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I can relate to this. Honestly, it was incessant during the 80's. Before that time I hadn't been particularly bothered about Rovers. They hid under their rocks during the late 70's but crawled out when the wheels started to come off at Ashton Gate. I didn't understand why they wanted to ram their dislike of City down my throat, but in later years a good mate of mine who is unfortunately a Gashead revealed the problem from his and his mates perspective and for me it highlighted quite clearly why the problem is actually theirs and not ours...... When we got promoted to Division One it was all about Bristol City, not just City but the prospect of having the best players and teams in the land coming to Bristol on a regular basis. Suddenly all of the newspaper main headlines were about City, the local TV sports reporting was City first, the main sports news and match of the day brought even more attention to Bristol City and for Rovers fans it felt like they were being bombarded by City related interest. They felt aggrieved by this as there were two teams in Bristol and they felt like they were being forgotten about. Even when they had a great result they were always pushed down the pecking order in terms of coverage and reporting. They saw it as a 'bias' towards Bristol City and became frustrated, annoyed, envious and jealous and took it out on the City fan base. In reality, it's no different from hearing about the Premier League nowadays and rarely hearing about either of our local clubs because there isn't a wider interest. It is why they always feel hard done by and why they continuously play the victim. So when the bubble eventually burst and we crashed down the leagues they reveled in our demise. At last we could begin to feel like they had felt, insignificant to the world of football. This underlying bitterness and resentment has continued to fester throughout the years and every so often it rises to the surface. It happens if they win and we lose, it happens when something good happens for us (like the arrival of SL and the rebuild of AG and the club's infrastructure), or when we are in the spotlight (like the Carabao Cup run). Times like these are when they become extremely agitated. If they win promotion they're suddenly "Coming for Bristol City". They can't just be content with their own success and leave it at that. Only a few weeks ago they picked up a win on the same day that City lost and immediately took to social media "Singing The Blues". They just can't help themselves. They compare everything to City as their yardstick. It really is very sad, but my god, doesn't it make them an easy target to wind up and rip the piss out of?!!!

Haha! That last anecdote sums them up. I had a similar experience when Mrs R and I were house-hunting. We went to one place and the male of the house was watching football on telly. "Who do you support?" I asked him. "Oh, er, Bristol Rovers," he replied, a bit sheepishly. The missus shot me a steely look as she quite liked this property and didn't want me fuhucking up any deal. She needn't have worried. The homeowner took my silence as some sort of invitation to explain and he stammered out: "Well, I, um, er, I say Rovers, but really Liverpool is my team. I just used to like Rovers when I was a kid. I don't even know who manages them these days.."

That sums up the difference between Steve Lansdown and literally EVERYONE who has run their rabble. He got shafted on Ashton Vale so rather than say game over he dipped his hand in his pocket and rebuilt Ashton Gate and in doing so has now put himself in a position where he will do alright financially anyway if he chooses. He also owns land at Ashton Vale that will have something built on it in due course anyway. That lot will literally wait 100 more years for a stadium if it means avoiding having to pay for it.

I hate them with a passion (as they do with us) and will always enjoy even the slightest footballing related mishap they have to suffer (which thankfully are plentiful and often). Unfortunately the truer the Rovers fan, the more abhorrent their behaviour is, and this often culminates in an out-pouring of bitter, irrational, City related jealousy. Rejoice in this thread and make the most of it. They are our biggest rivals and always will be. Make no bones, if it was the other way round it would be unbearable. All of us with long enough memories will agree, and thats the way it should be.

I remember having to go to school the day after that dicking we got in 1990 - they all came out of the closet that day to make anyone of a City persuasion's life a misery for months on end so for that alone **** em. Is there an odder-behaved fanbase in the whole of the Football League?

