Mr X Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 What's the standard like of the league/s at the Downs as I've never watched a game there myself. I've been told historically City and Rovers even used to scout there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivorguy Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 I do know that when City were in the old first division with Billy Wedlock, City went to the big fair on The Downs. The City goalie took shots from the public. My grandfather beat him three times in succession from the penalty spot (he played twice a week for two local teams as a centre forward). He was then approached by City, but those were the days of set wage and so grandfather working in the family business in Kingswood declined. He certainly wouldn't have today! I think a part of him always regretted it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 41 minutes ago, Mr X said: What's the standard like of the league/s at the Downs as I've never watched a game there myself. I've been told historically City and Rovers even used to scout there! terrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lack of Action Man Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 The Downs league used to be the lowest possible level of the Englisgh football pyramid until recent times when it broke off from the pyramid altogether! There may be some decent players up there but the downs is a self-contained league now. You can't be promoted out of it, nor relegated into it, at least not in the conventional sense of what promotion and relegation means in football to the common supporter. It is therefore imo the footballing equivalent of purgatory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davefevs Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 23 minutes ago, OddBallJim said: The Downs league used to be the lowest possible level of the Englisgh football pyramid until recent times when it broke off from the pyramid altogether! There may be some decent players up there but the downs is a self-contained league now. You can't be promoted out of it, nor relegated into it, at least not in the conventional sense of what promotion and relegation means in football to the common supporter. It is therefore imo the footballing equivalent of purgatory. Not helped by small bumpy pitches. Any player with lofty ambitions would see The Downs as a nice place to stroll around on a summers day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelts Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 l loves it me. Great times . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CyderInACan Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 It's great, but the standard is variable. It's brilliant if you don't want to schlep around Bristol every other weekend,as all the games are played on the various parts of the Downs. Some pitches are better than others but I can tell you from bitter experience that a game down by the Sea Walls on a cold, windy and rainy day is the stuff of footballing nightmares. It is - however - a great footballing community with some very long established clubs playing there with passionate and selfless volunteers running them. As you may guess, I used to play up there, proudly representing Old Cothamians/Cotham Old Boys. I have the trophies to prove it, too! Very fond memories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redysteadygo1 Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 2 hours ago, Mr X said: What's the standard like of the league/s at the Downs as I've never watched a game there myself. I've been told historically City and Rovers even used to scout there! Tony Cook comes to mind and fortunately only had to play up there once in an away Glos cup match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOTBLUE Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 Just stand outside the changing rooms with a pair of boots in your hands and you are practically guaranteed a game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cidered abroad Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 I played in a Sneyd Park team once with an England international, cricketer David Allen and also Tony Brown of Glos CCC. Confirm Tony Cook was signed from a Downs League side. This Wiki page also mentions Syd Morgan, Con Sullivan and Bob Anderson the four keepers I remember from 1950's. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Cook_(footballer,_born_1929) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 6 hours ago, Mr X said: What's the standard like of the league/s at the Downs as I've never watched a game there myself. I've been told historically City and Rovers even used to scout there! Think a Gas game but better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS10 RED Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 Never ever played in the downs league but played in Glos cup games against downs league teams up the downs if that makes sense. There seems to be some decent teams in the top division after that though they all seem pretty average and the bottom division is completely shocking standard. (including the refs) watched a game up there a couple months ago and its 1nil in the 89th minute. Losing team gets a corner takes it and the goalkeeper catches it with both hands but gets pushed in the net by losing team player so the ref awards the goal . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashtonwurzel Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 I played in a Gloucester Cup up there 19 years ago or so and it was shocking, played Torpedo or Spartak or something along those lines who hadn't lost for a season and a half, don't think they got in our half. Truly dreadful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashtonwurzel Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 21 minutes ago, Ashtonwurzel said: I played in a Gloucester Cup up there 19 years ago or so and it was shocking, played Torpedo or Spartak or something along those lines who hadn't lost for a season and a half, don't think they got in our half. Truly dreadful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big C Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 2 hours ago, cidered abroad said: I played in a Sneyd Park team once with an England international, cricketer David Allen and also Tony Brown of Glos CCC. Confirm Tony Cook was signed from a Downs League side. This Wiki page also mentions Syd Morgan, Con Sullivan and Bob Anderson the four keepers I remember from 1950's. