Gillingham have made it a hat-trick of deadline day signings by bringing in Garath McCleary on a one year deal.

The 38-year-old striker played under Gareth at Wycombe Wanderers and will remain at ME7 until the end of the season with the option of a further 12 months.

The forward has played over 600 games and will train with his new teammates later in the week. 

Garath began his career with Oxford City before signing for Slough in the summer of 2005. 

Two years later he joined Bromley and scored 11 times in over 40 appearances which alerted the attentions of Nottingham Forest, who he joined in January of 2008. 

He spent over four years at the City Ground and was voted the club’s “Player of the Year” for the 2011-12 campaign. He moved to Reading that summer and spent over eight years at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, making 270 appearances and scoring 27 goals.

Ainsworth signed McCleary for Wycombe in the summer of 2020 and, overall, featured 219 times in all competitions for the Chairboys, netting 32 goals.

On signing at ME7, Garath said: “I am absolutely over the moon. The Gaffer knows how to get the best out of me and I am just happy to be here.

“The fire is still burning, even at 38 I still feel like I have a lot to offer.”

McCleary becomes the third signing for The Gills on a transfer deadline day with Watford defender Travis Akomeah on loan until January and Wigan Athletic winger Jonny Smith on a loan until the end of the season.

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.