Sam Gale reflected on what has been a memorable 2025 following Gillingham’s 1-1 draw with Cambridge United on Boxing Day.
The academy graduate broke into the first-team at the back end of 2024 and has not looked back, becoming an integral part of the starting XI.
Gale also discussed the positive impact of having Max Clark back in the team, with the experience he brings to the back four.
The central defender touched on the upcoming Colchester fixture, hoping that the team can carry the momentum they ended the Cambridge game with into Monday night.
The manager’s overriding message after the draw…
The overriding message was, ‘Listen, lads, you have played well, and that is the level that you have got to reach. They are a good team, and you have kind of stopped their run a bit. You have taken the game to them and have been the better team, but ultimately, we still need to fashion more chances and put those chances away when they come.’
There was a recognition that it was a much improved performance, but ultimately, our standards are higher, and it’s not good enough from us to come away with a draw.
On having Max Clark back in the starting XI…
Clarky brings such experience and nous. I said at full-time to him, ‘How have you ended up there at the back stick?’ It’s just him. It’s his experience. You wouldn’t expect Max Clark, who plays left-back and isn’t one of the biggest players on the pitch to be popping up with a header at the back stick, but he has got the nous and experience.
He is a real calming head to have in the back line. Me and Smudge [Andy Smith] are both young. Hutts [Remeao Hutton] is experienced as well, and he’s a calming head, but Clarky is the go to one in terms of that. He brings a steadiness to the back line, and it affects the whole team. It is really important to play with someone like that as a centre-half.
Carrying momentum into the Colchester game…
We need to carry the momentum into that. We finished strong against them, and I thought that we worked them out slightly in how we wanted to deal with them in a way which was effective for us. Hopefully, we can take that momentum into that game, and we will start on the front foot, and hopefully get ahead and build on it, rather than having to come back.
His 2025…
It’s been great. I finished 2024 with my first start against AFC Wimbledon, and 2025 has been great. I have pretty much been involved in every game, barring a few, maybe, once when I was suspended.
I have played a big part in the team this year, and I feel like that part is growing. I am getting better, and I am getting more mature. I am trying to help the lads more in terms of being vocal, which is coming with experience, so it has been a great year. I don’t think that it could have gone any better.
Maybe slightly more positive in terms of our league standing, but we have done alright, and it’s so tight. We can attack 2026 and hopefully get up the table.
