Gillingham FC Forum

Wishing each one of you a very merry Christmas, I hope it's filled with love and hope.

Looking forward to drinks with a few friends before the game tomorrow. Hope to see you then. Cricketers at 12ish

xx

A Very Merry Christmas to you Kezz and to all other boardsters. i won't be there tomorrow, but Senor Wobbly is going to the game. I will be paying a visit on Boxing Day, but because of the kick off time and lack of public transport it will be a fleeting visit.

Might get lost in the crowd; some sources say a sell out expected! Over 8000 tickets sold already!

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours Kezz.
Saw high lights of the game yesterday evening ,looked like almost a full Priestfield except for one block at the Gillingham End ? ESPN has not got the numbers on their site for "League Pacesetters Gillingham FC " ( love reading that), perhaps the numbers on their calculators don't add up that high, lol.
Although York had a good win yesterday their home form is not that good, and to be honest Boxing Days game should be a goals fest for the Gills, playing a God awful Barnet side that could not hit a barn door from 10 make that 5 paces, and have what 1 away win all season ?
Big win ,Big win, play five forwards, 3 up at the half and Gills win 5-0. Tell Nelson to wear some warm clothes only thing he will have to do all day is lean on the post and drink a few hot toddies and signe autographs for the crowd.

If only it went that way. Usually we get a bit casual when playing lower opposition and stuff it up! That paired with crowd apathy on Boxing day. But who knows? We might just play a blinder!

Lol, well well befor your time in a land far far away called the Fourth Division, oops sorry got carried away, lets say late 60's, , Gillingham would be shown maybe once or twice a year on I think it was called Southern TV, or maybe ITV South ?
Guarantee that they would have the best crowd of the season as they played I guess a" local" southern team like Exeter, maybe Aldershot or perhaps Southend and boy would they stink the joint up , lol, loose 4-1 or something, but going to the ground and seeing those couple of TV trucks parked outside, big black cables running everywhere ,wwoowwww, so exciting,lol, BIG TIME Gills lol.

My Grandad and his brothers all used to go to watch Gills, home and away, they always used to say that Gills did well til Christmas every year, then slipped away once the turkey went cold. One year, they just walked away and didn't go back,they go so fed up with it, that must have been the 60's as I can't remember him going to the game.

Please don't let that happen this season; it would be so disappointing after the first half. I am a little worried though - we haven't had an easy win for a while so it would be nice to have a couple over Christmas.

Not surprised about the flat atmosphere Boxing Day. Early kick off is really anti social and lack of transport means people just turn up at the game and then go straight home!

But Christmas is not just about football - its about families too.

Though I do agree that early kick-offs do nothing to help build an atmosphere. Transport is not a help either but train/bus drivers are entitled to a break too - aren't they ??

Totally agree CM. I just hope that all those who get an official break stay away from the super stores who force families apart over Christmas by opening for no real reason! For year Boxing day fixtures were 3pm kick offs and they were great. Got you out of the house, meet up with mates for a seasonal jar and then home for cold meats, mash and pickles. The inlaws could visit without friction and the many hundreds of thousands who don't have big families, small children etc could have a bit of fun.

The worst bit about Christmas is seeing all those people looking utterly dejected having stood in a queue since 4am on Boxing Day to buy something, anything in a sale that was probably that price before Christmas, most of the good stuff having gone weeks before.

I won't be there Boxing Day but will follow online. We have family over both days and the kids will open those presents then and I wouldn't miss it for the world when normally everything gets switched around for football even if I am at home for an away game. Last Boxing Day game (largely due to work commitments) was Portsmouth 11 years ago - I have never been so frozen in my life standing on the town end terrace. I had that big guy from Pop Idol (or whatever mind-numbing c**p programme it was) behind me pushing me off and several 80 foot people in front and it was so packed I couldn't even move to keep warm let alone find another spot! Never saw a bit of the game. 14 years ago I had to work Boxing Day (the worst day to work and should be banned) and I came down with glandular fever although didn't know it at the time. I spent an hour slouched over the counter whilst the customers laughed at my "hangover" before being sent home.

It really doesn't hurt for families to have 2 days together with nowhere to go and if doing a job like working at a power station or something at least the high pressure frenzy on the run-up helps to negate having to work it. Those on their own still have things to do without being desperate to go shopping! I was a bit sneaky though, all Christmas temps I took on were given the job on the premise of working Boxing Day. We got a fair bit of sickness that day so I made sure they had very few hours after that (contract for 8 hours but flex for 30) and if they wanted to stay on they lost that chance!

I don't think the stores open on Boxing Day for 'no real reason' Elg. They open because that is what the public want. You only have to see how busy the shops are to understand that the majority of the public actually LIKE the shops being open on Boxing day. Now, personally, you would'nt get me within 10 miles of a shop then, but there is certainly a lot of people that like that sort of thing. So, it is incorrect to say that stores force families apart. If no one went shopping, then the stoires wouldn't open and they would not be economic. Ironically enough, I was discussing this point with some train drivers on Saturday. Southeastern Trains want to run a train service to Stratford for the big shopping centre. In fact Westfield are paying for the drivers wages. The drivers are split on this. With half saying that if they work, then it will only be a question of time before it is compulsory to work Boxing Day. My point is that all the time this can be covered with volunteer staff then they should be allowed to work. We are, despite the Tories best efforts, still a Public service. There are more than enough people willing to work Christmas. Not everyone sees it as a jolly good time. There are many that dread Christmas, so if they want to work, then why not?

Our society has changed considerably since the halcyon days of a the little woman cooking Boxing day lunch, followed by a pint with the boys and then off to the male dominated match (no women, but kids (preferably boys) tolerated) before it is back home for tea and jolly funny Morecambe & Wise on the TV. And bloody thank god for that too! I love my Boxing day game, bit only if it fits in with the family plans.

Working for a retail company , i'll echo what Posh said - we open because the public want that . Same as Sunday trading - i remember when we voluntarily shut on Sunday for a month back in the mid eighties , we had people banging on the doors demanding to be allowed to come in .

Boxng Day won't be a massive turnover day , but we'll get a lot of leads on Kitchens/Bathrooms/Bedrooms , as well as people taking the opportunity to pick up decorating stuff as they have a further week off work and want to get some jobs done around the house . Like~Posh , it wouldn't be me though , but i have worked it .

What is it about our lack of culture and family ties that we are practically the only country in Europe that opens shops etc on bank holidays and Sundays? There is no real need, just a manufactured desire for constant retail. People buy presents instead of spending time with family especially older relatives. No one has time to sit and enjoy family and friends, but have the time to constantly buy un-necessary fripperies. Germany, France, Spain pre 2008 (and still), Italy, Holland etc seem to be able to survive without doing it why can't we? You see families all at the supermarket and DIY shops together wondering why the kids are getting stressed and then they go to some below average chain eatery for a mass produced 30 minute lunch!