The Gate / The Blues

[Jeff Trice]

Am I the only person who hates it when MFC are referred to as 'The Blues' ? Quite probably but I'd like to know when that nickname was switched - we've been 'The Gate' as far back as the 1930's at least. The kit gradually changed from white shirts to blue in the late 1980's but it's only relatively recently that 'The Blues' started being slipped into match reports etc. Admittedly not the most important thing in the world but as I've got a bit of an interest in the club's heritage / history I don't like seeing something traditional being changed for no apparent reason, unless it's just because there's no generic awful football song called 'Gate, Gate, Gate'.

[michael]

I mainly agree-with the exception that i do like our signature tune-blues,blues blues.

 

My main 'gripe' is over the shirts as i am similarly of the 'mainly white shirt' and blue shorts era;and i would like to see a bit more white re-introduced to the kit.

 

Do you think there is an element of incraesing the amount of blue as ramsgate increased the amount of red ?

In the sixties- were ramsgate similarly red shirts and white shorts as opposed to all red of more recent years ?

 

On the other hand-maybe i'm just stuck in a time warp ?

[SteveB]

I am with you here. Although I cannot explain why but it annoys me when I hear the name 'The Blues' and if I use anything it is 'Gate'. In the Ryman League handbook our nickname is down as 'The Gate'

I could be wrong (and often am) but I do think that it started around or just after the Link Music era when the 'Theme Tune' started being played. On this subject I have to disagree with MM. I really, really do not like the theme tune (and I know that I may be in the minority here) as I think it has probably more than run it's course. On top of that I almost shudder when I hear the 'Oh City' bit in it that reminds me that it is actually a Birmingham City song and the fact that it does no justice to the original song that it samples (rips-off)also bothers me!

I would write a new one but it would be rubbish!

Steve

PS. When I started this quick reply I never realised the rant I would go into!

[Drummer]

I personally would like to see the re-introduction of white shorts and if possible the old style blue and white hooped socks.

 

Re the Ramsgate red kit; my recollection is that Walter Rickett introduced the all red kit around 1958 when he virtually changed things around completely from the old Jimmy Blair days. I think that his team included people like Phil Winfield and Tommy Marshall then.

 

His red kit was pre-Liverpool as at around 1958 they were still wearing white shorts.

[JeremyJacobs]

Prefer the white shirts and blue shorts and blue socks of the 60's and 70's

[Wellsie]

The "Blues" in match reports is bound to be me, mixing up references to Margate, Gate and the Blues within the text to avoid one or the other being repeated too much. Although I do agree with your "not the most important thing in the world" point Geoff.

 

As for the signature song, even though it is a remodelling of the Birmingham song, I mainatin that having it differentiates us from most of our opponents who just put on someone's favourite track from Now album each week. Signature tunes for most senior clubs become part of their evolving tradition over time. I'm also an Evertonian, so the Z Cars theme had particular resonance with me, for example.

 

I reckon you highlighted the tipping point - late 1980s.

[Cookie]

The "Singing the blues" MUST stay i.m.o. As wellsie says it differentiates us from the rest & I for one just luv it when it plays.(louder please Wellsie).

Who cares what words are within it.You have to listen very very carefully to fully hear all the words anyway.

Just hearing "Blues Blues Blues" is ample enough to warm my day prior to the match & I would hope it does the players too.

As for the shirts I would prefer the old style of the white/blue band across the middle but on the whole yes, more white would be nice.

The "Gate", the "Blues", its all the the same as far as I am concerned. The "Gate" however will always be our true nickname though.

[michael]

seconded

[Pagey]

thirded

[Iris's Tea Hut]

Fourthereded.

 

As for the blues / 'gate issue, I hadn't noticed it, but before my exile they were always the 'gate, and yet since my return, I use both freely and equally. I also use 'les bleus' in a light hearted context when we play good passing football along the floor!

 

While I prefer the 'gate, I can't see me trying to make a determined effort to stop the blues reference. I think it may have come about with bringing kids now - its an easy distinction to make for them.

 

Before the exile, whenever i came to matches with friends from out of the area it became a standing joke for them when we shouted 'up the gate', they would follow with 'close the gate', 'shut the gate', 'the gate are swinging now' etc like a bunch of p1ss-taking fleet street headline writers. I won't even start with the 'come on the 'gate'. Bloody students!

[Coffin Ender]

There is a tendancy in modern football to have bland generic nicknames instead of traditional ones. Reading, who used to be the Biscuitmen, are now the Royals. Possibly this might be a marketing thing, or just a reflection of changes in local industry. Nicknames should be as unique as possible in my view.

 

Anyway, a German band called Agonoize made a record called Open The Gate. That could be our run-out music. Their other songs include Suicide Commando and Distorted Reality which is quite appropriate.

 

[seasidesteve]

tommy marshall was a margate all time great i never knew he played for the other side

[Jeff Trice]

If only there was a website where you can find out that kind of thing...

[BlueGate Alan]

Just what I thought Jeff

[Drummer]

A glance on Jeff's excellent site will also reveal that other Margate players, Terry Joyce, Bryan Clifton and Cyril Jeans to name but three, also crossed from Ramsgate to Margate.

[seasidesteve]

well how about that you live and learn dont you

[Iris's Tea Hut]

Originally Posted By: Jeff Trice

If only there was a website where you can find out that kind of thing...

LOL!!! Morale-boosting for you, eh?

[Guernsey Tom]

Does it really matter, we are the gate and we play in blue so either or both is fine by me and the Blues blues blues theme is the only constant with the Conference days and today, keep it and make it louder

[seasidesteve]

sorry geoff ive no time for trivia

[blueblood]

I seem to remember a meeting of supporters in the club house when, the club asked the supporters present if they would like to have the 1st team shirt (for the return to Hartsdown) in black and amber or, blue and white. The vote, I believe was for blue and white, although that particular shirt was rejected as it had "to much white".