GILLINGHAM supporters are claiming a victory for football following the success of Saturday's peaceful demonstration outside Selhurst Park before Saturday's opening league game against Wimbledon.

Many Gills fans stayed away out of sympathy for Wimbledon supporters who were campaigning against the club's proposed move to Milton Keynes later this season. Though there was a smattering of Gills fans outside the ground, many voted with their feet and stayed away.

Mark Agate, secretary of both the Gillingham Independent Supporters' Club and the Football Supporters' Federation said: "This was a victory for football.

"The demonstration was well behaved and most effective. There was no pressure on any Gillingham supporters not to go in.

"Personally, I doubt if there were as many as 1,808 Gills fans inside the ground. I know that many made their point by staying away."

Mr Agate, who did not enter the ground, was joined outside by former Gillingham Independent Supporters' Club chairman Alan Liptrott.

Mr Liptrott, banned from Priestfield by Gillingham chairman Paul Scally after refusing to sell him his website domain name, was named Man of the Match by the News of the World who cited him for missing the match despite being excluded from all home games.