Supporters join Gills coaching staff for a training day
Prize winners David Wells and Roy Vesey joined Martin Allen and his backroom staff on Tuesday for a behind the scenes experience with the club.
David and Roy, both of which lifelong Gillingham supporters, were invited in to Martin Allen’s office at 9.30am before then being taken to training where they watched the players being put through their paces, and David was able to take part in the opening warm-up which was taken by John Schofield and James Russell.
Following training they headed off with the players for a cycling session before returning to Priestfield for lunch. After which they had a brief chat with the management staff prior to leaving the ground.
Talking to the club website David and Roy talked us through their experience.
“It’s been superb, 30 years plus as a Gillingham supporter and it’s the first time I have ever had anything like this,” David said.
“I was like a kid before Christmas on Monday night. I couldn’t wait.
“You can only see a certain amount from the terracing on a Saturday or a Tuesday night – you can work out who the leaders are, but when you actually see them train and on the bikes afterwards you can see the ones who lead the way.
“It was hard work for me – the legs were a bit jelly after that but I wasn’t going to let on, I made it up the stairs without falling down!
“We both played Sunday league Football and of course you have a rough idea when you go training and then play a game but it’s such a well-oiled machine from what we have seen.
“Everything is planned out, it’s all drilled down and everyone knows what they are doing.”
Roy added: “I won it as one of the raffle prizes at Martin Allen’s sportsman’s dinner back in November. It was a really enjoyable day.
“You get to see a bit more of what is going on and some insight from behind the scenes.
“We are very fortunate to have had the opportunity. He always found time to talk – with a big weekend coming up he still found plenty of time.
“Thank you to everyone and for Martin for putting in his time and we both appreciated it.”
To read up on how fellow prize winner Rob Maddams got on with his `manager for the day` experience on Saturday click here.