Nationwide Division One, 26/12/03, 3.00pm
Gillingham
versus
Watford
 
Previous encounters

Last time: 0-3 (19/10/03)
Lingering memory: Sidibe on the charge
Previous results: See Watford Versus...

Our opponents

Background: See season preview
Last match: vs. Preston North End (H, 13/12/03, L0-1)
Last line-up: J.Brown, N.Nosworthy, I.Cox, C.Hope, J.Hills, N.Southall, P.Smith, K.James, D.Perpetuini, P.Shaw, M.Sidibe (Subs: M.Saunders, A.Hessenthaler, B.Ashby, D.Spiller, B.Bossu)
Ex-Gills at Watford: None
Ex-Hornets at Gillingham: Barry Ashby, Andy Hessenthaler, David Perpetuini
Mutual friends: Dennis Bailey, Peter Beadle, Steve Butler, Richard Hill, Liburd Henry, Andy Kennedy, Glenn Roeder, Neil Smillie, Rod Thomas
Web sites: Gills Connect (Rivals), Official

Shorts, Scarf or Souwester?: See Met Office (East Malling)

On this day

Previous reports: Franchise FC 0 Watford 0, 26/12/02, Fulham 5 Watford 0, 26/12/00, Tottenham Hotspur 4 Watford 0, 26/12/99, Watford 1 Bristol City 0, 26/12/98, Wycombe Wanderers 0 Watford 0, 26/12/97, Watford 0 Notts.County 0, 26/12/96
Celebrity birthdays: Steve Harrison (1952), Lars Ulrich (1963)
Historical events: The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" was released (1963), The Soviet Union's parliament formally voted the country out of existence (1991)
Saint of the day: Saint Neol Chabanel was a missionary in the New World of North America where he had a terrible time. He couldn't get to grips with the languages of the native people, hated the food and found the living conditions unbearable, but vowed to God that he would stay there all his life if necessary. In a way, his prayers were answered, as he was killed not long after.