I once saw the great Mick McCarthy sent off in the first minute at Gillingham. We somehow managed to draw 0 - 0 after the entire game was played out seemingly in our 6 yard box.
Didn't Ian Banks once get sent off as a substitute while warming up, before he even came on the pitch? I'm sure Mr B Lil will be able to remember that including the opposition, venue, weather, wind direction, attendance, pie cost and the name of the guy who painted the goalposts.
I was also at that game and can confirm that it was 1-1. Neil Cooper moved from right back to centre back (he could play either equally well and was outstanding that day) and Gordon Boyd moved from midfield to right back, again being outstanding in making all his tackles and getting every pass but one to a red shirt. I don't recall Tony Cascarino playing. The Gillingham centre forward who was done by Big Mick's right elbow was Henderson. For ten men, we played really well. We had Glyn Riley at centre-forward, rather than Trevor Aylott and he did his bit well. Just found the programme. The Reds team was Martin New; Neil Cooper; Phil Chambers; Gordon Boyd; Ian Evans; Mick McCarthy; Ian Banks; Derrick Parker; Glyn Riley; Mike Lester; Bobby Downes; sub Joe Joyce. Gillingham's team was: Ron Hillyard; John Sharpe; Andy Ford; John Overton; Mark Weatherley; John Crabbe; Steve Bruce; Colin Duncan; Damien Richardson; Peter Henderson; Micky Adams. So Bruce did play. Trevor Aylott was still on the naughty seat, having thrown his shirt at Allan Clarke in the first game of the season after being substituted. We played really well with ten men and thorough deserved at least a point. That was a class team and it showed that day. Great possession football and some chances to win it. I can't remember if it was Parker, or Riley who was upended for the penalty, but the referee was MJ Bidmead from Chessington, so he was bound to be a bit biased, being from Surrey, Kent's neighbouring county. He have us nothing other than the penalty that day. it was one of only a couple of appearances by Boyd, who was in for injured King Ronnie, and he filled in well. I was surprised that we did not see more of Boyd on that performance. Happy days!
Away at Bournemouth back in 1989, we lost 2-1. Bournemouth's second goal was a mile offside, but both the referee and linesman missed it. Ian Banks was one of the substitutes and pointed out the error to the linesman, behind whom he was warming up. The linesman flagged the referee over, who then sent Banks off before he'd actually taken to the field. It was a cold, damp, miserable day all round.
