With over 400 games as a coach in the top two tiers of English football, Gillingham’s new man isn’t short of matchday experience.

Stephen Clemence joins the Gills as their new first team head coach, tasked by chairman Brad Galinson to bring in a new brand of football, one where the team are “brave, courageous, takes risks, are front-footed, expansive, entertains and wins at the same time.”

It’s a big ask for the new man, whose last role was coaching at the Manchester City academy. Prior to that, for over a decade he’d been a trusted assistant to former Gills man Steve Bruce at a number of high-profile clubs, before putting his own name forward for the top job.

Moving into management was something Clemence, 45, recently stated was a “natural progression” for himself but he has been careful about picking the right opportunity, having previously had conversations elsewhere.

A move to the Gills is now seen as the right opportunity for the UEFA Pro Licensed coach.

This might be Clemence’s first job as the main man, but with his new assistant Robbie Stockdale, director of football Kenny Jackett, head of recruitment Andy Hessenthaler and former interim manager Keith Millen at the club, he won’t be short of advice, if needed.

Clemence said of himself that: “I am committed to maximising each player's ability and developing a clear playing style, just as I have done in my previous coaching roles.

“My outlook on the game has been shaped by a playing and coaching career which has seen me work with leaders throughout the game including Steve Bruce, Glenn Hoddle and George Graham.

“My experience to date has only fuelled my drive for the next challenge in football and to work with people who share my passion for the game.”

Clemence grew up with a famous footballing dad, in former Liverpool, Tottenham and England goalie Ray, and started his own playing career at Spurs. His father passed on plenty of advice before his death in 2020.

A passionate and driven player on the pitch and capped for England at youth level, Clemence played close to 100 games at Tottenham before moving to Birmingham for a fee in the region of £1m where he had another four years.

He ended his playing career with Leicester City, having first joined under Martin Allen. He was club captain, but struggled with injury and retired aged 32.

Bruce had managed him at Birmingham as a player and took him under his wing at Sunderland as a coach in 2010, initially with the youth team. The pair continued to work alongside each other until their last job together, at West Brom.

"It's been unbelievable," Clemence said in a recent interview with Sky Sports. "I've worked at some wonderful clubs and had some unforgettable experiences.

“I've had over 400 games now as a coach in the Premier League and Championship, it's something I'm really proud of."

He worked as assistant coach with Bruce at Hull City, where they reached the FA Cup final and promotion to the Premier League and later helped Aston Villa to the Championship play-offs in the same role.

Words of encouragement for Gills fans starved of goals of late are that he said: “In that calendar year we were the second top scorers in England behind Man City. We were doing okay going forward and were exciting to watch.”

Their second season at Villa wasn’t so good and Sheffield Wednesday was their next destination with Clemence briefly in charge as caretaker before Bruce took over. They just missed out on the play-offs, before Bruce got the call to manage Newcastle United, with a couple of mid-table Premier League finishes.

Their final stop at the Baggies together was in the Championship. Bruce has suggested that would be his last job, leaving Clemence to now go it alone.

His long-term boss Bruce, speaking during their time at Newcastle, said: “In Clem, I took him when he had just retired at 32. When you have grey hair like me it is useful to have someone younger to associate with.

"He has done it very, very well.

“He has made the transition from a player to a coach and he is very talented and he can only get better.”

It’s a year on since he left West Brom and spent some of his time at Manchester City to help prepare him for a role such as the one Gillingham have just handed him.

He’s watched numerous games as part of an elite manager diploma course run by the League Managers’ Association and was offered the chance to help out at City, as they were looking for a coach to work with their senior academy player. He jumped at the chance.

He even got a bit of time with Man City boss Pep Guardiola and said: “I've got a lot of experience but I really learned some stuff there that I'll take on with me.

"I got a bit of time with Pep. He was great and so helpful with his advice. We also watched the first team train, and it was great to see someone like him work."