Chapter 10 An attempt to add a touch of humour to our travelling fortunes whilst following The Gills in our 2013/14 League One campaign. Angry maybe, but possibly better described as two grumpy old men sharing the fate of their beloved team; win, lose or draw. This story is more about the thoughts and journeys of two supporters with traditional hearts in the modern game...in our version of ‘The Moaning of Life’... I am back on the road again after missing the previous trip to the last away game at the New York Stadium, choosing to consume large quantities of alcohol at an early festive party instead of following my team on the road. I just wouldn’t have got back in time. How my friend must have wished he had done the same after witnessing us get battered 4-1. His text to me during the game was not a happy one as we were 3-0 down by half-time. The term camel was befitting as he had the right hump. Personally I would have felt like clearing off down the pub at half-time but that’s never been the way we do things remembering or motto come win, lose or draw. Hopefully no such misfortunes would be encountered on this journey to Notts County. The oldest club at professional league level formed in 1862. The Nottingham side are currently languishing bottom of League One in 24th position. Not having won in their last five games albeit some of the matches were against tougher opposition, Wolves and Brentford. What do I know about our hosts today, well they play in black and white stripes, their nickname is the Magpies, oh and they have some player called Campbell-Ryce who wears the number 20 shirt. During our 2-1 home victory over them back in October, he went off to a standing ovation from the Gills supporters for his performance! Was that because it really was an outstanding performance or just for the mere fact we are not used to witnessing pace in our own team these days. As we head towards the Amazon Forest...whoa camel-train, wrong direction, that was the World Cup draw yesterday, Sheriff of Nottingham way please. Although our camel-train was on this occasion a VIP coach! So my first thoughts on Nottingham once more or less reaching our location, was a depressing sight, unsure of exact geographical area but the ugly view of an enormous coal fired power station was not one that conjured the imagination of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest, all to be followed by the usual urban sprawl. The only thing bearing any resemblance to Robbing was the price of tickets we were later to pay at the turnstiles, £24, twenty is plenty. Not a Forest in sight. First memorable view was not one of huge green trees and merry men but one of floodlights which were part of the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. Cricket eh? Not a sport that has ever really appealed to me personally, although a game I should maybe start paying a little more interest in, as after today’s journey, we were unknowingly about to succumb to another cricketing collapse. Although from a positive aspect there was plenty of leg before wicket from the County players that kept the Gills OUT. Next up through the window of our coach was the awesome sight of Nottingham Forest’s football ground or is it a monstrosity. And those magnificent words in large capital letters ‘THE BRIAN CLOUGH STAND’ – I have no love for Forest but followed the man himself with awe and respect as a young person. Anyone that had witnessed European Glory in that great stadium must have fond memories and one’s a world apart from today’s Champions League. Cloughie could certainly teach some of today’s managers a thing or two about youth and not playing football in the clouds. Even in our own 3-1 defeat today the players that stood out that should be proud were Bradley Dack and Jake Hessenthaler. As for the seniors and with the exception of Keds and Nelson you can drop the lot of them. If Peter Taylor does not include Bradley and Jake in the starting line up against the Posh in our next home game after today then I would question his metal over the Seniors. My views may not sit well with some but having paid to see all but two games this season (Crewe and Rotherham AWAY), it’s merely my view. Anyway turning back to the sights of our location, we cross the canal to be faced by the Notts County ground. Now for anyone that has never been to Nottingham these two football stadiums really are so close, only separated by a canal. You could take a photo shot of both grounds quite easily in one picture. My friend dare raise the subject of ground sharing. Now I see the financial respectability of that but I’m a traditionalist and love the rivalry and no matter how stubborn this might seem, I reminded my friend rivals do not share. Once we eventually were allowed off our coach, completing the customary circuit of where stewards direct us to be, we headed towards