Chumbawumbah getting played every pre match along with 'gotta get out of this place'. Also A21 coach not starting after one of the the games and a load of us getting out to push start it.
I only managed to get there once, and that was an evening pre-season friendly against our hosts themselves. 2-1 win as far as I can recall, and the Gills were in the div above
. Good chuckling from me, Shakes from the home fan I was with. Most fans were friendly although it did kick off outside the chip shop. Oye oye saveloy!
I remember that Peter Smith mistake, but to be honest I couldn't say which game or remember many other moments on the pitch as most of it was so awful. Matchday experiences that stick in the mind more are:
1. Cloudy skies as we crossed the county border into Kent on most days (whoever said Kent was The Garden of England?).
2. Breaking down on the A229 as the clutch on my Cavalier finally gave out.
3. Pre-match drinks in The Cricketers queuing 7 deep at the bar and occasionally enjoying the sunshine in the beer garden.
4. Being served Bovril at the Kiosk that turned out to be Marmite (which doesn't dissolve) lying in a lump at the bottom of a cup of hot water.
5. Moving from Terrace to Seated area and back to Terrace again whenever we felt like it because there was more than enough room for everyone.
6. Deflecting a wayward pre-match practice shot away from my girlfriend's face (now wife) and into the face of a small child stood 15 feet behind us.
7. Getting to recognise almost every fan.
I do remember Rod Thomas being generally too skillful for his teammates and Mark Ormerod and Nicky Rust diving around desperately and picking the ball out of their net alot.
It was an experience! If you weren't there (and I really don't blame you), then I recommend getting hold of a copy of the official matchday compilation video from that era called 'The Priestfield Tapes'. You will be amazed at how poor the football was and how far we've come.
Just shows how age and memory dont work in together as I would have argued that the Rod Thomas 'save' when he dived across the goal and got sent off was at The Goldstone.
The Palace friendly, that Colchester comeback (accompanied by my Colchester supporting wife), as already mentioned parking right next to the ground, the toilets (before and after they spent our money on them), having lots of space on the home terrace which you needed because it was so flat, dreadful football (the Doncaster Fans United game?)