03/02/20 - Out On Loan - Written by Lewis Browning

Welcome to ‘Out On Loan’, a feature published every Monday where we catch up on how those out on loan from Gillingham’s men’s team(s) got on over the previous week.


Another week of football has passed by, although, this time, Gillingham’s men weren’t in action at the weekend due to the removal of Bury from the Football League – the team the Gills were supposed to face.


There was, however, football elsewhere, and plenty more earleir in the week. There are six players to check out in this week’s ‘Out On Loan’, and we start up in Scotland.


Lee Hodson


Northern Irishman Hodson returned to old club St. Mirren on the penultimate day of the January transfer window due to a lack of first team football at Gillingham. It was a good move for him.


He was named among the substitutes on Saturday for the Saints’ trip to Hibernian alongside ex-Gill Alex Jakubiak, which is pretty common for new signings.


The full-back was introduced after 79 minutes with the score at 2-2, but couldn’t help his team get a winner. They didn’t concede any more, however, which will please Hodson as a defender.


The full-time score was, therefore, 2-2. Despite St. Mirren taking an early 2-0 lead, the hosts fought back, and the points were shared.


Jimmy Witt


Youth talent Jimmy Witt is tipped for big things at Gillingham and made his debut when he started for Isthmian League Premier side Margate at the weekend.


The wide man is naturally a defender but can also play further forward, and he managed 65 minutes of a disappointing 1-0 defeat for the Gate away at Merstham.


He almost grabbed an early goal in the game when he missed a cross by inches with goal at his mercy, but it wasn’t to be on the day.


Witt will be hoping he can contribute to more positive results going forward.


Tommy Lamb


Youth star Lamb, like Witt, is also tipped for big things. Also like Witt, he is on loan at Margate, although he has been at Hartsdown Park a little longer than his team mate.


At the Gate on a one-month deal, Lamb has seen regular minutes and played the full 90 on Saturday in their loss against Merstham.

He also played 83 minutes against Enfield last Tuesday in a 3-0 defeat.


Lamb is, however, proving to be a solid addition for Margate, and it was he who put the cross in that almost allowed Witt to score early on against Merstham.

Over 170 minutes in the tank for Lamb in the past week, but two disapointing results.



Emmanuel Fernandez


It’s a strange one, this week, because three of our loan players featured in the same game.


Fernandez, a promising centre-half, is enjoying a loan spell at Merstham and was in the match day squad for their victory against Margate on Saturday.


Unfortunately, he was an unused substitute, and may struggle to get back into the team given a clean sheet was achieved.

He did, though, play the full 90 in a cup game agaisnt Maldon & Tiptree on Tuesday as his team lost 5-4 on penalties.


All he can do is get his head down and work hard.


Ouss Cissé


Cissé had been starved of minutes at Gillingham so a loan move was always on the cards.

He joined League Two Leyton Orient, and, so far, he’s been a resounding success.


He’s one of the first names on the team sheet, right now, and backed up his selection on Saturday with a goal and a dominating midfield performance against Stevenage. 


His goal was well taken, even if it was pretty much on the goal line, and he seems to be oozing with confidence.


Despite struggling at Orient’s loss at Crewe on Tuesday, Cissé followed up a ‘Man of the Match’ performance against Newport County the previous Saturday well at the Lamex Stadium.


Despite a widely negative Gills career so far, the Mali international is still contracted at the club. More positive showings on loan at Brisbane Road may yet earn him another chance at Priestfield – if he wants it.


Toby Bancroft


Bancroft is an exciting midfielder playing in Gillingham’s academy who has recently joined Isthmian Premier side Wingate & Finchley.


He was given a debut straight away at the weekend as the Blues won a league match for the first time in 84 days with a 1-0 vicotory over Bishop's Stortford.

The young gun impressed, too. He won a penalty for his team on 58 minutes when he was fouled by Mark Haines, however Alphanso Kennedy's spot kick was saved by Fred Burbridge in the home goal.

Bancroft was taken off after 66 minutes with the score at 0-0, but Bilal Sayoud's last-minute winner ensured the Blues left Woodside Park with all three points.

Wingate & Finchley still prop up the rest of the league in 22nd place, but are now four points away from getting out of the relegation zone.


Come back to JournalForGills next Monday for another edition of ‘Out On Loan’.