Mark Stimson holds the play-off winners' trophy aloft Picture: Matthew Reading

by Graham Jones

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson admitted he took a great sense of satisfaction at seeing the club make an immediate return to League 1.

Having taken the Gills down last season, Stimsonsaid guiding them back up via the play-offs ranked as his greatest achievement as a manager.

“I feel a massive satisfaction about it,” he said. “People say to me that I won three FA Trophy finals on the trot which has never been done before. I am proud of that, but this is by far more satisfying because it was about bouncing back and getting the players to believe in what we were telling them.

“Hopefully, the supporters will see the big picture of what we are trying to do here. We have not come here to try to make Gillingham a laughing stock, a bunch of non-league no-hopers who can’t play or pass the ball.

“We’re trying to bring footballers here, from whatever level, to try and make supporters of the club proud. I am sure they went home from Wembley very proud of their football team.”

Don't miss the 16-page Wembley souvenir special supplement in Monday's Medway Messenger