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Cook_(footballer,_born_1929) Sneyd Park!!!!!! Boo!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daored Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 Just now, Big C said: Sneyd Park!!!!!! Boo!!!!!! You a Vincent's boy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big C Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 Just now, daored said: You a Vincent's boy? Could be although doesn't everyone hate Sneyd though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Rollason Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 I played for Cotswool old boys... seems like another century.......... oh....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daored Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 7 minutes ago, Big C said: Could be although doesn't everyone hate Sneyd though? Everyone hates Sneyd, but the way you said it suggested CSV! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big C Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 Just now, daored said: Everyone hates Sneyd, but the way you said it suggested CSV! Yep you got me played for Vincents for 20 years or so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daored Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 11 minutes ago, Big C said: Yep you got me played for Vincents for 20 years or so Really good club and some good people involved , Ray King, Dave Wood to name a couple Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big C Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 1 minute ago, daored said: Really good club and some good people involved , Ray King, Dave Wood to name a couple Ray is a Downs League legend Vincents secretary for almost 50 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRock Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 I graced the shirt of Sneyd Park. Shades of red and blue? Got changed in a pub if I recall correctly, which was handy post match. Then transferred to Conham Rangers for a packet of Smarties. Good times, except for the b******ings when I went AWOL when City were at home against anyone worthwhile! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downendcity Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 6 hours ago, NOTBLUE said: Just stand outside the changing rooms with a pair of boots in your hands and you are practically guaranteed a game. LJ's selection process I reckon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davefevs Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 I played half a dozen games for Clifton Rockets with some mates from my cricket club. We were a very good team.....socially!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelts Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 19 minutes ago, Davefevs said: I played half a dozen games for Clifton Rockets with some mates from my cricket club. We were a very good team.....socially!!! I used to run the Rockets First team in Div one . Top at New Year then it went a little LJ!! Good days had top lads from South Bristol all had played Toolstation. Geoff Gardner secretary legend. Went onto ref on the downs and what they had was Corinthian spirit. Decent teams. Not as bad as made out, Bristol and Avon league far worse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davefevs Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 2 minutes ago, shelts said: I used to run the Rockets First team in Div one . Top at New Year then it went a little LJ!! Good days had top lads from South Bristol all had played Toolstation. Geoff Gardner secretary legend. Went onto ref on the downs and what they had was Corinthian spirit. Decent teams. Not as bad as made out, Bristol and Avon league far worse I was mates with Oggy, Butch, Bucz, Dave Perryman from cricket. Remember Geoff too. Must've been around 1990...I was in between clubs (I had a few!!). I didn't enjoy the football much, but we had a good laugh in The Greyhound. I do recall stuffing Downend 5 in the GFA Cup. I knew their striker, he used to come into where I worked, and he was talking about it being cricket score. They were a tidy local side at the time. We beat them 4-1, Dave "Gilly" Gilbert scored 3. They were shocked. I left after that game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelts Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 1 minute ago, Davefevs said: I was mates with Oggy, Butch, Bucz, Dave Perryman from cricket. Remember Geoff too. Must've been around 1990...I was in between clubs (I had a few!!). I didn't enjoy the football much, but we had a good laugh in The Greyhound. I do recall stuffing Downend 5 in the GFA Cup. I knew their striker, he used to come into where I worked, and he was talking about it being cricket score. They were a tidy local side at the time. We beat them 4-1, Dave "Gilly" Gilbert scored 3. They were shocked. I left after that game. I know them lads . That was the glory days . Kev Shaw got me involved. Had some proper socials in and around Whiteladies very messy. Manager before me was an Italian guy with a nice moustache!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davefevs Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 1 minute ago, shelts said: I know them lads . That was the glory days . Kev Shaw got me involved. Had some proper socials in and around Whiteladies very messy. Manager before me was an Italian guy with a nice moustache!! John Deulias (sounded like Julius but spelt something like that)....he played when I did. He had a restaurant on The Mall I think. I see him from time to time. Nice chap. Neil Filer....now there was a character! Didn't know Kev Shaw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelts Posted January 30, 2017 Report Share Posted January 30, 2017 Filer played for me good mates with Johny Saddler. Liked John very nice man. I took them to a Norman Hardy cup final then packed in playing to turn to the dark side ....ref!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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