The Gillingham Years

Return of the Rev · Jul 23, 2015

Probably in a minority but quite enjoyed our two season up there! Decent trip up plenty of pubs and plenty of options of where to sit or stand. Not sure i would have wanted a third season but pretty glad we had a couple of years up there. :thumbsup:

Any others miss the old place?

The Birdman · Jul 23, 2015

Return of the Rev said:
Probably in a minority but quite enjoyed our two season up there! Decent trip up plenty of pubs and plenty of options of where to sit or stand. Not sure i would have wanted a third season but pretty glad we had a couple of years up there. Any others miss the old place?

The pubs in Gillingham miss the Brighton fans. :drink:

Psychobilly freakout · Jul 23, 2015

The Birdman said:
The pubs in Gillingham miss the Brighton fans.

You could add the entire economy of Gillingham misses Brighton fans.

Did we not basically pay for a new stand for them buy sharing with them.

BN9 BHA · Jul 23, 2015

Return of the Rev said:
Probably in a minority but quite enjoyed our two season up there! Decent trip up plenty of pubs and plenty of options of where to sit or stand. Not sure i would have wanted a third season but pretty glad we had a couple of years up there. Any others miss the old place?

And you moan about the AMEX :wozza:

Decent trip? Eh ?
It was horrible, horrible trip, horrible town, horrible football and a horrible ground.

I only went to games in the first season we played there, that was enough. The only highlight was the ' Love of Football ' match v Doncaster.

Sheebo · Jul 23, 2015

bn9 bha said:
And you moan about the AMEX
Decent trip? Eh ?
It was horrible, horrible trip, horrible town, horrible football and a horrible ground.

I only went to games in the first season we played there, that was enough. The only highlight was the ' Love of Football ' match v Doncaster.

Don't feed the troll

BN9 BHA · Jul 23, 2015

sheebo said:
Don't feed the troll

I just like moaning about Gillingham, I really hate the place, personal reasons as well as it being our home ground for those two seasons.

theboybilly · Jul 23, 2015

My mate (Gills fan) reckons we didn't pay for their new stand and Brighton fans are an 'orrible lot for suggesting it. I love winding him up. :thumbsup:

Icy Gull · Jul 23, 2015

Hated the place, the drive, most of the results, the stadium. Not a good word from me. Pikeysville.

ewe2 · Jul 23, 2015

Icy Gull said:
Hated the place, the drive, most of the results, the stadium. Not a good word from me. Pikeysville.

I agree ,except there was a "We are in this together" feeling ,i felt amongst us,and i met some lovely Brighton fans during that time .

Mr Banana · Jul 23, 2015

4-4 Emblen hat-trick. Rodney Thomas handball. Pink paper season ticket. If you really, really couldn't find anyone to give you a lift, going on the lovebus and having to wait on the layby outside Gillingham for what seemed like 48 hours for a police escort to the ground. Dunno how many times I listened to You've Come A Long Way, Baby and New Forms by Roni Size on that journey. Half the time my cassette walkman was running slow on low batteries and they still sounded like the most mental thing ever to my untutored, oversized lugs.

Pretty pink fairy · Jul 23, 2015

the birdman said:
the pubs in gillingham miss the brighton fans.

one had the contents of it's till nicked a few years back so i heard
regards
DR

Ninja Elephant · Jul 23, 2015

Mr Banana said:
4-4 Emblen hat-trick. Rodney Thomas handball. Pink paper season ticket. If you really, really couldn't find anyone to give you a lift, going on the lovebus and having to wait on the layby outside Gillingham for what seemed like 48 hours for a police escort to the ground. Dunno how many times I listened to You've Come A Long Way, Baby and New Forms by Roni Size on that journey. Half the time my cassette walkman was running slow on low batteries and they still sounded like the most mental thing ever to my untutored, oversized lugs.

3-0 down at half time as well, Colchester the opponents that Boxing Day. I was a ballboy, thanks to Liz Costa, and I handed the ball to a young Kerry Mayo. It was an emotional moment, and the clear highlight of the day. I loved it, aged 11/12 on the Costa Express. The chippy in the town centre was fantastic and I always enjoyed the atmosphere of the journey there and back. I don't remember which game it was, but waiting for the bus to turn up to take us home after one game someone started singing "we're so s*** it's unbelievable" and it took off in a big and light hearted way.

Obviously the club couldn't have survived had we stayed there, but it was a character building two years!

Colonel Angus · Jul 23, 2015

I have very fond memories of the Gillingham years. Now... 16 years after it ended. The passing of time has made the negatives dwindle in the memory (terrible long drive, appalling football, drinks kiosk was even worse than the goldstone, parking got trickier in second season as more fans started to attend and it always seemed to be cloudy when I crossed the border from Sussex to Kent).

football is way more fun when it's all about the banter and off-field experience (cricketers pub).

I've watched us regularly at all 4 grounds (slightly too young to have watched at The County Ground!) and in priority I can honestly say that the most fun was at Withdean, then The Goldstone, then Priestfield and so far the Amex comes last. I hope that may change.

Dick Knights Mumm · Jul 23, 2015

Mr Banana said:
Rodney Thomas handball.

Handball does not really do it justice. It was a full length dive (tipping it around the post in my memory).

Save of the season.

dejavuatbtn · Jul 23, 2015

Yeh, miss the camaraderie of it all. A group of us would meet at Hickstead, see how many turned up and took the appropriate number of cars. Park near the ground and off for a fry up at a greasy spoon. Dodge the dogshit on the way back to the ground. Did the usual praying for a point and drove home bewildered at just how bad things were and would it ever get any better.
Overall part of our history and i hindsight glad to have been part of the support we had there. I think I only missed 3 games.

Skaville · Jul 23, 2015

Can't say I do. Attended the majority up there but missed out on the 4-4. Rubbish journey, average pubs and dire football. It was certainly a different era. I remember smoking tropical cigarettes in the Rainham end.

Hampster Gull · Jul 23, 2015

Two longggggg years. A bice pub with good garden are though

atfc village · Jul 23, 2015

0 0 v Hartlepool in front of 1700 pah.

The Birdman · Jul 24, 2015

We started at the cricketers but decided to find another pub about 30 minutes away. We walked in with about thirty of us and it was full of like minded Brighton fans the landlord was very friendly and we adopted it. The had good food and Beer again the Landlord was very sorry to see us return to Brighton they said they took more money from Brighton fans when they played at Gillingham than the Gills. I can't remeber the name of the pub but it was in the middle of a terrace street with a nice beer garden .
I think the new stand at Gillingham was paid for by Brighton.

Badger · Jul 24, 2015

Mr Banana said:
4-4 Emblen hat-trick.

That was the only match I went to in Gillingham. I was 12/13 at the time and paid £2 to get in, 25p a goal isn't a bad return!

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