Gills are mourning the passing of club great Brian Gibbs.

Born in Gillingham, Dorset, Gibbs began his career at Portsmouth and enjoyed spells at Gosport Borough and AFC Bournemouth, before Gills manager Freddie Cox splashed out £4,000 to bring the prolific scorer to Priestfield in 1962.

A powerful inside-left, he went on to become Gillingham’s leading goalscorer for five seasons in a row, and was the first Gills player to score a century of goals in the Football League.

In his second season at the club, 1963/64, Gibbs played in every league fixture, scoring 17 goals as Cox’s side clinched the Fourth Division title for the first time, an achievement only equalled by Martin Allen’s team 50 years later in 2012/13.

After six seasons, Brian moved to Colchester United in September 1968 for £6,000, having scored 110 goals in 284 appearances for the club.

He remains the second highest goalscorer in Gillingham’s Football League history.

He passed away on Monday.

A spokesman for Gillingham FC said: "Everyone at Gillingham Football Club was deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of prolific Gills goal scorer Brian Gibbs, who sadly passed away on Monday, aged 77.

"To this day he remains the second highest goal scorer in Gillingham’s Football League history and, without question, one of the greatest players ever to pull on our shirt.

"Our thoughts are with Brian’s family and friends at this sad time."