Mark Bonner has explained why he hasn’t celebrated winning with a “fist pump” in front of the crowd – and why that’s unlikely to change any time soon.
It’s been left to Gillingham kit man Brad Haywood to lead the celebrations at the full-time whistle – something first-team boss Bonner is more than happy to see continue.
In recent seasons at Gillingham, it’s become more common for managers to celebrate a win with a series of fist-pumps towards the crowd, something Steve Evans, Neil Harris and Stephen Clemence all did. But not Bonner.
Bonner said: “I told the players on day one, you won’t see me doing it, so you’re going to have to share that one around. That’s not me.
“Everyone else can take the praise and I’ll get in and have a beer, crack on and get ready for the next game.
“What a tradition! I mean, the only kit man in the country that gets a little bit of love after the game and he loves it as well. We wouldn’t want to take that away from him. We want to share the love and the wealth a little bit.”
Would he ever do it? He said: “If I ever do it, it’s because it’s actually real, not manufactured. I hate this thing that’s manufactured. It’s not me at all.
“If I do it, it’s a spontaneous event, I’m really emotional. I find it hard to get that excited at full-time. We’ve won a game, wicked. Next game, crack on. That’s just the way I am. I won’t change in that sense.
“What you get from me is how I actually feel. I’ll tell you what I think, what I feel at the time. Sometimes I’ll be lively, sometimes I’ll be quite calm. I’m just being myself. Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.”
Not since Martin Allen’s time as manager has the kit man being so front and centre – with Malcolm Stedman earning cult status during his time in the job.
Stedman – who died two years ago at the age of 80 – was even sent out by Allen to do the post-match press conference after a 2-0 win at Port Vale and often gave pre-match team-talks. The popular backroom team member – who served the club for 15 years – would often be seen celebrating with fans.
Gillingham and their current kit man Brad will be hoping to celebrate a fourth straight win this Saturday against top-of-the-table Barrow.
