I was thinking ahead to our game next Saturday and it got me trying to relive memories. I can remember coming to your ground for the first time sometime in the early eighties. I believe it was a Division Three game, however, on entering the ground we were given vouchers for some game unrelated to Gillingham. For some reason, I believe these vouchers were something to do with Manchester United, I do not have a clue why? There was touts in the ground, trying to buy the vouchers. I do remember refusing to sell mine, even though it was completely worthless to me, to hold out for the best price. That was until the very end when someone offered me £5 - bear in mind that was probably a lot of money then (probably the cost of the coach trip). I think your ground must have been crumbling then , I can remember there being some cause for concern in the away fans of trouble and few were ready, I will leave it at that. Can anyone enlighten me on some better detail on when this was and what it was all about?
Was this the one when Man U had to play a European game at a neutral ground and chose Home Park although I can't remember why. Never have been a football anorac to be fair but I do remember them playing here.
Manure played a home match at Plymouth [Uefa banned United from playing their home leg of a Cup Winners' Cup match against St Etienne within 200km of Manchester, following crowd trouble during a 1-1 draw in France in 1977]."
Crikey 1977! I never realised it was that long ago, as I said I was really struggling to recall it. The only way you could verify that date is the Gills would have had to play Plymouth in that season.
Now you have given me the detail I have googled it. We played Plymouth on the 1st Oct 1977 and Manchester United played at Home Park on the 5th Oct 1977. Wow I am getting old
I looked up the league table for that season we were 7th your lot were 19th - nothing changes then ps. I normally do a write up before each game for another site, so I might include my first memories of this. If anyone has any additional detail they can add it would help
Should be an interesting game, the Gills 5 straight league defeats that was until our improved form on Tuesday and the Greens on the way up the league. When we met you four games in we were joint top, what a change of fortune. Hopefully the season will finish good for both of our sides. ps. out of here now, no work tonight so having an early one. Torquay for us at home tomorrow
Is that a way of saying Gat-PO would have been stuffed by now.........he has got a way with words old sensible.