after which he returned to Walsall from 2009-11. He left the Football League in June 2011 following an injury-hit 2010–11 campaign. He joined non-league Solihull Moors for a brief spell in March 2012, before moving on to AFC Telford United six months later. He joined Tamworth in January 2013 before returning to Solihull from 2014-16 and ended his playing career at Redditch United from 2016-17.
Byfield won six caps for Jamaica in 2003, and has scored 110 goals in 484 appearances across all domestic competitions in his football career. He was briefly married to the pop star Jamelia, with whom he had one child.
Also:
Donervan Daniels, Tommy Watson, Jason Lillis, Jack Nolan, Richard Green, John Hodge, Simeon Jackson, Conor Wilkinson, Emmanuel Osadebe… Michael Flynn (played for Gillingham, managed Walsall)… current Gills full back Remeao Hutton was born in Walsall and was part of the Walsall FC academy from the ages of 8-15 before being released.
I may have missed someone. Comment below if you know anyone else.. 
Lump On
After his 21st minute sending off in the last game against Swindon Town, Brandon Comley will be unavailable due to suspension. Gillingham only drew their last game against Accrington Stanley due to an own goal.
We haven’t lost to the Gills since 1st September 2007. The 10 meetings since then have resulted in 8 draws and 2 wins for the Saddlers.
Lump Off
Our overall record against Gillingham is currently honours even (W47/D28/L47) which was replicated last season with 2 draws. Could another draw be on the cards?
Goal Tally (sponsored by Owly McOwlface)
Evan Weir 1
Connor Barrett 1
UTS Match Poll
- Walsall Win
- Draw
- Gillingham Win
