The View From The Medway

Author: Phil Creighton

Gillingham v Fleetwood: the big match preview

Gills’ new boss John Coleman faces his first test tomorrow as Fleetwood pay a visit to Priestfield.

“Everything is in place for the club to go forward,” he said at Thursday’s press conference, as he admitted he is getting to know the players and it could take up to 12 days to get a handle on how to go forward.

Coleman said he’s been studying the past five games in depth, to help him coach the squad, and has held intensive training sessions.

“I’d like to see us play a little bit more football through the lines, but not get bogged down with it, where it becomes style I want it to be exciting for the fans and I want it to be exciting for me as well. People can get sidetracked by this perception of how you’re playing and easy-on-the-eye football.

“You don’t get prizes for aesthetics … the hard currency is winning.

“I’d like us to play a style that we can get it up the pitch without risking it too much by just kicking a ball back to the opposition. That’s what I don’t want us to do.

“We’ve got to be able to mix it up, and hopefully we will.”

Coleman feels the players are at a good club and a forward-thinking one that has a good structure.

“We should be performing better than we have,” he continued. “That’s no slight on the other, previous managers because I’m sure they have tried their hardest.”

He said he wanted to help the players, and said there were many positives within the club that need accentuating.

“Winning is everything in this sport, and winning is the best thing,” he said. “The best driver and best builder of team spirit is winning.”

Fans will have their part to play. Coleman has previously highlighted how the noise from the supporters had made Priestfield an intimidating place for visiting teams to come to.

“There is nothing better than playing in front of a vocal crowd, a big crowd as well, who are desperate for success, and we’ve got an opportunity to deliver that. What I want on Saturday is our fans to be there when the final whistle blows … we’ve got a duty to make sure that every person who pays their money to get in on Saturday gets maximum value for the day from the Gills.”

The squad, he said, are facing just two injuries at the moment – Connor Masterson and OIi Hawkins.

As to his first opposition as Gills manager, Coleman said that Fleetwood “started (their season) off quite well, and had a really bad draft of injuries,” he said, adding

“Injuries have done it to them, particularly with Brendan Wiredu being off so long because I think he’s an integral part of their team.”

He also said they were in a similar place to The Gills with a recent change in manager: Charlie Adam left the Cod Army just before Christmas after a winning one game in 11. The final game he managed was a 2-0 defeat against Barrow.

Pete Wild was appointed on Christmas Eve, starting on December 27. He had previously managed Barrow.

Gillingham’s record against Fleetwood

The Gills visited Highbury for their third fixture of the current campaign and came away with a point, thanks to a goalless draw.

READ MORE: Mark Bonner’s praise for Gills fans as he makes first comments after sacking

As Fleetwood were relegated from League One last season, this is the first time the teams have met at Priestfield since April 2022, an occasion when they again held each other to a goalless draw.

And in the same 2021-22 season, Fleetwood won at Highbury, scoring two goals to Gillingham’s one: Robbie McKenzie found the back of the net for us in that game.

Overall, the Gills have not beaten Fleetwood in their last seven encounters, drawing four of them and losing three.

What is Fleetwood’s current form?

Like the Gills, Fleetwood lost their last game: 2-1 away to Doncaster.

They drew against Harrogate and beat Chesterfield in their last two home games.

They lost against Barrow, who scored two, while they drew against Accrington Stanley.

This means their current form is (most recent first):

LDWLD.

They sit 16th in the League Two table on 27 points, but if they beat Gillingham the two teams could swap places.

Dare we ask, what is Gillingham’s form?

The last six games have not been anything to write home about with just one win:

LLLDW

Over Christmas and New Year, they lost at home to Bromley, away to AFC Wimbledon, away to Colchester.

Their pre-Christmas game was a home draw against Cheltenham.

And go back just before that, and you find the team’s last win: a 1-0 victory over MK Dons at their stadium.

Where are Gillingham in the table and what will happen if they win, draw or lose?

The squad currently sit in 14th place with 30 points.

