Barry Fuller puts in a cross against Rochdale. According to manager Mark Stimson, Fuller taking over as captain was a major turning point in the Gills' season.

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson saluted his players’ desire after his side booked their place at the new Wembley stadium on Sunday night.

Simeon Jackson’s second half penalty in the play-off semi-final second leg against Rochdale was enough to earn the Gills the chance to fight for a promotion place in League 1.

Stimson said: “These guys want to work. They want to run in training, they want to sweat, they want to do more.

“A lot of them have the same passion as me and they want to try and achieve the best they can. If we fall short nobody can say it was through lack of effort.

“I’m very happy for the players, they’ve put a lot of hard work in this season and the majority of them came back into training on June 1.

“Some weren’t too happy and they had to cancel their holidays but they put the work in and you get your rewards if you are prepared to do that little bit more. Now they have their reward by going to Wembley to face a good Shrewsbury side and I look forward to it.”

The Gills will face Shrewsbury in the final on May 23 where the winner will take their place in League 1 next season.

Stimson pointed to the moment where he handed the captain’s arm band to Barry Fuller as a major turning point in the club’s season.

He said: “Since then we’ve kicked on, kicked on massively. We have someone now who genuinely wants to win football matches at every cost, sprints, five-a-sides, he wants to win and if you have a captain doing that you have a chance. In every game these players want to win.”

Stimson is certainly happier with the team he has at the end of this season than the one he had a year ago.

He said: “I didn’t enjoy it last year because I don’t like losing football matches and I hate players who just take money and don’t work like they did last year.

“Now I’ve got a bunch of players who are on nowhere near as much money as the old lot but they want to win and it’s brought my buzz back.

“It will be fantastic for the football club to go to Wembley. Those supporters who turned up made some noise that was absolutely spot on and the players repaid that with their performance.

“Both parties, the players and supporters, should be proud of Gillingham Football Club.”