 The following season saw them go one step further as they beat Wigan Athletic in the play-off final to reach the second tier for the first time in the club's history.In total, he made over 200 appearances for the Gills, before his retirement from the game in February 2004 due to a wrist injury.The injury was caused by a collision with the opposition goalkeeper, Tony Warner, who had come upfield to try and score a goal from a last-minute corner.