The 2009-10 campaign delivered a heartbreaking return to the fourth tier for Gillingham, as The Gills ultimately finished a crushing 21st in League One, resulting in relegation after just one season in the division. The season, however, began with a flourish of false hope, a spectacular 5-0 opening day victory over Swindon Town that included a stunning hat-trick from their talismanic forward, Simeon Jackson, whose 14 league goals anchored the attack all year. Despite their passionate home form, the season became a turbulent, rollercoaster ride marked by a dreadful away record and inconsistency that led to the post-season departure of manager Mark Stimson, cementing this chapter as a painful but memorable fight to avoid the drop.