Match 03/07/620 - Saturday, 28th July 2007 - Pre-season Friendly
Gillingham (0) 0
Charlton (3) 5 Ambrose 14, 28 Todorov 39 King (o.g.) 47,
Thomas (pen) 69
Att. 3,315
Entrance: £15
Programme: None published (free teamsheet)
Mileage 45/216
Match Report
If you are going to get stuffed 5-0 at sometime during a season, pre-season is easily the best time for it to happen. Little can read into this game, hopefully Gillingham will not meet the like of Charlton, fresh out of the Premiership, during the league season and whilst Charlton certainly look the part for a quick return to the top level, they will know that there are sterner tests to come.
Considering the 3,000 crowd at Dover last week, another 300 on the gate to see this match is disappointing. I’ve always maintained that Mr Scally overprices these friendlies and at £15 many chose to give it a miss and given the result who can say they were misguided. As the Gordon Road Stand was not being used, I chose to sit on the Rainham End looking out on a beautifully manicured pitch that played really well given the amount of rain we have suffered this summer.
The game was pretty much a procession of Charlton’s superiority and the only talking point worthy of mention was a sending off for Gillingham’s £200K centre half, Simon King. Nobody can dispute that in the course of a fully competitive game, King would have been sent off for the professional foul he committed. But given the nature of the game, the referee could have shown a modicum of common sense and booked the player, even ask the manager to remove him, but with the sending off now comes a suspension that will be served at the start of the regular season, it hardly seems a just punishment.
I also have a good deal of sympathy for a triallist, listed only as M. Hamilton on the team sheet. To come on seven minutes from the end with your side already 5-0 down really doesn’t give you the greatest chance to impress. Gills manager Ronnie Jepson said in a Radio Kent interview following the game that he has to see these triallists in real situations to make a judgement, well Ronnie I hope his seven minutes gave you that insight.
Saturday, 28 July 2007
Saturday, 21 July 2007
Dover Athletic 1 Gillingham 4
Match 02/07/619 - Saturday, 21st July 2007 - Pre-season Friendly
Dover Athletic (0) 1 Pouton 59
Gillingham (2) 4 Mulligan 24, 31 Crofts 66 Pugh 80
Att. 3,011
Entrance: £9
Programme: £1.50
Mileage 96/171
The Dover website predicted a 3,000 crowd for this Pre-Season Friendly, I for one poured scorn on such a figure, but was proved completely wrong as 3,011 turned up to see Andy Hessenthaler’s opening match as the manager of Dover Athletic. I would guess that Gillingham fans made up 50% of the attendance and this would be as much a tribute to the true Gillingham legend as to the fans wish to see their new signings for a first time. As a Tonbridge supporter, Douvre, as they are affectionately known because of their close proximity to France, are great rivals, but with Hess in charge I can only wish them the very best of luck for the coming season.
I like Crabble, high on a hill and surrounded by trees, it appears that it has been built on a plateau. It is a ground that whilst these days may not satisfy the criteria of their previously owned Conference status, it is far above the standard of most of their counterparts in Ryman South. There are covered terraces behind both goals and a seated stand that goes the full length of the pitch. The second length is a bit of a gaggle of buildings with a smaller stand and a wooden club house and as you walk along the touchline you actually descend below the level of the pitch but that adds to its charm.
Gillingham arrived direct from a four day training stint in Le Touquet. It was a shame they did not play a open doors match in France as this proved to be a very good day out a couple of years ago. They started with what would be considered their first choice side at this stage of pre-season. Of the new boys, Barry Cogan showed up well and it was a very good cross that allowed Mulligan a deft header for the second goal. Efe Sodje and Simon King looked solid enough in the centre of defence, but perhaps next week’s game against Charlton will be a better stage to judge their partnership. Aaron Brown flitted in and out of the game with no great effect. As always with these pre-season games the second half became disjointed with substitutions and after a great free kick from Alan Pouton brought the score back to 2-1, goals from Crofts and Pugh sealed the game.
Match Report
Dover Athletic (0) 1 Pouton 59
Gillingham (2) 4 Mulligan 24, 31 Crofts 66 Pugh 80
Att. 3,011
Entrance: £9
Programme: £1.50
Mileage 96/171
The Dover website predicted a 3,000 crowd for this Pre-Season Friendly, I for one poured scorn on such a figure, but was proved completely wrong as 3,011 turned up to see Andy Hessenthaler’s opening match as the manager of Dover Athletic. I would guess that Gillingham fans made up 50% of the attendance and this would be as much a tribute to the true Gillingham legend as to the fans wish to see their new signings for a first time. As a Tonbridge supporter, Douvre, as they are affectionately known because of their close proximity to France, are great rivals, but with Hess in charge I can only wish them the very best of luck for the coming season.
