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Gillingham stalwart Barry Fuller 'overwhelmed' by fans' support as he celebrates milestone

Long-serving Gillingham defender Barry Fuller was overwhelmed by the home crowd on Saturday.

They gave him a rousing reception at the end of the match against Wycombe, in what was his 203rd appearance for the club.

Barry Fuller is presented with a momento by chairman Paul Scally to mark his 200th appearance for Gills Picture: Ady Kerry
Barry Fuller is presented with a momento by chairman Paul Scally to mark his 200th appearance for Gills Picture: Ady Kerry

Prior to the match, Fuller – who captained the Gills to play-off glory at Wembley in 2009 – was presented with a memento by chairman Paul Scally to mark his 200th appearance, which came against Coventry on August 24.

Fuller, in his second spell with the Gills, said: “You feel proud and honoured and it’s overwhelming when you see the whole stadium at the end of the game standing up and singing your name.

“It shouldn’t be to just me, obviously. We got three points and a clean sheet, it was the whole team, but the gaffer said to go and lap it up.

“I have been here for a long time and it’s got a real place in my heart. I am enjoying it now as much as I did the first day I walked into the club and hopefully it can continue and I can stay fit and healthy.

“For the fans to do that, it was really overwhelming and I had my family there to see it as well.”

Barry Fuller captained Gills to play-off glory at Wembley in 2009 Picture: Matthew Walker
Barry Fuller captained Gills to play-off glory at Wembley in 2009 Picture: Matthew Walker

Fuller and the rest of the Gills defence had a battle on their hands, with former striker Adebayo Akinfenwa up against them, posing a real physical threat.

Gillingham overcame the challenge.

“They are really difficult to play against,” said 34-year-old Fuller.

“If you don’t stand up to them it can be a long 90 minutes.

“We won a lot of the battles and managed to finish (our chances) at the other end.

“Bayo is brilliant at what he does, it’s always a challenge. He is strong, he brings others into play and we knew we had to be up for that battle.

“It is constant from them, for 90 minutes, it is the way they play. It isn’t just him, they have runners off him, stuff like that.

“We had to deal with all that and to a man they were a credit to the club.”

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