Gills goal scorer against Torquay admits delight in gaining promotion with club he supports
Gills striker Danny Kedwell said it was a dream to have scored the goal that won his boyhood club promotion to npower League One.
The club’s top scorer struck early in the second half to put the hosts in front against Torquay, and although the visitors hit the bar through a well struck free-kick, they were unable to draw level as Gills won 1-0.
Following the game Kedwell said: “It’s something I have been dreaming of for a long, long time as a kid sitting there watching in the 90’s.
“It was a great ball from Steven Gregory and I thought he was superb and he’s getting better every time he plays.
“I played with him for a few years at AFC Wimbledon, I know what he’s got and they are the sort of balls I used to get. I just thought I’ve got to hit this, it got a little deflection but it was a great goal for me and it was an unbelievable feeling.
“I looked at the clock and thought there was a long time to go, it’s something I will never forget.
“This is the club I have supported all my life and it was a great atmosphere at the end, we have been thinking when is it going to come but funnily enough the referee turned round and said `both teams are losing!` and I thought `oh right`, I don’t know where he found that out from!
“The fans started signing and it was such a great buzz as they went `we are going up` and that’s when we knew.
“We want the title and it’s a long time since we have gone up as champions so we will be back on it next week, get a win at Cheltenham and hopefully pick the cup up here against Wimbledon.
“It’s a great achievement, the only game we lost away from home was Torquay so we owed them and what a day to do it on.”
Kedwell’s goal got a slight deflection as it went across keeper Martin Rice, but the striker seems to have found some form and went for power as he looked to open the scoring.
He added: “It was the only way that was going to go in. That’s my sixth game I have started on the trot and the more games I play the more confident I get. It’s three in six now so I am just really enjoying my football at the minute – I just need to keep it going.
“We have a great squad here and he will bring in new players to strengthen the squad and we just need to make sure that first season we stay in the league.
“There are so many teams that have jumped another league so I think we are capable of going up again with the passion we have got to win.
“There are teams out there that have got the best players in the world, but if they don’t have a team spirit then they don’t do very well and that’s why questions get asked. No one can ask that of us because we have that spirit, we all get on well and we back each other.
“We just had to keep doing what we were doing, the difference this year is that we haven’t panicked and we know we’re going to score.”
For Martin Allen’s post match reaction click here.
For the thoughts of Chairman Paul Scally click here.