Home   Medway   Sport   Article

Language barrier means fans wasting their breath when they turn on Gills goalkeeper Tomas Holy

Gillingham keeper Tomas Holy was unfazed by the abuse coming from the away end on Saturday.

The 6ft 9inch Czech goalie, who was lucky not to have been hit by a trio of flares that were thrown from the Town End, admitted he couldn’t understand what the Charlton fans were chanting anyway.

Holy said: “The fans called me names, things I don’t understand, so I don’t mind. It is good for me because I don’t understand them.

Tomas Holy throws a smoke bomb off the pitch. Picture: Andy Jones
Tomas Holy throws a smoke bomb off the pitch. Picture: Andy Jones

“They can say to me whatever, it’s no problem for me.”

The Gills keeper had to clear his area of flares and matchwinner Tom Eaves, who was with him in the post-match press conference, quipped: “The (Charlton fans) backed off 10 yards when they saw him pick one up!”

And Holy said: “I have had similar in the Czech League, it’s normal there, the fans are more aggressive, which isn’t good.”


More on the Gills;

Man arrested after smoke bomb thrown on Saturday

Head coach Ady Pennock on his decision to switch Max Ehmer to midfield

Tomas Holy is embraced by manager Ady Pennock at the end of Saturday's game Picture: Andy Jones
Tomas Holy is embraced by manager Ady Pennock at the end of Saturday's game Picture: Andy Jones

Holy was lapping up the applause from the Gills supporters at the end, having made some crucial saves in the match.

He said: “I felt quite good, I made a couple of saves, maybe you get a bit of luck sometimes, but it was down to team work because one man isn’t enough. I need them and the boys need me. It is a team and it was great.

“The fans here are absolutely fantastic and I never see that in Czech football.

“The biggest difference is the supporters, here they are fantastic, in Czech football they are like that in a couple of games, but every game here is great from the supporters.”

His saves ensured the Gills finally got a win on the board.

Tomas Holy does a lap of honour after Saturday's win over Charlton Picture: Andy Jones
Tomas Holy does a lap of honour after Saturday's win over Charlton Picture: Andy Jones

“These three points for us are most important for us, definitely,” he said.

“It was the eighth game and we needed it too much. It was important for us, for Gillingham, for the supporters. It was very, very good.

“We don’t want to stop though, we want to keep building on this performance.”

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More