Gillingham owners Brad and Shannon Galinson are special guests at Medway United’s awards presentation

The Galinsons are embracing the Medway life and Gillingham’s US owners were special guests at an awards ceremony on Sunday.

Grassroots club Medway United hosted their annual awards party at Thames View Primary School, attended by close to 2,500 people, including the owners of the Gills as special guests.

Brad Galinson spoke about the importance of community involvement on his first round of media interviews after taking over at Priestfield and he’s been keen to soak up the culture around the Towns of Medway.

Mr Galinson and wife Shannon presented the awards to Medway United’s youngest players who form part of the ever-growing soccer school. Both were given specially made Medway shirts for the occasion with their names on the back.

“It’s amazing,” said Brad, speaking after handing out over 100 awards.

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“I was saying to the parents that this is what it is all about. Gillingham is the professional side of Kent but seeing these little kids aged four and higher, with their mates, getting their trophies, running around, it means everything, it is what these communities are based on.

“Some of these kids will go on a path to an academy and possibly become professional, some of them will do other things in their lives but they will still have this, it’s still healthy to run around and kick a ball.

“Events like this are the reason we’re here, it’s very important. Anyone could say anything about being promoted, a new stadium, a new Brian Moore Stand, but really it’s about this, it’s about the little kids wearing the kits, their parents being there, they are jumping around, kicking a ball, this is what it’s all about.”

The Galinsons have taken in games of cricket at Canterbury in recent weeks in what’s been a busy summer so far.

“This is what it’s all about, it’s getting out of the office,” said Mr Galinson.

“Seeing the culture you guys have, which I have always said is similar to the US but it is slightly different and it is neat to see how you guys are different and the thing you do really well that we don’t, I love seeing it.”

Medway United are a club who have a close relationship with the Gills and have grown rapidly in the last nine years.

It’s been non-stop at the Gills, meanwhile.

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Mr Galinson updated fans on their progress, as the ground floor of the Medway Stand gets an overhaul to bring the club shop back.

He said: “We have all the walls down in the Mega Store and now we get to do the fun stuff, design it and hopefully get it ready probably the morning of the first home game! We’ll get there.

“The LEDs (advertising boards) are either in China or about the leave and we should be okay there. There is really exciting stuff happening and when people come back they will see what we have done.

“One of the three kits we have had has been revealed and that was successful.

“Everyone was expecting a different person to be in it, we gave them Nico (Tom Nichols), but we will see what the next two weeks bring!”

The summer transfer window officially opens on Wednesday.

Gills fans were hoping striker Alfie May would be the man to reveal the kit last week – but Charlton Athletic appear to be leading the race to sign the Cheltenham front-man after having a bid accepted.

“We are in a good place,” said the owner. “Over the next few weeks we will probably be where we need to be, everyone should stay tuned.”

There’s been plenty of interest in Gills’ pre-season trip to face Italian side Como. Mr Galinson plans to be there too.

“I will go, absolutely,” he said. “Seeing that stadium right on the lake will be spectacular and it sounds on social media there is quite a bit of interest and people are excited to get down there and see Lake Como and our boys play, it will be great.”

The Gills are expected to announce another home friendly imminently. A match at Priestfield against Charlton is already on the calendar for Tuesday, July 18.

Whether the Gills have their jumbotron in place by then isn’t certain. The big-screen TV will hopefully be installed this summer.

“We are getting there,” said Mr Galinson. “We have the tele, we just now need the permitting, we are working through it, one day we will have that!

“It is a busy summer, but all good stuff.”

Medway United, meanwhile, had some good news of their own to share after agreeing a sponsorship with the Scallywags nursery in Rainham, who will have their logo on the shirts of the club’s boys’ and girls’ soccer school players.

It was a chance meeting that led to the sponsorship after paying the nursery a visit to retrieve some balls that had been kicked over the fence!

Soccer school manager Mark Davis said: “We rely on the kindness of the community to keep the club running at the costs that we can.”