1. Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!

Gillingham V Swindon.

Discussion in 'Gillingham' started by grumpygit, Dec 4, 2020.

  1. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Messages:
    3,628
    Likes Received:
    1,289
    A match against the old enemy, they are coming thick and fast now.



     
    #1
    brb likes this.
  2. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Messages:
    3,628
    Likes Received:
    1,289
  3. brb

    brb CR250

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    64,037
    Likes Received:
    60,071
    'Footballs weirdest rivalry' about sums it up really.

    It's a shame for the lads on the pitch, not getting that atmosphere of a Swindon or Charlton game.

    http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/HeadToHead.asp?Team=Gillingham

    The rivalry between Gillingham and Swindon is one of the most unlikely in League football - but since the teams renewed acquaintance in 2006 after nearly nineteen years absence, it soon became apparent that the rivalry was just as intense, perhaps more so, than with some of the Town's local derbies - a fact surprising for any Town fan under forty years of age!.

    The rivalry started in March 1979, when, with both teams in the running for promotion, Swindon visited Priestfield one position and three points behind the Gills, but with two games in hand. Gillingham themselves were equal on points with third-placed Swansea, and just three points behind leaders Watford. In a fiery match, the Gills went 2-0 ahead in the first 25 minutes, but ten minutes later the Town had pulled it back to 2-2. That was how the scoring stayed, but other events were to make the game far more memorable. After Gillingham had goalscorer Westwood sent off for foul and abusive language, Priestfield went into uproar, incensed by what they considered to be poor refereeing and gamesmanship by Town player Ray McHale - and in the second half, a Gills fan got onto the pitch and punched the referee - knocking him out.

    It got worse for Gillingham when they visited Swindon for the return leg in May. Now a point ahead of the Town and in a promotion spot, Gillingham had another player sent off for a tackle on McHale, and after the Town went 3-0 up, their players began to single out McHale for some retribution, the game turning nasty again. The game eventually finished 3-1, and as the players returned to the dressing room, there was a fracas in the tunnel - Swindon coach Wilf Tranter having to go to hospital with facial injuries after being punched. Two Gills players ended up in court over the incident, both were acquitted - and the season ended with both teams missing out on promotion - the Gills by a single point, which they considered to be stolen from them during the two games with Swindon, and a rivalry was born.

    Prior to that, Swindon had been meeting Gillingham regularly for over eighty years almost without incident. As New Brompton, they were founder members of the Southern League in 1894, winning the Second Division in their first season, and meeting the Town for the first time in a Test Match for promotion at the end of the season. Perhaps unsurprisingly, as the Town had finished bottom of the First Division, New Brompton hammered the Town by five goals to one at Caversham - a scoreline not helped by Town forward Robbie Reynolds turning up late for the match. Though the Town lost so heavily, they were reprieved from relegation when the First Division was extended, and so the league meetings with New Brompton and Gillingham were allowed to continue right up until 1938, when the Gills were not re-elected to the Football League, and they were not to return until 1950.

    Over the years, both sides home records against the other have been very good - Swindon's best run coming between 1906 right up to the mid-1950's, a period that the Gills started by losing twelve consecutive encounters at the County Ground - and conceding five goals on six separate occasions, and six goals in two others, winning just once and drawing three other games in their 32 visits over that whole period.

    The biggest match between the two sides came in 1987, when they met in the final of the first ever promotion play-offs in the old Division Three. Gillingham, who were only in the competition thanks to Swindon's last day draw at Bristol City, beat Second Division Sunderland on away goals in the semi-final to set up the meeting with the Town, who had finished in third-place - which in previous seasons would have been enough to go up automatically. Though Swindon dominated the first leg at Priestfield, they lost the match 1-0, and seemed to have thrown it away when Gillingham made it 2-0 on aggregate at the County Ground. Lou Macari's men were strong though, and a goal from Peter Coyne, followed by a super strike from substitute Charlie Henry ten minutes from time levelled the tie - and with no away goals rule in the final, a replay was played at Crystal Palace. Town striker Steve White stole the show, scoring twice to hand Swindon a 2-0 victory, and promotion to Division Two on a memorable night at Selhurst Park.
     
    #3
    Last edited: Dec 4, 2020
    alwaysright likes this.
  4. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Messages:
    3,628
    Likes Received:
    1,289
    We just need a lot more of this.


     
    #4
    alwaysright and brb like this.
  5. brb

    brb CR250

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    64,037
    Likes Received:
    60,071
    When did we learn to play football like that!? <laugh>
     
    #5
    grumpygit likes this.
  6. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Messages:
    3,628
    Likes Received:
    1,289
    It's actually nice watching.
     
    #6
    brb likes this.
  7. WINDYROG

    WINDYROG Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2011
    Messages:
    1,797
    Likes Received:
    426
    O Connor's clearance probably had ice on it when it reached Samuel having gone so high.......:emoticon-0136-giggl
     
    #7
    grumpygit likes this.
  8. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Messages:
    3,628
    Likes Received:
    1,289
     
    #8
    brb likes this.
  9. brb

    brb CR250

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    64,037
    Likes Received:
    60,071
    No Graham or Medley in the line up, I assume we are resting them again...

    please log in to view this image
     
    #9
  10. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Messages:
    3,628
    Likes Received:
    1,289
    They are both injured, I think they are back doing light training though.
     
    #10
    brb likes this.

  11. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Messages:
    3,628
    Likes Received:
    1,289
    get in
     
    #11
    brb likes this.
  12. brb

    brb CR250

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    64,037
    Likes Received:
    60,071
    double crossbar <laugh>
     
    #12
  13. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Messages:
    3,628
    Likes Received:
    1,289
    playing badly and winning, I'll take that at full time.
     
    #13
    alwaysright and brb like this.
  14. brb

    brb CR250

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    64,037
    Likes Received:
    60,071
    When they hit the crossbar twice and the ball just wouldn't go in for them, I was laughing my head off.

    Need more of this luck second half. Good performance by Oliver though.
     
    #14
    grumpygit likes this.
  15. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Messages:
    3,628
    Likes Received:
    1,289
    The goal was very well taken.
     
    #15
  16. brb

    brb CR250

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    64,037
    Likes Received:
    60,071
    I'm happy with that. 2-0 win.
     
    #16
    grumpygit likes this.
  17. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Messages:
    3,628
    Likes Received:
    1,289
    We were lucky, but who cares it's still 3 points.
     
    #17
    gioblues and brb like this.
  18. brb

    brb CR250

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    64,037
    Likes Received:
    60,071
    I thought Oliver was causing them a few problems today, good to see the lad making use of his size. Also happy for Coyle, took his goal well - I questioned why the gaffer took Akinde off, but it also shows why he's the manager and not I. <laugh>
     
    #18
    grumpygit likes this.
  19. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Messages:
    3,628
    Likes Received:
    1,289
    Oliver is starting to show signs of being a bargain.
     
    #19
    brb likes this.
  20. grumpygit

    grumpygit les misérable

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Messages:
    3,628
    Likes Received:
    1,289
     
    #20
    WINDYROG and brb like this.

Share This Page