Gillingham head to Bristol Rovers this weekend looking to break their recent winless run with Seb Palmer-Houlden set to play his first ever game at the Memorial Ground despite being Bristol born. 

Speaking to KSN this week, the tall striker confirmed, “No I have never played on the ground, but was with the club as a very young kid. I left and went to play for a local side before I was picked up by City, and this week will be the first time I have played against Rovers at their place.” 

Palmer-Houlden, who scored the Gills equaliser that forced the fateful FA Cup shoot out at Newport last weekend, told us that the return of boss Gareth Ainsworth to MEMS Priestfield has been a massive boost for everyone.

“It’s great to have the Gaffer back – the buzz he brings is simply amazing. Dobbo (Richard Dobson) has been brilliant for us the time he’s been out, but it’s really good to have him back.” 

“Some things are bigger than football and his health matters a lot – it is so good just to see him and to know that he has recovered to the point he has, as we know that he has had a few bumps on the road to recovery; to see him in the flesh was just amazing, and you can feel the little bit of a buzz from everyone just to see him for the first time in what four weeks!”

“It is so good to see him – we didn’t know how long it was going to be; we only wanted him to come back when he was comfortable with it. Dobbo has been brilliant for us and especially for me working with ball striking and I think that was a big part of my goal at the weekend!”  

“It was great for me on a personal note to get a goal again, but we shouldn’t have put ourselves in the position of penalties as we had a few chances in the game itself. But at the end of the day, it’s in the past now and we look forward to the weekend now.” 

“The mood in the camp is very good really even with the results. Even last Saturday I thought we were very good and it came down to a penalty shoot-out where it’s in the lap of the gods and it’s unfortunate that we go out on that, but it makes us look forward to the League.” 

“We’ve had loads of shots each game and have just been unfortunate, I think we just have to stay positive and hopefully this weekend we can get a result.”

“But it is so good to see the Gaffer – obviously he’s been through a massive procedure on his heart and just to see him now coming out the other side and just to see him here is wonderful!” 

Over a thousand Gills fans are thought to be making the trip down the M4 this weekend and Palmer-Houlden paid tribute saying, “The following we have had all year has been amazing, they have been brilliant for us.”

“To get a result down in Bristol that I know is a long journey would be brilliant if we could get the points and get back on the winning run and get some momentum going forward.” 

“It’s good to get back into the atmosphere that the Gaffer brings and hopefully a few weeks down the line he will be back on the sidelines himself.”

“It all comes in time, and we just need to make sure that he is completely right, and we will go from there!”