Gillingham will be backed by over 1,000 fans against old rivals Swindon and manager Mark Bonner’s determined to make it a good day out for them.
The rivalry with Swindon stretches back to 1979 following a couple of heated matches, which led to court appearances for two of Gillingham’s players, and it’s meant games between the teams have had an added edge ever since.
Gillingham were handed 1,000 tickets for Saturday’s game in the Arkell’s John Trollope stand at the County Ground but requested more and 273 additional seats have been available this week.
It means a bumper following for Bonner’s men despite the Gills heading to Swindon after losing their last five league games.
Bonner said: “Our big focus is on making sure we’re at a really good level and put ourselves in a position to win the game, and most importantly to end the run of results that we’re on.
“It’s really important to give the supporters that are travelling in such big numbers a good day out because, not only do they deserve it, they’re also desperate for it as much as we are with the results having been the way they are.
“That’s the beauty of quick turnarounds and busy periods when you’re in a run like we are. The next game comes really fast, which is important, because it means you don’t spend too long talking about the last one. You have to shift your focus really quickly to the next one.”
Bonner knows the game has extra significance for the Gills fans, who have had plenty to celebrate in recent games against their old enemy.
Connor Mahoney scored the winner in a 1-0 victory at Swindon last season, it was a 3-3 thriller in January 2023, before that and in March 2021 the Gills came away with a 3-1 win.
Bonner said: “The most important thing really is the competitive rivalry on the pitch between us and an opponent.
“We want to win the game, like any other, and when it means a little bit more to supporters it does give you the extra incentive, if that’s possible, to try and make sure we give them a performance as well.
“In the end we want to do that because of where we are and the fact that they’re desperate to see us do well, and for ourselves really.
“When you’re having bad runs of results you’re desperate to turn that around. That’s what we’re really focused on, trying to deliver that best we can. We want to put the run of results that we find ourselves on to bed as quickly as possible.
“When you’ve never been involved in it, and you’re not attached to the history at all, it’s really hard to be emotive and feel emotive about it. The only way that comes about is everyone else’s emotion, so I’m sure I’ll experience that at the weekend and that’s fine.
“If it gains an edge in our players that understand it, and our supporters that drive us then great, because we need every ounce that we can get at the moment to drive the team.
“If that gets an extra edge out of everyone then great and I’m desperate to win a game because I want to win one.
“I’m desperate for the players to win one and I’m desperate for the supporters to win one because of where we find ourselves and the fact that it’s a game that matters massively to them, that does give us an extra motivation to try and do it.”
An added edge is the fact that both Remeao Hutton and Jonny Williams are likely to be involved for the Gills at the weekend.
Williams opted to leave Swindon for Gillingham in the summer of 2023 – via a hotel room in Bradford – while ever-present right-back Hutton also chose to play his football at Priestfield over the County Ground, moving in January for an undisclosed fee.
Any added incentive is good for Bonner, who said: “If that’s the motivation, fine. If the motivation is ‘I’ve got an opportunity to play and I haven’t had that’, fine. If the motivation is ‘I’m desperate to contribute to this team getting back on a good run’, great.
Gillingham’s recent results
“If the motivation is my personal integrity and professionalism as an individual to stop being part of a team that’s getting beat, where the motivation comes from and the edge comes from and the spark comes from doesn’t really bother me.
“Just that it’s there is what’s really important and for us this weekend it needs to be there. For us to get on fire, you can’t start a fire without a spark, so we need a spark from somewhere, the team need it and we’ll try and give them it and hopefully the supporters can give them it and the occasion can give them it, or whatever it is.
“The spark’s got to come and the players have got to perform.”
Gillingham have said that they won’t be receiving any further tickets and they won’t be available for purchase on the day.
Tickets for collection at Priestfield will be available until midday today (Friday) or at the County Ground tomorrow. Tickets will be sent up on the official supporters’ coach.
