Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Will Gillingham (Port Melbourne | Australia)

31 replies · 3,651 views
almost 3 years ago · edited almost 3 years ago · History
Joins Cove Rangers in Scottish League One, and judged worthy of his own thread. Big unit.

Cove relegated to League One on GD, after being equal on points with Hamilton Academical in the Championship.

https://coverangersfc.com/2023/06/13/will-gillingham-joins-cove/
Our second signing of the day, and fourth of the summer, is six foot-four inch central defender, Will Gillingham.

Will was born in London, but his family relocated to New Zealand at an early age, and he developed his love for the game growing up in Auckland.

The twenty-four year old then secured a college place in California, turning out regularly for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos ahead of signing a professional contract with US League One side Central Valley Fuego.

He moved to Scotland earlier this year, spending some time training with Livingston, and says he is delighted to have joined Cove Rangers on a two-year full-time deal:

“I just felt the time was right to make this move. I was born here, and I see Britain as the home of football, and I always wanted to play here.

“I got a really good grounding playing college football in the States, it was a great experience, and I learned so much there working with many different people. I’m confident that has put me in a good place, and I’m now ready for the next stage of my career.”
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almost 3 years ago · edited almost 3 years ago · History
From Flying Kiwis.
https://youtu.be/ZiPoXNqxCuQ

Say hello to a new member of the club. Will Gillingham is a 24 year old defender, born in London but raised in Auckland after his family relocated when he was seven years old. He moved away as a late-teenager to attend university in America at UC Santa Barbara and also sprinkled in some lower division USL stuff while he was there. After five years in the States he decided to head back to the United Kingdom where he trained with Livingston for a couple of months, a Scottish Premiership club, though ultimately didn’t get signed. But now he’s landed a two-year deal at Cove Rangers in the Scottish third tier.

That’s the same division that George Stanger played at with Alloa Athletic (before he transferred to Ayr United one tier up the pyramid) so far from the worst place to land. Particularly as Cove Rangers just got relegated after finishing last in the Championship which hopefully means that they’ll be quite competitive in this division.
The relegation was a rough one. Cove Rangers went into the final game of the season a point ahead of Hamilton Academical, which would’ve gotten them into the playoffs to avoid the drop, but they lost and ended up last. But don’t let that fool you: this is club on the rise. They’ve been soaring up the divisions after years outside the league pyramid. The Championship stint may have come a little too soon for them but with that experience in the bank they’ll be planning on getting right back there in a hurry. Cove Rangers’ recent seasons have seen gone...

2018-19: Promoted as winners of the Highland League
2019-20: Promoted as winners of League Two
2020-21: Lost in League One promotion playoffs (after finishing third)
2021-22: Promoted as winners of League One
2022-23: Relegated from the Championship

As for Will Gillingham, fun fact is that he was in the same Sacred Heart High School team as Alex Greive back in the day while Danny Hay was still coaching them. Now Greive and Gillingham are both playing professionally in Scotland.
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over 2 years ago · edited over 2 years ago · History
Made his Scottish League One debut on the weekend as Cove Rangers lost 1-0 at George Stanger's old SPL club Hamilton Academical.

Soccerway has him under an English flag.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/05/scotland/second-division/hamilton-academicals-fc/cove-rangers-football-club/4104653/

23 yr old Aussie GK Nick Suman who had a few seasons at WSW & Macarther (11 ALM games in total) on the bench for Cove Rangers.

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over 2 years ago
Cove Rangers 6th of 10 teams in Scottish League One (3rd tier) after 9 games. Gillingham with 7 games (6 starts).

