Why is there so much animosity between the 2 clubs?
I have my own theory but guys with a better reason might set me right.
I remember a game at home to them in 68/69 when both clubs needed points for different reasons. A tough game, goalless. Our goalie, Peter Dowsborough got fed up with being battered by their centre forward & took his revenge by smashing the heavy leather ball into the guy's face.
Gillingham thought that they should have had a penalty, but we got away with it.
Then, to add insult to injury, we got the winner in the last minute.
As a lad then, I was a keen autograph hunter. I remember asking the Gill player with the broken nose to sign. To his credit, he did, but commented that "your teewhat of a goalie should have been sent off & we should have had a penalty".
The Gills fans, IMO, haven't forgotten that injustice, but everyone but me at Swindon has. Maybe there is a different reason, I can't think of one.
Gillingham
posted on 25/10/11
Thanks Anfield,
I was mistaken, but now I know!
I was working in East Africa then & out of touch.
posted on 25/10/11
Cheers Anfield,
I never really understood the rivalrly and never really cared about Gillingham just sounds like sour grapes. Hope you enjoy the game tonight hoping for a cracker.
posted on 25/10/11
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posted on 25/10/11
Thanks for the info Anfield.
For me it's just another fixture, important because of the three points at stake, no more, no less. It's not like Oxford or Bristol City, Gillingham are just another side. Having said that I've never really liked them much, I think it's because back in the 60s and 70s they played awful negative defensive football (rather like Oxford come to think of it).
RG - regarding Pat Terry, do you remember his 8 minute hat trick against Bournemouth in 1967? A real hat trick too as I recall, one left foot, one right and a bullet header. We were 3 up in 10 minutes and won 4- 0. To my knowledge no other player of ours has come close to that.
posted on 25/10/11
DTMB,
I was at that game. But, my memory could never recall how the goals were scored!
I think that was the game when, standing in the town end, a ball hit me in the pre-kick off & broke my glasses!
I was mortified 'cos I knew that my parents couldn't afford to buy a new pair.
But I never really appreciated Terry, my hero was a guy called Keith East, now, did he come close to that?
posted on 25/10/11
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posted on 25/10/11
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posted on 26/10/11
RG - Keith East was great. You're right, his record is even better. I think he scored 4 against Merthyr in the FA Cup then 5 the following Saturday against Mansfield. Off to check this in Paul Plowman's record book!
posted on 26/10/11
Keith East.
As I remember, he played with his one pair of boots tied up with tape.
Smoked a packet of cigarettes at half time.
posted on 31/10/11
Although I was at the games that started all the I'll feeling between the clubs fans I still can't understand how some relatively small incidents still have an impact on the behaviour of quite a few wannabe football hooligans both home and away when our sides meet. Most wouldn't have any explanation for their actions. Listening to friends that went it sounds as if the result could of gone either way and that Gillingham were a very good side and will be somewhere near the top end at the end of the season. Have now seen both our goals and replayed them several times !