Recent Posts
Welcome to our new site!
Hello, and welcome to the new look to Gateway978.com
We’ve been working tirelessly for months, keeping it as big of a secret as possible until the big day came when we put it live, and I’m very happy to say, it’s here!
Now, obviously with anything new, there are bound to be the odd bugs here and there, things you like and things you don’t. So, if you have comments, feedback, or problems, do drop our webmaster an email at webmaster@gateway978.com and he’ll see what he can do to sort it out!
Anyway, that’s all I’ve popped in to say really, just enjoy!
read moreComing Soon – 999 News Show this sunday
Danny Joined a shift last week on the beat, spending the evening with one of Basildon Police’s response teams.
The show which features the work of the response officers airs on Gateway on Sunday 29th January at 3pm.
Danny also talks about the new non emergency number 101, how Essex Police deal with crime in other areas of Essex, and learns about cars that are taken to a college in Basildon for use with students on related courses.
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Saturday Sport’s Show 3-5pm
The Saturday Sport’s Show returns this Saturday 28th January on the award winning Gateway 97.8 with Jimmy Lindsay and Owen Hunt in the studio.
Like us and follow us on Facebook. Don’t forget you can listen to us online, and on 97.8 FM
We will be catching up on what’s been happening during the last week, plus news of what’s on in the coming week ahead.
This week there’s local and national league and non-league soccer. Plus it’s the 4th round of the FA Cup. Updates throughout the show from the local games, plus all your favourites.
Our guests this week include Chris Lee, Chris is Chairman of Basildon & District Society of Association Referees.
Also on the show we have Jason or Andy from ‘Carping for Cancer’. Although the title is pretty much self explanatory, there so much more involved in it. Tune in Saturday for more details.
There will be national news, and weather on the hour.
3-5 pm on Saturdays, you will find Jimmy Lindsay, or Reece Lock and Charles Winch in the studio supported by Owen Hunt bringing you truly local sports reports.
We will have local sporting guests in the studio, a few national sporting icons, Gerry Smith will bring live reports from local soccer matches when available, plus we”ll have the latest scores from all the big games and events.
If you feel that your particular sport is not getting enough coverage, or you have a particular fixture or event that needs a mention, please email sport@gateway978.com and we will do our level best to put that right.
Maybe you would like to come on the show and promote it yourself, guests are always welcome.
If you can kick it, catch it, drive it, bat it, throw it, jump, walk, swim, if you need boots, trainers, shorts, trunks, a bivvy or even a sword. You’ll find it right here right now.
If you would like to contact the sport’s show please email: sport@gateway978.com or phone 01268 833978
Now you are on the website why not click on the listen live button, it’s at the top of this page, or you could tune your radio, phone or car radio to 97.8 fm.
http://www.facebook.com/saturdaysportshow
Thanks for listening.
read moreBattle of the Bands 2012
Gateway 97.8, The Rotary club of Corringham Thameside and Yellow Advertiser brings you Battle of the Bands 2012
to apply please send a short mp3 of your band a biog to- Battleofthebands@gateway978.com
Live interviews on the radio in March and live voting, The top 6 bands will go through to the Final at a live venue,
Win the chance to be Gateway 97.8 Band of the year, Rotary live event, and coverage in the Yellow advertiser
Plus the chance to appear at “sparks will fly in Basildon” to celebrate the Olympics.
APPLY TODAY!
Closing date 3rd March 2012
All money raised via rotary going to Karis May Darling foundation
read moreEast Thurrock United v Carshalton Athletic – LIVE
East Thurrock United 1-1 Carshalton Athletic
Canvey Island 3-2 Lowestoft Town
Hastings United 0-0 Billericay Town
Kingstonian 0-1 Concord Rangers
Tilbury 2-1 Grays Athletic
Thurrock 0-0 Havant & Waterlooville
Crewe Alexandra 4-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Southend United
Barking 2-1 Bowers & Pitsea
Stansted 1-2 Basildon United
Rugby
Diss 3-10 Thurrock
Woodford 15-20 Basildon
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FULL TIME: Great, great fun. A travesty of justice but oh so entertaining. Possession, territory, chances on and off target, the Rocks were dominant. Carshalton get a somewhat lucky break. That’s how it goes. A really great spectacle for the punters though.
Next up, both live and for the Rocks, is the FA Trophy replay at Hampton & Richmond Borough. Until then, enjoy the weekend, and your football.
