MetzRed Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 The Guardian's knowledge column tackled this question. Here's what it said (https://www.theguardian.com/football/series/theknowledge): “The beautiful city of Bristol has had two league clubs pretty much consistently since 1920, combining for a total of 212 years of league football, with only three Football League Trophies and one Welsh Cup to show for it,” mails Andy Field. “Does this make it the least successful multi-club city?” Paul Levay thinks Stoke-on-Trent can challenge Bristol. “I admit that Bristol has a pretty rubbish record but Stoke-on-Trent is a competitor for the country’s most inglorious multi-club footballing city,” he says. “Stoke City and Port Vale have very little to show from a joint total of about 290 years (with around 226 of those in the Football League). Since 1863, and as founder members of the Football League, Stoke have won one major trophy, the League Cup in 1972. They’ve also managed the Football League Trophy in 1992 and 2000. “Stoke were second-tier champions in 1933 and 1963. They were third-tier champions in 1927 and 1993 and have one other promotion from that level. They were FA Cup runners-up in 2011 and got to the semi-finals in 1899, 1971 and 1972. “Port Vale have been around since the late 1870s (1876 or 1879 depending on who you ask) but in that time they have won the grand total of two Football League Trophies, in 1993 and 2001.” To me that looks like a very good argument for it not being Stoke. Not only is Stoke actually six different places at once, really, but together it's not even as big as Bristol. Pound for pound that's some serious unsuccessful-ness. Call me a masochist but being the least successful English footballing city is key part of my identity as a City supporter. Our collective (and justifiable) persecution complex makes us who we are and, in my view, hands us the moral high ground in any conversations about football. Fans of successful clubs are invariably obnoxious. Hopefully we'll keep the chip on our shoulders if we go up (which doesn't mean I don't want us to!) Open to the idea that somewhere else might have it harder, but I'll need convincing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One BCFC Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 Plymouth never have had a top flight team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgie Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 yes they have...sorry i am wrong you are right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurrayLives Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 10 minutes ago, BA14 RED said: Plymouth never have had a top flight team. Plymouth aren’t a multi-club city though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZiderEyed Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 I'll have him know we've won the Anglo-Scottish Cup, the Gloucester Cup, and won the Second and Third divisions. We've won pish all and I love that, in a way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dastardly and Muttley Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 7 minutes ago, Budgie said: yes they have When? For years they were famous for never having been in the top or bottom tier, unless my memory’s playing tricks on me. (come to think of it, was that the Gas? Although they’ve subsequently plumbed even deeper depths) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurrayLives Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 1 minute ago, ZiderEyed said: I'll have him know we've won the Anglo-Scottish Cup, the Gloucester Cup, and won the Second and Third divisions. We've won pish all and I love that, in a way. Couple of Johnson Cups too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetzRed Posted January 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 14 minutes ago, BA14 RED said: Plymouth never have had a top flight team. That's a good shout. Title of biggest city never to have had a top flight team belonged to Hull until they went up in circumstances I can't seem to recall... But it is about 1/4 size of Bristol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One BCFC Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 7 minutes ago, MurrayLives said: Plymouth aren’t a multi-club city though Tad harsh on Plymouth Athletic that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southstandoriginal Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 Yawn. Another article about Bristol football that fails to explain that what success there has been has all been ours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestMidsRed Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 Would have said that title belongs to Wells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dastardly and Muttley Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 Arguably, the biggest underachieving city is London... Never had a team to really create a dynasty in the way that Liverpool or Manchester have. Only won the European Cup/ Champions League once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judda Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 Wells is a City.... And Bath... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZiderEyed Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 2 minutes ago, Dastardly and Muttley said: Arguably, the biggest underachieving city is London... Never had a team to really create a dynasty in the way that Liverpool or Manchester have. Only won the European Cup/ Champions League once. Good point actually. Still stunning the sheer amount of clubs in London, compared to other large European cities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBFC II Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 They must have forgotten that we are the record holders of the JPT/ Freight Rover Trophy/ LDV Vans Trophy.... Add to that Bristol's 2nd team winning their league comfortably last season and we are surely one of the most successful footballing cities in the country? