As #ManCity and #NUFC prepare to meet in the #EFLCup semi final, a Substack piece recalling their 1976 Wembley final and its spectacular winning goal

👇
open.substack.com/pub/thelongg...

Easy to overlook amidst match postponements and FA Cup excitement that life goes on in League Two for a few clubs today including the top and bottom teams.

Crewe (10th, 35 points) host struggling Harrogate (24th, 17).

Bromley (1st, 48) travel to Tranmere (17th, 32).

Fantastic entertainment @newcastleunited.com at St James Park. 4-3. Straight out of the Keegan era.

Gills journal no. 4

Forwards into 2026 - shifting the dial towards better times for The Gills. My latest post
👇
open.substack.com/pub/thelongg...

#EFL #LeagueTwo #League2 #SkyBetLeagueTwo #football #FootballLeague #EFLFootballLeague #Gills #GFC #Gillingham #GillinghamFC
9:54 PM · Jan 6, 2026

Today’s Premier League predictions:

Leeds 1-1 Man Utd
Everton 2-0 Brentford
Fulham 1-2 Liverpool
Newcastle 2-1 Palace
Spurs 1-1 Sunderland
Man City 3-1 Chelsea

My Premier League predictions for today:

Villa 2-0 Forest
Brighton 2-1 Burnley
Wolves 1-1 West Ham
Bournemouth 1-2 Arsenal

Another battling performance by @safc.com. Villa, Arsenal & now Man City all held at home. Home wins against West Ham, Brentford, Wolves & Newcastle. On the road, Forest & Chelsea beaten & draws at Palace, Liverpool & Brighton. What a first half of the season on Wearside.

Mid-point of the season: Gills up to 11th following Colchester draw. Six points off the play-offs, 11 off automatic . . . Swindon up next . . .

Gills journal no. 3

Beaten at Highbury-Harris & Bonner return-Colchester preview & Christmas 1951-Palace beaten-goal of the month

👇
open.substack.com/pub/thelongg...

#EFL #LeagueTwo #League2 #SkyBetLeagueTwo #football #FootballLeague #EFLFootballLeague #Gills #GFC #Gillingham #GillinghamFC

In League Two form table over past 12 games, #Gills sit 21st. Nine points from one win, six draws and five defeats. GD -4. In same period, Bromley have amassed 25 points.

Disappointed #Gills surrendered a lead again this weekend. Starting to slip down League. Tough fixtures over festive period. In short term, need, as a minimum, as much availability as possible in current squad. Huge credit to all #Gills fans who made the trip to #Fleetwood today

Gills journal no. 2

open.substack.com/pub/thelongg...

#EFL #LeagueTwo #League2 #SkyBetLeagueTwo
#Football #FootballLeague #EFLFootballLeague
#Gills #GFC #Gillingham #GillinghamFC

Second week running that Barrow have scored two 2nd half goals. Last Saturday, they came from 1-0 down to lead Wigan 2-1 after 85’ in the FA Cup 2nd round only for the hosts to equalise on 89’ and eventually win on pens. Today they held on at Gillingham for a valuable point.

2-2 v Barrow. Hard to take from 2-0 up at half time. Only the second time Gills have surrendered a lead in the League this season? Led Crawley 1-0 then 2-1 at home last month before also finishing 2-2.

The Long Game
thelonggame3.substack.com?r=1vyizb&utm...

Some notes on Gills' weekend opponents - Barrow: Whing's clipped
open.substack.com/pub/thelongg...
#EFL #LeagueTwo #League2
#Football #FootballLeague #EFLFootballLeague #Barrow #BarrowAFC #Bluebirds #WeAreBarrow #Gills #GFC #Gillingham #GillinghamFC

Crewe held at home by bottom-placed Newport. Gills remain 8th, one point and one place below the play-off positions. Walsall win 1-0 at Oldham to extend their lead at the top of the table to 4 points.

Gillingham fans mindful of current league position (6th, 29 points) will have an interest in this evening's fixtures between Cambridge (29) and Chesterfield (28); Fleetwood (26) and Salford (29) as well as Grimsby (26) at Shrewsbury. Crewe (27) host Newport tomorrow evening.