2026/27 – Gillingham 0 v 1 Charlton Athletic

Priestfield, Friendly, 18/7/26

Gillingham Football Club

Founded – 1893

Nickname – The Gills

Honours – English Fourth Tier – 1963/64 and 2012/13. Southern League – 1946/47 and 1948/49. Southern League – 1894/95. Kent League – 1945/46. United League – 1908/09. Thames & Medway Combination -1898/99 and 1899/1900. Southern League Cup- 1946/47. Kent League Cup– 1945/46. Kent Senior Cup – 1945/46 and 1947/48

Random Fact – The club were known as New Brompton until the 1912/13 season.

Kent is a long way from home for a pre-season friendly but there is method to the madness. The greatest band on the planet being behind the 1170 mile round trip. That band, The Wildhearts. With them playing in nearby Maidstone at the Maid of Stone Festival on Sunday it was a chance to keep a promise to the wee man and get him to see them as after years of hearing them he has been champing at the bit to see them. With being too young for club gigs travelling to almost the bottom of the island was the only way for him to see them as he is running out out time giving the health issues in the band.With being down on the Saturday and copious time to burn what could we do, travel to neighbouring Gillingham and add to the scarf collections and take in a random game and a see the area, somewhere I have never been and in truth probably will never be again. We made the most of it with a visit to the brilliant adjacent Chatham Docks, the famed Naval shipyard whose noise was once described by one time Chatham resident Charles Dickens as “Twelve hundred hammerers, measurers, caulkers, armourers, forgers, smiths, shipwrights; twelve hundred dingers, clashers, dongers, rattlers, clinkers, bangers, bangers, bangers!”. What a fantastic place. Right up my street. Wee Man said it was ace too which is a result. The museum cinematic tour was quality, exploring the HMS Gannet and HMS Cavalier also very satisfying. Unfortunately due to the weather, the HMS Ocelot (submarine) was as good as out of bounds due to the temperatures outside causing sauna like conditions inside so we did not get in. One thing thats worth noting, the staff here were so enthusiastic about their jobs and friendly in conjunction. As far as points of interest go, the Docks were bloody brilliant .

Then on to Priestfield six minutes up the road, the Gills home for their entire 133 year existence. After circling the place for ages trying to find a space we finally stumbled upon match parking for a fiver. As we headed towards the ground I found it interesting the amount police on the go. The route to the away end was stowed out with coppers. Friendly or not they were either over the top or there is a bit of niggle between the two. I dont really know if it is the former or the latter.

Being early it would have been rude not to get a pint and a tidy joint is found within Priestfield. The Factory where we were met by a couple of sound stewards at the door, this keeping up a theme of the people of the day, whether at the docks, in Sainsburys or at the ground, people seemed to just be friendly down here.

After a pie and coffee purchase followed by Wee Man meeting the clubs mascot Tommy Trewblu we were ready for action. Or to be honest, lack of it. This was no spectacle. The fact we witnessed the ‘temporary’ stand (or Brian Moore Stand as it’s really known) in the flesh was the highlight. Not a bad week seeing the Gala Fairydean Brutalist Stand and the Gillingham temporary stand, as they are two icons of British fitba. But I digress. Nothing really happened today on the park. There was an amusing moment when a Gillingham player flattened a Charlton man then proceeded to play a one-two off the prostrate Londoners head. Barring that, the fact I scalded my hand with a pie was just about it for action. On the pie, there is no need for any food to ever be this hot. The gravy was lavaesque and that was even after leaving it for a while. When I did start to eat it, it fell apart and the gravy attacked me leaving my hand blistered.

HT 0 v 0

The second half was a bit better as there was more action. Both teams fashioned chances. Then the biggest raft of substitutions I have ever seen also took place. Charlton had seven ready to come on, then Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth decided to out do them and introduce eight. Charlton went on to be the better team after the changes. But to be fair to Gillingham the did bring on a lot of youth during the mass turn around. The Londoners went on to win the game and from Gills perspective it was poor. From a corner every man in blue was in the box but Addicks man Reece Burke was completely unmarked to head home at the back post. This off a Sonny Carey corner. The home sides concentration failed them here. But at least it gave us a goal in what really was a pre-season type affair. “Minutes in the legs” and “fitness levels” as the sayings go.

The fitba was a bit poor but I cant complain about the day overall. Quality pre-match, not a nil-nil, fine folk and watching Aberdeen win after in the hotel. Also to be noted the old Tudor houses on the way to the hotel, so old and warped they were totally wonky. Aesthetically fantastic stuff. Now for Ginger and co at Mote Park in Maidstone tomorrow.

Entrance – £15 Me , £8 Wee Man

Attendance – 2747 (Official)

Pie – £7, pie and coffee

Pint – £5.70, Spitfire, Factory (fan bar)

Score Predictions – Me 0 v 3, Wee Man 0 v 2

Season Score Predictions Total – Me 0 v 0 Wee Man