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90th min - You have to laugh or you’d cry. A stinging East Thurrock shot finally beats the keeper but cannons off the right hand post!
88th min – Still the Rocks lay siege to the Carshalton goal, with Matt Hall replacing Kye Ruel. Crosses and centres are flying in but no final touch.
83rd min - Continuous Rocks pressure. Higgins tries to get his head to a centre on the right but the keeper gets there first. Completely one-sided, this game. Carshalton have literally had just one chance. Ridiculous!
78th min – They get spoilt here. In the teeth of a gale, with Carshalton kicking what they can long-ish, a couple of home supporters gently chide the Rocks for not playing football on the deck. Hmmmmm, perhaps they mistook Rookery Hill for New Lodge …..
Attendance – 161 supporters are freezing themselves to the bone watching this entertaining encounter. Credit for staying. It really is freezing.
72nd min – Back on pitch, Ryan Sammons puts in a last ditch tackle on a rare Carshalton break. The Rocks go upfield and keeper Hamman again saves brilliantly, this time from Sam Collins, his low shot from 10 yards looking a dead cert.
69th min – Not too much going on, but some spectators behind us were making far too much noise and kicking seats. Dire warnings were issued as to what would happen if they didn’t stop. And …… well, it’s not my fault. I didn’t think seven year olds would cry and run away scared. Still, chortle.
66th min – Oh, what a save! East Thurrock pile forward, Kris Newby is in the clear, his shot from 15 yards looks bound for the top right hand corner of the Manorway End net, but Carshalton keeper Nick Hamann somehow gets a hand to it. Liquid football all round.
61st min – GOAL! ….. EAST THURROCK UNITED 1, Carshalton Athletic 1 And that patience finally starts to pay off. Lovely play from Reiss Gilbey, he finds Kye Ruel on the right hand edge of the area, and from his cross SAM HIGGINS heads home unmarked from six yards. Get. In. There.
59th min - And still East Thurrock come forward, efforts from Sam Collins and Kye Ruel coming in. Still no goal but at least the natives aren’t getting restless. It’s too cold to be anything except popsicles really.
56th min – Nice shot from the edge of the area by Sam Collins, which was smartly saved low down by the Careshalton custodian. Nice stuff from the Rocks. Patience.
54th min – Great cross, almost from the left hand corner, by Greg Cohen, and Sam Higgins header from the edge of the six yard box at the far post goes just wide.
49th min – A dangerous Kris Newby centre on the ref, almost from the bye-line, causes momentary panic before the danger is cleared. Ooh, it’s getting nippy here.
4.05pm – KICK OFF! Again. That’s twice, you know.
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HALF TIME: And so it’s proven that this could go either way. The Rocks have had much the better of things, and it could be argued that the visitors goal was a little fortuitous, but it matters not. Carshalton have battled well and are ahead. Special mention to Basildon United, though, amazingly 2-0 up at Stansted. Something amazing would be nice here, too, but at the moment I’ll settle for a pie and Bovril. Laters.
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44th min – Reiss Gilbey has what in football terms is known as ‘copped a bad ‘un’, after the Carshalton defender went in late. To everyone’s bemusement, though, the ref has given a drop ball.
38th min – Lovely build-up play across the pitch from Reiss Gilbey, Sam Higgins and Kris Newby, which ends with the latter’s volley just inside the right hand edge of the area missing by about an inch. Patience, gentlemen, patience.
34th min – I’m not say it’s ridiculously windy here. But it is. A Sam Collins shot from 25 yards would in normal conditions have just gone past the post. Today, though, it’s been cleared by air traffic controllers en route to Copenhagen.
31st min – Kye Ruel plays a 1-2 off a Carshalton player’s knees and then with Kris Newby, and is then hacked down on the edge of the area. Although it’s a free kick, Jimmy Hill would call it a ‘moral penalty’. The ‘reality free kick’, though, goes just wide of the Bus Stops End left hand post.
24th min – Another home attack down the right, the cross goes in, and Sam Higgins half bicycle kicks it, leaving one foot on the ground and whacking it at mid-riff height from about 8 yards. It smacks off the keeper. Bah.
20th min – Lucky escape for Kris Newby. He kicks out at goalscorer Vines. Neither the ref or lino spotted it but it was clearly seen by the rest of us. Birthday boy Kris would definitely had been given a stright red for that if the ref had a view of it.