My forum name was initiated when I lived in Portugal. I moved back to Bristol in 2013. My initial post was a reply to Hampshire Red @Hampshire Redwho appears to be stuck up Lee Johnson's rectum, or is chairman of his fan club. The LJ whose continual purchase of players has given us a grossly oversize playing staff with many of them clearly not good enough for top end of Championship. As for BRFC, as a youngster growing up in post war Bristol, I often went to watch Rovers because apart from City it was the only way to watch a game every other Saturday. Dad also, as a Welsh man, took me to Cardiff and because we had relatives there Leicester City. Also to City away games. So like many of my era, I loved watching football to see so many of the stars of the day. I had coaching from City and Rovers players as a teenager. I've always supported City but I respect players and fans from all other teams. And I genuinely believe that if BRFC were in the same league as us, we'd get two humdinger derby games and make our club more determined to finish above them every year. A good enough reply to your sarcasm? @slartibartfast

There is just too much history between some of us on here and Rovers fans, which is why some on here just don’t get it. I ain’t gonna bother listing the incidents as most will know what I am on about on here. Fact is they hate us and we (most of us) hate them more. They can **** off to Div 2 and stay there as far as I am concerned. That is where those stinking Horfield whores belong. End off .....

Because the Mem is on prime real estate that can be sold for a decent wedge and they hope that they can be given a piece of land for the project free of charge or paid for by OPM.

They look at Bristol and split it down the middle. Therefore in their eyes they are potentially massive. Only 20k watch City and that means 440,000 potential Gasheads to pack out their super stadium with student accommodation, running track and a Lidl. ?

Sarcasm ? Where was I sarcastic ? I may have been ill informed about your location, but I meant every word of my dislike for the few. As for rip roaring derbys, been there ,done that, going back to the mid sixties. We have nothing to prove to them ,the only thing we can do is lose! I also went to Eastville to watch "them" occasionally, and with my dad (who also was Welsh) to watch Cardiff (Toshack, Clark et al) and the old Arms Park Re LJ couldn't agree more .

.... goading and belittling us. Yes, same in this family. A beloved aunt, no longer with us, but she did like to decry the club in Bristol that had actually reached the top level, and contested an FA Cup final, made it to League Cup semi finals. All this whilst not having set foot in Eastville (never mind Trumpton) since about 1959. Also, used to work with a bloke at Aztec West that "used to go" down Eastville but long since stopped, but he didn't let this get in the way of him spouting off about us. And the bloke next door to him cleaning his car in the rain, I seem to remember. And I am now remembering a quite recent work encounter with what might be termed a "millennial" Fewer young chap, in which we struck up a conversation whilst waiting for an electrician to turn up, and on learning he was from Fishponds or some such, I enquired as to his allegiance, to which he answered "Rovers." I probed further, confident in my years of experience, my sharp wit and the current status imbalance and 18 years and all that, looking for some "sport" while we waited, only for him to reveal "I, er, don't actually go." Oh, right. Where's that leccy to? I pondered, and that was that. This city is a funny old place. If Big Nige manages to work the longed-for but unlikely miracle here, then a lot of people that are Rovers but don't watch Rovers are going to be upset, but not so upset that they aren't in the clamour for tickets to see Liverpool, Man Utd and all their other "Premiership teams" at AG.

I've said before on this thread growing up in Winterbourne and Frampton in the early 80's was not a good time. How I loved that Martyn Hirst winner. We were back. It was crap in 1990 but God did his hamstring. They've got a real personality complex with us now and then, I couldn't give a shit about them and hope they end up on the downs leagues.

This is my favourite thread on here . I despise Bristol Rovers football club. Especially after growing up in and going to school in kingswood in the 80s. A good few playground battles. And over the years there have been many incidents from them that enforces my dislike for them. Because they are so shit and we haven’t played them for so long in the league doesn’t stop me from despising them. But they are also now a funny little club I love to laugh at too. And how they deliver . I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual from them and if roles were reversed I would expect the same. Maybe it’s a age thing as our younger fan base haven’t experienced a Bristol derby in the league. But for me I will continue with my childish piss taking sometimes direct posts. Hope they go bust **** the gas. OTIB

