I had the great privilege to watch the great John Atyeo for almost 10 seasons and he was and is quite rightly a BCFC legend. However he is not my all time favourite player, my vote would always go to Gerry Gow. I saw him grow from a raw 16 year old in the youth team and develop into a BCFC legend, who never gave less than 100%, never shirked a tackle, held his own against hard men like Grahame Souness, Billy Bremner, Asa Hartford, Tommy Smith, Billy Bonds, Franny Lee the list was endless because every team had a 'hard man', but he could also play, he could pick a pass and score important goals and most importantly held in the highest regard by his peers, they respected him. For me Gerry Gow is the king of the Gate. Over to you.
I agree it has to be Gowie. However running close for me back then was Norman Hunter, Tins and Marvin Elliott more recently.
Gerry Gow. Met him several times post playing career. As a man he was modest. Modest in the extreme. Pleasant courteous and totally at odds with the sometimes wild individual he could be on the pitch.
So long,so many from different era's. Big John, childhood hero, Mike Gibson and Gerry Sharpe, Gerry Gow and Norman Hunter, Scotty, Tins and big Marvin. Supreme favourite, John Atyeo, head and shoulders above the rest for me.
Gerry Gow the man gave 100% every game and was as hard as nails on the pitch. The man could play football as well. Today the man would be worth a absolute fortune. RIP Gerry my all time favourite player.
Gerry Gow for me too, for all the reasons already given, I’m a bit young to have seen John Atyeo as he stopped playing when I was 4. I loved the whole promotion team taking us to division one, but Sir Gerry was the main man. The number of times he lifted the whole team by a challenge , a pass or simply by his enthusiasm, great , great player. There has been many players over the years I’ve liked. Bob Taylor , Dave Smith, our own Scotty was another favourite. Recently I liked Flint, not the most gifted player but always gave it his all. Shaun Taylor was another in a similar mould.
I had just started at the Gate when John Atyeo was finishing so, unfortunately, can't really recall much about him in person. Like so many others it has to be Gerry Gow. Complete midfielder in my view. Oh for someone in our present day team like him!! May '77, the bundle with Sammy McIlroy is etched into my memory!! Another player in a similar vein who I always liked was Bobby Kellard a few years before.
Bloody hell how could I have forgot my first City hero - Big John Galley. Others who I could have mentioned were Super Bob, Jacki, Aggo and Smudger Smith. It's funny how some players become are favourites and others who don't. Think we all shold give a shout out for the player with most appearances - Louis Carey.
Chessley has to be there somewhere, one of the influential players getting us to the top flight...and scoring the winner against Arsenal in our opening game of which I was one of approx 10,000 travelling fans witnessing such a special moment in our history!!
Paul Cheesley would have played for England if he had not got the horrible injury by Peter Stilton at Ashton Gate.Class striker.
the era of the G's Galley, Gow, Garland, Gibson et al ...ATEYO was and likely always will be "the one" but at the time I was probably to young to be able to tag him as a super hero! … I have had then and since loads of "fond players" but the one that always sticks out is gangling John Galley …. until the time he left CITY I believe his scoring ratio was almost 1 every 2 games … he had a few hatricks 1 of very notable accomplishment!!! …….. joined from Rotherham and sadly left for Forest? where he didn't do to well!
I heard last week that Norman Hunter had Covid-19 but haven't heard anything since. I hope he's ok Had the pleasure of working next door to him when I was a kid working in a Butchers shop and he had Norman Hunter Sports on Gilda Parade in Whitchurch. He was always a true gentleman...……………….at least off the pitch ! But for me like many other posters, it has to be Gerry Gow Players like Super Bob, Jacki, Walshy, Gibbo, Geoff Merrick and co aren't far behind though
This debate will seemingly go on forever about Cheese's injury. I spoke to him after a game while he was manager at Odd Down and later when he was 'meeter and greeter' at AG. He's never wanted to blame Shilton, 'it was just part of the game'. I told him I saw the pair of them go up for a high ball and will forever think Shilton knew what he was doing landing on him. Keepers, back then and before were almost fair game to clatter and sometimes, quite understandably, gave some back. Only Shilton, if he can remember, knows the truth.
Someone who often gets overlooked in these type of threads is Tom Ritchie , a very underrated player in my view. Paul Cheesley was the best header of the ball I’ve ever seen, he used to jump early and kinda hang there and head the ball on the way down, like a badminton smash. Jacki and Cole was an amazing pairing. Andy Cole , apart from Cheesley, must be the best striker I’ve seen play for City, the list goes on.
I agree about Andy Cole and Cheesley, although you might make a case for Joe Royle as someone as good in the air. The most clinical, nothing outside the box, I've seen down there was Mark Robins. He wasn't here 5 minutes but he just struck me as a great finisher.
