I first watched the Gills when a mate of mine asked me along to a friendly game at Priestfield versus West Ham United as a young lad - from that day on, I caught the bug and supported my local team. In my early years of supporting the Gills, I went to every home game and most away games however, time moves on and now I still go as much has I can but it now has to be around work and family commitments. How did you become a Gills supporter?
First time I went with my Uncle and just got hooked, started going whenever I could until I started work and then made every game home and away (I had money). After marriage and children I had to make do with going only if time and finances permitted, now children grown up and back to going every game.
I became a Gills fan because of 3 reasons, 1 it is my local team, 2 All my family support us and third I just loved the style of football we play and still do now. UTG
dad took me to my first game and cheated me into supporting them... my first game was a 4-0 win over stoke and i thought we were good. too late now!
It's an illness. What can you do? Fiirst went to Priestfield in 1970. You could walk all the way round the ground and watch the second half at the Town End plus have a bit of banter with the away fans. Still miss the open air toilets. I should have stopped coming years ago but sadly it's too late as I've developed an anxiety dependency that only watching the Gills can fix.
Local team the main reason. My dad first took me back in 1975 to watch the Gills v Swindon. I still remember to this day standing on the town end terrace under the floodlight nearest the main stand watching all the trouble kick off beside me and thinking that these Swindon chaps are a bit nasty! After that I was hooked! both home and away... Then you start dating and get married, stop going for while, then you have kids of your own.. This provides the perfect excuse to start going again!!
As people say its a illness, my dad is the main reason. As you can see from my name I'm not really local to Gillingham but ever since that first game I've made the 2 hour trip down. It takes deication, money and a lot of time but its a ilness, come rain or shine i'll be there
The Shouting Man - you must have started going around the same time as me to the Gills, although the old brain matter deserts me on that Swindon game, even though I went to every home game that season - I remember the Palace game being all ticket (unusual in them days) although not sure if it was that year or the next, I think it was a Christmas fixture? Used to love being able to walk around the back of the Gordon Rd stand, to get from the Town End to the RE.
Started going with my Dad in 1977 , soon became season tickts holders. (this year is the first time I've not been to a game - family reasons) I have missed them.