Gillingham Football Club avoided a fine for a late team-sheet on Saturday after the Medway Messenger came to the rescue.

Reporter Luke Cawdell was on hand to deliver the team-sheet for their Coca-Cola League 1 clash at Luton in to referee Andy Penn with seconds to spare after the team bus was stuck on the motorway.

Clubs are required to hand in their teams to match officials an hour before kick-off, but with the management sat helpless on the team bus and Gillingham chairman Paul Scally also delayed, there was only one option.

“I was happy to help,” said reporter Luke.

“I had a race on my hands to get to the ground by the deadline but thanks to the help of the staff at Luton I was there at the referee’s door bang on 2pm – I even beat Luton’s assistant manager Sam Ellis to it.”

Grateful Gills manager Ronnie Jepson said: “We got to the ground at five past two. That just about sums us up and sums our start to the season up.”