Ten Reasons Why I Love Gillingham Football Club

After seeing loads of articles about reasons why to love or hate certain football teams, I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon, and give 10 reasons why I love Gillingham Football Club.

They're only a League Two club, but they're far better in my view than a Liverpool or an Arsenal or a Chelsea or a Manchester United. Gillingham are a real football club.

So here are my reasons.

1. The fans 

Gillingham have the best fans in the world. At Priestfield we’re amazing, we always spur on the team to go that bit extra. Away from home, we’re unbelievable. We’re so loud that even the home team and fans are intimidated by us!

2. The KRBS Priestfield Stadium 

There’s only usually 5,000 at a game (out of 11,000 capacity) but it is always a daunting place for teams to visit, especially for opposition players with funny names or ginger hair. They receive so much stick they crumble on the pitch and explode into tears once they’re in the dressing room.

3. The Highs

I’ve had some incredible times following the Gills. Our promotion season in ’96, our Wembley game against Wigan in 2000 promoting us to the First Divison (now Championship) for the first time, an F.A Cup win over Charlton, a League Cup win over Portsmouth, are just a few of the high times I’ve experienced as a proud Gillingham fan.

4. The Lows

To be honest, even the lows times are okay. I have experienced many lows as a Gills fan. Two relegations, 5-0, 6-0, 7-0 drubbings away from home which make me wonder why I bother making the journey to watch them away, are just a few of the lows. But it’s all okay because I get respected for not being a glory hunter!

5. My mate Vaughan

Probably the most die-hard Gillingham fan you’ll ever see. He’d do anything for the Gills. He’ll even criticise them for not scoring good enough goals. “F*ckin’ hell Jacko! That was sh*t! You could’ve at least taken it round 13 players before scoring from 35 yards!”

6. Andrew Crofts

A  Gillingham legend. A true Gillingham lad who gives his heart and soul for his beloved Gillingham Football Club. Also, the most capped player while at Gillingham, so far receiving 12 caps for Wales.

7. Other Legends

Nicky Southall, Andy Hessenthaler, Ian Cox to name but a few from my era. Truly fantastic servants for the Gills who always provided good entertainment for the Gillingham faithful.

8. Brent Sancho

Gillingham’s first ever player to play in the World Cup while at Gillingham, playing for Trinidad and Tobago (wow! Two teams in one lol). He is also technically the first Gills player to score in the World Cup, scoring an own goal in the game against Paraguay. Sums Gillingham up really doesn’t it?

9. Simeon Jackson

A great young striker, a Canada U-20 international, who has been getting the goals for the Gills recently. But the reason I love him is because he always seems to be the scapegoat (when we criticise the players that is) for Gillingham poor performances. “We wouldn’t have lost if Jacko was a bit stronger.” “He’s so f*ckin greedy that Jacko. If only he let someone else score the goals we would win more.” I love Gillingham fans.

10. Ex-Gilingham Players

There are some great players out there who were once Gills players. Jason Brown (Blackburn), Mamady Sidibe (Stoke) Marlon King (Hull) Nyron Nosworthy (Sunderland) are just a few of the ex-Gills players that have gone on to better things, adding to the collection of other ex-Gills players who have become legends, such as Tony Cascarino and Steve Bruce.

It’s great as it means that the once worthless memorabilia signed by King, Sidibe, Brown, Nosworthy, etc, can now get me a load of money on e-bay. The youth players think I’m weird asking for their autographs all the time, but if the aforementioned players are anything to go by, I reckon I’ll be rich by the time I’m 30.

So there you are, 10 reasons why I love the mighty Gills.