Diego_Sideburns Posted November 2, 2009 Share Posted November 2, 2009 (edited) NOTE: This information may be out of date in an ever-changing world. The Priestfield Stadium, MEMS Priestfield Stadium, Redfern Avenue, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 4DDAway fans are housed in part of the Brian Moore temporary stand. It is a good size and high, with unobstructed views of the pitch, and there are good permanent facilities behind the stand, including the usual hot food. However the stand is uncovered so, although the Club hands out free rain covers, be prepared to get wet!Disabled facilities:http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/fans/disabled-supporters/How to get there: By Road: From the North: Exit A2 at junction 1 (M2) onto the A289. Follow signs for Medway Tunnel. After about three miles take the second exit off the roundabout, again following signs towards Medway Tunnel. At the next roundabout take the first exit. At the next roundabout take the first exit into the Tunnel. On exit follow the A289 over two sets of traffic lights before coming to the Strand roundabout. Take the third exit onto Church Street. Drive up the hill and continue over the level crossing. Take the second left after the crossing and follow Linden Drive to the end. Turn right into Redfern Avenue, where you will see the Stadium on your right. From the South: Exit the M2 at junction 4 onto the A278. Follow signs for Gillingham driving over two roundabouts before taking the first exit off the third roundabout onto the A2. Continue until you come to the next roundabout (Premier Inn to your left) and take the third exit onto the A289. At the first roundabout take the first exit onto Cornwallis Avenue. Continue along Cornwallis Avenue over the traffic lights before turning right into Toronto Road. Take the second left off Toronto into Redfern Avenue, where you will see the Priestfield Stadium on your left. Where to park: There is a residents only parking scheme in operation around the ground, with penalties ranging from fines to removal of vehicles. The restricted roads to avoid are: Balmoral Road, Windsor Road, Ferndale Road, Linden Avenue, Priestfield Road, Gordon Road, Livingstone Road, Coulman Street, Beaconsfield Avenue, Harold Avenue, School Lane, Toronto Road, Redfern Avenue and parts of Sunnymead Avenue. Traffic Wardens can be found in numbers on matchdays so it is strongly recommended you choose alternative parking areas. Suggested alternatives include: Furthest part of Sunnymead Avenue, Chicago Avenue, Canadian Avenue, Valley Road, Sturdee Avenue, Woodlands Road, Carlton Avenue, Alexandra Avenue, Larkfield Avenue, Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue. Car parking is available for both home and away supporters at the Sikh Temple in Franklin Room, a short walk away from the ground. There is space for 70 cars at a cost of £3 per, and the car park opens at 1pm on Saturdays and 6.30pm for midweek matches. NOTE: As the Temple is a religious site, no alcohol, smoking or meat is allowed in the grounds. Edited 28.9.15. Woodlands Primary School has offered the use of its car parks for supporters' use. Its 100-plus spaces will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at £2 each from 1.30pm for every Saturday match. Staff will be on hand to assist with the arrangements and will be locking the gates at 6pm.By train: There are four trains per hour departing from London Victoria Station. Two fast trains complete the journey in 50 minutes departing at five past the hour and 25 minutes to the hour. Two slower trains leave Victoria at 10 past the hour and 20 to the hour, taking one hour and 10 minutes. There are two trains per hour departing from London Charing Cross, departing at 27 minutes past the hour and three minutes to the hour, taking one hour and 10 minutes. Times are approximate and may vary from weekdays to weekends. On leaving Gillingham station turn left on to Balmoral Road. Walk for about five minutes down Balmoral Road until you come to the end. Straight opposite you will see Priestfield Road. The away turnstiles are located at the top of Priestfield Road. The walk from the station should take no longer than 10 minutes.By official coach: All coaches should set down supporters at the Cronings Yard car park which is situated in Railway Street. It is a five-minute walk from here back along Gillingham Road to the away supporters entrance at the Priestfield Road Turnstile. Where to drink:The ground is less than a mile from the town centre, where there are a several pubs. The Will Adams is in the good beer guide, serves good cheap food and has a very friendly crowd of football locals happy to indulge in friendly banter.The Southern Belle opposite the railway station also has a cafe located next door, and the Ship on the Lower Rainham Road has been recommended by visiting fans.The Livingstone Arms on Gillingham Road is situated approximately 100 yards from the away turnstiles, and has a friendly atmosphere. This pub has a beer garden, and is popular with both away and home supporters. On our last visit the landlord permitted customers to eat in the pub fish and chips bought across the road.Away fans should avoid the Cricketers pub in Sturdee Avenue.Where to eat:Across the road from the Livingstone Arms is the Gillingham Fish Bar. There are four or five chairs in there but it is mainly a take away chip shop.There are plenty of restaurants and takeaways to choose from in the town centre, with a selection located on the High Street if you fancy something a little more substantial to eat.Facilities nearby:There is also a small Co-op on Inagram Road between Priestfield Road and Linden Road selling the normal range of