the pub. My friend taking up some friendly chatter with a passing local as we walked towards our assumed location of public house. Only to be told by stranger our said destination of the ‘Globe’ had closed! Hence hastily made phone calls for rearrangements of drinking location for nearing friends, where we stayed the correct side of Trent Bridge instead and sampled the delights of the friendly Trent Bridge Inn. Notts County and Gillingham supporters shared the same bar in respectable human style, none of this segregation witnessed on other travels, just demonstrating that colours can mix as one and save the rivalry for inside the ground. There was some Premier League game being showed on TV, some team in red from a place called Manchester and another club that wears black and white but this team from the North East, I won’t bore you with them though we all know the greatest and true passion is lower league. So we eventually made our way into the ground and another all-seater stadium, looks nice and along with Priestfield more than suitable for League Two next season, although Meadow Lane is clearly the more befitting and completed as a whole. For once you could actually hear the home fans in fine voice and a drum, although as I was reminded, only when they were winning. All in all a nice day out, no overzealous stewards, everyone welcoming, I think the County supporters should be proud of their attitude towards their hosts for what I saw on the day anyway. So what about the football, oh please, what do you want to know? We lost can we not just leave it there...yes it really was that bad as said above, League Two beckons. Next up on our travels Tranmere and the camels will once again be there, although I’m personally not looking forward to such a long journey but that’s the life as Gills supporter. Chapter 1: http://www.not606.com/showthread.ph...amels-travel-to-Wolves-Gillingham-FC-Football Chapter 2: http://www.not606.com/showthread.ph...mels-travel-to-Swindon-Gillingham-FC-Football Chapter 3: http://www.not606.com/showthread.ph...mels-travel-to-Crawley-Gillingham-FC-Football Chapter 4: http://www.not606.com/showthread.ph...els-travel-to-Coventry-Gillingham-FC-Football Chapter 5: http://www.not606.com/showthread.ph...el-in-a-tiny-car-travel-to-Camp-Nou-(-Crewe-) Chapter 6: http://www.not606.com/showthread.ph...s-travel-to-Shrewsbury-Gillingham-FC-Football Chapter 7: http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/234726-Two-very-angry-camels-travel-to-Port-Vale Chapter 8: http://www.not606.com/showthread.ph...el-to-Sheffield-United-Gillingham-FC-Football Chapter 9: http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/239458-Two-Angry-Camels-in-a-tiny-car-!
Who are all the people who read this thread & don't comment? Made me chuckle yet again Hope your next away trip is more successful ... but not your next match
I read this Simply Posh. So here's my comment! Well done to brb - who I'm not sure if I've yet met in person - for a series of humorous accounts on the life of the away Gillingham fan. Spot on in every respect! I thought that with a little luck we could have got a little more out of the match yesterday but luck seems to have eluded us quite a lot of late. Tranmere is the next game I can get to. Having lived up on Merseyside/South Wirral for nearly 50 years - I was born in St Mary Cray and my father (and 7 brothers/sisters) lived in Napier Road Gillingham - the "shed" at Tranmere is an experience that I've not tried (though I've seen Gillingham play many times at Prenton Park). (At least Tranmer offer concession to 60+ though I've a little way to go to get to that milestone!) Hope Simply Posh has a shock coming his way on Saturday! Up the Gills! Whilst Tranmere were thrashed by Peterborough yesterday in the FA Cup
Good to see comments after all the hard work brb puts into these reports If Simply Posh wakes up on Saturday & finds she is male ..... it will indeed be a terrible shock
Thanks, as ever, for a great read, & putting a smile on my face - more than our boys in blue (or pink) are capable of these days .... I'm sure that all followers of your after match travel reports greatly enjoy your reports. Tis true that there might not be too many comments here but, for my part, at least, many thanks for your invaluable & witty commentaries.
All in all a nice day out So what about the football, We lost can we not just leave it there...yes it really was that bad as said above, League Two beckons. brb - is that it ? You must have still been under the influence of alcohol if that is your idea of a nice day out. You could have let the 'stay-at-home fans down a little more gently. Yes it was woeful (BSG) - but we did have 5 fantastic chances to score - somehow they were saved or cleared off the line or hit the post - it's the sort of bad luck you get when you're near the bottom of the league.
