The fixture computer has kindly handed us a trip to the garden of England in late summer. Unfortunately Gillingham is that bit of overgrown hard-standing behind the potting shed.

However, a warm welcome can generally be found amongst the diminutive terraced houses, and none more so than the Will Adams public house tucked away down Saxton Street just off the High Street, where the excellent welcoming atmosphere is matched by the standard of beverage and cheap bar menu.

There are several pubs within a few minutes walk of the ground, with The Livingstone Arms standing out as the away pub of choice. Although often extremely busy the bar-staff remain switched on with service of somewhat more basic brews and sandwiches, not to mention free snacks!. The Livingstone also has the advantage of being adjacent to away end, bookies, and a decent chippy.

For those arriving by train the Britannia offers an immediate if basic opportunity for sustenance and is ok for a swifty in preference to the other pubs at that end of The High St.

If nothing has changed since our last visit then beer is one of many things unavailable to away fans parting with 20 match-day pounds to enter the stadium, the others being a roof or even a stand worthy of the name, or decent toilet facilities. It seems strange that visiting supporters at Priestfield have to put up with these “facilities” year after year considering how well equipped and under-populated the rest of the ground can be.

I once accompanied a disabled supporter in the Medway stand and the facilities were first class, and for run of the mill games like ours I just don’t see why away fans can’t be given a couple of blocks elsewhere ala Rochdale, Orient, Carlisle, Stockport etc.

Shame on you GFC.