Asda Chatham

I don't know whether you'll be able to make it but here's a date for your diary- although it's a 320 mile round trip.

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson is sending his full first team to meet the fans at Asda Chatham tomorrow.

The fun starts at 2pm.

And whilst your there, why not pick up a CD of new pop sensations Same Difference, reduced to just £9.50.

I jest.

But I did manage to catch the last few minutes of Gillingham's 2-1 victory at Stockport last night via the link on the BBC web-site.

They celebrated the final whistle like they'd won the FA Cup. (The two commentators, not the players).

It promises to be a fascinating third round tie- pity that it's on a Sunday at 1.25pm.

Gills chairman Paul Scally is already welcoming the £250,000 cheque that will be coming the Division Two club's way.

I wonder if Tottenham will allow on-loan two goal hero Andy Barcham to play?

"The money obviously will help, and to get Aston Villa back to Priestfield is going to be fantastic for the supporters and the players as well, " Scally told the local radio station.

I just hope Villa don't turn up with too much Christmas cheer still inside them, ala Doncaster November 2005.

Gary Liptrott, chairman of Gillingham's Independent Supporters Club, is already predicting a shock: "I don't see why not," he said. "We'll go into the game on a real high with the way we're playing at the moment and you can just see another shock on the cards."

Perhaps he has seen Zat Knight and Marlon Harewood in action?

Everyone wants a bit of Villa at the moment it seems.

Even down the road at Coventry City the local paper, the Coventry Telegraph, were highlighting last Friday that Marcus Hall's testimonial next summer could be against Martin O'Neill's side.

Hope so. I'm looking forward to seeing the casino. Eric Djemba-Djemba will be ruing the day he walked out on that opportunity.

It won't be Villa's first trip to the Priestfield Stadium Gillingham, by the way.

March 1971. Goalless draw. 10,812 spectators. Vic Crowe's side missed out on promotion by a whisker- three points behind Halifax. Gillingham finished bottom having been beaten at Villa Park in September by the odd goal in three.

On a personal level I've been to the stadium once.

January 1981. A young Steve Bruce was all the rage in home hearts. And they battered Albion in a third round tie only to lose to a Derek Statham special.

Four hours in absolute agony on the way down, in tears and crying for the toilet.

Then in arctic conditions on the way back to the Midlands after a brick shattered the windscreen.

Ah the beauty of the Cup!