In awe of: Their subscription to Babestation A ground with more tents than Billy Smart's Circus Getting relegated to Non League Not only that but getting relegated to Non League by a side playing in your own away strip Appointing a Manager who could well be leaving them in a few months at Her Majesty's Pleasure Being able to purchase fake drinks and out of date food in the concourse An anthem that glorifies a "relationship" with an underage girl Losing the Manager who had them in their highest league placing for years to Mansfield Watching football with around 6,000 fans in the ground A team who play in a Tesco Carrier Bag strip I could go on but it will infuriate you even more.............. Bollocks to it, a club who have been promised a ground since 1965, the latest only weeks away from completion I believe........ A record signing of around £365K now known in the Oxford Dictionary as a "Tilson" (probably) Wetting myself over a billionaire owner and then finding out it's actually a billionaire "family"....................Unlucky Da Shit Yep, they're ******* brilliant and I'm jealous as ****. When reading the above just consider for one second that not everyone takes life seriously 24/7 (to the benefit of their mental health in modern speak) and likes to have a bit of fun which, for many football supporters, includes a wind-up or two at their rivals expense from time to time. It's not hurting anyone, it's not one-sided and it occurs in every area of the country where you have football clubs in very close proximity. For Tarquin the University Student that has decided to support City or Rovers just to have a football club to support whilst they are in Bristol they probably don't see a rivalry. For those of us growing up in places like Bedminster, Ashton, Bemmy Down, Hartcliffe, Withywood, Shirehampton, Lawrence Weston, Southmead, Lockleaze, Knowle West, Horfield, Bishopston, Easton, Fishponds, Kingswood and many other areas in Bristol and the surrounding areas there most definitely is and always has been a rivalry. If it's not for you just ignore the thread rather than trying to force your views on people, saying we have "no right" to enjoy a bit of rivalry and acting like you have some sort of superior intelligence and/or moral fibre. It's not doing you any favours tbh.

If only someone would put all the posts about the gas in one thread and name it in such a way that you could ignore it, whilst those who are interested can carry on unabated.

If not Lee, then Deano, Nige

Absolutely nailed it.

I still don't understand why they don't just make the Mem into a decent 12,000 seat stadium... If they had just done one end every few years it would have been all done now. If they should need the extra seats (prob top half of Championship for a sustained period) look to expand. They have what they need, and had / have the money... They just can't be happy with what would be appropriate and want unrealistic / unobtainable grand builds.... Really sad.... They should look to FGR, Yeovil and not us... There is no shame in it.

I've always found them to be bitter *****. The only ambition their fans have is to be one place above us and have a stadium with one seat more capacity. Sadly for them, I think over the years that's rubbed off on the BOD/Chairmen there and instead of being realistic in their ambitions, they've set their goals as being competitive with us. Wherever we are in the league is the extent of their ambition.

Their only real purpose these days is to make us laugh

Roadrunner Once - Jonathan Richman And The Modern Lovers

just to backup your reasoning here @Eddie Hitler I've just looked up the first round attendance figures for the 2013 Tinpot Trophy, Southern Section (South-West Group). Exeter 0-2 Wycombe. 1654 Cheltenham 3-3 Plymouth. 1236 Torquay 0-0 Portsmouth. 1951 Bristol City 2-1 Bristol Nomarks. 17888 You've nailed it my friend. ?

In fairness, that would only take about twelve years in Horfield.

Doubt whether those from North Bristol of the 70’s are greatly different, in that probably have more Bristol Gassy friends than City. Indeed, I was best man to a Gashead and vice versa, and he remains one of my best friends to this day. While most of them were ‘standard’ fans, knew some of their absolute nutters well too. Given that, it was a bit alarming when I was persuaded to ball boy at Eastvile (once) with a couple of the normal Gassys, after playing a football match with them nearby (on the basis I would have to walk 8 miles home rather than get a lift). I’ve felt unclean ever since btw. I’d be absolutely delighted if they crashed out of the League, but would prefer them in the National League South than out of existence. Hang on. No. Having re-read that, I’d love it for them to be out of existence. Don’t think those who didn’t experience the 70’s rivalries can understand the ‘relationship’ those of my generation have with the Sags.

... with just one mother.

If you were like me, a schoolkid in the 80s, you would be celebrating this thread not having a go at it. 10 years of putting up with those Gas lot crowing is enough to make me love seeing them suffer.

There is absolutely no chance of them stuffing Sunderland this evening, the game is on Saturday..

I agree, I don't want them in the fourth tier either. I would love to see the famous blue and white quarters playing on the Downs! Oh yeah!!!!

Blackbird1 I hate those tosses with a passion because they are annoying xxxxx. Look at the kit,look at ground,look at their fans,hollow head,the fake sheik. ,tick tock they r coming for us,the trumpton yrs,their stupid ####kin song. Give me a reason to like the gits cuz I know they don’t like us. My oldest mate (best man) is dopey gas **** .I txt him regularly.At the moment hourly they are that amusing. Im 50 I know I shouldn’t care but that’s football ,it gets in your bones. ftg ,ctid.