Nick Suman has been the starting keeper last 5 matches.
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over 2 years ago · edited over 2 years ago · History
(wrong thread, my bad!)
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about 2 years ago
Game postponed due to frozen pitch.
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about 2 years ago
Full game in a 2-0 loss
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over 1 year ago
Full game Gillingham in a 0-2 loss. Tete Yengi (ex Jets) off the bench for Livingston.
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about 1 year ago
No Gillingham as CR win 2-0. He hasn’t played since late Dec

CR 5th in League One (3rd tier)
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12 months ago · edited 12 months ago · History
Cove Rangers are 2nd in the Scottish 3rd tier (League One), 5 pts behind 1st placed
Arbroath
. Only the league winners automatically promoted. Petone's Brynn Sinclair was with Arbroath

Gillingham has played 18 league games for Rangers but hasn't been sighted since coming off the bench in a 3-0 Scottish Cup loss at Livingston in February.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/02/08/scotland/scottish-cup/livingston-fc/cove-rangers-football-club/4600795/
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12 months ago
coochiee
Cove Rangers are 2nd in the Scottish 3rd tier (League One), 5 pts behind 1st placed
Arbroath
. Only the league winners automatically promoted. Petone's Brynn Sinclair was with Arbroath

Gillingham has played 18 league games for Rangers but hasn't been sighted since coming off the bench in a 3-0 Scottish Cup loss at Livingston in February.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/02/08/scotland/scottish-cup/livingston-fc/cove-rangers-football-club/4600795/

He's out with injury, not sure what sort though
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12 months ago · edited 12 months ago · History
Since his middle name is Finbar, I'm gonna guess he ruptured ankle ligaments either shooting grouse and/or falling off his horse. London born.
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11 months ago · edited 11 months ago · History
Cove Rangers finished 2nd regular season Scottish League One (3rd tier), and are into the playoffs. Arbroath were first and automatically promoted.

They have a 2 game semi final playoff series against Queen of the South (3rd).
Other semi is Stenhousemuir (4th) verus Airdrieonians (2nd last in The Championship/2nd tier).

A two legged playoff final to follow, winner of that in The Championship next season.

Gillingham has played 22 from 36 league games (21 starts). Had a few injuries I think. He could be at the same level as Stanger next season. Though if Stanger's Ayr don't get promoted to the SPL via the playoffs, George might be off to the English lower leagues.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2025/05/06/scotland/play-offs-23/queen-of-the-south-fc/cove-rangers-football-club/4646447/
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11 months ago
Gillingham a full game as Cove Rangers draw 0-0 at Queen of the South, playoff 1st leg.
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11 months ago
Cove Rangers win 2-1. Full game Gillingham at CB.
So it's the promotion playoff 2 legged Final now.

CR to play Airdrieonians who were 2nd last in The Championship (2nd tier). 

If Cove win this playoff and Stanger stays at Ayr, him and Gillingham would be two "Kiwi" CBs in the Scottish 2nd tier. Odds on that happening reasonably low I'd say to be fair. Think Stanger will try for a higher level now.
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10 months ago
Unfortunately Cove Rangers lose 1-2. Full game Gillingham.
2nd leg this weekend.

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10 months ago
No promotion for CR, but they gave it a good crack. 0-0 draw with Gillingham off at 80 mins with Cove chasing a goal. Lose 2-1 on agg
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8 months ago
Might be wrong but he may have signed for Port Melbourne in the NPL?
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8 months ago
Jamdogg
Might be wrong but he may have signed for Port Melbourne in the NPL?

Yes he has. 

https://www.facebook.com/PortMelbourneSC/photos/new-signing-alert-pmsc-announces-the-signing-of-will-gillingham-a-commanding-cen/1248282120641690/?_rdr

PMSC announces the signing of Will Gillingham, a commanding centre back who joins us from Scottish club Cove Rangers FC.

Originally from New Zealand, Will brings an impressive international and collegiate background to JL Murphy.
He was named in the New Zealand U23 Olympic squad’s long list in 2019 before heading to the USA, where he played 4 seasons of college football at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and in the USL League Two, featuring 12 times for South Georgia Tormenta 2.

Will now brings his composure, and defensive strength to Port, and we welcome him to the Club.
🔴🔵🦈


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8 months ago · edited 8 months ago · History
Jamdogg
Might be wrong but he may have signed for Port Melbourne in the NPL?

What a disappointing transfer - I guess not everything can be gold
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8 months ago
He was only playing 3rd tier Scotland.
No idea what NPL players in Victoria earn but he gets to live in one of the world’s coolest cities, and maybe can use his US College degree to start that post football career 
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