Gillingham could be forced to play their Easter Monday home game in an alternate green kit against AFC Wimbledon.
The Gills say that “on EFL recommendation” they could be playing the Easter Monday clash in their green third kit as their opponents AFC Wimbledon don’t have a suitable away kit that won’t clash.
Like the Gills, the Dons’ home kit is blue but their alternates for the season are either white, or a light blue and black striped top. All three options are deemed too close to Gillingham’s home shirt, which could lead to an unacceptable clash.
Rather than the Dons being forced to find another kit, or wear one of Gillingham’s, it’s the home side who look set to be making a change for the League 2 clash, ditching their traditional blue shirts for the game and wearing green.
A comment from the club said: “Gills are set to play in their alternate green strip for the game, on EFL recommendation. However, this is subject to change.”
It’s a rarity for the Gills not to play in their traditional blue kit at Priestfield.
The 2012/13 season in League 2 saw them celebrate the centenary of Gillingham FC by wearing a replica of the shirts worn 100 years earlier, which meant a red and blue design for their home tops – one which they won the League 2 title in.
It was in 1912 when the club briefly opted to ditch their black and white kits to red and blue after switching from New Brompton to Gillingham FC.
Black and white kits were soon reinstated, until turning blue in 1932, which has been the choice of colour for the best part of a century, adding black stripes to the design during various different kit designs.
In 2003, former chairman Paul Scally attempted to change the home design from traditional blue to an all-white design, but backed down after a fan backlash.
For the club’s 125th anniversary, in 2018, a special black and white commemorative kit was worn for their first home game of the season, beating Burton Albion 3-1.
The Gills have been forced to wear opposition kits in the past because of colour clashes, but those games were played away from ME7.
In November 2001, the Gills went to Millwall with their blue kit packed by former kit man Bob Lewin instead of their yellow away shirts. The Gills had to wear Millwall’s green kit instead but won 2-1 thanks to goals from Guy Ipoua and Marlon King.
Then in December 2009, during a nightmare trip to Leyton Orient following severe traffic issues, the Gills barely had a team as so many got stuck on the A12, while the kit didn’t make it in time either as the referee refused to delay the kick off. Gillingham had to wear the opponent’s black away strip that night and lost the game 3-1.
Monday’s visitors Wimbledon have a great chance of promotion this season and will be backed by over 1,000 fans at Priestfield.
