The Scotsman arrived at Fosse from a brief spell at Sheffield Wednesday and having also played with Bolton Wanderers, Manchester City and Hearts.
His debut came at Grimsby Town in September 1897 and Gillies made four senior appearances for the club. He played as an inside-forward and impressed initially by scoring in all six friendly matches he'd played in for the club. Yet he failed to score in his few appearances he did make in the blue and white, and in fact failed to net a single senior goal for any of his league clubs.
His time at the club didn't come to an end because of his poor record in front of goal in senior competition, although that may have helped, but he was one of a number of Fosse players who saw their time at the club cut short due to disciplinary reasons.
He went on to play for Lochgelly United and Dumbarton before going on to be a coal miner outside of football.