FACT – December the twenty-sixth is a football day! Not only is it a football day, some argue, and I think I’m included in that number that it is THE football day of this and every season!

Forget what the Premier League said this year that the full programme will be on the twenty-seventh, Boxing Day football is one of the few traditions that we still truly have in England. 

Crowds are traditionally one of the biggest of the season and the answer to why is simple – people are stuck indoors on Christmas Day and want to be released, and where better than to get rid of your Christmas tensions than to shout at Bert for horrendous defending or missing the sitter, or even to Uncle Tom who got a black uniform from Santa and you encourage to go back to the old peoples home – politely of course!

And so, the bossman turned round to me and knowing that for some obscure reason, the Isthmian League clubs decided against playing on Boxing Day, said he wanted me to head to MEMS Priestfield for a look at Boxing Day football from the stands/terraces!

No great hardship as I have spent many Christmas’ in the past at Priestfield – the joyous height to the despairing lows; victory over Derby County after being behind with only ten men after your skippers had enough of “another” dreadful official and throws his shirt at him before heading for the tunnel, to another Boxing Day when Bury – yes Bury from Greater Manchester were the visitors. Now whoever Bury must have upset that day giving them a trip to Kent when most Clubs were just heading round the corner, we will never know, but one thing I do know is that that afternoon they took all of their Turkey temper out on the home side winning 4-1!

And so, to Boxing Day 2025 and part one of the double Christmas home header with not one but two former managers in opposition as well as a former trophy winning skipper in the Cambridge dug out! Full play to the faithful for the great welcome back we all gave to Neil Harris – a man who’s sacking Brad Gallinson called at the time one of the toughest things he’s ever had to do.

As the two sides lined up on half way, it occurred to me that there were a number of empty seats around home base – the “T” in The Gills that’s spelt into the seats in the Gordon Road Stand, and most of the row in front of us was empty too… that said I don’t think that I would want to sit in front of me either when I’m watching my team at Priestfield! 

To the game itself, and the Gills were still in the dressing rooms when Cambridge’s number nine netted from twelve inches – well maybe it was two feet – out. But the defending??? Well, no wonder Priestfield went quiet after such a raucous rendition of “The Last Waltz” as the game kicked off.

Their goal came from a free-kick and as someone behind me was heard to utter, “that was a goal from the second the free-kick went into the box!” The set-piece to the back post wasn’t defended at all allowing the easiest of knock downs and the striker was so alone in the six-yard box with the keeper on walk-about.

The game progressed as did the number of families heading for the concourses increased markedly as half time approached – even heard one lady ask, “Where is everyone going?” Didn’t have the heart to say, its coffee/beer/burger/hot dog time, just in case the lady missed anything.

But who was I kidding as the game drifted towards the break and the half time entertainment was as bizarre are the Gills first half performance as three “lucky” soles tried to roll a ball through a blow-up goal in front of the Rainham End which was barely big enough for the ball to go through! Needless to say, no one was successful, although the first fan to have a go did actually hit the goal!

The second period action began at the Town End – the opposite end to where we were and the Cambridge fans seemed pretty convinced that they should have had a penalty as one of their number went down. Nothing given by Mr. Nair the official.

Elliott Nevitt woke the Rainham End up from its slumber with a low drive that didn’t miss by much but when an awful pass out of defence was returned by a bobbling Cambridge shot, the Main Stand blew just enough to get the ball onto a post.

We were then – sorry the royal “we” meaning the Gills – awarded our own penalty following a super free-kick move that saw marauding captain Amani Little sent sprawling leaving referee Nair in no doubt.

Have to say from my angle square on, thought it was soft, but others who I saw afterwards in the Rainham End and on the opposite side of the pitch said it was a stone bonking penalty. Anyhow Robbie McKenzie stepped up when others thought Bradley Dack may have taken it and the Cambridge keeper pulled off a really good save low to his right.

Thing is popularity levels in football can change with a kick of the ball and the keeper Jake Eastwood went from hero to pantomime villain whilst Max Clark went the other way after being out jumped for Cambridge’s goal early in the piece.

For some reason, Eastwood went missing for the corner and the ball literally hit Clark and went in for the Gills deserved equaliser… I swear I heard the lady behind me ask “what happened?” but I didn’t reply as we were too busy jumping up and down celebrating.

Our blue clad heroes then went agonisingly close to winning the game as the keeper made a brilliant save to keep out Dacky’s low drive after Bradley had been well found by a long Remeao Hutton throw, and the Dacky was denied again from a free-kick as the visitors in the end were hanging on for a point that they had bossed at the break.

Now I often wonder about sponsors player of the match awards and usually the reaction of the crowd is telling, so when poor Max Clark’s name was called out for the honour, there were “murmuring’s” in the crowd – OK he had scored our goal, but even Max himself would have been surprised to get the award after a slow first half… personally Josh Andrews or Andy Smith were literally head and shoulders over the rest, but what do I know?

Honours even then and for the Gills one defeat in nine games which is decent enough but on the other side of the coin, Gareth Ainsworth side haven’t won for seven games either!

Ah well, onto Christmas part two on Monday night as Colchester United head our way… until then!