17th min – GOAL! ….. East Thurrock United 0, CARSHALTON ATHLETIC 1 Bother. From absolutely nothing Carshalton take the lead. A shot at goal evaded everyone, including the goal and corner flag. Such was the Rocks luck, though, that it found an attacker on the right in half a yard of space, and from his cross PAUL VINES headed into Manorway End net. Totally undeserved but it’s goals that count.
12th min – The Rocks are given a free kick, after Kye Ruel is tackled without the Carshalton player touching him, and without Kye hitting the deck. I suspect the ref gave it because he doesn’t like the Carshalton kit. I do. Why, it could almost be as if Fiorentina are visiting. Without the bribery of course.
8th min – Again the Rocks come forward. The corner on the right isn’t cleared and the resultant shot from about 15 yards isn’t so much as blocked as rebounded off unknowing defenders who just happened to be in the way. A very bright start by East Thurrock.
5th min – My goodness, how did that not go in! The Rocks break on the right, Sam Higgins wriggles clear of his marker inside the area, his shot from 10 yards has the keeper beaten all ends up, but it rebounds off the inside of the post and back into play. So, so unlucky.
3rd min – Nice early shot from Kye Ruel, about 20 yards out on the left hand edge of the area, tests the visitors keeper, who parries clear.
3.03pm – KICK OFF! Oh yes!
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2.58pm – The teams come out to polite and wind chilled applause. I do like Carshalton’s purple kit.
2.55pm – Mick has read the teams out over the tannoy. Sorry, but that was just a noise.
2.50pm – My, but it’s a windy one here. And that’s before tonight’s curry. Lovely and mild getting here, but as soon as we took our seats in the press box a gale started blowing through. So pleased I didn’t bring a jacket. Harumph. Is it time for the final whistle yet?
2.40pm – Team News East Thurrock United’s team is in. There’s no team sheet but I saw Jenny type it into their official twitter account so it’s almost exclusive. They go with: Wray Sammons Stephens Wood Peddie Gilbey Newby Collins Higgins Ruel Cohen. Subs – Elbi Hall Hewitt Gorbell Riley
2.30pm – FULL TIME: TILBURY 2, GRAYS ATHLETIC 1 – There was an early kick-off at Chadfields between Tilbury and Grays, fuelled by last season’s mini-riot, no doubt. Two teams that needed the points in a big derby clash. It looked early on as if the nomadic Athletic would grab them with an early Louis Dennis but the Dockers came storming back to take a deserved win. A cracking game by all accounts.
2.25pm – Good afternoon from a blustery but surprisingly mild Rookery Hill, although people describe me as that too. The Rocks return to league action, and could, might, maybe, perhaps be in with a shout of the Ryman Premier play-offs should they carry on their winning run.
Standing in their way today are perennially difficult opponents in Carshalton. The Rocks beat them last month with the only goal of the game, but it could have gone either way, and today’s clash will be no different. A decent side, Carshalton. So are East Thurrock United, though. This could be a great one.
As ever, keep refreshing the page every few minutes, and the thrills and spills of a thrilling, spilling afternoon of footballing jolly japery will come your way.
Game on!
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Today’s Football And Rugby Fixtures
Forget about everything coming down to the finish, or the start influencing how things go, it’s the heart of the season where most games are played, where most points are won or lost.
It doesn’t decide things but, my, this phase of the season is probably more important than the start or end, despite popular belief.
So this weekend has absolutely massive meaning to our sides. All bar three of our football and rugby sides are involved in battles at the top or bottom of the table. It could and should be another cracker.
FOOTBALL
Canvey Island v Lowestoft Town
East Thurrock United v Carshalton Athletic
Hastings United v Billericay Town
Kingstonian v Concord Rangers
Tilbury v Grays Athletic (note – 12 Noon kick-off)
Thurrock v Havant & Waterlooville
Barking v Bowers & Pitsea
Stansted v Basildon United
Crewe Alexandra v Dagenham & Redbridge
Shrewsbury Town v Southend United
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RUGBY
Diss v Thurrock
Basildon v Romford & Gidea Park
Hampstead v Canvey Island
Clacton v Billericay
Thames v Stanford-le-Hope
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Today’s featured live game on Gateway Sport from 3pm will come from Rookery Hill where East Thurrock United, in with a shout of the Ryman Premier League play-offs should they win their games in hand, take on Carshalton Athletic.
