Blagdon Mike

BRISTOL CITY PROGRAMME IS BACK! Bristol City programmes will be sold at the four corners of Ashton Gate Stadium from the first match of the season against Preston North End on Saturday 5th August. The Football Club has decided not produce a programme, either printed or online. In these circumstances, committed fans are producing CIDEREDS Matchday Programme as they did for the lockdown season 2020/21in similar circumstances. CIDEREDS has all the features you expect from a football programme. The focus is on City Heritage and Footballing articles. All the season-long contributors of City heritage articles in ROBINS are contributing to CIDEREDS: ● Club Historian David Woods continues his articles ‘City In Cartoons ● Mike Adams traces City’s quest to climb from the bottom of Division 4 in 1982 to the Premier League, we hope not far into the future in ‘The Big Climb-back’ ● Steve Smith looks back at ‘What We Were Reading’ beginning with Shoot and Goal magazines ● Paul Gainey follows up his articles about players of the 50s with ‘Player Profiles of the 60s’ ● In addition, former Sunday Independent columnist Mark Leesdad traces the life of Chris Garland, who sadly died recently. He is co-author of Chris’s biography ‘A Life Of Two Halves.’ CIDEREDS is of a quality equivalent to other Championship clubs and professionally designed. It carries no adverts. The 32 pages are all Bristol City. The price of individual copies is £4 to collect. But if you take out a season’s subscription the price is £3.50 to collect. You may pay by cash or card reader. More details are in the first issue for example you will be able to order away programmes or order mail delivery. Come On You Reds!

I am a SC&T board member and moreover I write the minutes! I am afraid I do not visit OTIB a lot because of my involvement not only with SC&T but also Local History Society, Parish Council and latterly the matchday programme. I will start a new topic about the programme shortly - you will understand WHY then. Having been alerted to this topic, I have read it all through before entering the fray: The Club launched the new kit without any discussion or warning of any sort with the SC&T. It does go against provisions of the Fans Led Review recommendations but more importantly against the Memorandum of Understanding SIGNED BY SC&T AND BCFC when Richard Gould was CEO. We have gone back to the Club over this issue but I am afraid it is all done and dusted. I can understand contributors being disappointed we did not make a public fuss over the issue; we did not think that was the way forward. What prompted the new bird design - looking like anything but a robin - is a mystery. Up to that point the Club had been adamant in using the new Robin badge. I think we need to be seen more as a campaigning group. We DO publish our meetings and since being online we have had a take-up that we did not get previously with traditional face to face meetings. So there has been an improvement and we are sticking with online meetings as a result. I would say the minutes are in a normal format - I have done them for several other organisations - and the ACTIONS are clearly listed and progress on them is reported at the next meeting. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO ATTEND MEETINGS - if you are interested they are on the first Wednesday each month and the link is available from me via info@bristolcitysupporters.org. I think many OTIB contributors could provide a refreshing point of view. We look forward to seeing you..

ALAN WALSH came to our Club in 1984. City had just been promoted to Division 3 after spending two seasons in the bottom division - for a short time actually propping up the entire Football League. Alan was recruited from Darlington, where he was their all-time top scorer and I believe still is. What a player! We marvelled at his powerful left-foot shooting and long-range passing - natural choice for spot kicks. After many years, Alan will finally receive his Hall of Fame goblet at the Norwich City game on 11th February. It will take place in the Supporters Bar above the Sports Bar some time from 1pm onwards - this is is accessible by supporters. The exact time will depend on his role as an Ambassador for the Former Players Association on the day.

I agree but it was not just those two, the whole team seemed to be playing at their individual and collective best. Our forward line is really firing - if we can keep all three that would bode well for next season. Our back four is looking solid, With some good additions in the summer we could be knocking on the door next season. Glad you enjoyed the game Geoff...

END OF SEASON AWARDS It may not have been the best of seasons but there have been some inspiring performances looking to the future and now is the time for you to express your opinion. Voting for the 2021/22 End of Season Awards is now live. All supporters are entitled to vote for Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year for both the Men’s and Women’s teams. Recall exciting match action as you choose your Champagne Moment. You can also nominate your Supporter of the Year and say why they deserve to win that coveted accolade. The deadline is midnight on Monday April 4th. Cast your vote via this Supporters Club & Trust link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BCFCPOY2022

Your second chance MEET CLUB LEGEND GEOFF MERRICK signing copies of his new book LIFE WITH THE ROBINS AND BEYOND THIS SATURDAY 12.30-2.00pm Outside the Supporters Bar (through the Independence Sports Bar and up the stairs) ALL WELCOME!

THE FOUR SEASONS – book signing at Ashton Gate Saturday 4th December, Ashton Gate 12.30pm onwards above the Sports Bar The book, which chronicles the years City graced the top flight 1976-1980, contains over 400 photographs and will be on sale for just £25 (cash). Four players from that great team (as at 1st December) will be on hand to sign copies and chat to fans: Paul Cheesley (early on) Tom Ritchie Gerry Sweeney Trevor Tainton Please go through the Sports Bar, up the stairs and turn right. An opportunity not to be missed!

JOHN ATYEO HOUSE PLAQUE John’s family home was 60 High Street, Dilton Marsh, Westbury, Wilts, BA23 4DY. A wall plaque has been arranged by the Local History Society and will be unveiled on: Friday, 24th September at 6.30pm. A gathering will be held afterwards at Dilton Marsh Memorial Hall also in the High Street but BA13 4DW followed by: “JOHN ATYEO’S LIFE IN FOOTBALL” a talk by John’s biographer Tom Hopegood at 7.30pm