snacks, confectionery items and household goods. Edited September 28, 2015 by Diego_Sideburns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaticsLee Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 is anyone driving down who i can get a lift off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted November 6, 2013 Author Share Posted November 6, 2013 This was posted on here by a fan of Gills back in 2009. Surrounding area.You know (those that are old enough) the picturesque portrayal of Kent as the Garden of England in the Darling Buds of May? Remember? Del Boy and Catherine Zeta whatsname? Well this is not exactly like that. This is a slightly less scenic region with not so many apple orchards and a lot more piss stained mattresses lying outside the terraced houses. Indeed, about 4 years ago the Guardian (or was it the Observer?) voted us “England's crappiest football ground” in their survey. (Nice to win something).Worst groundIn fairness the bits of the ground they didn’t like have gone, and the article focuses more on the actual surrounding area which is not exactly Alderley Edge but there’s not much we can do about that.ParkingPriestfield is in the middle of a residential area a bit like at the start of Corrie. There is residents parking only within about 1/2 a mile in every direction and the wardens are very active on match days. There are a couple of matchday car parks near the ground. The closest is at the Sikh Temple (that's not a pub name btw) which is only 150 yards from the Livvy and the Away end.ParkingThe ‘away’ pubThe Livvy (Livingstone Arms). Still regarded as the away pub. Contrary to another message board the police are not eager to shut the pub down on match days. It is of course handy for them to know where the main bulk of the away drinkers are and if the weather's decent and fans are drinking outside they (the police) will happily hang around and have a chat with you. The old landlady Michelle used to put spuds and sausages on the bar but I’m not sure if the new guv'nor (Mark) still does this as I get in at about 2:15 (Sat) by which time it had all gone anyway. They always have plenty of staff on pre-match so even if the pub is busy you won't wait long. The bar ceiling is covered in football shirts, some retro Gills, but mostly oppo, which have been donated by bladdered away fans in celebration of a victory at Priestfield (there are quite a lot). In fairness many of the shirts were yellowed with fag smoke and the new folk have redecorated. There are 4-5 tellys dotted around showing the early Prem/FA Cup game (Saturdays). The pub is just 200 yards from the away turnstiles. Mark is a decent fella who likes to look after the football crowd on a Saturday. The Morecombe lot thought he was great and wrote him up on their forum.The LivvyGrubThere is one chippy directly opposite the pub and another chippy come kebabby just 40 yards down road towards the away end. The chippys are geared up for match days and if there are a dozen people queuing out the door, you'll still get your pie within 3-4 minutes.Away EndIt is a temporary affair the like of which you see on the 18th green at the Open. According to many visiting fans forum it will apparently fall down if you fart. It has been in place for at least 4 seasons and has yet to fall down. In this time it's highly probable that many fans have farted, especially Swindon who are very tatty folk. Notably last season, it was completely full of Villa fans who, when they scored from their dodgy penalty, started a mass bouncy thing in an apparent concerted effort to break the bugger. It didn’t flinch. As of this season you no longer have to share this stand with home fans. They have been moved elsewhere (unfortunately). Those who enjoy spending 90 minutes gurnning at oppo fans and giving the winker sign (you know who you are) now have to do it over the length of the pitch. However, your closest oppo fans are in the corner to your left, but it is the family stand so apart from the odd throwback you may experience little resistance.As reported there is no roof. Today it’s dry, Saturday? Who knows? If it does rain, the cabin attendants (or whatever we call the arseholes now) will wander along the front hurling free 'rain-macs' amongst you. These are of questionable quality and there is no known scientific instrument in existence that can measure material so thin. If as forecast, it is raining and a bit windy, please bear with us as marvel at your vain attempts to put these body-johnnys on. Given the inconsistency in the quality of the football of late, it is often the highlight of the day watching you lot struggling like a bunch of demented chimps to adorn your complimentary ‘anoraks’, only to emerge moments later, with something resembling a cling-film scarf flapping in the breeze.Please Note, adults should make a hash of their own rain macs before assisting children to make a hash of theirs.Opposite you is the Rainham End, traditionally the singers and the shouters. However, at the moment, unless we have just equalised against a Prem side in the cup (that’ll be twice in five years) we are taking a bit of time to get going....Singing/Chanting. Please do, but try not to spark up suddenly as this may startle the old folk in the Gordon Road Stand to your right and they might knock their flasks off their blankets.If you're struggling for lyrical inspiration, then the staples are generally, "You live in a caravan", "you're just a bunch of pikeys", or "the wheels on your house go round and round". If it helps we will feign surprise at your originality and clap you with the utmost sincerity. We may respond by suggesting you resume the seated position and refrain from continued chanting or we might just call