Gravesend Messenger: Fleet Chairman & Chief Exec..

[FleetFanatic]

...were at Priestfield Bank Holiday Monday? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />Supposedly 'spotted' there shortly after 11.30am? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

 

Why, if Scally is supposedly working on his Temple Marsh project & The Fleet on their own project, are any meetings taking place at all? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

 

Although a lot of the article appears to be lifted from the club website statement, that statement was posted before Easter & therefore doesn't tie in with the Priestfield expedition.

 

<img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

[JimGNFC]

Is this what you are referring to Fleet Fanatic?

 

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/sport/default.asp?article_id=14122

 

The media can speculate all they want but IMO its not worth worrying about until it actually happens. It will be interesting to see the fans reactions (both Gills and Fleet) if such plans do evolve however.

 

I'd be interested to hear the Supporters Trusts stance on this at a later date if such plans do develop!

 

 

[Andrewc]

It continues to be front page stuff in this week's Gravesend Reporter as well.

 

[jc]

So Brian says that Paul Scally described Gravesham as 'an attractive location'.

 

Presumably he wasn't talking in terms of its appearance

 

Personally, I hope this whole thing just blows over. A stadium of the size required for a first division club is totally inappropriate for a club of our relatively small size. As mentioned elsewhere (by FleetFanatic I think it was) a team named Gillingham playing in Gravesham is just another example of franchise football.

[UP FLEET]

You can keep your gillingham, cauz we r gravesend and no one likes us.....we dont care

[Richard C]

Without trying to overreact i can only think of massive negatives for us if this were to happen. Big stadium - 1200 fans, no atmosphere, lose games, from heading uphill we would soon run out of fans, cash and eventually a team. We would become Gills reserves..... horrible thoughts.......

[American FLEET FAN No1]

I've asked this question before......so i'll ask it again! Where all of a sudden have the Fleet found the money to even contemplate building a new Stadium?

 

[Student Scum]

Quote:

jc said:A stadium of the size required for a first division club is totally inappropriate for a club of our relatively small size.

and...

Richard C said:Big stadium - 1200 fans, no atmosphere, lose games, from heading uphill we would soon run out of fans, cash and eventually a team.

Sounds a bit like our dear old friends(ahem) down at Central Park doesn't it?
"The Manchester United of Non-League" indeed...PAH!!

[EUFC FAN]

I REALLY hope this does not happen! The one thing I really enjoy about going to GNFC is I can stand and watch my football. I am sorry, but sitting at football match! No can't be doing with that. I assume if a stadium is built the league postion of Gillingham would require it to be all seater and hugh! Think also, the ticket prices will probably go up, up, and away as well!!!

[Alan W (GNFC)]

With the comment on Sittingbourne above, perhaps Mr Scally should consider moving Gills in the opposite direction - after all, Central Park main stadium is currently wasting away - perhaps he could develop that instead?? (Distance from Gillingham to Sittingbourne is, according to ViaMicheli, 11 miles so within Scally's 12 miles radius that I've seen quoted)

[FleetFanatic]

Better still, tell Scally to forget the 12 mile radius & go to Margate - I hear that they are on the look out for a new ground.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Also don't forget that 1200 suporters in a 25,000 stadium would generate the same atmosphere as 200 supporters at Stonebridge Road at present. It would be like a morgue.

Let Mr Scally persue his dream of building an Old Trafford in North Kent, but don't include Fleet.

The best analogy I can think of is Yeovil. They needed a new stadium, built a new one, capacity 8500 with the potential to increase to 12000.

That surely would suffice for us.

However for the next new years, I would be happy for Sonebridge Road to be upgraded; namely, main road terrace built back and up to the fence behind, resurface the hill terrace, and a new main stand with seating for 1500. The old stand used to hold 1300 approx so we do have enough space.

Lastly, put a bit of cover begind the Swanscome goal. Not the entire terrace, but enough to encourage away fans to attend on cold wet winter afternoons.

If we go no further than dreaming the dream, let us at least test the waters and get a price on a project like this.

[smithyman]

Agree with you Gary. Having seen other grounds in the Conference I think Stonebridge Road has the scope to be developed into a good sized ground for our level of football that would be as good as or better than many other grounds.

 

As you say, new main stand, cover over the Swanscombe end, more permanent TV gantry that doesn't obstruct the view from the halfway line (and gets the hole repaired!)and tart up the painting and the roofing. I'd also like to see us improve the state of the toilets. How much all that costs I don't know but it must be cheaper than building a new stadium.

 

Probably a bit late to get all this moving now as a lot of it will have to be carried out in the close season but we could start planning to do it at the end of next season.

[Hempstead Gaz]

I would be happy for it to co-incide with going full time.

The two go to gethether. Improve the the team by going full time (which has already been done) and improve the facilities to generate increased support to pay for full time footy.

At some time in the next 10 years, we surely must make an offer on Stonebridge Road, which due to it's superb location is our best asset.

We are, after all getting 20,000 new people moving in next door shortly.

[FleetFanatic]

Which is why, I believe, offers to buy the ground have been made in recent years but declined by the owners.

[Student Scum]

Well they're not silly are they?

 

"Prime brown belt land; next to a new international rail terminal; good access with superb road links to London and the south-east. Can be developed for housing and/or light industry."

 

They know what they're sitting on....

 

I just hope that this isn't the reason behind Mr Gladwish's interest in our club....

I don't wish to sound like a complete pessimist but remember Tony Lazarou at Enfield - that's all I'm saying.

 

 

[David Holden]

Quote:

I just hope that this isn't the reason behind Mr Gladwish's interest in our club....

I don't wish to sound like a complete pessimist but remember Tony Lazarou at Enfield - that's all I'm saying.

 

Try not to get things out of proportion.

 

Mr Gladwish doesn't have an interest in the club as such. His company are our sponsors, but he does not own any shares or have any say in the running of the club.

[Student Scum]

As Barda said elsewhere

Quote:

Still, it is Friday

So allow me a wild flight of fancy, doom-mongering and generally pointless embellishment!

 

 

[JimGNFC]

There was an interview with Paul Scally tonight on Meridian (I didn't see it - father did).

 

By all accounts they showed a computer generated model of the stadium. The proposals include a Casino and 40,000 seats! So we can all play spot the Fleet Fan!

 

It was indicated there had been some initial contact with Gravesham Council but no further comment was made.

 

Possible sites under consideration aside from the Temple Marsh site include the outskirts of Gravesend (Higham Way) - towards the Old Sea School I would imagine, which would make sense given the land available there for building it.

 

Don't take this as gospel as I heard it through "word of mouth" but it gives you an idea of whats planned and potentially where.

[Stu M]

Did anyone read the letters in the Reporter and think that the Fleet-supporting 'Len' guy from Vigo who enthused about two clubs in the borough was probably Melody Ryall desperately hoping to up circulation by having the Gills to cover...?

 

And as for the other fella going on about how great it would be for the town to have a proper footy team like the Gills in town... oh just f*** off, I thought, and get yourself down to the football town that exists in the town already. After all, in two years, there might only be on division between us and the Gills.