Heroes & Villains – Gillingham
Hero – Paul Scally
Scally oversaw huge improvements on and off the pitch since taking ownership of the club in 1995. Gillingham were rooted in the third and fourth tier of English football and were very close to getting relegated out of the Football League in the 1992/93 season.
Scally’s investment saw immediate improvements on the pitch and the club were promoted to the second tier after a Play Off victory over Wigan Athletic in 2000. They spent five years in the division and this was the first time that the club played this high in the Football League.
Gillingham fans have been treated to three promotions, three Wembley Play-Off Finals and four victories over Premiership teams since Scally took over 25 years ago.
The Gills’ Priestfield Stadium has also had radical improvements made to it during Scally’s tenure. He has helped to fund the building of three new permanent stands and the conversion of Priestfield to an all-seater stadium.
Villain – Swindon Town!
Swindon and Gillingham have a big rivalry despite there being a distance of 120 miles and four counties between the two clubs!
The rivalry goes back to March 1979 when both sides were fighting for promotion to Division Two. In a hard-fought match at Priestfield, Gillingham fans were incensed by one of their players getting sent off as well as the behaviour of Swindon’s defender Ray McHale.
A Gills fan jumped onto the pitch, punched the referee and knocked him unconscious!
The return fixture was played a few weeks later at Swindon’s County Ground home. A fight broke out between the two teams in the tunnel after the game and Swindon’s trainer ended up in hospital after a punch. Two Gillingham players were sent to court over the incident but were acquitted.
There is still an animosity between both sets of fans 41 years on!
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