Head coach Stephen Clemence thought Gillingham’s fans were as vocal as they have been since he joined the club this season during Tuesday’s draw with Swindon.
A crowd of 6,096 were in fine voice at Priestfield for the breathless League 2 affair, with the Gills changing the order of their pre-match music to walk out to Engelbert Humperdinck’s The Last Waltz.
Oli Hawkins’ second-half header and a Connor Mahoney penalty helped Gillingham turn the game around after Sean McGurk’s opener, only for Swindon substitute Harry McKirdy to grab a stoppage-time equaliser in the 2-2 draw.
The point left ninth-placed Gills only outside the play-offs on goal difference.
Clemence, who has worked at big clubs such as Newcastle, West Brom and Aston Villa, said: “I just need to give a special mention to the supporters.
“I really enjoyed the start of the game. I’ve worked at some big clubs in the past and I thought it was fantastic – The Last Waltz and the way the flags were up.
“They (the fans) got right involved up until kick-off. I could hear them all through the first half. I thought they were great, even when the lads were struggling. They kept the boys going because the boys did have to dig deep in that first half.
“I was really encouraged by the way they were. I think that’s the loudest I’ve heard them – and I really liked it!
“We’re going to need them because you can see all the teams that got beaten on Tuesday. Bottom teams do beat the top teams, unfortunately, in this division.
“We have moved a point closer to the play-offs. It makes it frustrating because we know that, if we had won the game, we would be in the play-off positions.
“But we’re more than capable of going to Newport and getting a result, which is what we have to do at the weekend.”
Clemence explained the change-around of the club’s pre-match music was organised by owner Brad Galinson and wife Shannon after the topic of the atmosphere on home matchdays came up at a fans’ forum last week.
“We were at a fans’ forum in the week and the atmosphere at home was mentioned,” said Clemence.
“Obviously, we have to bring a performance to make sure the atmosphere is up. But it really helps us if the fans bring their voices – like they did on Tuesday – because it helps the boys.
“Brad and Shannon were involved in trying to make it a little bit more like other clubs and the way they have it at the start of games. I wasn’t behind it, but I was really happy to see it.
“I think something has been created that, hopefully, will be at this football club for a long time.
“It should be because it sounded very special in the technical area.
“I’m sure it sounded very special on the pitch for the players.”
