Kits for 2023/24

[shoddycollins]

It looks more Sunday League than most Sunday League kits.

That's cos it's Barrow though innit?

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Our Goalkeeper tops

 

[BlackHaddock]

Our new kit still hasn't arrived, bit like our goalkeeper. No ones even seen it yet, most likely Black & White stripes, black shorts and red socks: Just call us Grimsby Red Socks!

 

[DippyDon]

There are rumours floating around that we’ve got a blue third shirt… I can’t see that causing any trouble whatsoever

 

[Son of Cod]

Yeah it started as a (not very funny) joke and just then carried on

Wasn't it on your season ticket renewal advert first of all? Just looked like standard promo to me, didn't strike me as an intended joke.

 

[joethegill]

Wasn't it on your season ticket renewal advert first of all? Just looked like standard promo to me, didn't strike me as an intended joke.

Brad originally said it shortly after he took charge of the club in an interview, I think he meant it in a sense as we do have a heap of potential to grow as a club if someone gets it right (no reason we couldn't be the next Brighton, Bournemouth or Brentford with the right investment) but almost certainly could've been worded better!

As a phrase it's been picked up and ran with because, as you said, it's promo. It gets people talking, much like we are here!

 

[Reading-Gills]

Brad originally said it shortly after he took charge of the club in an interview, I think he meant it in a sense as we do have a heap of potential to grow as a club if someone gets it right (no reason we couldn't be the next Brighton, Bournemouth or Brentford with the right investment) but almost certainly could've been worded better!

As a phrase it's been picked up and ran with because, as you said, it's promo. It gets people talking, much like we are here!

Also, and most importantly, it annoys fans of other clubs

 

[GTFCfish]

The only team in this league who I would say can genuinely claim ‘sleeping giant’ status is Bradford City.
Loads of other teams in this league are probably lower than they should be size wise but let’s be honest none of us could ever be considered fucking giants could we?

 

[PuB]

The only team in this league who I would say can genuinely claim ‘sleeping giant’ status is Bradford City.

No.

NO!

Bradford are already fucking massive.

 

[Ellis]

The only team in this league who I would say can genuinely claim ‘sleeping giant’ status is Bradford City.
Loads of other teams in this league are probably lower than they should be size wise but let’s be honest none of us could ever be considered fucking giants could we?

Wrexham could be big really, they’re not really a sleeping “giant” as they’ve barely even been in the second division but they have a mental catchment area compared to most of us.

If the Hollywood project goes well I could see themselves becoming an established championship side with very good gates even after they’ve left. It’s Wrexham though, like us, it’s almost hard coded in the DNA for things to go wrong

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Wrexham could be big really, they’re not really a sleeping “giant” as they’ve barely even been in the second division but they have a mental catchment area compared to most of us.

If the Hollywood project goes well I could see themselves becoming an established championship side with very good gates even after they’ve left. It’s Wrexham though, like us, it’s almost hard coded in the DNA for things to go wrong

There are over two million people in Kent and one football league team.
There are a quarter of a million in Medway alone.
Now don’t get me wrong, the sleeping giant thing is very tongue in cheek, but our catchment area is pretty huge.
We have just been held back by being shit for 130 years.

 

[Conker]

Maybe the lack of football clubs in Kent is due to the huge amount of weirdos living there.

It’s mad how only one EFL is in Kent though, what’s the biggest non-league club?

 

[PuB]

Maybe the lack of football clubs in Kent is due to the huge amount of weirdos living there.

It’s mad how only one EFL is in Kent though, what’s the biggest non-league club?

Huge amount of wierdos??

Loads of biggish non-league clubs, wouldn’t be surprised if one of them joined us in the league at some point. Possibly Bromley have come the closest, but I’ve a feeling I’ve forgotten someone

 

[Agombar stool]

Huge amount of wierdos??

Loads of biggish non-league clubs, wouldn’t be surprised if one of them joined us in the league at some point. Possibly Bromley have come the closest, but I’ve a feeling I’ve forgotten someone

Did Maidstone ever reform after they went bust?

 

[PuB]

Did Maidstone ever reform after they went bust?

They did indeed and a few years back finally got back to playing in Maidstone in quite a nice new ground, now playing in the national league south. Dover was the obvious team that I’d forgotten.

 

[GTFCfish]

Did Maidstone ever reform after they went bust?

Yeah and they were in the National League last season although they managed to finish below Scunthorpe which was quite an achievement in itself.

 

[JaredSUFC]

Ebbsfleet are another decent sized Kent club. I’m sure they made the playoffs in the National League about 5 years ago. And they’re back in it next season having won the National League South easily last season

 

[PuB]

Kent is very strong, despite all its weird inhabitants, in terms of nonleague football.

 

[joethegill]

Got some money clubs a few levels down as well, Chatham the main ones but Ramsgate and Faversham pay National League wages despite being at Step 4/5.

As said there's a whole host of Kent non league sides who've flirted with getting into the Football League but only Maidstone managed it - until it financially crippled them. Bromley have been competitive in the NL for a number of years now and it wouldn't be a major shock to see Ebbsfleet have a proper tilt at it in the next couple of seasons. Both have been in the play offs in recent times. Dover, Margate and Tonbridge have all shown promise at various times as well but not quite to the same level as the others.

