Rob_b100
Vital 1st Team Regular
I was going to ask if anyone remembered Leroy griffiths (one of MS signings) but he certainly didn’t fit in any of the threads currently running, so thought I’d begin a new one.
Mark Simpson, one of the most divisive managers we’ve had. Absolutely hated by much of the crowd. Warranted or not? Personally I quite liked him. He joined us as an up an coming non league manager and had good success in non league. We went down that first season with him but were bloody hopeless before he turned up if memory serves.
He obviously didn’t help matters by bringing loads of his ex players with him who were woefully short of skills and fitness required for league football. Also the “I’m an east end lad and don’t walk away from a challenge” or whatever it was he said, riled huge sections of the support. At the time I didn’t see the problem with the statement and still don’t now. However it was probably a daft thing to say when you’re managing a club forever in London clubs shadows.
The second season we went up through the playoffs, but had a few thumpings on the way. Didn’t we ship 5 to Accrington? I know we lost 7-0 away to the shrews before turning them over at Wembley in the final. You just got the feeling that some people would never support him by then, whatever he said or did for us. Even discussions in the pub following convincing wins at home were usually proceeded by “it was only Burton/Rochdale/Chester. Of course we should’ve beaten them”.
Then of course the following season. We played some great stuff at home at times, holding and beating some good sides in the process. But that bloody away record still brings a shudder. Wasn’t it 7 points over the whole season or something? 0 wins away all season. Culminating in the Wycombe match. Odds on to stay up, 4 results had to go against us, and us lose too. Obviously in true Gills fashion the unlikely happened and we went down. Stimson was sacked a few days after. I couldn’t make the Wycombe game, but many people have said they have never been more angered by a game of football in their life.
Stimpson signed a few duffers, but wasn’t Simeon Jackson signed by him? Also Danny Jackman? (Although I may have them wrong and can’t be arsed to google it) Stuart Thurgood was absolutely diabolical, how he ever had the nerve to call himself a professional footballer I will never know. I rated Adam Miller, at times he was unplayable, but again, I think people thought him arrogant and therefore would never support him whatever. I also think he cared and he was playing with a hernia for the last 2 months or something.
Now, Leroy Griffiths. He played up front or on the wing I think. Only featured a handful of times. He came on as a sub second half as we were attacking the Rainham end and someone played a lofted ball from our own half from the Medway stand side. Leroy controlled the ball on his thigh then without breaking stride hit a volley into the top corner from outside the box. I remember it vividly, it was one of the greatest goals I had ever seen live. I remember saying to my mate “fucking hell we’ve got a player here”. Sadly, it was the only thing he did in a gills shirt.
Anyone else remember him?
Apologies for the essay but no ones got anything better to do than read my dopey ramblings!!!
Mark Simpson, one of the most divisive managers we’ve had. Absolutely hated by much of the crowd. Warranted or not? Personally I quite liked him. He joined us as an up an coming non league manager and had good success in non league. We went down that first season with him but were bloody hopeless before he turned up if memory serves.
He obviously didn’t help matters by bringing loads of his ex players with him who were woefully short of skills and fitness required for league football. Also the “I’m an east end lad and don’t walk away from a challenge” or whatever it was he said, riled huge sections of the support. At the time I didn’t see the problem with the statement and still don’t now. However it was probably a daft thing to say when you’re managing a club forever in London clubs shadows.
The second season we went up through the playoffs, but had a few thumpings on the way. Didn’t we ship 5 to Accrington? I know we lost 7-0 away to the shrews before turning them over at Wembley in the final. You just got the feeling that some people would never support him by then, whatever he said or did for us. Even discussions in the pub following convincing wins at home were usually proceeded by “it was only Burton/Rochdale/Chester. Of course we should’ve beaten them”.
Then of course the following season. We played some great stuff at home at times, holding and beating some good sides in the process. But that bloody away record still brings a shudder. Wasn’t it 7 points over the whole season or something? 0 wins away all season. Culminating in the Wycombe match. Odds on to stay up, 4 results had to go against us, and us lose too. Obviously in true Gills fashion the unlikely happened and we went down. Stimson was sacked a few days after. I couldn’t make the Wycombe game, but many people have said they have never been more angered by a game of football in their life.
Stimpson signed a few duffers, but wasn’t Simeon Jackson signed by him? Also Danny Jackman? (Although I may have them wrong and can’t be arsed to google it) Stuart Thurgood was absolutely diabolical, how he ever had the nerve to call himself a professional footballer I will never know. I rated Adam Miller, at times he was unplayable, but again, I think people thought him arrogant and therefore would never support him whatever. I also think he cared and he was playing with a hernia for the last 2 months or something.
Now, Leroy Griffiths. He played up front or on the wing I think. Only featured a handful of times. He came on as a sub second half as we were attacking the Rainham end and someone played a lofted ball from our own half from the Medway stand side. Leroy controlled the ball on his thigh then without breaking stride hit a volley into the top corner from outside the box. I remember it vividly, it was one of the greatest goals I had ever seen live. I remember saying to my mate “fucking hell we’ve got a player here”. Sadly, it was the only thing he did in a gills shirt.
Anyone else remember him?
Apologies for the essay but no ones got anything better to do than read my dopey ramblings!!!