The Gillingham Years

[Return of the Rev]

the coach would drop us off about 12 i know we had to go over a footbridge to get to the ground we did for saturday games and midweek games i would drive.

walked past the dog and bone to get there!

 

[Grombleton]

the Macclesfield game where one of their defenders wore a white stocking on his head, gangsta-stylee.

Sounds like it could have been Efe Sodje.

 

[cheshunt seagull]

In the years prior to Gillingham I’d fallen into the habit of being an occasional attendee at Albion games for a number of reasons; young family etc. With the Priestfield move I found myself living much nearer to Albion home games than someone in Brighton so I thought; if I can’t go regularly, who will? Those 2 years got me back into the habit of being a regular which has carried on, so moving there did me a favour or otherwise depending on my mojo levels.
As for the experience itself there was a sense of solidarity but the bad experiences massively outnumber the good. On the cusp of a season in the Championship in a great stadium it is easy to look back with nostalgia but at the time the actual future of the club looked was staring into the abyss and that fear was always with us in that period.

 

[Stato]

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.

I know that the spirit of the Fans United game was what was important, but my memories of that day were that, at lunchtime, I shoved a Valentine's card at my girlfriend and went to watch what is, all these years on, still the worst game of professional football I have ever seen. We've been married for 15 years and it is still being held against me. My only defence is that I didn't make her go with me.

I wonder about the story I heard about that game. Apparently Doncaster wanted us all to wear kids fire helmets to have a go at their chairman who they suspected of burning one of the stands. Our fans were happy to go along until they were told that the hats could be bought from 'Toys R Us.' Does anyone know whether this is true?

 

[Return of the Rev]

Loved the coach up there 9.30ish from hove station! £5 each!

 

[Igzilla]

The journey there was ok, but the journey back was soul destroying. I had to get the train from Worthing to Hove, get to the bus station, then rattle along in that as others have said, waiting in the layby for the escort. We usually lost (or so it seemed) then the interminable journey back, past the odd local "waving" at us (it was probably dark, but I think that was what they were doing), generally cold, tired, hungry, thirsty and despondent after watching yet another ropey performance. Still, happy days, eh?

 

[Megazone]

My last memory of Gillingham was the The Animals - 'We gotta get out of this place' being played through the tanner as we left the Preistfield for the very last time.

Oh, and does anyone remember the pigeon who should have been given Man of the match?

 

[Return of the Rev]

Followed the Albion from about 1970 but strangely bought my first s/t for the Gillingham seasons

 

[Simster]

Gary Hart's goal against Shrewsbury was one of the few highlights.

The Saturday of my stag weekend I believe.

 

[Sompting_Seagull]

I went to a few games up there, remember leaving the 4-4 game when were 3-0 down, got to Pease Pottage to hear on the radio it was 4-4, never went again!

 

[8ace]

The Saturday of my stag weekend I believe.

Tuesday night IIRC

 

[Simster]

Tuesday night IIRC

Ah got that wrong then.

 

[Return of the Rev]

Recall driving back in the rain from a midweek game at Gillingham and the guy i was with started having a seizure and was trying to open the passenger door on the motorway

 

[bobby baxter]

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?

This football club has been responsible for countless depressing days, however, the memory of coming out of Priestfield after watching us get hammered 4 - 0 by Torquay still hurts to this day.
Memories can be selective, I wouldn't like to re visit those times.

 

[BN9 BHA]

That was your highlight of the Gillingham years??

Do you also like sticking pins in your eyes and bathing in acid??

I'm struggling to think of a worst game of football I've seen....nope can't do it. Two sides who were 91st and 92nd in the football league for a very good reason.

Ha, ha I really shouldn't have mentioned the actual match, it was the crowd that was the highlight over 6,000 for this one, I'm sure this was our highest attendance at Gillingham.

I don't actually remember the match, but I remember a very loud Chelsea fan trying to get some singing going and winding up the stewards.

As I posted, I didn't go to all the games at Gillingham so this one was a highlight for me because the attendance was more than double of some of the other matches I went to.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

been there twice whilst at the Goldstone, one time it went off in their end , second time rampaging down the road after the game, cars having their wing mirrors kicked off , that's about it
regards
DR

 

[BN9 BHA]

I know that the spirit of the Fans United game was what was important, but my memories of that day were that, at lunchtime, I shoved a Valentine's card at my girlfriend and went to watch what is, all these years on, still the worst game of professional football I have ever seen. We've been married for 15 years and it is still being held against me. My only defence is that I didn't make her go with me.

I wonder about the story I heard about that game. Apparently Doncaster wanted us all to wear kids fire helmets to have a go at their chairman who they suspected of burning one of the stands. Our fans were happy to go along until they were told that the hats could be bought from 'Toys R Us.' Does anyone know whether this is true?

I do remember something about fire helmets, but I really can't remember any Albion fans wearing them.

I drove to all the matches I went to at Gilingham apart from this one, I went on a double decker bus which I'm sure was organised by the Argus. My girlfriend at the time got me a ticket for the bus which TBH I wasn't impressed with, the driver got lost a few times on the way back and there was also a scuffle on the upper deck.

I'm sure the Argus printed all the names of the fans that went to this match.

 

[BN9 BHA]

been there twice whilst at the Goldstone, one time it went off in their end , second time rampaging down the road after the game, cars having their wing mirrors kicked off , that's about it
regards
DR

Now there's a surprise

 

[BrianWade4]

I had a season ticket there both seasons

Good greasy spoon in the A23 on the way up

Great Fans United day

Saw one of my all time favourite players - Rod Thomas

Also my best on pitch moment, Peter Smith tackling himself on the touch line with no-one nearby

Wonderful scenes.....

 

[Return of the Rev]

I do remember something about fire helmets, but I really can't remember any Albion fans wearing them.

I drove to all the matches I went to at Gilingham apart from this one, I went on a double decker bus which I'm sure was organised by the Argus. My girlfriend at the time got me a ticket for the bus which TBH I wasn't impressed with, the driver got lost a few times on the way back and there was also a scuffle on the upper deck.

I'm sure the Argus printed all the names of the fans that went to this match.

Normally had 30/40 on the coach but this game we took 4 coaches up!