It’s been a busy afternoon at MEMS Priestfield with Sam Gale, Taite Holtam and Stan Sargent signing new deals.

Gale has signed a new contract at MEMS Priestfield Stadium which will see the defender remain at ME7 until the summer of 2028.

The 21-year-old made his first-team debut in November 2021 in a League 1 fixture at home to Cheltenham, but had to wait until December last year for his first start, that coming in a 1-0 defeat away to AFC Wimbledon. To date, he has made 40 appearances in all competitions and scored one goal. 

The centre-back arrived at the Gills as an U13 and progressed through the academy program, signing his first pro deal in the summer of 2023.

On signing his new deal, which also has a club option of a further year, Sam said: “It is something that has been in the works for a little while now. I now look forward to the future.

“I am really thankful to the club for the faith that has been shown in me. It is important that I am happy where I am.”

Taite Holtam has put pen to paper on a new contract at MEMS Priestfield Stadium which will see the goalkeeper remain at the club until the summer of 2027.

The 20-year-old made his first-team debut last season, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over MK Dons at ME7 before starting the very next game away at Cheltenham Town.

Holtam featured in pre-season against Sheppey United and Chatham Town before agreeing a loan deal at Ashford United, however he was recalled last week following an injury to Glenn Morris.

Taite signed his first pro deal in the summer of 2024. 

On agreeing his new deal, Taite said: “I am really happy; I’ve been here four years now so it’s really good to extend the deal.

“I can now focus fully on the Football part. Del [Deren Ibrahim] is a great coach, he keeps morale high and you’ve got Glenn and Jake who have got loads of experience, so you are learning from the best really.”

Meanwhile, striker Stan Sargent has signed his first professional contract at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.

The 18-year-old, currently a second-year apprentice, scored his first goal for the Gills first-team earlier in the season, finding the target in our 4-1 win over Fulham’s U21s at ME7 in the Vertu Trophy.

He also found the net twice in the 4-2 win over Hertford in the opening round of the FA Youth Cup last month and also scored at home to Cambridge in an U17 PDL group stage fixture.

On signing his deal, Stan said: “I am buzzing to get it done. I cannot speak highly enough of the academy, it has been a really good journey from when I started aged 16.

“We have scored a lot of goals this season and we are through in the cups too which is a real positive.”

Pictures supplied by Gillingham Football Club.