Gillingham boss Martin Allen plans to have a fun Christmas but still has the Barnet game on his mind
Gillingham manager Martin Allen admits Boxing Day’s clash with
Barnet will still be on his mind amidst the Christmas Day
traditions.
The Gills were without a game on Saturday, due to a
waterlogged pitch at York, but his side will be back in action when
League 2 strugglers Barnet head to Priestfield.
Allen, who had had three spells as manager of Barnet, will hope
his side can maintain their five point lead at the top of the
table.
But before that game, he’ll have plenty to keep himself
occupied.
Allen, who allowed his players to have Christmas Day with their
families, said: “I will probably wake up as I normally on
Christmas Day at 6.30am and I will probably sneak out the house and
play golf somewhere, because I wouldn’t want to wake anyone up.
“I am not a member anywhere but I doubt anyone will be on a golf
course anywhere at 7.30am. I will sneak in somewhere, play nine or
ten holes, which is what I love to do Christmas Day, because nobody
plays golf then except for me. I will take Monty, come back, have a
bit of breakfast, go for a walk with the family and then have
Christmas dinner.
“Do I switch off? I love the golf and I love the walk and like
everyone else I will have lunch at around 1 o’clock and fall asleep
on the sofa and I really do hope Only Fools and Horses is back on,
but it never is now.
“I will flick through all the channels and I suppose as I am
flicking through the channels the adrenaline and your mind will
start to drift towards the game and rightly so.
“I have a lovely family and once we get together we have a
lovely time and we will be playing board games the night before. It
will be an early night and into the ground early on Boxing Day
morning.”
The Gills will face a Barnet team who won their last encounter,
against Burton, 3-2.
But it’s been a struggle for the Bees this season, even though
former Gills coach Mark Robson – who started the season as head
coach – now has former Dutch international Edgar Davids assisting
him. Barnet go into the Boxing Day fixture sitting third from
bottom in League 2.
The Gills have no injury concerns ahead of the game. Kick-off is
at 1pm.
25/12/12
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