There will be live updates and reports throughout the afternoon, as well as latest scores from both local and national games, so if you can’t get to the game, do the next best thing and tune into Gateway Sport on 97.8 FM from 3pm.
read moreNeil Gits Sloppy
Hands up, I was very tired when presenting this show, for one reason or another, but … everything was prepared to the last minute detail so it should have gone like clockwork. WRONG! A super duper new microphone appearing in front of me was the first thing to throw me and took a few minutes to adjust to, then Nathan picked the worst possible moment to trip over in the studio and send a pair of headphones flying nosily to the floor and before you know it concentration had been totally lost … with the plot following quickly behind !
Luckily this blog can fill you in on the gaps I created at the time and lets me tell you that Bunny Sigler was born two days before Easter which is how he got his nickname (think about it!), The Incredible Mr Freeze track was a big fave tune on Sunday nights at The Forge in Billericay when it first opened in 1986 and last but not least, we sadly lost another member of the soul family this week in Etta James who you can hear at her funkiest soulful best in this week’s show. As always the music was lovingly hand-picked so if you can ignore the waffle in between, sit back this Saturday at 5pm and enjoy top quality soul, jazz-funk & disco from the 70s & 80s … or if you are “in the business” just gloat over my many errors !!
This Week’s Playlist:
Kool & The Gang - Straight Ahead
Mahogany - Ride On The Rhythm
Steve Arrington - Feel So Real
Sugarhill Gang - Rappers Delight (89 Remix)
Three Degrees - Dirty Old Man
Bunny Sigler - Come On & Dance
Alexander O’Neal – If You Were Here Tonight
Howard Hewitt - I’m For Real
Unlimited Touch - Searching To Find The One
Ronnie Laws - All For You
Jean Carn - Free Love
Not James Player - Friends Again
Etta James - All The Way Down
Shalamar - I Owe You One
Sunburst Band - Everyday
Bobby Womack - I Wish He Didn’t Trust Me So Much
Manhattans - Shining Star
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Going To A Go Go
Crown Heights Affair - Dance Lady Dance
The Incredible Mr Freeze – Back To The Scene Of The Crime
Locksmith - Blackjack
Recommended Old Gits Nights Out:
Saturday 21st January
“KTF Soul Club”
Railway Tavern, King Street, Stanford Le Hope
7.30pm – 12.30 am - Admission £4 on the door
DJs: Mick Love & Lee Markwick
“Northern Soul and more…”
Tel: (07895) 538835 – Danny
http://www.facebook.com/events/103340999787050/
Saturday 21st January
“Love Canvey Soul”
Bar Monico, Canvey Island Seafront
8pm – 2am - Free Admission
“Pure Solid Soul, Drinks Promotions, Dress To Impress”
*SPECIAL GUEST : ROY CARTER – SINGING LIVE* (Former Singer/Guitarist with Heatwave) Plus DJ: Tony D (This event takes place each Saturday with live singers & guest DJs – Feb 4th: Georgie B of Second Image)
http://www.facebook.com/events/319764101397217/
Thursday 26th January
“Down To The Bone – Live!”
The Maritime Room, Cliffs Pavillion, Southend-on-Sea
“Celebrating Ten Years of Jazz-Funk”
Tickets £10 – £5 students
Tel: (01702) 351135
Friday 3rd February
“Zero Soul Night”
Marco’s Wine Bar, Eastwood Road, Rayleigh.
DJ Darren Bull & Guest Lee Aldwinkle
“Soul, Disco, Jazz-Funk & Dance Anthems”
8.30pm - 1am - Admission Free
*First Friday Every Month*
http://www.facebook.com/events/273068179419049/
Saturday 4th February
“Soul On The Harbour”
Jacksons Wharf, Ramsgate
8pm - 1am - Admission Free
“Classic and upfront Soul, Funk, Jazz & Soulful house”
East Kent Soul Connection DJs
*Charity Night In Aid Of UNICEF – inc Prize Draw*
http://www.facebook.com/events/268503903213113/
Saturday 11th February
“Valentines Soul Night”
The Treacle Mine, Lodge Lane, Grays, RM17 5PR
DJs: Bully & MJ – Soulful Seduction
“Caister Soul Anthems & 90s Dance Classics”
8pm - 11.30 - Free Admission
http://www.facebook.com/events/267808266615181/
Saturday 11th February
“Dance To Donate – Soul All Dayer”
*In Aid Of Chailey Heritage School*
The Squire, North Street, Romford
2pm - 2am - Admission £15
DJ Line-Up Includes Dr Bob Jones, Scott James & Mark Webster
http://www.facebook.com/events/259876524062020/
Saturday 18th February
“The Goldmine Reunion”
La Quinta, 22-28, Benfleet Rd, Hadleigh, Essex SS7 1QB
DJs: Chris Hill & Mad Marx aka Snowboy
9pm til 3.00am - Tickets £12.50 in advance from the venue 07811 111333 or www.ticketbank.co.uk http://www.facebook.com/events/104207603032534/
Saturday 25th February
“ Street Soul!”
