In more or less chronological order : - Getting the opening day result right and being joint top of the prediction league for a week (it was all downhill after that) - Haigy's in Bradford before the match - rammed but you could still get a pint and talk friendly football b******s with Bradford fans - Matt Fish's goal against Accrington. Only seen it on video but would have loved to have been there. He had tried it at Morecambe from a similar position, but got it about 4 feet too high. - Scott Davies save from Danny Kedwell's header at Fleetwood. May seem a strange choice, but we were right behind the goal. You could follow the flight of the ball and watch Kedwell's run, knowing that he was going to meet it just about perfectly, which he did, directing it towards the bottom right hand corner. I had begun celebrating the goal when Davies saved it. Respect. - The party that was Burton, topped by meeting an old friend who I first knew at primary school and who I hadn't seen for 45+ years. His great great grandfather played for New Brompton
1. The after match champions celebrations v Wimbledon 2. The whole performance v Burton at home. By far the best display of the season against good opposition, and the game where even my cynical mind believed we could go up. 3. Deon Burtons last minute winner v Morecambe. Quality take down and finish. Oozed class. 4. The many top class saves made by Stuart Nelson (my player of the season)... Best of all v Wycombe. 5. Finally getting my Arsenal supporting son converted to being a regular Gills supporter. (his first game was the Burton match... performances did go a bit downhill after that, but I think he's got the bug now...)
My top five are based on the ones closest to my heart in order: 1. This has to be my number one of the season, Saturday 6th April 2013 versus Torquay, promotion was achieved and nothing else mattered not even the thought of picking up silverware within the coming weeks. Did I shed a tear, well privately that is my business. It was the day where I met itstimupnorth in the Cricks before the game and I ventured back there again to cap the day of nicely with my son's celebration of a 100-1 fixed bet odds winner on the national. Fate said that it was to be the day. 2. All the kindly arranged trips with my friend alwaysright, to places such as Aldershot, AFC Wimbledon, Barnet. Two of those teams have gone down but I hold those experiences dear. I did do Burton and Fleetwood and once there it was great to meet with the Northern Elite but again privately I just struggle with those journeys mentally. 3. All my known friends from not606 meeting before the AFC Wimbledon game. 4. Matt Fish's goal. After that we never looked back. Unknowingly Fish had erased any doubt from my mind in regards to our destiny. From that day on I just knew it was meant to be. 5. Not my number one because silverware was never my aim but it capped of a great season. But the last mention of this season goes to MAdDog, he walked past me, gave me his wry crazy glazed eye smile and never for one moment knew who I was but that was close enough for me.
1. Being Champions. I have seen all of Gills promotions - just to be Champions feels so much better than 'merely' promoted. It has filled me with the sort of pride that being 2nd, 3rd or 4th just cannot. 2. Like brb my travels to (all but 2) away games has been more enjoyable for the company I've kept - but it has been a humbling experience, as I met up with 'Northern Elite' fans who struggle to get to a few games - because of distance. I realise how lucky I am to be able to get to all the games. 3. Performance of the season was the 2-1 win at Rotherham. With the recent 'history' between Gills & Steve Evans, and the way the game panned out ( the injury to Vincelot ). Deon Burton's class topping off a splendid performance. 4. Whilst I also think that goal of the season was the one by Matt Fish - I thought that the one scored by Cody McDonald (1-0) @ Chesterfield was a defining moment for me. It was when I thought we could go on to be champions. It was also the goal that secured our record breaking ( 11th ) away win. 5. The fans celebratory mood at Burton. I don't think that I have seen our fans so happy ( even more so than the previous week when we got the championship cup ! ) - and not forgetting the immense respect that the fans showed towards Burton at the end of the game, during their lap of honour - I'm not surprised that it moved some home fans to tears.
