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Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: STFC4LIFE on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 12:45:01 I knew there was a rivalry, but never knew exactly why.
Quote The rivalry between Gillingham and Swindon is one of the most unlikely in League football - but since the teams renewed acquaintance in 2006 after nearly nineteen years absence, it soon became apparent that the rivalry was just as intense, perhaps more so, than with some of the Town's local derbies - a fact surprising for any Town fan under forty years of age!. The rivalry started in March 1979, when, with both teams in the running for promotion, Swindon visited Priestfield one position and three points behind the Gills, but with two games in hand. Gillingham themselves were equal on points with third-placed Swansea, and just three points behind leaders Watford. In a fiery match, the Gills went 2-0 ahead in the first 25 minutes, but ten minutes later the Town had pulled it back to 2-2. That was how the scoring stayed, but other events were to make the game far more memorable. After Gillingham had goalscorer Westwood sent off for foul and abusive language, Priestfield went into uproar, incensed by what they considered to be poor refereeing and gamesmanship by Town player Ray McHale - and in the second half, a Gills fan got onto the pitch and punched the referee - knocking him out. It got worse for Gillingham when they visited Swindon for the return leg in May. Now a point ahead of the Town and in a promotion spot, Gillingham had another player sent off for a tackle on McHale, and after the Town went 3-0 up, their players began to single out McHale for some retribution, the game turning nasty again. The game eventually finished 3-1, and as the players returned to the dressing room, there was a fracas in the tunnel - Swindon coach Wilf Tranter having to go to hospital with facial injuries after being punched. Two Gills players ended up in court over the incident, both were acquitted - and the season ended with both teams missing out on promotion - the Gills by a single point, which they considered to be stolen from them during the two games with Swindon, and a rivalry was born. Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: Simon Pieman on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 12:46:17 I think I read that before...
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: STFC4LIFE on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 12:52:38 Probably, swindon-town-fc.co.uk
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: Simon Pieman on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 12:58:22 I don't think so.
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: flammableBen on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 13:30:21 There was a thread about this recently. Someone posted a link to a big article about it and then reg came along and said that they were just desperate for a rivalry becasue they didn't have one and were moaning fuckers or something. I think he compared them to Franchise.
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: land_of_bo on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 15:12:42 I thought Gillingham was in Dorset? They should be rivals with Bournemouth.
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: axs on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 15:49:20 no, its in Kent.
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: suttonred on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 16:13:48 I was at those games,thinking back unbiasedly they probably have a valid point, it was hilarious to watch for a young boy
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: Simon Pieman on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 17:14:47 Quote from: "land_of_bo" I thought Gillingham was in Dorset? They should be rivals with Bournemouth. ? I fear that one may have flew over my head 8) Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: janaage on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 17:43:54 My mate used to bang on about Gillingham being a local rival, turns out he was talking about some village in Dorset rather than the K*ntish Gillingham.
The amount of times I told him he was wrong... Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: Simon Pieman on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 17:46:33 Ah right. I wondered where the joke was.
I moved away from Medway 21 years ago and I haven't returned. Probably for the best. Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: leefer on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 18:58:46 My friend follows Swansea and went last week at Gillingham,and vows its the worst place hes ever been too...a real dump.
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: Reg Smeeton on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 19:02:01 Quote from: "leefer" My friend follows Swansea and went last week at Gillingham,and vows its the worst place hes ever been too...a real dump. Probably gives Port Talbot a miss then. Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: Fred Elliot on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 20:25:54 Quote from: "leefer" My friend follows Swansea and went last week at Gillingham,and vows its the worst place hes ever been too...a real dump. you never been to Gills away Leefer ? Ever ? Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: land_of_bo on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 20:33:15 Gillingham, Dorset. Near Shaftesbury. Just down the A350 from Warminster.
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: leefer on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 21:08:44 Been there about 4 times Fred......but ive been to worse places,Rotheram,Newport and Crewe come to mind,Port Vale is a hole too,and by the way the the Gillingham in Dorset is pronounced with a Grrrrrr and not a Jrrrrrrr.......if you know what i mean.
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: flammableBen on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 21:13:33 A hard G instead of a soft G spot sort of thing.
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: Fred Elliot on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 21:26:36 Quote from: "leefer" Been there about 4 times Fred......but ive been to worse places,Rotheram,Newport and Crewe come to mind,Port Vale is a hole too,and by the way the the Gillingham in Dorset is pronounced with a Grrrrrr and not a Jrrrrrrr.......if you know what i mean. I had a great time at PV mucho beerage................and chatted to a very nice lady indeed :mrgreen: Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: axs on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 21:27:51 the area around it is a total hole. and we lost. and it was cold.
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: Fred Elliot on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 21:34:48 the pissed up bird falling over in the road ?
EDIT : I was only told about that, I was too busy trying to get my leg over the bird BART was with Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: axs on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 21:36:11 hehe, that was funny. and her embarrassed friend.
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: Fred Elliot on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 21:36:38 :mrgreen:
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: Samdy Gray on Thursday, April 24, 2008, 21:39:35 You never did win that bet. Where's my winnings?
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: janaage on Friday, April 25, 2008, 13:44:25 Back on subject would be good to hear the following tomorrow (to land of hope and glory)
"We hate Bristol Sh*tty, Oxford, Reading too, **** Oxford!!! We hate Bristol Wovers, but Swindon we love you altogether now..." Just to highlight the fact we don't care about them lot miles and miles away in deepest darkest Kent. Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: Bushey Boy on Friday, April 25, 2008, 13:49:13 Got a feeling tomorrow could be nasty but I still do not care about them. Have a safe trip people see you in the ground
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: janaage on Friday, April 25, 2008, 13:52:32 Yeah good luck to all that go, hope you avoid the trouble (if there is any).
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: Power to people on Friday, April 25, 2008, 19:11:34 May as well go and help relegate the fuckers and then won't need to worry about them for a few years
I'll take my straw hat just in case though :soapy tit wank: Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: reeves4england on Friday, April 25, 2008, 20:29:26 Got my trumpet packed up ready to go :D
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: The Professor on Friday, April 25, 2008, 20:31:29 Once went for a job interview with a Pharmaceutical company in the locality & you are right, it's a dump. Indeed the term 'Armpit of the Universe' springs readily to mind. I took an almost instant dislike to the guy interviewing me because he seemed to be trying to wind me up, contradicting me & provoking me into saying something. In the end because of his offensive manner & lack of interest on my part i walked out - first & only time that I've ever done that! Strangely enough I didn't get the job!
Hope we stuff 'em tomorrow & his head is used as the match ball! Vindictive, moi? Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: Spencer_White on Sunday, April 27, 2008, 13:46:14 Quote from: "leefer" My friend follows Swansea and went last week at Gillingham,and vows its the worst place hes ever been too...a real dump. Come off it. Luton? Bradford? Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: reeves4england on Sunday, April 27, 2008, 13:48:38 Gillingham wasn't that bad at all really. Not a lot there, but not the hole I'd been expecting.
Title: Swindon & Gilligham Post by: donkey on Monday, April 28, 2008, 16:24:46 Quote from: "reeves4england" Gillingham wasn't that bad at all really. Not a lot there, but not the hole I'd been expecting. Quite agree...especially when compared to Burslem. |