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Gillingham boss Steve Evans has been doing his bit to spread some festive cheer.
The 57-year-old Glaswegian has twice ventured incognito into the town centre to help the homeless and others in need of some charity.
Evans and his family have been doing this every December in his home city of Peterborough for a decade and was pleased to be able to continue the tradition in Medway.
Along with his wife and two daughters, Evans spends one night a week during the month providing food for the homeless.
He said: “We have been getting involved with the community, just trying to make a little difference to people’s lives.
“I have always done it. I go and help with hot food and take it to the homeless and people on the streets.
“There are all different stories why they are on the streets and they all have big issues, which is why they are there, but we do it as a family at home (in Peterborough), through the month of December.
“We pick an evening where we go and do a bit. It’s just for an hour. I have done it twice now (in Gillingham) and will do it twice more.”
Evans hasn’t sought publicity for his ventures across town but the club are planning on doing more for the underprivileged to raise awareness.
More on the Gills;
The Gills boss may be recognisable to those attending games at ME7 but he’s able to do his bit generally without people knowing who he is.
It led to a bizarre conversation last week, which Evans recalled.
“One guy, he said to me, ‘thank-you’. He asked what brought me down here as I was Scottish. I said I was working at Gillingham Football Club. I didn’t say who or what I did.
“He said, ‘oh you’re playing against West Ham’ and then he asked if I was going! I told him I was planning to but Paul Scally is my chairman and I haven’t got there yet!”
Evans has done something similar in previous places he has worked in, including Leeds and Rotherham, and is happy to help to those who need it.
He said: “It is the time that we miss the ones in our family who are no longer with us. We wish they were still with us and we are just grateful that today we have not got children in that position because they will be someone’s children, someone’s brother or son or daughter.
“Next week we are going to do a couple of things through the club and for some outstanding charitable organisations.
“I would say to every Gills fan, if they see someone homeless, does it cost much to just go and buy them a portion of chips or a sandwich, whatever?
“I just think it makes a little difference.”
