It may interest Bristol Rovers fans and our tenants Bristol Rugby fans the similarities leading up to the eventual the loss of our historic grounds Eastville Stadium and The Memorial ground. I have always enjoyed watching and supporting Bristol Rugby at the mem with my Father and latterly watching Rovers (he watches Rovers occasionally,even if he is a diehard City fan). Mr Hooy has just put out a bullish statement about the move to Aston Gate, it makes financial sense for its new owner Steve Lansdown, unfortunately it is not a view shared by many of its faithful fans who we should have a lot of empathy for. Similar to Bristol Rugby fans, for the majority of our history,we played all our home games at the Eastville Stadium, 89 years from 1897–1986. Again eerily similarities do not end there,in that financial difficulties following World War II (no football was played), and the club’s subsequant loss of revenue, forced us to sell Eastville to the Bristol Greyhound Racing Association in March 1940 for £12,000.We then became tenants. Bristol Rugby fans are aware of the financial difficulties that surrounded the club following relegation from the premier league and similar to Rovers the subsequant loss of control of the ground.Most consider it was due to incompetant financial management. When the Eastville stadium’s owners decided to raise the rent in 1986, the decision was made by Rovers to leave our historic home and groundshare with Bath City instead, a temporary home at Twerton Park. Rugby fans do not directly blame Rovers, especially selling the ground and moving to a new purpose built facilty in partnership with UWE to secure their future. Bristol Rugby are know moving to a new home due to a financial decision.The fans feelings are tinged with huge sadness and dissapointment that they will know have to move away from there historic home since 1921 to Aston Gate, especially as many long term supporters dislike the stadium especially as a rugby venue and it is on the cards that when it happens the club will lose a lot of its support. Both stadiums fell prey to retail developers, Tesco and Sainsbury's,similar again to many other English football grounds situated in prime urban real estate. Gasheads I have also heard that there is a sinister group of intelligent dogs that are planning on taking over the world. COR
Even though I've never been a fan of Bristol rugby I've always wanted them to do well but in the last few years since the UWE Stadium plans and comments from a lot of there fans I just couldn't give a rats ass about them anymore
I kind of agree with seamge. A lot of their fans have no idea that we actually saved them but accuses us for getting them into the mess they are in. Madness. If it was the other way around I would be very thankful to them helping to save us. How many years have we secured their status since helping them?
The rugger buggers are to busy recalling their homosexual experiences at public school to actually understand how Rovers actually saved their sorry fat asses. That aside I'm more interested in knowing more about this group of intelligent dogs, or has COR gone barking mad.
If you speak to rugby fans on the south side of Bristol they are looking forward to moving to Ashton Gate or AV in the year 2020. I don't see why you lot just can't all stay in the mem to keep Cock on Reverse happy? And I'm surprised you don't like rugby gas, you have been known to like groping big hairy men in a scrum
