Gillingham are back in action on Wednesday night when for the first time ever they make the short trip to Hayes Lane to face Bromley in a Football League fixture and Mark Bonner knows exactly what his side are going to face.

As excitement grows for just the seventh Kent derby in League history, the Gillingham manager has been looking forward to a game that both sets of fans have been looking forward to since the start of the season.

Speaking to KSN in previewing the game, Bonner told us, “I think it will be an exciting game just because it is a “real” local derby!”

“We’ve had the “derby” with Swindon already this season, but this is a much more traditional derby and I think the location to the game always adds an edge to it which is really good.”

“I’ve been there before to see games and knowing what the atmosphere will be like; how tight it will be, I think the game will have a real lively atmosphere which will be brilliant.”

“Us selling out our allocation was a given really and I think we could have sold many times with the demand. Hopefully we can have those that are there make some real noise and get right behind the team, and the team can give a performance that gives us a real chance of winning the game.”

“So, with a Wednesday Saturday turn round, it is a real opportunity to get some momentum into things and we are really looking forward to the game!” 

“Hopefully there will be an atmosphere that will really drive the players and we can get back on a winning run!” 

“The period that we are now ending feels like the longest break ever as after Harrogate you just want the next one to come really quickly and soon enough in the next few weeks, we are going to have that.”

“So hopefully going into Wednesday the lads will be up for it and roll their sleeves up and have a right go at it!” 

“I am really excited about the game – these types of games are great because the atmosphere will look after itself as there is always a bit more edge and intensity in a derby.”

“They had a brilliant season last season to get promoted and have acquitted themselves well to League Two, they were excellent at Walsall last week and very unlucky not to win and now have Newcastle to look forward to in the Cup.”

“They have had a really busy spell of game, game, game! On one side there you could say game fatigue, but on the other they obviously have some momentum, so we have to go into the game and find a really good level, with the back story that it’s a really big game for supporters, a big game for the story of the game because it’s a derby and the first one, but the reality is – and with all that aside – it’s a really big game for us off the back of the last one and ahead of a run of games that we have to get points out of and get back to winning games regularly!” 

Looking at his squad and Bonner is expecting that Robbie McKenzie will be included who has trained all last week.

With regarding to others, Armani Little is further behind than the manager would have hoped as after a second reading of his scan, his hamstring injury will take a bit longer than hoped.

Aaron Rowe has had an injection to settle down an issue in his back and Bonner hopes to have him back in full training next week and he might “have a chance for Salford” or if not the week after.

Bonner concluded his preview of the derby with some encouraging news as Christmas approaches, “We’re not too far away from having them all back!”

And wouldn’t that be a Christmas present that every Gillingham fan would welcome?