Gills Friendlies 2018-19

Trev_GFC

Trev_GFC

Vital 1st Team Regular
The first friendly to be announced is Folkestone away, Friday July 6th KO 7.30.

Personally I know loads of people who don’t care about friendlies but I enjoy them. Stick some of the ones in decent towns on the Saturdays for a decent day out. Or decent drinks at least! I would’ve liked to have had Folkestone on the Saturday as I’ve been meaning to take my mate’s down there anyway, it’s really becoming a cracking little town with the Old High Street and Harbour Arm developments, and great places to drink from micropubs and real ale pubs to tap rooms.

Let’s get Faversham on a Saturday. Any others? Herne Bay? Deal? Chatham?!
 
Baghdad_Rob said:
They should create a Medway Cup tournament over the weekend with Gillingham, Chatham Town, Rochester United and a guest invite to Sittingbourne or Maidstone or whoever the highest placed Kent team is.
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By league placing, Lordswood (8th, or 7th if they win their final game) were the best of all the Medway non-league sides, above both Chatham Town (16th) and Rochester Utd (20th/bottom). Sheppey were 11th, Bearsted 14th, Hollands & Blair 18th.
 
I like the idea of helping some of the smaller Kent sides by giving them a reasonable gate receipt payday, but there's no real point in dropping too low down the leagues for friendlies, what did we really learn from smashing Chatham 12-0 last summer?

Every year I trot out the line about going to Ireland or Belgium or Holland for a short tour that Gills fans could follow, I'd gladly spend a week of annual leave watching Gills two or three times in a foreign country.

But it will be what it always is, a smattering of local games against non-leaguers and one or two uninspiring home games against the likes of Ipswich or Colchester.
 
HerrLjunga said:
I like the idea of helping some of the smaller Kent sides by giving them a reasonable gate receipt payday, but there's no real point in dropping too low down the leagues for friendlies, what did we really learn from smashing Chatham 12-0 last summer?
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I was thinking it more of an exercise to get our players to run around for 180 minutes in quick succession in the immediate aftermath of them coming back from holiday. Depending on the timing, it would be about fitness than learning anything meaningful although I am sure Wayne will argue we could learn Wilkinson's real level of ability.

And do we really learn any more from playing Folkstone or the general list of non-league sides?

And a Medway Cup might generate a little bit more coverage on the local news.

Ticket wise you can charge something like £5 per day or a £8 weekend ticket which might encourage people who might have otherwise chosen to attend one game. Children get in free when with a parent. Let people sit where they want so people can sit in a different stand for each match although closing the Upper Medway might make sense. In the 30 minutes between each match you could invite the kids on to meet the players.
 
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alphabet_king said:
Or just change the kent senior cup to preseason.
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Ashford, Maidstone and Bromley play on 3G/4G. Perhaps you could have a tournament weekend with 2 games on each day. Work some magic to get a bumper crowd in for both days. Maybe the next weekend you could a finals weekend? Just an idea off the top of my head.
 
I went to Folkestone away a few years ago, probably the one before the last time we played them. I liked the fact you could have a beer while watching the game which was good on a warm summer evening! I also like the fact with most non league grounds you can walk around the whole stadium so change your view when you wish, and even stand right behind the dugout so you can hear what the manager and coaches are saying.
 
Really like the idea of a Kent Cup being held pre-season. Might create a bit of interest.

Could make it a bit like the Emirates Cup with all games being held at either Priestfield or Maidstone. Invite six other teams along and play all the games over three separate days with entertainment in between.

Could get a bit feisty when Ebbsfleet, Maidstone and us play each other.
 
Anyone remember that time in the 80s when we played Japan? It must have been something to do with Will Adams. They stayed out on the pitch at half time and did yoga, which seemed to win over the crowd, who spent the second half cheering them on against the Gills. Weirdest match I've ever been to.
 
Trev_GFC said:
Ooh, if it’s a half decent team playing then I’m up for a day down in Margate! Some decent real ale and sunshine....
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You could do 'Ales of the Unexpected', 'The Two Halves', 'The Lifeboat' and 'The Harbour Arms'. There's also 'The Northern Belle' up an alley but a good pub despite the very odd reviews: "Very nice worm and well coming place" and "I don't hate it as this rating suggests. It's just this place is closed and up for sale or new Tennant's and not trading at present."
 
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