As Bristol Rovers prepare to welcome Gillingham to The Memorial Stadium in Sky Bet League Two, here are five players who have played for both teams.
The Pirates returned to winning ways at the start of November, beating Bromley in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup thanks to goals from Fabrizio Cavegn and Joel Cotterill. With momentum now in their favour, the Gas will be hoping to claim their first victory in the fourth tier since the end of September, but will be tested by a talented Gillingham, who will also be looking to recover from a difficult October.
The Gills were unbeaten in 21 outings after beating Newport County 3-1 in September, but have since lost four of their last five in Sky Bet League Two before losing to the Exiles on penalties in the Emirates FA Cup over the weekend.
Before the fixture at The Mem, take a look at these five players who have played for the Gas and Gillingham.
Max Ehmer
It would be fair to say that Ehmer has more history with Gillingham than Rovers. Starting his career at Queens Park Rangers, the defender went on six loan moves to five separate clubs, representing Yeovil Town, Preston North End, Stevenage, Carlisle United and Gillingham before signing for the Gills permanently in 2015 on a three-year deal.
He established himself as a key player in their side and was named captain in 2017. However, after six years at the club, including his campaign on loan, Ehmer departed Gillingham after his contract expired and joined the Pirates. His spell at Rovers only lasted one year, and after making 33 appearances for the Club, he rejoined Gillingham in 2021.
Ehmer spent another four seasons at Gillingham before leaving at the end of the 2024/25 season with 439 appearances and 16 goals to his name across his two spells. The 33-year-old is now at National League South side Ebbsfleet United.
Jo Kuffour
An FA Youth Cup winner with Arsenal in the 1999/00 season, Kuffour played for Swindon Town, Torquay United, Brentford, and Bournemouth before signing for Rovers in 2008. He made an immediate impact at the Pirates, scoring 11 league goals in his first campaign and 14 in his second, ending the 2009/10 term as Rovers' top scorer.
Kuffour started the 2011/12 season at the Pirates, netting one in five league games before going on loan to Gillingham, where he scored ten times in 35 League Two outings, including a hat-trick against Northampton Town.
However, he departed the club at the end of the campaign, playing for two seasons at Wycombe Wanderers and one at Sutton United before retiring.
Alex Jakubiak
Jakubiak was another player that only featured for Rovers and Gillingham on a loan basis. The striker graduated Watford's academy but only made one appearance for the Hornets and had seven separate temporary spells away.
After spending time at Braintree Town, Oxford United, Dagenham & Redbridge, Fleetwood Town, Wycombe Wanderers and Falkirk, Jakubiak joined the Pirates on loan for the 2018/19 Sky Bet League One season. He made 38 appearances for the Gas in the third tier, with 26 off of the bench.
Jakubiak's next loan was then to Gillingham. Despite only playing until January of the 2019/20 campaign, his six goals for the Gills left him as the top scorer at the end of the term. Since leaving Gillingham, Jakubiak has remained in Scotland, playing for St Mirren, Dundee, Partick Thistle and Dunfermline Athletic.
Tom Eaves
Eaves made his professional debut at Oldham Athletic, making 15 appearances for the Latics before transferring to Bolton Wanderers in August 2010 on a three-year contract. However, he struggled to break into the first team and had six separate loan moves away, with his first being at the Gas. He enjoyed an impressive three-month spell at the Pirates and led the scoring charts for the Club after netting seven goals in 17 apperances in all competitions.
Temporary spells at Shrewsbury Town, Rotherham United, Yeovil Town and Bury followed before he made a permanent move to the Glovers in 2016. After one campaign at Yeovil, scoring four goals in 40 Sky Bet League Two outings, he moved to Gillingham, where he was fantastic in front of goal.
He netted 40 goals in 97 appearances in all competitions to earn a move to Sky Bet Championship side Hull City in 2019. However, he could not find similar scoring form, netting 14 goals in his three seasons for the Tigers before leaving for Rotherham and then Northampton Town, where he plays now.
Chris Dickson
There are few players that have had a footballing experience quite like Dickson. Capped twice by Ghana, the striker started his career Erith & Belvedere and has played across the world.
Appearing in the Champions League qualifiers and Europa League for Cypriot outfit AEL Limassol, the forward has also played in China as well as across the English Football League. A Championship player for Charlton Athletic, Dickson had two loan spells away from the Addicks at Gillingham, where he scored 12 goals in 23 outings in all competitions, either side of a temporary switch to Rovers.
Dickson netted twice on his Pirates debut on September 19 2009, with the Gas beating Bretford 3-1, netting four goals in 14 Sky Bet League One appearances during his three-month stay in Bristol. The 40-year-old now plays for Cray Wanderers.
