Evening all,
Well, that season for Gillingham was a complete turn up for
the books. No one expected this – not even the biggest fan within the club but still
it is really historic to see a club you supported for a long time finally get a
league title – their first for 49 years – and to play football at times were
ten times better than last season and the season before.
And even as a reporter covering over 25 games of the 46
league season, for me the standard of football played by Gillingham at times
were very enjoyable to watch. Despite a few setbacks against teams which they
should have easily beaten, the team always bounced back the following game.
But where do you start as you look back on a brilliant season.
For me it was simple, at the newsroom for BBC South East Today. And it was here
for me the season started with the appointment of the manager Martin Allen. I was there on a day placement to get some
more newsroom experience, but I did bring a story that there will be a new
Gillingham manager within the next day or so. So I told Neil Bell – the sports
reporter for the BBC SE – that it would be one from three candidates. One of
them was Martin Allen. But he wasn't my first choice as I thought that Steve Tilson
would get the job over Allen because of his experience of getting teams promoted
from League 2. Oddly enough the day
after my placement the news broke that Martin Allen got the job, I was a little
bit annoyed that it didn't happen whilst I was there.
But I did have some reservations about the appointment as he didn't have the experience of managing a team who had the potential to be in
the hunt for the playoffs or even promotion for the season ahead. But as a fan,
I was willing to give him a chance and back him for the start of the season. But
after the first game against Bradford which we demolished the 3-1, I was beginning
to think that we could do some real damage to teams in this division. And the team continued to impress with hard
earned away victories over Wycombe Barnet and Dagenham and Redbridge and after
the Chesterfield draw in only our second home game we were top of the league
table. Something we not give up until the defeat at home to Port Vale.
After the Chesterfield game there was a lot of confidence and
quality within the team. Martin Allen did bring in players who were easily
capable of getting Gillingham promoted, two of my favourite signings of the
season stood out over the rest of the squad. Defender Adam Barrett was a easily
a better defender than the likes of Gary Richards and sadly Simon King but his
presence in the back line sorted out the defence and he didn't even panic not
once all season. And the other player is Deon Burton, to score the caliber of
goals he did over the season at the age of 36?! Well what can you say, age and
form are irrelevant in this league but the quality he brought to the team in
this league will definitely get you either promoted or champions. An example of
this was his goal against Morecambe in the last minute in front of the rainham
end. The way he took just one magnificent touch of his right foot and belted
the ball pass the goalkeeper with his other foot was just brilliant to watch
and report on.
As the season progressed they were a lot of stern
challengers who played very well against us when we were top of the league.
Noticeable teams were Fleetwood Town, Exeter City and Cheltenham Town. They all
came to our place and tried to play us off the park but despite Gillingham
trying to make a game of it, they either attempted to play us off the park or
stop us from getting the ball and hit us on the counter attack. I know that
despite not getting the results at home I still thought and believed that we
will get the eventual results to get either promoted or even possibly
champions. But the Port Vale smash and grad raid done on us in early January
where Tom Pope and Lee Hughes and despite getting back into the game and
possibly having a shout for a hard earned draw but Vale held out to go top of
the league.
But they didn't last long at the top as discontent run
though the Vale side, Martin Allen’s side rallied with some good results in
February including beating much fancied Chesterfield and going on a unbeaten
run in March which included 3 away draws in 7 days. Many Gills fans clocked up
over 800 mile round trips that week and the team responded with some gritty and
determined away draws which helped Gillingham reclaim the top spot in the League
with over a month to go.
My favourite result of the year was the Bank Holiday Monday
victory over the fat man and his Rotherham United team. It was the result which
could get us one foot into League one and set ourselves up for the possible
mother of all parties the following Saturday against Torquay. Deon Burton
scored the only goal of the game in front of a packed rainham end and by the
final whistle the players knew how much of a big game it was for them and the
win they got was helped the gills get over the line and after that it was a foregone
conclusion that the right results will help get the club promoted.
The next game was that result against struggling Torquay and
they were seen off after Danny Kedwell hit a beautiful cross shot which their
goalkeeper had no chance of saving. As the full time whistle went, the whole
crowd erupted with cheers which I don’t think I will never forget. Gillingham
has never been a promoted in front of their home crowd before the game and the
atmosphere at the ground after the full time whistle was deafening. It continued
into the blues bar after the final whistle where some of the players and Martin
Allen joined in the celebration – whilst covering me in champagne as I tried to
join in as well. It was a jolly evening
to spend with fellow supporters and there were a lot of sore heads the follow
morning.
Me and Chay celebrating the Gills going up!
It was then a case of wrapping up the clubs first title in
49 years. First up was a tricky away to Cheltenham Town. But despite taking
over 1400 to Cheltenham, the title party was put on hold only for a week as the
Gills lost 1-0. But spirits were not dampened on the journey back as we had the
final home game of the season to win the title and of we did it, we would get
the trophy after the game as well. On the day of the AFC Wimbledon game, the
atmosphere inside the ground was buzzing, it was a near sell out and even the
AFC Wimbledon fans got involved as well, as their side were at the other end of
the table, fighting against relegation. The
game was played in bright sunshine and Gillingham raced into a 2-0 lead and at
half time we sensed something special was going to happen today and we know that
we were winning the title. Despite throwing away the lead and earning a 2-2
draw, we knew it was enough to clinch the league title for the first time since
1964. The atmosphere at the final whistle where the majority of the fans ran
onto the pitch to celebrate was a joyous occasion for all Gillingham fans, and definitely
one I shall remember for my lifetime. When we got the trophy, there were a lot
of celebrations both in the stands and in the pub afterwards. Sadly no players
came down this time but they were doing their own celebrations at the ground.
Then things moved to the final game of the year a trip to
Burton Albion and a chance for the youngsters to get a chance to shine before
we all disperse from the ground and come back in mid July for the usual pre
season fixtures of going to small non league grounds in Kent to see that
champions in action again. Some of them did shine especially Nathan Nyafli who scored a well taken goal – his first for the club, and on that note our 3 year
journey in League Two has finally come to a close. Despite failing to do it on
the past two occasions with Hessenthaler at the helm, this had to be the season
we needed to get out of this league and get promoted. And with thanks to the players
and Martin Allen, he has achieved this on his first attempt, well done him.
So, what’s next for us then in League one, well for the
Gills some great away trips to the likes of former premier league side Coventry
City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, the chance of playing good League One sides
like the franchise from Milton Keynes and Stevenage, the chance to renew old
rivalries with Preston North End and Colchester United, and of course the
distinct probability of playing against the scum of Swindon Town in front of a
massive crowd at the Priestfield Stadium on a cold Tuesday night in
February.
For me there’s the chance of meeting fellow journalists I
know who support teams in this league and catching up with them and there’s the
chance of returning to former stumping grounds like Nottingham and Bristol and
the possible frequent trips to Birmingham to be used as a stopover on trips to
play against sides from the midlands.
To end all I simply need to say that WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!
And Roll On League
One....
