Two angry camels travel to Peterborough. Will their beloved Gills get the points to secure L1 safety before the last game of the season ? or will it be squeaky bottom time ? After the defeat to Rotherham it does seem - given the opponents in our remaining games, that every fan of Gillingham Football Club will need plenty of clean underwear at the ready. I certainly hope that come 5pm on 3rd., May we wont be in deep doo doo - or league 2 as it is known. Talking of destinations - this time around the camels decided to take no chances after the last two away games had us being sent to all points west, north, south & east ! We ditched the coach and travelled independently. Of course I felt compelled to actually talk to my companion - and to listen to him as he kept on about Barrett. I had to remind brb that whilst Barrett is not Scottish, nor fat nor a w..... he could be offended by remarks about ageism and lack of mobility. However we were to be jinxed by the curse of Mrs.Satnav. As we were on the outskirts of Peterborough we encountered roadworks that completely threw Mrs.Satnav and I had to use MR. Satnav from my iphone to stop brb's Mrs.Satnav from sending us into a garden centre. The Gills were to be hosted by Peterborough at their London Road ground - which is currently being redeveloped. It is interesting to note that the Chairman of Gillingham, Paul Scally is looking into incorporating safe standing at Gillingham - I hear that this would be at the Town End of the ground - presumably for when the 'temporary' scaffold stand falls down or loses its' safety certificate. If it remains in situ for much longer I might have to contact the Guiness Book of Records. Peterborough's nickname is the Posh. This started in 1921 when the Fletton United manager was looking for posh players to play for his club - and recruited a number of Peterborough players to form a team called Peterborough & Fletton. The best days for Posh were in the 1990s - but rather like Gills, Peterborough have not had a need for a large trophy cabinet - despite their success in the Johnstone Paint Trophy final last week - now if there was a cup for a team whose negativity was like watching paint dry.... A couple of well known people from Peterborough - Ernie Wise and (best forgotten) Jimmy Savile. I was later to discover that in view of recent trials in Peterborough, JS wasn't the only one involved in such depravity) So it was a rare occasion when the camels made their own way on the road. At least we could ensure that we would arrive in good time for our planned rendesvouz with Minxy ( mod on the Posh board ).( thanks for your teasing - but you still cannot take the P out of me better than I can already do so.) We went for a pleasant pre-match meal and drinks and exchanged answers to the meaning of life before trekking to the ground. ......... where we parted company - and I don't mean that brb and me joined the band of Gills fans in the away section of the ground. NO --- brb had managed to get into the 'home' section - care of a discounted ticket provided by Minxy. I had to warn brb not to make any derogatory remarks towards a son of a large Caledonian whose complexion can be described as the colour of rhubarb.... I wasn't worried that brb might get linched if he cheered when we scored - THAT wasn't going to happen - but I needed him not to be taken into custody - not until he had gotten me back to Kent. The game was won by Peterborough 2-0, although Nelson in goal for the Gills saved a second half penalty and made a couple of other stops to keep the score down. The Gills did make a reasonable effort to battle with Peterborough - but were outplayed by their hosts despite going close a few times. Our best chances fell to Weston - in the first half he screwed his shot when put through for a one-on-one with the keeper - and McDonald was very unlucky when chipping the keeper. There was no shame for the Gills - at least they tried - but lost to a better team. The highlight of the day for me was the pleasant company during a pleasant meal before the game - where Nelson saved a penalty -- and the warm reception that all the Peterborough fans gave to one of their former players, Charlie Lee. The journey home gave us plenty of time to perform an inquest on the performance of the Gills - but then it doesn't take long to say 'not good enough'? A couple of weeks ago I did say that we were far from safe and that I thought we'd struggle to get enough points to avoid relegation. Tonights display has done nothing to change those thoughts. It hasn't helped the Gills that three of the bottom clubs won at the weekend - giving THEM fresh hope to claw their way out of the bottom four. We have to play one of these - Tranmere on Good Friday - where it would seem that the loser will, in footballing terms, be 'cricified.' If we survive that fixture we will face another 'improving' bottom 4 club, Shrewsbury on the last day. I am sure that none of you have forgotten Wycombe a couple of years ago.
