Gills Open Day

T

Therealwaldo

Vital 1st Team Regular
Just got back having taken my twin 5 year old grandsons. What an excellent event. All the players were there and fully accessible to chat to, signing player photocards and posing for photos. Live music, good range of activities for kids (and big kids !) The whole management team were there and happy to talk football. Good beer tent. Great atmosphere. All in all, a really well organised event.
 
I just suppose it's typical of this board that the club does something really worthwhile that attracts loads of kids that are the future for the club, is really well organised and really well attended, and I'm the only person that can be arsed to comment. I suppose there was nothing to moan about. That must be the reason.
 
Thought it was well organised too. Obviously the weather helped but plenty for the kids to do and see. Plenty of money taken in the beer tent and refreshments etc. Nice to see the pitch covered with families enjoying themselves. My only gripe is the wasted factory bar. The bar opened at 6, with a live band at 8. I don't know if the music was advertised but who knows when the bar is open? When we left there must have only been about 10 people in there. At Xmas against Oxford they shut early after an early kick off, and sometimes shut at 10:30 after evening matches so you/we just go to the cricketers to spend our money there. The Factory could be a little goldmine if run properly. And give season ticket holders 10% off any purchase in there as an incentive.
 
Waldo half this board doesn't even go to the games let alone anything else organised by the club
 
Give over Waldo. This board is fairly positive in comparison to other gills forums i use. The "gills fans forum" being one of the most negative at the moment. Apart from the gillingham banter group which is was banned from for scally loving (not blaming him for global warming).

Anyway I also heard a few people on Facebook commending the club on a good day. Gutted I didn't go with my two boys now. I didn't think it would be any good, no one had talked about it much before the game.

That said, I did find it interesting the event is the same as one of our "new sponsors" main days in Rochester (sweeps).
 
nibbles said:
Was Scally there?
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Yes, he was wandering around in a Gills training shirt, almost incognito. Had a chat with him. I agree with Waldo, this was a great occasion, most of the first team players were there and they were all a pleasure to talk to. The kids loved it and the Beer tent was a great success for us adults. First time I have been on the pitch si nice the 70s!
 
I thought it was excellent, they had some academy games going on against Southend and the skill of some of the youngsters was impressive.
I counted 22 different beers and 5 ciders in the beer tent, all from local Kent breweries, unfortunately I never managed too try them all but did give it a go.
The players all seemed very approachable and willing to sign autographs or pose for photo's, there were some happy children and parents.
 
It was a really nice opportunity to have a chat to the players. I learnt a lot of interesting stuff. I'd love to share it but I think I should respect their confidence otherwise they won't be half so forthcoming in the future. The main thing is that they all seemed to be really happy to be at the Gills and all love playing for Steve Lovell. The general impression I got is that there won't be huge changes in the summer with one or two departures and a few additions.
 
I didn't go but sounds like it was a very good event. Great for the kids to go on the pitch meet the players etc. It will go a long way to securing the next generation of fans.
 
All I’ve heard from people who went is that Byrne has only so far received a poor contract offer hence he hasn’t signed yet, Wagstaff wants to stay and likes it here, but no mention of any offer, Eaves will be signing a new deal, rumours that Martin and Zakuani have already left the club.
 
Martin and Zakuani rumours probably fuelled by their absence from Open Day. The more logical explanation is that they both had pre planned holidays, organised before Open Day had been set up. Byrne just sounds like normal contract negotiation. Reilly wants to stay but described the situation as 'complicated' because of his contract situation at Bury.
 
Therealwaldo said:
Martin and Zakuani rumours probably fuelled by their absence from Open Day. The more logical explanation is that they both had pre planned holidays, organised before Open Day had been set
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Unlikely . You would assume that Lovell has prearranged meetings with the players out of contract to let them know whether they will be offered new deals. I can't imagine an out of contract player is allowed to go on holiday until any decision on whether to offer a new deal is made. Negotiations may go on over the summer but I am sure an end of season meeting would happen first.
 
Something like a club fun day designed for your supporters should have your club captain at I would have thought. They're all still GFC players until 30th June, regardless of where they might be next season.

Good to see the club doing a fun day and seems it was a success.
 
Bootsie2 said:
Yes, he was wandering around in a Gills training shirt, almost incognito. Had a chat with him. I agree with Waldo, this was a great occasion, most of the first team players were there and they were all a pleasure to talk to. The kids loved it and the Beer tent was a great success for us adults. First time I have been on the pitch si nice the 70s!
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What was the pitch like to walk on?? Wondering whether it actually feels better underfoot than it looks
 
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