They have at least a game in hand after their match against Chesterfield was postponed due to the weather.

Above them in the table, with 31 points, is Cheltenham Town, while Barrow is just underneath with 28 points.

If Fleetwood and Colchester win, they would go above the Gills due to a superior goal difference. Barrow, on 28 points, could leapfrog us if we lose.

A draw could see the team stay put or draw level on points with Cheltenham.

But a victory could see Gills swap places with Cheltenham, into 13th place and keep them within a shout of reaching the playoffs: if they win their game in hand, they could be on 36 points, and four points behind seventh place.

However, the gap to the playoffs is widening. As it stands, Gills are 10 points behind seventh place, and 12 points behind the automatic promotion spots. If Coleman can find a run of form for the team, then promotion is still possible. Losing, on the other hand, could see them struggle to be anything other than mid-table by the end of the season.

Simply, this is a must-win game.

Will the game be called off due to the weather?

Last Sunday’s match against Chesterfield was postponed due to snow, and there have been fears this week that the weather will cause a second postponement.

However, the club said that a pitch inspection was carried out on Friday, and it was deemed safe to play on.

A second assessment will take place at 8am on Saturday, January 11, to allow fans plenty of time to decide whether to travel to Priestfield or not. Although it will be cold overnight, the club is expecting the game to go ahead, with kick-off at 3pm.

How can fans get tickets?

There are a handful of seats available in The Rainham End, and plenty of availability in The Gordon Road and Medway stands.

The club has these available to buy from its website: https://tickets.gillinghamfootballclub.com/content

Watch The Gills In The Blood match preview

Cod Army fan Jack Kershaw joined Matt Boosey to discuss Saturday’s game.

It can be watched on YouTube

January 10, 2025
Mark Bonner’s praise for Gills fans as he makes first comments after sacking

Former Gillingham manager Mark Bonner says he expects the squad to have a strong second half of the season.

In his first comments since his sacking on Sunday, January 5, he thanked club owners Brad and Shannon Galinson for inviting him to manage the side.

The former Cambridge manager was appointed in May, just after the sacking of Stephen Clemence with the aim of giving him the pre-season to create a promotion winning side.

At the time, the club’s managing director Joe Comper said: “We were specifically looking for a leader with direct experience playing successfully in League 2.

“We were also looking for someone who had promoted a team out of the League and had the skills to build that sort of ambitious culture.”

While the season started well, with the club topping the League Two table for several weeks, results dipped in October.

After losing three games in a row over Christmas, Bonner and his assistant Anthony Hates were relieved of their duties and former Accrington boss John Coleman installed as the new gaffer.

Comper said: “The staff have thoroughly enjoyed working with (Mark Bonner), however, we felt if we were going to achieve something this season with what we believe to be a very talented group of players, we needed to make a change.”

He continued: “With regret we have decided to part company. I would like to place on record my thanks to Mark and I wish every success for the future.”

https://twitter.com/markbonner85/status/1876934291277402588

On Wednesday, January 8, Bonner took to social media to share his views on his dismissal, offering warm words to the club and wishing them well, adding that he had “thoroughly enjoyed the experience”.

He said that the summer had been about creating the foundations for a successful season on the pitch, but the club had struggled to find consistency.

READ MORE: Chesterfield V Gillingham Postponed due to snow. Is it a blessing in disguise for Gillingham’s frozen form?

This should change now that players are returning from injury, and Bonner said he expected Coleman to benefit from that.

He also took time to thank the club’s backroom team, “the committed and talented players in the squad”, the fans and the club staff.

“I … wish John Coleman, the squad and everyone connected with Gillingham Football Club the very best for the future,” he added.

Mark Bonner’s statement in full

‍“I would like to thank Brad and Shannon Galinson and the Senior Management Team for the opportunity to manage Gillingham Football Club.

“After a summer of hard work and setting the foundations to build a culture of success, we enjoyed an outstanding start to the season. Since then, results and performances have been disappointing, and we have been unable to find the level and consistency we all wanted.

