The 2010-11 campaign was a season of dramatic resurgence and agonizing near-miss for Gillingham, as The Gills, under returning manager Andy Hessenthaler, surged from the relegation zone to finish a competitive 8th in League Two, missing the play-offs only on goal difference. Leading the charge was the sensational loanee Cody McDonald, whose prolific 25 goals anchored a side built on a spectacular 16-game mid-season unbeaten run and a lethal strike partnership with the powerful Adebayo Akinfenwa. It was a year defined by that spirited fightback and cemented McDonald's status as a fan favorite, earning him the PFA Fans' Player of the Year award and remaining a memorable chapter of ambition for the club.