That we've been the only Kentish league side for so long is quite remarkable all things told.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

There are over two million people in Kent and one football league team.
There are a quarter of a million in Medway alone.
Now don’t get me wrong, the sleeping giant thing is very tongue in cheek, but our catchment area is pretty huge.
We have just been held back by being shit for 130 years.

Aye, but they all prefer gardening

 

[EnglishRed]

Bromley play a really horrible brand of football, but they've been closest to coming up from Non league in the last few years . Ebbsfleet probably have the largest financial backing and have a good chance if play offs this year is have thought. The NL is wide open this year so Gillingham may end up with some Kent competitors.

 

[GTFCfish]

Got some money clubs a few levels down as well, Chatham the main ones but Ramsgate and Faversham pay National League wages despite being at Step 4/5.

As said there's a whole host of Kent non league sides who've flirted with getting into the Football League but only Maidstone managed it - until it financially crippled them. Bromley have been competitive in the NL for a number of years now and it wouldn't be a major shock to see Ebbsfleet have a proper tilt at it in the next couple of seasons. Both have been in the play offs in recent times. Dover, Margate and Tonbridge have all shown promise at various times as well but not quite to the same level as the others.

That we've been the only Kentish league side for so long is quite remarkable all things told.

Dover made the play offs when we won them in 2016.

 

[joethegill]

Dover made the play offs when we won them in 2016.

I'd forgotten that, fair play.

Another one that's come close but no cigar then!

 

[joethegill]

Bromley play a really horrible brand of football, but they've been closest to coming up from Non league in the last few years . Ebbsfleet probably have the largest financial backing and have a good chance if play offs this year is have thought. The NL is wide open this year so Gillingham may end up with some Kent competitors.

Agree, I think Chesterfield and Oldham will be right up there but after that it's tricky to predict. Fleet have kept most of their title winning side but have lost a key man in N'Guessan to Sutton so interesting to see how they recruit there. Bromley will be there or there abouts again you'd think and are probably best set for promotion facility wise (I appreciate that facilities for away fans at Hayes Lane are almost non-existent, but the rest of the place is pretty good these days). It'd be good to have an actual derby to play in the league though, the short-lived Maidstone league days were just before my time.

 

[PuB]

Agree, I think Chesterfield and Oldham will be right up there but after that it's tricky to predict. Fleet have kept most of their title winning side but have lost a key man in N'Guessan to Sutton so interesting to see how they recruit there. Bromley will be there or there abouts again you'd think and are probably best set for promotion facility wise (I appreciate that facilities for away fans at Hayes Lane are almost non-existent, but the rest of the place is pretty good these days). It'd be good to have an actual derby to play in the league though, the short-lived Maidstone league days were just before my time.

Are Bromley well backed? If they are it looks like a good season to Go For It. Would be nice to have a 30 min trip instead of the umpteen overnight horse and carriage rides to the bleak snowy north

 

[joethegill]

Are Bromley well backed? If they are it looks like a good season to Go For It. Would be nice to have a 30 min trip instead of the umpteen overnight horse and carriage rides to the bleak snowy north

Reasonably, they've gone down the route of plastic pitch for round the clock use, and the Broomfield bar is a good setup which is open all week too, although no idea how busy that gets. They've also built a new end stand in the last few years which is pretty decent, so there's obviously a bit of cash knocking around the club.

 

[EnglishRed]

Agree, I think Chesterfield and Oldham will be right up there but after that it's tricky to predict. Fleet have kept most of their title winning side but have lost a key man in N'Guessan to Sutton so interesting to see how they recruit there. Bromley will be there or there abouts again you'd think and are probably best set for promotion facility wise (I appreciate that facilities for away fans at Hayes Lane are almost non-existent, but the rest of the place is pretty good these days). It'd be good to have an actual derby to play in the league though, the short-lived Maidstone league days were just before my time.

Yeah. Chesterfield should comfortably win the league but Oldham should push them (I really don't rate Unsworth though)

After that Woking, Bromley, Borehamwood, Barnet, Ebbsfleet, Altrincham, Eastleigh and Fylde are all in with a good shout of the play offs. Southend too if they finally get rid of Ron Martin. Hartlepool could do a Grimsby and bounce back up (although signs aren't positive so far). It'll be a fun league to keep an eye on.

 

[joethegill]

Yeah. Chesterfield should comfortably win the league but Oldham should push them (I really don't rate Unsworth though)

After that Woking, Bromley, Borehamwood, Barnet, Ebbsfleet, Altrincham, Eastleigh and Fylde are all in with a good shout of the play offs. Southend too if they finally get rid of Ron Martin. Hartlepool could do a Grimsby and bounce back up (although signs aren't positive so far). It'll be a fun league to keep an eye on.

My outside bet is Gateshead - finished the season really well and in Wearne I think they have one of the best players in the league.

 

[northstandexile]

Don’t you class Charlton as Kent, as I don’t think they would be classed as Surrey.

 

[joethegill]

Don’t you class Charlton as Kent, as I don’t think they would be classed as Surrey.

Charlton is in London, and Kent isn't.

Historically Charlton was in Kent but they've been part of London since before the football club was founded so that makes them unequivocally a London side.