“As many of the players are now fit and available, I expect a consistent team to emerge and have a strong second half of the season.

“I hope the new management team will continue the work of creating a team and culture that will bring about the success that the club deserves.

“I leave grateful and proud of the quality of work and professionalism from the whole backroom team. Your loyalty, endeavour and commitment has made for an outstanding working environment.

“I extend these thanks to the committed and talented players in the squad.

“I am also grateful to the supporters and Club staff for the way I have been welcomed since the summer and wish John Coleman, the squad, and everyone connected with Gillingham Football Club the very best for the future.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I look forward to using the lessons learned and energy gained in future roles.”

New manager John Coleman will line-up his first squad in a home fixture against Fleetwood Town (kick-off 3pm). For tickets, click here

January 8, 2025
Gillingham fan zone in the works – club submits exciting plan for upgrade to Priestfield Stadium
A new fan zone could be coming to Priestfield Stadium if Gillingham FC gets planning permission from Medway Council.

The club submitted documents before Christmas to create a new space that will enhance the fan experience.

It would see the demolition of the existing former sports centre adjacent to the club car park to create a new covered space with benches, a performance stage and a food court.

If approved, it will enhance the matchday experience for home fans and be the most significant update to the fan experience since the Galinsons took majority ownership of the club two years ago.

The proposed fan zone will be next to the entrance to the Gordon Road Stand Picture: Phil Creighton

The application to Medway Council has been made by Brad Galinson on behalf of the club. Mark Carter Associates, an architecture firm based in the stadium, has created the scheme and created a fact pack for the planning department to follow.

In it, it states: “The Club was acquired by the current owners, Brad and Shannon Galinson, at the end of 2022, with significant investment into the club, comprising of ground improvements and footballing budget, which has seen large growth in terms of the fan base and the increase in matchday attendances.”

The club points out the lack of facilities for fans using the Gordon Road stand and the Rainham End, including toilets as well as the limited space for half-time refreshments. As anyone who sits in the stand knows, there is large queuing and overcrowding on matchdays – many of us have missed a goal because we were still waiting to be served when the second half kicked off.

Where is the fan zone being planned?

The proposed area for the fan zone at Priestfield Stadium as laid out in Gillingham’s application to Medway Council

The club is intending to knock down part of its site that is no longer being used and sits between the entrance to the Gordon Road Stand and the back of the Rainham End.

It says the empty sports hall includes squash courts and a gym and is no longer structurally sound.

Building the new fan zone would remove three car parking spaces, taking it down from 90 to 87.

What is being planned for the Gillingham FC fan zone?

A CGI image of the fan zone proposed for Priestfield Stadium for Gillingham FC fans to enjoy matchdays more. Picture taken from Gillingham FC documents submitted to Medway Council

The application’s formal language is: “proposed demolition of existing former sports centre and the creation of a new external fan zone, which will be able to provide entertainment/ food and beverages.”

It states that the area would be 968 sq m, which is about the size of a terraced house similar to those surrounding Priestfield and use five specially designed shipping containers around the perimeter, with service hatches for serving up to 900 fans.

They will not be any higher than 2.5m tall, and the roof would be flat.

In addition to the benches, there will be podium tables, and it is envisaged that the space will be usable across the year with the marquee style covering keeping fans dry.

And there will be additional toilets installed, including one for disabled fans.

The aim of the fan zone is “to relieve congestion, and health and safety concerns being experienced in the concourses on matchdays”.

One of Gillingham’s current matchday offerings: a hot dog Picture: Phil Creighton

It would be steward operated and be a replacement for the existing vacant building at the rear of the Rainham End Stand.

The document notes the location is perfect for solving overcrowding and improve the matchday experience.

“The key aim for the Club is to provide a safe and user-friendly experience for all supporters, new and old, returning to the Club for what will be a hugely exciting future. This planning application is a key step in the Club’s development to ensure the facilities meet the high standards expected of the supporters and local community,” it continues.

