News
Fans go back to blue and black
Published by Simon Head on February 6, 2010
A group of Gillingham Fans has started a campaign to bring back the club’s much-loved black and blue striped kit.
We caught up with the group’s creator, Andy Newman, who explained his thoughts behind the campaign.
“It started out as a bit of fun,” Newman explained.
“However, it’s something I’ve felt very strongly about for a few years now – and it would appear that I am not alone.”
Newman’s Facebook group, called Black’n'blue Gills fans already has more than 200 members and features new kit designs reprising the club’s 1998-1999 home kit of black and blue stripes, as well as the club’s old centenary away kit of black and white stripes.
Another group member, Gills fan Sam Whitham, has integrated the designs into the latest Pro Evo Soccer video game to illustrate how the new kits could look in action.
The black and blue striped kit was hugely popular at the time and has been linked with happier, more successful times at the club. It’s something that Newman hopes the club will consider reintroducing, if only to help give the club its own identity.
“We started playing in a new black & blue home strip, which coincided with what was arguably the most successful period in the Gills long, and generally turgid, history,” he said.
“At last we had our own special identity, with home and away strips unique to The Gills (and the two Milan clubs!).”
According to Newman, the black and blue kit helped give Gillingham its own identity, combining the club’s original New Brompton colours of black and white with the modern-day colours of all blue.
It also meant that the Kent side weren’t simply another side to play in all blue shirts.
Fans seemed to revel in the fact that their kit was a little different from the norm. It seemed almost every Gills fan at Priestfield owned a black and blue striped shirt in the late 90s and the kit even had its own chant, “It’s just like watching Milan!”
Newman has since been in touch with the club, who have indicated the chairman may be open to fan input with regard to the kit and other club-related issues.
As a result Newman has put together a fan survey, which he asks all Gills fans to complete so he can present the results to the club and hopefully encourage them to start to build better relationships with the fans in the months and years to come.
To take part in the survey, CLICK HERE.
Also, you can discuss your thoughts about how you would like to improve matters at the club (as well as suggestions for the Gills365 website) on “The Gills365 Wish List” thread at the top of the Gills365 Forums. CLICK HERE
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