As we constantly say on our travels, it is not just about the game, its about the entire day, the places (pubs) you go and the constant new friends we meet. It just all helps you through the suffering as our team starts to plummet again towards the relegation zone. Obviously I had the extra experience of sitting in with the home supporters, you don't realise how really hard that is not leaping out of your seat at every decision for and against your own visiting team. The best way to describe it is instinctive. I just had to keep seriously reminding myself that if i dare leap up and shout I will get evicted if the Poshie's did not lynch me first and then my ticket bearer would be in deep trouble. But the stark choice was the difference between paying £25/£28 or £5...it really is a no brainer. However, on this one occasion why shouldn't I share the same stand in the same way most decent supporters are happy to share the same bar, none of this designated stuff. It was quite funny watching the stewards hold a rope alongside the pitch at halftime - like ok, someone please tell me what that was meant to do, when they didn't even realise there is a Gills supporter sitting right in front of them. I can see the psychological influence they were trying to apply but to older much wiser one's it seemed pretty petty if not bordering on childish behaviour by the people in orange jackets. Although I'm sure someone must have sussed, I was either a neutral or Gills why else would i not be applauding or cheering decisions. It's quite an insight watching your team from the opposition's side, where you only have your own bias which is out balanced by the surrounding voices. Overall we actually didn't do too bad, the opposition were just a different league and it says to me we need a complete rebuilding programme if we want Championship football in the future. Points of note, can we have Jack Payne back please and Posh friends, no you cannot have Dack. Where was Hessy again < grr >, scores a wonder goal, then gets dropped. Nice welcome for Charlie Lee. At least alwaysright kept me entertained from the opposite side with his texts....Weston was mentioned a few times, something to do with his first half miss but i'll rest that one there. An entirely enjoyable day out as we continue to follow in footballing traditions...next up Orient...so as this journey ends, I wish good luck to my Poshie friends in the playoffs and please beat fatboy for us, you know who we mean.
Alwayswrong .... sorry to disappoint you .... while we may all be depraved in Poshland .... the scum bag that is Jimmy Savile, is from Leeds (& so was Ernie Wise) But agree .... great meal, great company & great game & whilst Mrs Satnav may have led you astray .... the gracious Minxy was more than willing to tell you where to go
Minxy - sorry for your confusion - and the fact that you do not know much about people in Peterborough - but In the 1990s Jimmy Savile was a consultant for Thomas Cook travel agents, and working in Peterborough. Ernie Wise was indeed born in a district of Leeds - but lived for many years in Thorpe Avenue Peterborough ( PE3 6LA ) glad to be of help
Always wrong - sorry for your lack of understanding about identity I have lived & worked in Peterborough over half my life now but I am from Kent My hubby has lived in England since he was 20 .... but would love to see you try & persuade my Scottish other half that he is from England Where someone is from is part of their identity .... The 2 named above were Yorkshire men !
Minxy I have never denied that the two I mentioned were Yorkshiremen. If you study my camel threads you will see that I try to include a load of trivia (rubbish if you like) related to the town in which The Gills are to play. I struggled to find much of interest relating to Peterborough ( as YOU would struggle with Gillingham ). As you know I am not averse to a little wind up - and with the tenuous connection that Savile has with Peterborough - and given the recent criminal convictions of a Peterborough *****phile ring, it seemed too good an opportunity to NOT mention Savile ( not suggesting that everyone in Peterborough is a *****phile ! ) - it would not be honest of me to say that I am sorry for any irritation this has caused -otherwise I would have to alter my profile ! - The fact remains that Jimmy Savile worked in Peterborough - and I have mentioned it in my thread. As far as Ernie is concerned - from reading what residents of Peterborough have had to say about him - it appears that he spent many years living in Peterborough and became something of an 'adopted son' - and I would doubt that you could take offence with this 'association' with the one with the short fat hairy legs. I hope that clears things up for you - because I cannot unspeak the truth or fact.