Street food snacks

Blue Collar Corner in Reading offers street food, and is built from shipping containers Picture: Phil Creighton

It sounds as if Gillingham FC is proposing a similar set up to one that is in place in Reading’s Blue Collar Corner, a street food venue in the Berkshire town’s centre, and works brilliantly as a destination area for people looking for unusual eats.

Hugely popular, organisers invite different food companies to come in on a visiting basis and offer specials. This means that one week fans may be offered gourmet hot dogs, the next jacket potatoes with specialist fillings, another week could be pizza, and another could be custom burgers.

This variety will be a reason alone for fans to visit the stalls on matchdays.

However, the club says all food would be cooked in its central kitchens within the stadium, as currently happens. There would be no direct cooking within the shipping container and therefore no requirement for extraction equipment.

Draught beer will also be available.

When would the fan zone be open?

The existing concourse in the Rainham End can get cramped and fans suffer long queues to get food at half-time. A similar situation is in place in the Gordon Road stand Picture: Phil Creighton

Essentially, Gillingham’s fan zone would open 90 minutes or two hours before kick-off and remain open after the game.
- 12.30pm kick-off: the hub would open at 11am and close at 8pm.
- 3pm kick offs, it opens at 1pm and closes at 9pm.
- 5.30pm kick offs, it would start welcoming fans from 4pm and also close at 9pm.
- 7.45pm evening kick offs, it would open at 6.15pm and close at 10pm.
The club says fans would be able to enter the fan zone before the game and enjoy the entertainment but cannot enter the stadium before it opens.

When it does open, they will need to enter the stadium via their usual turnstile access as they currently do.

Entertainment, similar to that which takes place in The Factory, is promised for Gillingham’s new Fan Zone Picture: Phil Creighton

But at half-time and after the game, they will be able to enter from the Rainham End or the Gordon Road stand area. Entertainment is promised after the match to encourage fans to stay on.

“The proposed operational times are designed to offer the best experience when visiting the stadium, but also to protect the surrounding residents as the stadium is positioned within a residential area, and the relationship the club has with their neighbours is an important consideration when formulating a workable solution to the times of use,” the documents note.

Who would be able to use the new fan zone?

Fans in the Gordon Road stand Picture: Phil Creighton

Unsurprisingly, the club is limiting access to the area to home fans who have a ticket for that day’s game.

Away fans will be able to enjoy the hospitality available in the Brian Moore Stand.

Stewards and security will be on hand to ensure fans respect the club’s neighbours, something that is important in a residential area: the club is one of the last in the 92 to still be situated in an urban area and being a good neighbour matters.

What do the neighbours think?

Priestfield Stadium is in a residential area, one of the last football clubs in the country to do so Picture: Phil Creighton

Gillingham FC says it held consultations with residents on a regular basis, and at its last meeting in October feedback suggested general support for the idea with people satisfied with measures planned for matchdays to control any inappropriate behaviour such as fans drinking too much.

What will happen next?

If approved the fan zone will complement existing facilities at the stadium, including The Factory Picture: Phil Creighton

The application is now open for comments from residents and the public. All comments submitted are publicly available and are published on Medway Council’s planning website.

These will be taken into consideration by the planning officers when they make a report to councillors, but they will be looking for technical reasons rather than people saying they don’t like it.

Their report could be taken to a planning committee meeting where councillors must make a decision to either accept officers’ recommendations or reject them. This is a public meeting, and people can attend in person or tune in online if it is webcast on YouTube – the council usually does this as a matter of course.

At this meeting, the club will be able to make a short statement, as will ward councillors and any interested parties. These are time limited statements and at the discretion of the chair.

After a debate, councillors on the committee will then vote. Their decision will be based on planning considerations and national policy frameworks, not feelings.

It is possible that decisions can be deferred if they feel they need more information before voting one way or the other.

If permission is granted, then the club has three years to get a spade in the ground. If they fail to do so, then the process has to start again.

However, given the Galinson’s desire to see Gillingham FC progress, upgrading the fan experience is going to be a priority for them … especially if we get promotion.
January 2, 2025