Alan Julian was snapped up by the Gills on a Bosman transfer from Mark Stimson's previous club Stevenage Borough in the summer of 2008.  He spent three seasons with Stevenage making 141 first team appearances and winning the Supporters Player of the Year award for 2005/06.

Julian was a member of Stevenage's FA Trophy winning team of 2006/07 in the process becoming the first side to lift a trophy at the newly built Wembley Stadium. Alan began his career as a trainee with Brentford and has also earned six international caps with Northern Ireland Under-21s.

He made his Gillingham debut in the Carling Cup 1st Round tie aginst Colchester United and his League debut at home to Luton Town four days later.

The form of Simon Royce limited Alan to just six first team appearances in 2008/09 though he kept clean sheets in three of those. He was handed the keeper's jersey for the season opening game against Swindon Town and kept another clean sheet as the Gills ran out 5-0 winners.

With Royce picking up a knee injury in December, Julian grasped the chance to stake a claim for the keeper's jersey, and showed some fine form between the posts for the remainder of the season.