I like Crabble, high on a hill and surrounded by trees, it appears that it has been built on a plateau. It is a ground that whilst these days may not satisfy the criteria of their previously owned Conference status, it is far above the standard of most of their counterparts in Ryman South. There are covered terraces behind both goals and a seated stand that goes the full length of the pitch. The second length is a bit of a gaggle of buildings with a smaller stand and a wooden club house and as you walk along the touchline you actually descend below the level of the pitch but that adds to its charm.Gillingham arrived direct from a four day training stint in Le Touquet. It was a shame they did not play a open doors match in France as this proved to be a very good day out a couple of years ago. They started with what would be considered their first choice side at this stage of pre-season. Of the new boys, Barry Cogan showed up well and it was a very good cross that allowed Mulligan a deft header for the second goal. Efe Sodje and Simon King looked solid enough in the centre of defence, but perhaps next week’s game against Charlton will be a better stage to judge their partnership. Aaron Brown flitted in and out of the game with no great effect. As always with these pre-season games the second half became disjointed with substitutions and after a great free kick from Alan Pouton brought the score back to 2-1, goals from Crofts and Pugh sealed the game.
Match Report
Saturday, 14 July 2007
Thamesmead 0 Tonbridge 1
Match 01/07/618 - Saturday, 14th July 2007 - Pre-season Friendly
Thamesmead (0) 0
Tonbridge (1) 1 Main 22
Att. 70-ish
Entrance: £5
Programme: Free with entry
Mileage 75/75
Pre-season is always a welcome arrival, but this July it has come when summer frustration, borne out of poor weather and a Test Series against the West Indies that was one-sided and consequently lacking in interest was setting in. There is still a series against India that might redeem the cricket season, but in a summer that doesn’t have a major tournament to focus on, albeit that the U21 Euros proved a distraction, I was ready to hit the road again.
Tonbridge’s initial pre-season game at Kent League Thamesmead Town provided the first game of my 2007-08 season. This was my second visit to Bayliss Avenue, having visited five or six years ago when Tonbridge were themselves in the Kent League. The ground has not changed at all in that time, still just the one stand (pictured). But big change is expected in the very near future as Thamesmead have submitted plans to build a new stadium for the beginning of next season. The south London side have a large catchment area that should provide more than an average attendance of just 65, but the competition is fierce not only from the major London clubs, but several non-league clubs are also parked on their doorstep. The one thing that has improved is signage directing visitors to the ground. I vividly remember last time driving around in circles, but this time with the aid of the signs I found the ground with ease.
Without a tannoy system, the first 20 minutes are spent are spent working out who’s who of the Tonbridge new boys. The game itself was usual pre-season, lacking any sort of competitive edge and Tonbridge won more comfortably than the one goal scoreline suggests. Jon Main, who else, scored the only goal after a mid-half drinks break latching on to a punt forward that could not have been dealt with any more poorly by the Thamesmead defence. The second half fell away with multiple substitutions and banter between the portly Richard Dimmock and the Tonbridge bench provided the best entertainment. Over the years I’ve seen quite a few of the likes of Dimmo, players that have obviously had something about them in their day and whilst the years might have added a few pounds there is still that bit of quality that catches the eye.
Fan-style pre-season training will continue next week at Andy Hessenthaler’s Dover.
Thamesmead (0) 0
Tonbridge (1) 1 Main 22
Att. 70-ish
Entrance: £5
Programme: Free with entry
Mileage 75/75
Pre-season is always a welcome arrival, but this July it has come when summer frustration, borne out of poor weather and a Test Series against the West Indies that was one-sided and consequently lacking in interest was setting in. There is still a series against India that might redeem the cricket season, but in a summer that doesn’t have a major tournament to focus on, albeit that the U21 Euros proved a distraction, I was ready to hit the road again.Tonbridge’s initial pre-season game at Kent League Thamesmead Town provided the first game of my 2007-08 season. This was my second visit to Bayliss Avenue, having visited five or six years ago when Tonbridge were themselves in the Kent League. The ground has not changed at all in that time, still just the one stand (pictured). But big change is expected in the very near future as Thamesmead have submitted plans to build a new stadium for the beginning of next season. The south London side have a large catchment area that should provide more than an average attendance of just 65, but the competition is fierce not only from the major London clubs, but several non-league clubs are also parked on their doorstep. The one thing that has improved is signage directing visitors to the ground. I vividly remember last time driving around in circles, but this time with the aid of the signs I found the ground with ease.
Without a tannoy system, the first 20 minutes are spent are spent working out who’s who of the Tonbridge new boys. The game itself was usual pre-season, lacking any sort of competitive edge and Tonbridge won more comfortably than the one goal scoreline suggests. Jon Main, who else, scored the only goal after a mid-half drinks break latching on to a punt forward that could not have been dealt with any more poorly by the Thamesmead defence. The second half fell away with multiple substitutions and banter between the portly Richard Dimmock and the Tonbridge bench provided the best entertainment. Over the years I’ve seen quite a few of the likes of Dimmo, players that have obviously had something about them in their day and whilst the years might have added a few pounds there is still that bit of quality that catches the eye.
Fan-style pre-season training will continue next week at Andy Hessenthaler’s Dover.
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