Good afternoon Ladies and Gents, boys and girls and welcome back to Priestfield as we host our friends and rivals from the West Country in a game that is significant for both Clubs. Bristol Rovers are seeking to put a lean spell behind them and push for a play-off place, while we ourselves are seeking to build on last Saturday's great performance at Yeovil which saw us return to Kent with a point in a game that might have been fairer to us on a different day.

Fairness or fortune have not been plentiful in our respect this season, especially with the abundance of injuries we have suffered forcing the Manager to constantly shuffle the pack on team selection. However it has been more than pleasing to see how the squad has adapted and, with one or two exceptions in so far as team performances have been concerned, the team have generally played well for most of the season thus far.

Like many supporters in the Stadium today, I was saddened at the personal verbal attacks aimed at our Manager and certain players during, and at the end of our last home game against Tranmere Rovers. I fully accept that the frustrations we all suffer when things aren't going so well on the pitch can lead to random comment, but it disappoints me when our own supporters turn against a fellow human being who, at the end of the day, is just trying to do a difficult job in the best way he can, for the benefit of the Club that he is charged with.

I find it even more shameful when I receive abusive texts and messages from a few brave souls, so brave they can't speak to me personally on the matter, who suggest the Manager should lose his job due to poor results and performances. What I find staggering is that there is probably not a person in the Stadium today that has not gone through a period at work where things have simply piled up and not gone right, despite all the efforts made by the individual. In those circumstances would it be fair for the boss to come along and fire the person on the spot, or should the boss try and help the individual through the tricky period so that the better times ahead are more rewarding.

I accept that ultimately, if the feeling exists that an individual can take the team no further, despite their best efforts, then a different scenario may be considered as indeed has been the case in the past. But in our current situation there have been no such thoughts and our Manager has my full support and confidence, as indeed he should enjoy from everyone that supports the Club and has an interest in the team doing well.

The fact remains that to have a successful Club it requires a joint effort between those employed by the business and those that pay hard earned cash to support that Club, week in and week out. If either side fails to do their respective jobs then the model fails or at best struggles. It therefore can't have escaped anyone's attention that the stadium in recent games has been quieter than usual, more nervous and tense than usual, with less laughter and character.

Before the 'we can only react to the way the team is playing' brigade jump out of their prams, it does of course follow that the team feels the ambience in and around the arena and their game and confidence can be affected in a positive, or of course, negative manner depending on the mood of the fans. Now I'm not blaming the fans for stray passes, missed chances etc, but I am very much saying that when the crowd performs, then generally, so does the team and the opposite is also generally true.

We are lucky at this Club that on our day we have amongst the best fans at home, and for sure away, than most teams in our division and my plea therefore is please recognise that the team, the Manager and all the staff behind the scenes are working very hard to bring success to this Club and they feel great pain when they experience an unhappy crowd, and a crowd that at the moment they feel are not behind them. You are great supporters and I hope today, when the team most needs you, you can stand up and be counted, and before our Safety Officer bends my ear, I would ask that you stand up whilst sitting down, if you get my point.

Finally a big welcome to all our friends from Bristol Rovers, welcome back home also, and at long last, to Chris Dickson who has joined us until the season end, and welcome back our injured players such as Garry Richards, Rene Howe and belatedly Danny Jackman.

Get behind the boys today and let's make Priestfield rock

Up the Gills
Paul D. P. Scally
Chairman