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter O Hanraha-hanrahan Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 They mention that in the 212 years of League football between the Bristol clubs the only thing the whole City has to show for footballing honours is three Football League Trophy’s and one Welsh Cup... All won by Bristol City. Not much to shout about but better than sweet **** all....like the Gas* (*not including awards for Pasties, Pies and Cheesy Chips) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidered abroad Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 41 minutes ago, Peter O Hanraha-hanrahan said: They mention that in the 212 years of League football between the Bristol clubs the only thing the whole City has to show for footballing honours is three Football League Trophy’s and one Welsh Cup... All won by Bristol City. Not much to shout about but better than sweet **** all....like the Gas* (*not including awards for Pasties, Pies and Cheesy Chips) Rovers won Third Division South as champions in 1953 & again in 1990 when it was League Two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Popodopolous Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 S,wtoke won a League Cup and played in Europe. So we could well claim the accolade as a city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidercity1987 Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 Of course it's Bristol. Biggest City to never have won the top division. Biggest City to never have won the FA Cup. Biggest City to never have won the League Cup. Biggest City by a significant margin never to have played in the Premier League. Oh and about twice the size of Stoke's six villages so no comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chairman Mao Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 Hurrah! We are the best at being the worst. I remember a Guardian guide to living in Bristol City. It was glowing but there was one draw back it said. The sports teams are awful. It was spot on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS4 on Tour... Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 Bet the gasheads are livid that they forgot to mention their Watney Cup triumph!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter O Hanraha-hanrahan Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 44 minutes ago, cidered abroad said: Rovers won Third Division South as champions in 1953 & again in 1990 when it was League Two. They didn’t mention that though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leveller Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 1 hour ago, ZiderEyed said: Good point actually. Still stunning the sheer amount of clubs in London, compared to other large European cities. London currently has twelve league clubs I think? With 21 league titles between them and 30ish FA Cups if you include defunct clubs (Wanderers). Does Paris only have one in PSG? I know comparisons are difficult, as in which leagues to include. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZiderEyed Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 3 minutes ago, Leveller said: London currently has twelve league clubs I think? With 21 league titles between them and 30ish FA Cups if you include defunct clubs (Wanderers). Does Paris only have one in PSG? I know comparisons are difficult, as in which leagues to include. They have Paris FC in the National, but it is astonishing really. In Milan, there are 4, including non-league sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
22A Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 Not English I agree, but Inverness had three teams; Caledonian, Thistle and Clachnucaddan(sp?) all playing in the Highland League. When the Scottish league was expanded, the clubs agreed to make a good impression, a merger was needed. Clachnucaddan refused to join their rivals though so continue in the HL. Newcastle have done well over the years, but connect them with Gateshead (a league club until 1960) and the record diminishes. Bradford had two League teams until 1970, and they've not won that much over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leveller Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 17 minutes ago, ZiderEyed said: They have Paris FC in the National, but it is astonishing really. In Milan, there are 4, including non-league sides. And Berlin is even weaker. No successful club, one top tier side and one other. Though the division and reunification via the Wall was a big issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chairman Mao Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 5 minutes ago, Leveller said: And Berlin is even weaker. No successful club, one top tier side and one other. Though the division and reunification via the Wall was a big issue. See, the wall causes people to come together. Always thought Trump's plan was misunderstood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS4 on Tour... Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 1 hour ago, cidered abroad said: Rovers won Third Division South as champions in 1953 & again in 1990 when it was League Two. It was called the Third Division in 1990 and then changed to Second Division in 1992 and then changed to League One in 2004.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fat Controller Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 2 hours ago, ZiderEyed said: Good point actually. Still stunning the sheer amount of clubs in London, compared to other large European cities. The problem in any comparison is how huge the population and area of Greater London is against other European cities. The only city that can come close in comparison in terms of size is Moscow and that has 5 major clubs (CSKA, Torpedo, Lokomotiv, Dynamo and Spartak) and they they have won 51 Championships between them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leveller Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 3 minutes ago, Chris_Brown said: The problem in any comparison is how huge the population and area of Greater London is against other European cities. The only city that can come close in comparison in terms of size is Moscow and that has 5 major clubs (CSKA, Torpedo, Lokomotiv, Dynamo and Spartak) and they they have won 51 Championships between them. That’s a fair point apart from Paris which is very similar in size to London. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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