At Gillingham, Sam Gale has observed the emergence of the next generation and is pleased with what he sees.
Following a calm performance in Saturday’s preseason tie with Reading, the 20-year-old defender commended the team’s youthful prospects, emphasising their maturity, work ethic, and willingness to step up.
After a strong second half to the season the last time, Gale thinks the new bunch, which includes the “three Harrys,” have what it takes to establish themselves as important players at Priestfield.
“Those boys demonstrated their abilities,” Gale said.
They will be important members of our football team, thus it is up to everyone in their immediate vicinity to continue supporting and encouraging them.
“They demonstrated that they are mature enough to be trusted in these circumstances.”
Midway through the previous season, Gale made his way onto the Gills team, and he hasn’t looked back.
Manager Gareth Ainsworth has been examining the club’s youngsters as a number of senior players have been recovering from injuries in the first few weeks of preseason.
Along with right-back Harry Webster, forward Harry Bridle and midfielder Harry Waldock have just signed professional contracts and participated in the first two preseason games. Logan Dobbs has been out due to injury.
Along with young professional Damien Theodore, who has made an impression on Gillingham’s right flank, other players engaged have included youth players Cruz Beszant, Michael Luxton, and Louie Dayal. In February, he signed from Burgess Hill Town.
“The three Harrys were coming to the fore of it when I was finishing off youth team football,” Gale stated. It has been a few years since I last saw them.
The age difference between 18 and 20 is significant. I believe I first experienced it when I was eighteen. I recall playing in a preseason match against Millwall two years ago, and I thought it was a little bit too fast for me.
Gale is presently doing well after enjoying loans from the club to prepare for league games. As he moves from young football to senior football, he is eager to share the knowledge he has acquired.
He stated: “I feel like I have a duty to help guide those younger guys who are just getting started as pros or who may be in their second year.”
As an 18-year-old, it might be challenging at times to approach one of the older boys because you may ask yourself, “Who am I to be having talks with them?
“They’re all wonderful individuals, but when you’re eighteen, you don’t see it that way.
“I think I take pride in my ability to interact with them, guide them through games, and assist them in the building. I also take responsibility for this.”
“I still have a lot of work ahead of me. I continue to put pressure on myself to strive to improve and duplicate my performance from the previous season. Therefore, I am by no means the final product.
We’ll be discussing them in two years, so hopefully they succeed much more than I did. I’m attempting to assist them where I can right now.
This Saturday, the Gills will play Luton Town at Priestfield. The preseason schedule includes matches against Dartford and Ebbsfleet United.
Since the club’s top brass has replaced the promotion excitement with discussion of a two-year plan, players and management are hopeful that less pressure on them this season would help.
The youthful defender remarked, “I think we might have learnt our lesson from previous years.”
“I haven’t been engaged from the beginning of prior seasons, of course, but from the outside, we’ve had strong beginnings the past two seasons before stalling out a little.
The season had 46 games. It is quite probable that every team in this league will aspire to get promoted. Staying the course is all that is required.
“There will be negative outcomes. The outcomes are going to be excellent. Avoid getting too high or too low. All we need to do is keep moving forward, get more points, and maybe be up there by the end of April.
“The group is confident, but we’re not setting any expectations for what we’re going to do.”
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