Manager Gareth Ainsworth admitted he was “choked up” after the way the Gillingham fans responded at the final whistle on Saturday.
In what has been a poor season, the team have often been booed off by their own supporters, with chants of “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” after several shockers.
But the mood at Priestfield at the end of the game was positive. Supporters had been in good voice throughout, despite a mediocre performance. A moment of class at the end from Garath McCleary gave them a win to celebrate.
Ainsworth was grateful for that support and to see so many fans stay behind for the lap of appreciation.
The Gills boss said: “That was a really nice moment celebrating with the fans and saying ‘thank you’ to all the Rainham End and the sides alongside.
“The fans are the club. The fans don’t move. I move clubs. The players move clubs. A lot of the staff come and go. The fans will never change. They will never waver from this club. It’s their club.
“I think they’ve understood this season that it’s been tough.
“I was really, really proud and a little bit choked up at the end, because I’m like, ‘wow. They’re with us’. They’re with Gillingham.
“I know how much Gillingham means to them. I’m from Blackburn, right? I know this kind of area.
“I know how passionate I am about Blackburn. I know what they feel for their football club.
“I want to deliver and I want to make them proud of their football club, and that they can go in the pubs with a Gillingham shirt on, going, ‘We won today’.
“We’re going places and there hasn’t been enough for them this season.
“The fans travel unbelievably. Their support is special. I’m really glad they got to see a fantastic goal from a really good player to seal what was a tough, tough season.”
