Read full-back Matt Fish on the fans, confidence and his new contract
Full-back Matt Fish has been an ever-present in the Gills record breaking start to the season and was rewarded this week with a two year extension to his contract, speaking about his new deal Matt told us, “Obviously I’m very pleased.“The gaffer came to me and offered me a new deal, it gives me a little bit of security and I can concentrate on my football now and just keep doing what I’m doing. I think last season was a bit stop-start for me. I had an injury so I was in and out of the team but I found a bit of form towards the back end of last season.
“I think the fans didn’t know too much about me because of where I’ve come from but I’ve come back this season stronger and sharper. I think there’s still more that I can improve on and I can only get better.”
Matt joined the Gills from non-league Dover Athletic last summer and admits it took time to adjust to the professional game, “I think the tempo of the game is faster and there are better players. Obviously the training side of things takes a while to get used to and seeing the lads every day is a lot different to non-league where you see people twice a week.
“It is a massive difference but there are still good players down at that level but in League Two you’ve got to be more consistent. You can’t just do it over two or three games you’ve got to do it over 10, 12, 15, 20 games a season, you’ve got to be more consistent week in, week out and that is the thing that you have to get used to.
“I want to play at a higher level and I believe I can play at a higher level and hopefully that will be with Gillingham. If I keep doing what I’m doing then there’s no reason why I can’t play higher. I believe in myself that I can and the gaffer has given me the confidence that I can as well.”
Confidence is clearly riding high in the Gills camp and Matt gave us a glimpse into the mood in the dressing room, adding, “We’re a quarter of the way through the season and we’ve lost one game.
“I still think we did well in that game with 10 men and I still think we could have got something out of that game. We don’t feel like we’ll concede and we don’t feel like we’re going to lose games at the moment.
“We’re scoring goals and we’re tight at the back as well, we’re tight as a unit and as a team. The confidence is high and all the boys are working hard in training. We’ve just got to keep doing that and hopefully we’ll stay at the top.”
After five consecutive away wins, Gills travel to Oxford United this weekend and Matt is keen to put on another good performance for the fans, “The fans have been different class this year.
“Even against Rochdale, when we were down to 10 men and losing 2-1 in the second half, they didn’t stop singing. To have the fans go away to Northampton on a wet and windy Tuesday night and cheer the way they were was unbelievable.
“For me personally, hopefully I’ve turned them round and I feel like I’ve got a bit more support back from them as well. Long may that continue because they’ve been great and we should get a good following at Oxford, as well.”