Pre-Match Chat: Gillingham Fanfile Interview
By Deadly Submarine
August 14 2009
Ahead of the first home League game of the 2009/10 season this coming Saturday, Total Tranmere's Deadly Submarine took time out to interview Gillingham fan Jack Nolan to get his thoughts on Gillingham, League One in general and on the upcoming match between the two sides this weekend. Here's what Jack had to say.......
What is Your Name and How Old are You?
I'm Jack Nolan and 18 years old.
How Long Have You Supported Your Team and What Made You Choose Them?Had always looked out for results being my local team but was brought up a West Ham fan, but wasn't until I was about 10 when I got hooked on the real football at Priestfield when a mate took me to a Gills game.
YOUR CLUB
What are Your Views on the Current Manager?
Didn't know a lot about Stimson when he was appointed after leaving Stevenage but I personally have always liked him. There are still some fans that take a dislike to him but the majority of fans support what he is doing, he has got us playing decent football and has made some top signings from non-league.
If you could have one past Player back in his prime who would you have and why?I'm pretty sure most Gills fans would say Andy Hessenthaler. The man is a legend in these parts and he always bossed the midfield and what we would do for a player like him now.
What is your Greatest Memory from supporting your Club?
Several trips to Wembley would spring to mind but forcing Arsene Wenger to bring on Henry and Pires when we were two goals a piece at Highbury in the 5th round of the FA Cup in 2002 was a great moment, albeit we went on the lose 5-2. Although I won't be forgetting last Saturday's five goal rout of rivals Swindon in a hurry!
If you were in charge at your Club as Manager or Chairman, what changes would you make?Make season and match day tickets cheaper as at the moment we are losing a lot of fans to our London neighbours. For example when Charlton were in the Premiership it was far cheaper to get a season ticket at The Valley than it was for a season ticket at Priestfield in League Two giving us no chance of tempting potential fans to Gillingham rather than the many clubs in London.
We have just postponed plans of a new stadium rumoured to have a capacity of 27,000 which is ludicrous considering our average attendances have been around 5-6,000 for the past few season.
What Expectations do Your Team's Fans seem to have for this Season?I think most fans just want to consolidate this season with some top teams in the division this season and we haven't strengthened enough to make a serious challenge for promotion.
Especially having picked up some bad injuries in pre-season, most significantly to Simon King who is by far our best player who has been ruled out for three months.
But our massive opening day win and Carling Cup win over Championship side Plymotuh will no doubt get a few fans dreaming...
AWAY DAYS
What are the Best and Worst Away Grounds you've Visited to date and why?
Best ground I have been to away excluding Wembley would be West Ham's Upton Park for the atmosphere. Worst would have to be Brentford's Griffin Park.
LEAGUE TWO
Who do you think will be Promoted/Relegated from League One this Season?
Before the start of the season I would have had Norwich down to challenge for the title, but after conceding seven goals at home I'm not so sure! Leeds and Charlton I'm sure will aim for at least the play-offs this season and I can see Exeter surprising a few people this season.
I think Swindon, Stockport, Walsall and Brighton will struggle this season.
Where do you think your Team will finish this season?Mid-table will do for me in what is the strongest third tier for many years.
Where do you think Tranmere will finish this season in League One?Can't see them doing as well as they did last season and I think like Gills will be aiming for a safe mid-table spot.
GENERAL
On past experience, what are your views on Tranmere as a Club?
A decent enough club fairly similar to ours.
Former Gillingham striker Bas Savage is at Tranmere although he is now out injured until February. What was he like at the Priestfield and what did the fans think of him?
Big Bas was an odd one. At the start he was so god awful that the fans found him funny to watch but then we started playing really well whenever he was in the team, then he went off to Brighton for a longer deal then obviously some idiots booed him on his return to Priestfield for the Seagulls which resulted in him scoring a ‘phenomenal' toe-poke from 25 yards!
THE MATCH VS TRANMERE
Who is your Team's Man to Watch this Season and for this game?We have several key players in my opinion. The best would be Simon King who is easily the best defender in this League and would make any Championship side, our defence looks a lot more vulnerable without him and unfortunately for us he picked up an ankle injury in a pre-season game meaning he has been ruled out for several months.
Andy Barcham on the wing is a great talent and goes on some scintillating runs down the wing and sets up a lot of goals for us last season, and can score a fair few himself.
Curtis Weston is a top player in midfield and goes on some driving runs down the middle and is very cool on the ball, then there is Simeon Jackson who regularly takes the plaudits and last season I would have said that isn't as good as he is hyped up to be in the media.
However, since going to play for Canada in the Gold Cup over the summer he has come back a different class, and has improved his overall game play for example his touch, vision and runs shown with his four goals already this season and an assist for our first goal in the five goal rout of rivals Swindon Town.
Last season he tended fade out of games that saw him dropped for some part of last season, but he does score goals in the big games as he proved against Aston Villa and Shrewsbury. For me though it would be winger Andy Barcham who can change a game for us.
Your Prediction for the Game Vs Tranmere?I can see this one being a draw myself.
Any other comments to add?Looking forward to seeing how John Barnes and Jason McAteer get on at Tranmere this season, considering Barnes' spell at Celtic. . .
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