CliftonCliff

Bristol born and bred. Grew up in Bedminster (Windmill Hill, to be precise, when it was a traditional working class area where most people worked in the local Wills cigarette factory and long before it began to attract middle class professionals).

Followed in my old Dad's footsteps in being a City supporter. (He used to tell a story about getting caned at school, along with a bunch of other kids, for bunking off to watch a big cup match at Ashton Gate. I believe the ground had no floodlights in those days, so mid-week games were played on a Wednesday afternoon. This was in the 1920s, so the family tradition goes back a long way... It's in the blood.)

Started attending games regularly when I was a schoolboy myself, around age 13 or 14, so 1960 or thereabouts. Missed some periods in the club's history when I was away at university and so on, or when playing amateur football on Saturdays, and must confess I lapsed for a couple of seasons during the great First Division to Fourth Division catastrophe in the late 70s- early 80s. I returned to the fold in the season that saw Terry Cooper's side get promotion to the old Div 3 and have been pretty consistent in my support ever since - and a season ticket holder for longer than I can remember.

Earliest memories of City are from being taken very occasionally by Dad at a much younger age: they include players such as "Ginger" Peacock and Alex Eisentrager. But my regular attendance started around the time that John Atyeo was in the side, Brian Clark was just breaking through to the first team and Jantzen Derrick was mesmerising and frustrating fans in equal measure. I still think of him as one of the most naturally gifted players I've seen at Ashton Gate.

After nearly half a century as a fan I will be well satisfied if, in my lifetime, we see City playing in a new stadium (sad though it will be to leave the Gate) and at Premier level - something which would have been undreamed of when I first started watching them as a kid. (*Edit: I wrote that last bit when I signed up in 2009 - things have changed a bit since then!)