Kimble...

[EUFC FAN]

Skinner's testimonial.

 

This was an excellent game, up to the last five minutes then Kimble throw his toys out of the pram.

 

Firstly I was located just under the camera location to the left. For those who did not go. Kimble had a shot and hit it high over the bar. Someone to my left made a comment which I did not hear, but I heard Kimble ask what was said. He then came over and basically started swearing and abusing the crowd. Telling them to “back the team” and “that they did not need the likes of us at the club!”

 

With attendances falling through out the year, and loyal Fleet fans (I have been a season ticket hold for the last 3 years and been to every game this season. I was supporting the Fleet when we was in the Ryman league, break while I was at Uni) there for one of the Fleets best ever players, the last thing I want to hear is some twat who been at the club for five minutes telling me I should be backing the club. It’s called banter Kimble. If you have a problem with it then you are in the wrong business and I suggest you resign!

[Andrewc]

I was there today too and I witnesed the incident to which you refer as well. I don't condone what Alan Kimble did today but I do understand his reaction. For the last few weeks of the season there have been some rather nasty comments regarding the football management of the Club from what I'll call the 'Daish out' brigade.

 

Today a specific comment was made to Alan Kimble about getting out and 'taking Daish with him'. Not a nice comment on what was Justin Skinners day. Alan Kimble no doubt helped organise the Wimbledon XI and seemed to be enjoying his game up to the incident

 

We are all human and whilst most of us can take a certain amount of banter for some there comes a point when it all gets too much. It clearly got too much for Alan Kimble today and he reacted in a bad way. Having reacted the way in which he did he then noticed a father and son in front of him and apologised to the boy for his comments. It doesn't excuse his comments and I'm sure that on reflection he wished he hadn't said what he did.

 

That said, I don't think it was appropriate for the person on the terrace to make the comment they did either, whether some consider it banter or not.

 

Let's all get behind the Club instead of bickering and bitching. We're still in the conference for next season and I'm sure all concerned will be doing their utmost to make next season a better one.

[John Pearce]

Quote:

GNFC FAN said:
Kimble quote :

“that they did not need the likes of us at the club!”

Surely he meant that we don't want the likes of him (and Daish) at the club?

[James GNFC]

OK WVN why dont you just own up to who your are with your real name and tell Liam and Alan your comments directly.

[REDolent3]

Agreed what you say about the game GNFC Fan - its a pity there was only a crowd of what I estimate to be about 200 there - certainly there were a few "pro" Skins forum fans missing! Pesonally I do not enjoy these type of games but gave up my Bank Holiday afternoon to attend. Perhaps an evening KO might have boosted attendance?

To the Kimble act this was certainly a reaction to a comment regarding him going with Daish. While I agree with free speech this comment was completely out of place in a game for the benefit of a Club loyal servant & of course as often happens in these events Kimble over-reacted. He did swear & is probably regretting it now but was man enough to apologise to the parent of the young lad. Perhaps he was showing some of the passion (in asking people to get behind them) that people say personnel at the club are missing. Lets hope this does not get blown out of proportion. Anyway a pleasent run-out with Skins getting the winner with a twice taken penalty 10 mins from the final whistle. A couple of the Wimbledon players looked useful - hopefully Daish had a word after the game !

[Slartibartfast]

Crowd was indeed about 200 although about 50 of those were families and friends of the players.

So after all of Skins loyal service only about 150 could be arsed to turn out which surely is the last nail in the coffin of the 'we deserve a better team' brigade.

It was an entertaining afternoon for those that bothered and both of Wimbledons goals were superb as was Macca's. The Fridge looked slim and fitter than I have seen him since the championship team and Jamie Pinnock played like he would walk into our current team. Euell and Perry looked like premiership players and I don't know who the Wimbledon no 7 was or how old he is but he can come and play for us anytime he likes.

[Robbo]

The game was quite enjoyable, great to see Skins get that pen near the end. But I thought Kimble's actions ruined the end and left a sour taste. The idiot who shouted out said something along the lines of 'get him out and take daish with you' right after kimble skyed a shot. Now you don't shout stuff like that out in the middle of a game that's been organised as a send off to one of the clubs best servants. Especially with so few there and the fact that the players can easily hear you! Kimble was understandably p***** off at the remark, but the way he acted was embarrasing tbh. Why come over to the rest of the supporters who will always support whatever team gets put out (most people that slate the team during matches were absent surprise surprise) and start swearing and asking for the person who made the remarks? Sorry, but whatever was said should have been ignored or sorted after the game rather than during it. The game was for Skinns, not to discuss the management of the club. Daish and Kimble really don't help themselves out sometimes, if they want our backing they could start with acting more professional and respectful to the fans that dont shout abuse at them during matches ay?

[Gravesendiron]

There is a time and place for banter like that and today was not one of them.

With 200 fans and no noise you could hear a gnat fart.

I was over the far side where the crap food vans normally are and i heard what was shouted.

I do not blame Kimble for reacting as he is only human although without the swearing.

After the match he went over there with Daish and sorted it out,gave his shirt away,signed autographs and shook hands.

