Gillingham's pitch at Priestfield suffered during last season's promotion winning campaign. Picture: Matthew Walker

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham boss Mark Stimson believes his players will have a better chance to shine next season due to the standard of League 1 playing surfaces.

Stimson had to alter his formation last season in a bid to combat some inadequate playing surfaces, including their own at Priestfield, but he’s expecting a far better standard this coming season.

"We’ll be going to play on pitches next season that should suit the way we play and the players will have no excuse," said the Gills boss.

"We’ve got a footballing side who want to play a certain way and we’ll be going to places like Southampton, Charlton, Norwich and Southend who have spent some money on their pitch.

"The season before against Brighton it was like playing on a carpet. We lost the game but I think the referee was asleep that night.

"We tried to adjust as much as we could last year."

Gillingham’s pitch has been worked on throughout the close season by groundsman John Plummer.

"One of the reasons we’re playing only one pre-season game on there is to save the pitch," said Stimson.

"We’re hoping with some finances spent on it, that it might last a
bit longer this season."