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Gillingham are treating their fans to a prize giveaway and the manager is funding it.
A pair of England tickets are among the treats on offer for six of the club’s season ticket holders and a nominated fan.
Manager Steve Evans has been busy checking in on many of the supporters over the phone in recent days and that next call may just be worth answering.
On Friday afternoon the manager will pick a fan at random to call and if they answer a Gills trivia question correctly then a prize is theirs.
Along with a trip to watch a home England international, Evans is also paying out for a pair of theatre tickets to see a show in London.
A signed shirt, a signed football, a hospitality package and a special trip to watch the team train are also on offer.
The giveaway will last until Thursday, April 8 and on the final day one person is to be chosen by the manger from a selection of suggested nominations.. They don’t need to be a season ticket holder. Fans can nominate through the club's social media channels.
Evans, meanwhile, has continued his daily phone around of supporters and they have been well-received. He wanted to engage further, which is why he has agreed to fund the giveaway.
He said: “I said I wanted to fund some prizes for a competition. We are in this together, we are all isolating at home, this is an opportunity for the gaffer to spend some money. I will be paying for the merchandise that comes from the football club.”
The Gills manager has been posting videos from his home near Peterborough, including clips calling some of the supporters.
At times, he says, it’s been a humbling experience.
He said: “One elderly gentleman I spoke to hadn’t seen anyone for the best part of a week. I spoke to him on Monday. He has his family nearby but they can’t go in and speak to him.
“The fact that I picked up the phone got to him and he openly said, when I got the job he doubted it and said would it work? He wondered if he would be singing my name but it didn’t even get past August and he was!
“His son had told him I was phoning people and said that the phone had rung numerous times. He always hoped it would be me and that was very humbling. His son and his daughter both contacted me to say thank you for doing it, it is very humbling.”
Eagle-eye viewers will have seen the goal and football in Evans' back garden and the 57-year-old Scot still says he’s got the skills to make use of them.
If his neighbours aren’t there for a kickabout, his terriers Archie and Hugo will be.
“The game usually gets abandoned it Archie is out to play, he’ll get the ball and scamper,” joked the manager.
“We’ve had penalty kick competitions with our friends in the village [before the lockdown] and will try to score from the top of the garden, just a bit of fun really.”
Evans’ playing career was ended by injury but he reckons he could still show up some of his players, particularly Regan Charles-Cook.
The midfielder’s keepy-uppy video ended with a broken chandelier.
Evans said: “What do they say, if you can keep the ball up 10 times or whatever you have still got it? Well I have still got it!
“I can do a toilet roll trick better than Regan Charles-Cook. I can do it and the chandelier in my house is still in the fitting.”
Charles-Cook was holding off telling his parents about the miss-hap but has finally confessed.
“Regan’s legs are fine but his nose is a bit squinty,” confirmed the boss.
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Waiting game for Gills youngsters