CHERRIES under-21 striker Joe Quigley has joined Gillingham on loan.

The 19-year-old heads to the League One outfit at the start of his second season as a professional having emerged from the youth ranks at Dean Court.


And Quigley, who spent time on loan at Poole Town, Wrexham and Woking, hopes his non-league apprenticeship will serve him in good stead.

“It’s a great challenge for me,” he said. “I’ve come here to help the team get into the Championship and to score as many goals as I can.

“I’d say I’m a target man upfront but I like the ball to feet and to bring team-mates into play.

“I gained a lot from the physical side of non-league football while on loan at Wrexham and Woking.

"It was a good step up from under-21 and development team level and I believe that will serve me well in League One.”

Gills manager Justin Edinburgh said: “Joe is very good technically.

"It’s a step-up for him as he’s only had experience of the Conference but that’s a really tough division."

Quigley and Edinburgh were speaking to Gillingham's club website.