Obviously closet gas. If you were old enough & remember how they (sorry you) conducted themselves (yourselves) in 82 then you’d understand .

If you've been away from Bristol since the age of 16, and saw the players you mention, you've obviously been away a long time, and haven't had to live and work with them. That almost certainly expalins your ambivalence. I humbly suggest you retire from the thread and leave it to those of us who have to deal with the mutants on a daily basis.

When talking to Gas mates (yep, I do have some) best way I've found for taking the piss is to tell them that Cardiff are our rivals now - tell them that they no longer matter. Occasionally ask them how they're doing, or who their manager is these days, pretending I don't know. Really frustrates them. Then drop in something along the lines of "when's your next derby match against Cheltenham?" and they really start frothing with anger - how could a Ted not know or cares about them anymore??! Bless 'em!

I know lockdown has curtailed most of our regular activities, but oh what a humdrum life you must lead if that's the best fun you've had in "ages", I'm not seeing bites, I'm seeing a lot of people convincingly arguing with you why the schadenfreude against Rovers is all part and parcel of being City fans. Your point that "Rovers aren't our rivals any more" doesn't stand up. Just because they are in a different division than us, hatred for them doesn't wax and wane with their league position. When we were sweeping all before us in League One and they were losing to Bath in the FA Trophy and Braintree in the non-league we were as far apart as we've ever been and the "non-league" thread was absolute gold. They'll always be our #1 enemy, and although t's unlikely things can change extremely quickly in terms of rival clubs' fortunes - I know it's going back a long way but in 1986 Oxford won the league cup while Swindon were in the Fourth Division. A few short years later Swindon overtook them. You never know what could happen unfortunately. They've done a lot to justify our hatred for them too, from their 1982 escapades to trying to paint our fanbase as all hooligan devils incarnate, while they are complete saints. Just two examples off the top of my head. Just because they are crap at football doesn't mean they aren't objectionable. When a Gashead accuses me of being obsessed with them, I am happy to own it. My response is along the lies of "Yep, guilty, I hate your putrid club." Doesn't mean I necessarily hate all individual Gasheads. A few of them I know, like and admire. I suspect most City fans would disgaree with you. As Peter said, if you don't want to read anti-Gash stuff then avoid this thread. The whole point of it coming into being was so it could be concentrated into one place and not spread all over the forum. If your game is you think you are winding people up then crack on my friend but people replying to you does not = a successful fishing trip.

........................or lets have a 36 team "Champions League" (don't use the word Super whatever you do otherwise all the smaller clubs will get wind of what's happening and try and block it) using made up co-efficients so that we can effectively block teams like Ajax who have genuinely won their league and fill it with fifth and sixth placed but bigger stature Spanish/Italian/French/English clubs............if West Ham/Grenada/Spezia finish fifth give them a co-efficient of zero and let 13th placed Tottenham Hotspur/ Sevilla/Udinese in instead. Anybody who watches that crap really needs their head examining imo.

I think you're frankly in the wrong place Blackbird1. Why not pop over to GasChat and offer them some friendly support from us Teds?......

well they been my rivals for 39 years and they always will be unless they go out of business. Nothing better than a Bristol derby to get the heart racing and the blood pumping.

The Man City case basically proved that their rules are unenforceable

This is probably the most sensible thing said about Wael on the forum. He’s got some money but absolutely no business brains. Owning the Rovers is just some Walter Mitty fantasy for him

Even better, imagine if OTIB then had an "ignore topic" function on top of your suggestion...........the Mods need to get a grip of this site!!

Me too. In 2011 I spoke to William Hill and asked them to give me odds for the Gas to stay up when they were in a similar position. Managed to get 5/1 (admittedly I think Gas were actually bottom of the table and a point or two further adrift but still in touch of 5th from bottom). Best £100 I’ve ever lost ? Ahh, then this thread isn’t for you. Off you pop, good lad.

Us mocking Rovers position, is frankly embarrassing.

Sorry to hear that, puts some things in perspective - hope you get sorted soon.

White Mice - The Sweet