The worst memory for me was when Brighton beat us in Cardiff under Danny, the best beating Liverpool at Anfield and that Tinman goal, what a great bunch of fans Liverpool had then, I can't forget the way they cheered us off the pitch, oh how could I ever forget smashing Arsenal at Highbury, our first game back in the first division and that great Paul Cheesley goal, the City fans went spare..
I think the cup game against Everton when Alan Ball came up to the open end after thrashing us and thanked "us" ..the game was played in great spirit, we were resigned to losing even getting hammered so the fans seemed to enjoy all the aspects ... lost 5-0 Joe Royle scored 1, Ballie didn't .. Cant really remember all of it but the whole team may have come round the ground or at least went all parts of it ... I remember him vividly though shorter than expected, about 5'6" and a wonderful crop of red hair
not quite, but can remember reading about JA and when we moved to Bristol and I started work at St Annes started going to see them and of course it was second division and JA's last season think due to work commitments and shifts saw him about 8 times in the season... in those days till 1981 I was lucky to see them 8 times a year/season
I saw Big John many times and was also there to see Bobby Gould's first appearance for City, although if my memory is correct he got sent of early. Watched us play Blackpool in the Cup and Stanley Matthews was playing back in the 1800's. Does anyone remember when they used to play internationals such as the English League vs French League when not all the players on the field were not playing for their birth country? If they used that format today I would suspect that the English League wouldn't have a single Englishman on the team sheet - how times have changed for the worse. Ah sweet memories of hitch hiking up to Bedminster Down and then the walk to Ashton Gate past all the bonded warehouses, and from my recent trips nothing seems to have changed much especially in our fortune.
I remember Bobby Goulds first appearance for us too. I also saw him play for Wolves and West Ham. Kind of spooky that I was only thinking of him this morning !
My last memory of Gould was in the open end, I can't remember who we were playing but Gould was up for a corner, a young Clive Whitehead took it from the Williams side and hit it over Goulds big head, Gould came across to him and was bollocking him remorselessly, all of our mob gave Gould a right mouthful and he gave us the V sign and ran off, he was not with us much longer the big headed twat...
He had more clubs than most players probably due to his outspoken views and spiky personality. He had 10 clubs in his career and the most league appearances he made for any of them was 82 - what does that tell you ? He was a decent player but seems to have had a very high opinion of himself.
I agree with that summary, I think he was a reasonable player but a big headed twat, you don't demoralise a young player for your own greed and Clive was a g0od player.
Since April 1950 against Aldershot, I have supported City home and away, some years from afar while living abroad. It's been a roller coaster with one good year in ten and plenty of dross in between. Why did I think that we were going to begin a few years in an upward climb to become an established member of the top tier? My message to younger City fans is enjoy and cherish the good years because they'll be few. Should we go down as I expect we will, it will be the end of my active support of the Robins. I cannot bear Third Division crap any more.
A little harsh Mike considering SL has put probably £60m+ into the club by the time the ground is finished. I'd say that was quite caring wouldn't you...?
Without a doubt SL is a fine owner of our club and my comments were directed at the fact that nothing seems to be happening to cement our place in this division. Running afoul of the FFP restrictions is not a place want to go and it makes me ask, given our predicament, how do we get out of this mess without investing more money on players? I wish I knew.
I'm not seeking glory or acclaim foir my support. Many, many others are the same as me. None of us can match Steve Lansdown's total in £'s. But as a percentage of his wealth I can beat him. In 1982 I bought £80 of shares to help save the Club; that was 100% of my savings account. I had a young family, up to my neck in mortgage like many more who did the same. I would do it all again if it would help us progress upwards instead of staring at another relegation in the near future.
There are many ways of caring and people should not be judged as better carers than others because of wealth. We all must play our part.
I have £40's worth from 1982 which was my months rent at the time. Diluted to hell no doubt but I am still proud to have them...