you “dirty Northern barstewards”. Frankly creativity is a bit low at the moment.Stewards. Either totally ineffectual and invisible, or panic stricken over the top, “sit down, right I’ve told you once, you’re out” depending on the time of the month. Same for us come to think of it....... Enjoy the game. Safe trip down and up. This is what he means in the bit about the free 'rain-macs'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opinions4u Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 (edited) If you're booking travel and hotels please use PlayerShare WebShop and then a percentage of your spend will support PlayerShare and Latics. Trains: http://www.spendandraise.com/xtra/shop/goto.php?rb=3-3892 Hotels: http://www.spendandraise.com/xtra/shop/goto.php?rb=3-3617 Poncho: http://www.spendandraise.com/xtra/shop/goto.php?rb=3-1861 where if you type "poncho" into the search engine you should be able to get two for £1.60 post free. Edited November 6, 2013 by opinions4u Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Sinnott Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 Advice for anyone travelling : don't waste your time. It's a :censored:hole... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted November 6, 2013 Author Share Posted November 6, 2013 Advice for anyone travelling : don't waste your time. It's a :censored:hole... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bristolatic Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Just to confuse things a bit more, I've booked our train tickets (through Playershare, of course) and trains are also every 30 minutes from St Pancras International (22 mins past and 8 mins to the hour). They're 20 mins past and 10 mins to the hour from Gillingham. Journey time is 46 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bristolatic Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 (edited) Advice for anyone travelling : don't waste your time. It's a :censored:hole... I'm not going for the scenery. And having lived just up the road in Strood and worked in Chatham for a number of years in the late 60s and early 70s, a fair bit of Gillingham wasn't exactly a beauty spot then. It was quite nice at The Strand down by the water, though, but it might not be now. Edited November 7, 2013 by Bristolatic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rudemedic Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 The new train service from St Pancras, is related to the train service that was in use for the Olympics I think, and therefore may not have been running when Mr Sideburns wrote his OP several years ago. It is clearly the best way to get there via train for anyone travelling from up North. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 The new train service from St Pancras, is related to the train service that was in use for the Olympics I think, and therefore may not have been running when Mr Sideburns wrote his OP several years ago. It is clearly the best way to get there via train for anyone travelling from up North. I edited the OP two days ago and the train info was taken direct from the current Gillingham FC Official Site. I have informed the club of the information provided by Bristolatic to enable it to update its site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laticdickovarmy Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 That looks like what the new stand will probably end up like here... If ever built Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opinions4u Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 If you're booking travel and hotels please use PlayerShare WebShop and then a percentage of your spend will support PlayerShare and Latics. Trains:http://www.spendandraise.com/xtra/shop/goto.php?rb=3-3892 Hotels:http://www.spendandraise.com/xtra/shop/goto.php?rb=3-3617 Poncho:http://www.spendandraise.com/xtra/shop/goto.php?rb=3-1861 where if you type "poncho" into the search engine you should be able to get two for £1.60 post free. Use these links if you're going on public transport or staying over! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevey62 Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 the Livingston arms is closed at the moment not sure when it will be reopened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_headen Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 the Livingston arms is closed at the moment not sure when it will be reopened. Apparently it's been reopened - the landlord posted on the OASIS section of this forum, so will be heading there. They'll be showing the Rugby too, if that's of any interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laticfanatic1 Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I remember a few years ago can't remember the year but we won 3-0 I think just after christmas and it absolutely pissed it down for 90 mins, had a nice 8 hour coach journey home, :censored:hole and awful away stand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaddymatt Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 We're in the exec box tomorrow with a gills supporting mate - give us a wave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opinions4u Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Enjoy the journey folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singe Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 Just to note that the Sikh Temple no longer offers parking to the football supporters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omar Don't Scare Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Where is the Port Vale version? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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