Former gardener Martin Allen believes experiences away from the professional game are helping his team
by Luke Cawdell
Martin Allen believes that a taste of life away from
football has been the driving force behind much of the team’s
success.
The Gills returned to the top of League 2 on Saturday with a 2-1
victory over Dagenham at Priestfield, displacing Port Vale, who
slipped to a home defeat against Morecambe.
A number of Gillingham’s players and coaching staff, including
Allen, have had to earn a living outside of the game and the
Priestfield boss believes that experience is a big positive.
Allen (pictured) said: “Anton Robinson, Steven Gregory and Leon
Legge were all non-league and that tells you a story about where I
am and how I am.
“I want people who are hungry and are willing to do the extra
training, extra work and extra gym work. These people have had to
do extra in everything they do to make them into footballers.
“They have an appetite, a hunger and a desire. If I say come in
at 8am they come in at quarter to.
“When you ask them to run up a hill at 8am they don’t say ‘why?’
They just say ‘how many times do you want me to do it?’ I love that
about these young people we have here. They just can’t stop
training and it makes a difference.”
New loan signing Michael Richardson, from Newcastle, was working
as an electrician for the council three years ago while midfielder
Charlie Allen was recently earning a living on a building site.
Allen himself had a stint as a gardener while assistant boss
John Schofield was a mechanic and goalkeeper coach Carl Muggleton
was a driving instructor.
18/02/13
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