A great day,a good game ruined by a stupid prat on the terraces.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Just felt really sad and embarrassed for Skins, such a poor crowd and dismal, bleak atmosphere. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Pity, because Wimbledon showed some classy moments -, as we did. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Who WAS our right back? We need to sign him right away. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

And wasn't it good to see a Fleet keeper actaully throwing the ball, and a Fleet team trying to spray it around <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[mikefleet]

who won to be manager and come on?

[Hempstead Gaz]

Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned by the board with regards to testamonial games, after the awful attendances at fords and skins matches.

Play then as semi competitive pre season freindlies, preferably on a warm summer evening.

[EUFC FAN]

I to was disapointed in the turn out of Skins. From his notes in the program I suspect that was his last game in the fleet colours. I have never had a problem with his commitment to club and he has always given 110% when I have seen him play. Whether he should have played more this season and the reasons why he was left out is only a question that Dainsh and/or Kimble can answer.

 

As to the idiot in the crowd, then fair enough, that comment was out of order! As I said I did not hear the original comment from the crowd.

 

May be us loyal and dedicated Fleet fans should keep an ear open next season and if anyone hears another Fleet "supporter" being negative, then we should have a go at them and support the players. Kimble is correct we do not need prats like that turning up to the games. I just felt that he went about it all wrong and should have dropped it sooner. I notice the originator of the comment did not have the bottle to debate his comment with Kimble. No suprise there then!

 

On the off chance that Alan Kimble reads these forums then I apologise for calling you a twat above. In hindsight it did show that Alan has passion for the club.

 

Let's get prepared to get behind the team next season and make it the best one in the Conference.

[Hempstead Gaz]

Interestingly, only about 500 at the widely publicised and hugely worthwhile Syko challenge, of which many ex fleet players made their mark.

Makes our 200 seem a little more respectable.

[Slartibartfast]

Paul Sykes's family and Justin Skinner both deserved better, I can't see that one poor turnout makes another one more respectable.

It is I am sure, a mark of general apathy rather than anything personal against either player.

Whenever a player leaves of his own volition he gets slated as disloyal but it seems that loyalty is only expected one way. It is very sad that more people were prepared to boo Mark Bentley on his return for 90 minutes than to cheer Skins.

[kmj]

This was ( within the usual friendly constraints of such games ) a very enjoyable testimonial match which included some fun moments, classy skills and good goals. Well worth the £10 entry for a loyal servant of the Club. I was also disappointed with the attendance. Probably a combination of the Bank Holiday date, fairly late notice of the actual day it was to be played, but most of all good old Gravesend apathy. God knows what a player has to achieve for a team to get a reasonable attendance at one of these matches! I definitely noticed that a number of serial moaners were absent.

 

Regarding the Kimble incident, I thought that there were three stages to this. Firstly, someone called out " Sack him Daish " which was as a result of a wayward shot and was made in good humour. Secondly, although I did not hear anything else said, I noticed A K come over to the Stonebridge Road stand asking for the person who had said something to reveal who he was. He was very persistent. No one did. After the game I was informed that someone had shouted " F... off Kimble and take Daish with you". Thirdly, after the game, both AK and LD walked over to the Stonebridge Road uncovered section and spoke to some of the spectators as they were leaving. LD signed someones Fleet shirt. AK shook hands with someone. They then walked back across the pitch to the main stand.

 

I agree that the abuse given to AK was totally wrong, but he should have risen above this and ignored it given the circumstances of the occasion. Perhaps he feels under pressure? In fact earlier in the game someone had called out to him to have his boots ready for us next season which he laughed off with a jovial remark. In my opinion he still appeared to have the skills required to play the game despite having hung his boots up a while ago now. He had a good game and was in no way in the shadow of some of his more illustrious team members. So it is a shame about the way it ended.

 

Oh and Mikefleet, Jessica was the manager of Skin's G&NFC team. A 100% record so far! Well done to her!

[kmj]

I forgot to mention that one interesting person in attendance today, who I saw chatting to Charlie Mac at halftime, was - Lee Protheroe!

[fleetboy14]

Sad that some prat had to spoil skins day, afraid i was absent today due to family commitments(HONEST). Have to say that i have always found AK very approachable whenever i have asked him questions about the team, also on saturday against Burton, me and a fellow season ticket holder took along our friends 2 boys who had never been to a game before, we asked AK to sign their matchday programme for them, he then asked if the team had signed it, having told him they hadn't he then took it to every player while they were warming up and got them to sign it, thought that was a great gesture and it made the boys day thanx AK.

[Hempstead Gaz]

I actually don't think many see AK as a problem. Sure, he is passionate and shows emotion, even in a kick about. That is a good thing.He WAS wrong, and was a big enough man to apologise.

That counts a lot in my book.

He seems to be tactically aware, too, and has taken to conducting the team warm ups, much as Ade did.

All these things point to a manager in the making if LD is asked to leave or quits.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Fisher let "Fridge" play? Risky given that they play AFC Wimbledon tomorrow in the playoffs (especially as the game was against a Wimbledon XI!!)

[jc]

Quote:

Slartibartfast said:I don't know who the Wimbledon no 7 was or how old he is but he can come and play for us anytime he likes.

Stewart Castledine.