History states that Cascarino's transfer fee in January 1982 came to a set of tracksuits and some corrugated iron, though the man himself believes the story has been somewhat fabricated through the years.

"I was always led to believe that Crockenhill couldn't get a fee for me as I wasn't actually under contract, so as a gesture, Gillingham offered cones, balls and other training equipment, which they accepted." he said.

"Being a Kent boy; it was a big opportunity because going from Crockenhill to the Football League was a big jump for me, Gillingham were the major club in the county."

Having arrived from the non-league circuit, Cascarino's career took off, and he vividly recalls a series of firsts upon signing for Gillingham.

"Everything was so new to me; going from the building site to playing professional football, Gillingham was one great journey which eventually led to something even better for me.

"I remember my first day well; I was dressed like Spandau Ballet with gold buttons, my hair greased and a little bit of make up on!

"I also remember my first practice match, sticking Steve Bruce in the back of the goal after we both attacked a cross, that was lovely, I still see old 'Brucie', I got the better of him that particular day!"

Having made an immediate impact, Cascarino admits he was far from the finished article during his days at Priestfield, but maintains his commitment to forging a living in football was the key to his success, both at Gillingham, and beyond.

"I was very raw and naïve, I felt there were a lot of spoilt apprentices who felt they had a due right to be getting professional contracts and into the first team, I didn't feel like that, I had to earn my stripes."

Having been touted as one for the future by manager Keith Peacock, Cascarino was thrust into first-team action earlier than expected, and immediately began repaying the faith shown in him, quickly becoming a favourite of the supporters in the process.

"They saw me as what I was, that raw kid who was given an opportunity, I think they enjoyed that rawness in me as a player, they fought my corner from when I came into the team at 19, until I eventually left at 25.

"I still get letters today from Gillingham fans thanking me for my time there and I've always stayed on good terms with them."

Perhaps Cascarino's finest moments in Gillingham colours were his goals against Sunderland in the play-off semi-final matches of 1987, including a second half hat-trick in Kent and a brace during the return leg.

"Getting a hat-trick that night in front of a capacity crowd at Priestfield was a fantastic experience against a very big club in Sunderland, then to go up to Roker Park and get another two really was my happiest time at the club.

"Unfortunately we then lost to Swindon in the final, if the play-offs then were as they are today, we'd have won through, we got the away goal losing 2-1 and won 1-0 at home, but we had a replay at that particular time, which stopped us getting promoted."

During some of the best years witnessed by Gillingham fans, Peacock put together a side which was the envy of many, boasting a host of players who would go onto to have success at the highest level, a side Casarcino says should have won promotion.

"We were a good footballing team, we had players like Dave Shearer, Terry Cochrane, Mark Weatherley, Dick Tydeman, all good footballers, we should have done it, probably on a couple of occasions, it just didn't quite happen for us.

"They were all really good lads, they were entertainers, I think the crowd loved those types of players being at Priestfield, they embraced that era."

Soon after the defeat to Swindon, during which an everlasting rivalry between the two clubs was formed, Cascarino sealed a £225,000 transfer to Millwall, a move he concedes was too good to turn down.

"It was a higher division, I'd been at Gillingham for six years and I just felt that maybe it was time for a change.

"Because we didn't get promoted, it made my mind up; losing out to Swindon was probably the final straw for me.

"If Gillingham had got promoted I think I would have stayed, but sometimes things don't pan out as you hope they will, I went to Millwall and had a lot of success there."

Cascarino also enjoyed great success with the Republic of Ireland on the international scene, earning three caps while with Gillingham. He went on to represent his country at Euro '88 and the World Cup finals of 1990 and 1994.

"I was lucky to be under Jack Charlton, he appreciated the way I played, we had a really good team ethic and were a hard side to beat.

"We had a togetherness within the group which was second to none, to get 88 caps was a major achievement for me."

After three years at The Den, Cascarino made the step-up again to turn out for the likes of Aston Villa, Celtic and Chelsea, before moving across the channel to Olympique Marseille in 1994 and AS Nancy in 1997, he retired in 2000 following a short spell with Red Star of Paris.

"Chelsea had released me and Marseille had just been relegated, they jumped at the opportunity of signing me and I just felt it was a great opportunity for me.

"If you'd told me that would happen when I was still with Gillingham, I'd have had said you were mad, but that's how it worked out.

"I worked probably the hardest I ever did at a football club, from the moment I got there I disciplined myself every day to football and I got six more years as a player.

"Every level I went up to I enjoyed and seemed to make the grade, I had some difficult times at some of those clubs as well, but it was a rollercoaster ride I didn't want to get off, I had fantastic years at all my clubs."

With his playing days behind him, Cascarino penned his autobiography, receiving widespread critical acclaim which in turn led to a career in the media, including a regular column for The Times and punditry on Sky Sports.

"Every time I picked up a book, I always already knew everything about the person I was reading about.

"I wanted to write something where even the people close to me didn't know it all already, I tried to be as honest as I could, some people said I was mad, but it was the way I wanted to do it.

"I love talking about football; I pinch myself sometimes and can't believe how lucky I am to be doing what I'm doing."

A Gillingham legend for all that he did in a fledgling career at Priestfield, as well as his achievements in football since, Tony Cascarino.