Robert Gillman

Robert Gillman

London born Robert, started out as a trainee at Luton Town, another one who played his football under the watchful eye of John Moore. Robert made his first team debut for Luton Town as a 17 year old, starting for the 3-2 second round loss to National Conference leaders Dagenham & Redbridge in the LDV Vans Trophy during the October of the 2001/02 season, which was lost 3-2 in extra time via golden goal. The Hatters team that day was a mix of youth and out of favour players with the aim of obtaining game time, with Robert being the former of those. Robert survived Joe Kinnear’s ruthless squad ahead of the 2002/03 season, but was released halfway through the season alongside other academy products James Osborn and Joe Deeney. 

Following his departure from Kenilworth Road, Rob had a foray into Non-League Football, firstly moving to Ashford Town, clinching both Players’ Player and Supporters’ Player of the Year awards in his debut season. Before moving to Bishop Stortford and then Bromley becoming the team captain. In 2010 he moved to Dover Athletic, captaining the side to the FA Cup Third round, taking the scalp of Football League team Gillingham en route, before losing to Huddersfield. Rob also played for Carshalton, Whitstable Town, Thamesmead Town before returning to Bromley and then moving to Thurrock, Greenwich Borough, where he was part of the team that won the SCEFL title in 2015/16. He then moved to Welling Town before moving to Hollands & Blair FC in Kent, where the central defender celebrated his 39th Birthday by being named Managers’ Player of the Year for the 2022/23 season as well as helping Blair lift the SCEFL Challenge Cup.