*BS*ANDY HESSENTHALER has been named Gillingham’s greatest player by the Professional Footballers’ Association.

*BF*The PFA is celebrating its 100th anniversary and are producing a range of events to mark the occassion, including a centenary match this weekend.

And they have also named a best player for each club, and in truth it is of little surprise that Hessenthaler was the Gills’ number one.

Signed by Tony Pulis for £235,000 in August 1996, Hess went on to make more than 350 appearances for the club, as well as having a four-year stint as the club’s manager between 2000 and 2004.

He is now manager of Whites and admits he is honoured to be given the award.

He said: “If you think about the great players who have played for Gillingham, Steve Bruce to name one, it’s no mean achievement and I’m absolutely delighted – it’s a great honour.

“Gillingham are my club and they’ll always be in my heart and they’re the first result I look out for.”

Hessenthaler – who eventually left Priestfield in January 2006 to move to Barnet – also believes Mark Stimson is the man to turn the club’s fortunes around.

He said: “I know Mark well and he’s a nice guy. He’s gone in and changed things around and brought in a non-league mentality and I think he`ll do well.

“He’s young and ambitious and I think the club needed shaking up. I would love to see him do well.”