Henry’s Bar, Romford Road, Aveley, RM15 4XB
DJs: Andy davies, Terry Jones, Ginger Tony, Grumpy brown, Steve Kite
9pm – 2am - £5 on the door - Tel(01708) 864042
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150599098764388&set=o.293780927330405&type=1&theater
Saturday 7th April
“Essex Funkers Spring Bash”
Harlow Town FC, Barrows Farm Stadium, Elizabeth Way, CM19 5BE
DJs: Les Knott, Paul Clark, Jonny Layton
8pm - 1am - Tickets £8 in advance, £12 on the door
Tel: (07800)724757 / (07989) 591399 / (01273) 413800
http://www.facebook.com/events/333562700001217/
Saturday 7th April
“Soul Connexion All-Dayer”
The Royal Hotel, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 1JE
DJs Dave Palmer & Dave Burton plus guests
Three rooms of music playing …
“Soul, Funk, Boogie, Rare Groove & Caister Anthems”
12 pm - 3 am - £8 in advance, £10 on the door
Tickets available from Dave Burton: dave@soulconnexion.com 07584626972 and Dave Palmer: davesaab@yahoo.co.uk 07961101746
Every Friday:
“Soul @ The Squire”
The Squire Public House, North Street, Romford
Free Entry – 8pm – 1am
Resident DJ: Steve Kite (Caister) plus various guests
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=32049673126
Every Saturday:
Love Canvey Soul
Bar Monico, Canvey Seafront
8pm – 2am – Free Admission
Tony D with Guest Djs & Live Acts
“Jazz, Funk, Soul, Old Skool, Disco, Boogie, Motown & Reggae”
Monthly Events:
First Friday: Zero Soul Night Out – Marcos, Rayleigh – next one Feb 3rd First Friday: 80s Soul Funk & Disco Night – The King Willy, Sawbridgeworth
Last Friday: Soul Survivors – Bar Vic – Victoria Avenue, Southend – next Jan 27th
Bi-Monthly Events:
Soul By The Jetty – next one TBC
Further details above as each night comes around.
CLACTON SOUL WEEKENDER 2012
Friday 30th March – Sunday 1st April
The Comfort Hotel, Clacton-on-Sea
***Tickets & Accomodation Selling Fast ! Hurry! ***
More info at www.soulstopover.co.uk and
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=197324840310537
And don’t forget…
Live Jazz @ The Inn On The Green – Mountnessing Road, Billericay Every First Sunday of the month Lunchtime Session: 1pm – 4pm Next date : Resumes in March 2012
If you enjoy the show, then the chances are you will like what happens each month here with music provided by The Dan Banks Duo
Admission is FREE ! Hope to add more details here soon…
Also recommended… Friday nights at… Lot 75 , Shenfield with Graham Norton
Plasma, Wickford with Geoff Grove
Both guys play every other week and include plenty of “our” tunes amongst other styles…
Do you know of any soulful, jazzy, funky gigs taking place early in 2012 ? Let me know the details whether you are a DJ or a punter and I can spread the word to fellow “Old Gits” in this space !
E-mail: studio@gateway978.com or send a voice/text message to (01268)833978
The Old Gits Soul Show is on Gateway 97.8 in Basildon & East Thurrock and also around the world via www.gateway978.com from 7pm – 9pm every Monday – plus you can catch it again Saturday evening from 5pm – 7pm
read moreHomeless Enjoy Platters
Our Friend Esther the Vicar at our local church in Basildon was picked and won the Platter Competition we ran over the Christmas period last year, meaning that the food she won went to her charity that feeds the homeless.
Armed with great gifts from the Platter company she held an event in the church hall at St Martins, and the homeless enjoyed the food provided. There was enough food so the event was repeated at The Bell Tower on a cold winters night.
Our thanks from all of us to The Platter Company in providing this great prize.
Pictures enclosed show the platters at their best and people tucking in!











Gateway 97.8 is the local community radio station for the Basildon and East Thurrock areas of South Essex, providing news, sport and information to the local population. 