Now I never try to court controversy but I feel this may get some "unsavoury" replies, but here goes... The more I see of the red centenary shirt the more I like and I feel the club should keep it at least for the next few years. I think it looks quite sharp in a retro sort of way. Even if we don't stick to the style of the shirt I would like use to keep the red body / blue sleeves colouring. Now I am hearing some peeps clicking their knuckles ready to type "But Gillingham have always worn blue". This of course is a nonsense proved by this seasons shirt being a replica of the first strip worn by Gillingham FC. Even before that the club As New Brompton played in black and white stripes. I am aware that it is only a matter of taste but that is just how I feel
Do not like the red, hated it from the moment I knew about it. I purchased both shirts under the discounted season ticket holders and so far this season have only worn the red shirt once, I think that was only because her indoors kept on about it - lol. I detest it that much. I am very extremist when it comes to traditions being eroded. Particularly ones that I feel are being disguised under the 'centenary' marketing to gain acceptance from the fans and to do nothing more than gain revenue from the sales. I hasten to add that is nothing more than a personal opinion before any one attempts to sue me. We are seeing an attempt now to erode these traditions throughout our entire game, following in the footsteps of the Premier League money men. I will accept the centenary for its disguise but will be watching this one closely in seasons to come.
I like the centenary shirt and i think i actually prefer the red as well! Winning games probably helps but i have liked it since i first see it and would have no problem if we stuck with it!
All traditions start some where and usually start with change. People don't like change and usually fear it. The history will always be there though and a change of shirt colour doesn't change the club. But saying that next year I would like to see us return to blue. I don't dislike the the style of main body one colour and sleeves another but the main should be blue like this season's away shirt.
The style of the shirt, in my opinion, is very retro chic. Where 'Vintage' is the new 'Now' and is seen as forward thinking (in a retrospective way), I feel that the publicity machine has scored a very important and well timed goal with this product. It epitomises the 'one off', 'singular' and unique branding that the marketing department is trying to achieve. That coupled with the enhanced profile that the team are achieving on the pitch also bodes well for mutual progression. The success of the brand off the pitch is coterminous with the success of the brand on the pitch. I fail to see how this is not totally obvious to all......
I was expecting something along these lines brb, but nothing quite as strongly worded. I am intrigued to know what traditions you feel are being eroded. Not wanting to double guess you but I feel that are saying that you feel the centenary shirt is just a marketing scam to get money out of the fans. Now I do agree with that to a certain extent but I don't see how this is any different than the club bring out a new shirt every season, I can't recall a season that this event hasn't occurred.
BSG- given the poor attendance figures this season (lower average than last season) - despite being top of the league - I don't think that fans will automatically spend money in the current economic climate, to buy a new shirt each season - especially that of a team in 'Division' 4. Despite our success on the pitch we are struggling to attract crowds of 5000 - so the centenary of the club has come to the marketing rescue as far as a good reason to introduce a new strip, and of course, next season Mr.Scally will hope to be able to introduce a new 'L1' strip ( and ticket prices )
I would like to keep the away version for home next year and have the Old Brompton black and white as the away. The red kit has been a great new variation.
I am normally reasoned in my judgement/views and I agree you are right BSG. Sadly due to my extreme views on this topic, no one could convince me otherwise. I think it is time the clubs stopped fleecing the fans. I'm going to get slightly political if I may for a moment, in that I believe successive governments have eroded what I class as the working man. They priced your working man out of the pub, to the extent that thousands of pubs had to close across the country, to be replaced by today's family brewer fayre. They ensured that smoking has practically been abolished in public places. Terracing has been removed from most stadiums under health and safety other than blaming the incompetence of the policing and controls at the turn styles. Now the money men want to market everything from the food we eat, to the shirts we wear at extortionate prices, right down to over charging us for division four football. And everyone continues to nod politely as we move forever closer to the future aim of a one state, one rule economy. Yeah and hopefully that idea collapses. So let me look at my centenary offer from the club, so instead of me buying one shirt at £40, I bought 2 on offer at £60 and I was stupid enough to buy them simply because I love my club. How is that an offer, I would normally only buy one shirt and spend £40! I'm still waiting to see the number 13 shirt make its journey through the Rainham End, now either I missed it or the club forgot about it. So now I have a proposition for Mr Scally in proper celebration of our centenary, maybe MadDog could arrange it for me...at the end of the season can I stand in the centre circle of the Priestfield turf and burn my red shirt? The Chairman could lay on some fireworks, endless ale and a BBQ. Now that would be a proper celebration of 100 years of Gillingham Football Club.
Sorry, but BSG went and rolled the gun barrel in readiness knowing I would pull the trigger Although my feelings are true, with the exception of the bit about burning the shirt, that was a lie, you just don't burn your own badge. Unless someone now gives me the scissors to cut around it!
