Former Gillingham favourite Mark Patterson is looking ahead to an historic match at Homelands on Wednesday night.

The Gills have agreed to field a full strength team in the friendly match with marks the birth of Ashford United - a club set up from the ashes of the now defunct Ashford Town.

Patterson (pictured), who played for the Gills before later coaching the youth team, is now academy manager at United.

With Ashford boss Tony Reynolds away on holiday Patterson has been handed the temporary management duties along with assistant Paul Chambers.

It’s an occasion he can’t wait to be involved in.

He said: "I’m looking forward to it and to seeing a few old faces. It’s great of Gillingham to come down with their first team.

"It is such a financial boost for our club and with Gillingham coming down to play the first game against Ashford United it’s going to be a match to remember. Hopefully we’ll have a decent crowd for the game.

"It will be funny sitting on our bench with Trigger (Nicky Southall), Hess (Andy Hessenthaler) and Ian Hendon, who I know a bit, and the physios James Barker and Steve Allen who I know well on the other side. I will need to make sure I sit on the right bench!

"It will be nice to also see some of the young boys who I worked with like Jack Payne and Luke Rooney and the likes of Dean Rance, Connor Essam and Darren Hawkes. It’s also about the occasion and nobody at Ashford should get hung up about the result and we know which way it should go. The main thing is that we’ve got senior football back in Ashford."

Ashford fans were left without a football team to support last season after Town folded amid a sea of financial problems and a tug-of-war between two rival owners.

All has now been settled and Gills chairman Paul Scally added his backing to owner Tony Betteridge and the new club which will be playing in the inaugural Kent Invicta League this season.

"I have a lot of respect for the owner Tony Betteridge and everything he is trying to do at Ashford," said Mr Scally.

"I have nothing but admiration for the supporters, they have endured some hard times of late and we’re proud to support them after all they have been through since the sad demise of Ashford Town.

"As a sign of respect we will be sending our full first team down to Homelands. We hope to make it a memorable evening."

Gillingham could field all seven new faces, after Charlie Lee, Chris Whelpdale, Lewis Montrose, Andy Frampton, Ross Flitney, Danny Kedwell and Matt Fish all signed on permanent deals.

Mr Betteridge added: "It’s a magnificent first game to have for the new club – I for one can’t wait.

"Gillingham have named a full squad for the game and they’re not holding back."

Kick off at Homelands is at 7.30pm.