All new report from the inside at GFC

By Tom George
January 11 2007

Welcome to the first fortnightly column on the goings on in the world of Gillingham Football Club. In this edition Tom George looks at on and off the field events- including the latest on Matt Jarvis

Welcome to the first fortnightly column on the goings on in the world of Gillingham Football Club.

We start our journey on Merseyside, where on the 23rd December, some strange happenings took place. In true Christmas spirit the Gills gave away two early goals, but the excitement level was pushed up to full volume as Gary Mulligan, an Irishman on fire, scored two to put the game level. The unthinkable happened early in the second half, Ben Chorley crashed in a header to put the Gills in front.

It is at moments like this that optimism takes over. Absurd questions appeared in the minds of the Gills faithful: Can we reach the play-offs? Is Mulligan the new Ronaldo? Is Jepson the new Ferguson?

A 2-1 win at home to Orient did nothing to dent confidence- The Gills were sitting pretty in 10th, just 4 points from the play-offs. It seemed that the good times were thoroughly back, after 3 hard years of mediocrity.

Oldham at home was a big match. A win against our promotion “rivals” would put us right into the mix; Lose however, and it would be slipping away. To call it a six pointer would be extreme, but it was certainly a chance to impose.

Reality bit. Hard. Goals from Porter, Liddell and Eardley sent the Gills crashing to a rare home defeat in the pouring rain. Fans sat, bent over against the wind, thinking silently of a postponement. Although the referee had no choice to send off Cox, the abuse from the Rainham End was as unrelenting as the downpour.

New years day meant derby day. Millwall away. The loyal away fans thought their side had thoroughly turned the away day corner as Mulligan again scored. Hysteria. Dreamland. Sadly, again it was misguided optimism.

A Byfield hat-trick sunk the Gills, rubbing salt into the wounds of the fans who felt betrayed by the manner of his departure in the summer. However the away fans felt aggrieved by two of Byfield’s strikes a dubious penalty and an apparent offside contributed two goals of his hat-trick.

Ronnie Jepson felt aggrieved at the final scoreline:

"People will look at the scoreline but I don't think that was a game with a three goal margin in it," said Jepson. “A couple of their goals were debatable and I thought we were in charge in the opening 45 minutes. We were disappointed to concede a goal very close to half-time and that gave them a lift and we did not step up the tempo after the break."

Off of the field, the January transfer window has yielded much interest, but no concrete offers for Matt Jarvis. The winger is apparently being “tracked” by a host of Premiership scouts, but Jarvis himself seems undecided on his future: "I couldn't tell you if that will be with Gillingham or not after this month, I'll just get my head down and keep playing well." Quoted the 20-year old nervously to BBC Radio Kent.

But is Jarvis integral to Gillingham successes? Although the side is unarguably better with Jarvis, could his transfer fee be better spent elsewhere? Will a tribunal set fee, as Gillingham would be is entitled to in the summer, really serve the club properly.

Although sad to see him go, many fans think that it is time to cash in on Jarvis. Clubs such as Gillingham need money to survive. It would be foolish to pin all of our hope to Jarvis, whilst chasing a distant play-off dream.

Away from the main transfer talk of the month, Ben Chorley has extended his loan from MK Dons until the end of the season.