Time For A Change At Vital

After very nearly six years, this will be the final article I publish on Vital Gillingham.

I don’t wish to go into the reasons on such a public forum, but fear not – it is good news for me.

It’s certainly been a rollercoaster over the past six years – I took over the site just after Neale Cooper’s departure in 2005, with Ronnie Jepson already in place as the replacement.

The first match report I did for the site was of a 3-0 win over Port Vale – which seems a lifetime ago.

The Jepson era was, by and large, disappointing, but at least we were in League One…

He departed in September 2007, and after a brief caretaker spell under Iffy Onuora which included the worst performance I’ve ever seen, Mark Stimson was appointed in November 2007.

Stimson was a man who divided opinion, but I personally was always a fan – even though he was unable to prevent our relegation in May 2008.

The next season didn’t start badly, but a 7-0 hiding at Shrewsbury left Stimson under fire.

He turned it round though, and won promotion at Wembley the following May with a 1-0 win against the same opponents.

2009/10 was an odd season – promotion form at home, relegation form away – and unfortunately the latter prevailed and we were relegated again.

There was nowhere to go for Stimson and he left, with Andy Hessenthaler – who had left the club not long after I started the site – back as manager.

Last year we just missed out on the play-offs, and this year we’re in a similar position so far. Can we kick on? I truly hope so.

I will always support the Gills and I hope that my successor on this site has a promotion to report on this season!

I would also like to wish Vital, particularly Jonathan, Andy and Rug, all the very best for the future.

And finally, and most important of all, a massive thank you to Chris Dicketts, who has been my right-hand man on this site for longer than I can remember – we met through this site and I now consider him a good mate. I genuinely couldn’t have done this without him. Thanks also to Rob Richardson for doing the home reports over the past few years.

And that, my friends, is that.

Up the Gills!