pongo88

2 minutes ago, bert tann said:

The attendance figure is subject to a NDA

I know that Rovers are a bit toxic but I didn’t realise that the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority was involved 

I’m prepared to bet that the shirt will be predominantly red and the shorts white. I don’t understand what there is to get excited about as, in reality, there’s little variation year on year. It’s just a case of East St. Louis Toodle-Oo

The was an Apple Wassailing ceremony in one of the allotments in Bishopston today. This obviously had a big detrimental affect on the Rovers attendance 

2 hours ago, Barrs Court Red said:

What can they moan about? That is what was in the original plan, likewise the Dolman lower. 

It (standing at the back or front of the South Stand) was included in some preliminary sketches of the stand. However, this had been dropped by the time the stand was built and supporters bought their tickets. If the back few rows were converted to standing any supporter sitting there who didn’t want to stand would be entitled to most 

2 hours ago, Port Said Red said:

Do people still believe this is a thing?

Buying the houses behind the Atyeo - no. 

With the configuration of the stands, concourses, entrances, visibility problems for sitting supporters etc at Ashton Gate not much, if anything, is going to happen. A rebuilt Atyeo, after the purchase of the houses behind, would work but that’s not going to happen any time soon, if at all

4 minutes ago, DOZZYBCFC said:

Where has this been confirmed?

OTIB rule 26, subsection 4:

Lack of confirmation is no barrier to speculation 

7 minutes ago, TinMan's left peg said:

they were in there last night 

That’s very cramped. It needs a hole cut into the back of the stand and the camera platform built over the walkway behind 

1 hour ago, alexukhc said:

Watched with my lad on the box, his 3rd game watching a full 90 with us  and we’ve won 3, Tommy Conway has scored in each and at the end of the game he declared his love for him  

Rather we smashed the league but I’ll take beating West Ham any day.

I hate this club at times, disliked football but not tonight, lost a lot of love for it the last couple years but it’s creeping back and soz mentioning my lad again, him asking him to wear his City kit over his Chelsea kit(in laws, don’t ask) I remember being a young lad again, falling asleep in my City Kit, loving Junior Bent. I never gave it up but the hearts coming back.

anyway can’t wait to lose against Watford on Saturday, party on

Your lad’s record is watched 3, won 3! You know the answer - get him, and you, a season ticket 

It’s great to see these old pictures but it looks a dump. Even worse on a cold winter’s day in the pouring rain when City are 2-0 down 

6 hours ago, Robbored said:

Moved 24 hrs - not exactly a postponement.

I think you are wasted on the forum. You should be in parliament with this type of answer. Its perfect for a politician 

20 minutes ago, Wanderingred said:

People with opinions.

That’s your opinion 

4 minutes ago, OliOTIB said:

Deal is done. He is at AG right now. 

I hope you’re not just stringing us along with this. 
 

(Sorry, but it just had to be done)

3 hours ago, Claverham_Red said:

Just wondering about their new stadium which seems to be taking forever? https://www.punchline-gloucester.com/articles/aanews/forest-green-rovers-latest-on-eco-park-planning-bid

Can't imagine if they ever will be in a position to increase the 5k capacity.

Steve Cotterill to FGR would be a good move, but they are a sinking ship at the moment!

The figures just don’t add up. £100m for the stadium and training facilities for a team the has crowds under 2,000.  The proposed hospitality facilities (bars, restaurants, boxes) of  1,750 seems to be OTT for a club like Forest Green 

9 hours ago, TonyTonyTony said:

Lansdown has sunk in how much - 200 odd million? He's not going anywhere until he recovers most of that.

Reality check

I think that’s the problem. SL wants to recover a large percentage of the money he’s put into the club. Unfortunately life’s not like that and City’s / Bristol Sport’s value is much lower. If he was prepared to sale at a realistic price there would be a buyer. Whether or not the new owner would be better or worse is anybody’s guess

3 hours ago, marmite said:

I keep hearing this but if the gap is so big, why do we recruit players (and coaches) from the lower leagues. Is this the reason we are struggling in the  Championship?

That’s a very good question and I’m not sure of the answer. IMO the probable answers are:

1) That’s its a reasonably low cost solution to make sure City can maintain a mid table position without much chance of relegation. (2) There is a possibility that some of these players can be later sold at a profit. This fits with the club’s business plan. (3) There is a possibility that some of the players will come good and City make it to the playoffs before they’re sold. Once in the playoffs anything can happens and SL seems to think that City should be like Luton - i.e. a club with a low cost squad who make it to the Premier League 

50 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

I know this thread is to laugh at them, but if I was a top six side in their division, Pompey (faltering badly), Derby, Oxford, I’d be straight on to Chris Martin’s agent with more money than those jokers can offer & a bonus if he gets a team promoted.

5 in his last 4 games, 9 in 12 starts & 5 sub appearances, still got it at League One level.

His performances demonstrate the gap between the Championship and League 1. Jonson Clarke-Harris is another example. He scores goals for fun in League 1 but no Championship teams are interested in signing him as they know he couldn’t make the step up 

12 minutes ago, Rossi the Robin said:

How many managers jobs have we saved this season? Lowe today, Rooney temporarily, Wagner and the Stoke manager? And that’s without looking 

Were Bristol City it’s what we do 

24 minutes ago, cellist said:

we had 18 points from 14 games. Manning I think is 15 from 11. But having failed to score for 3 league games in a row, especially given that it includes Rooney's Birmingham and this lot, I for one feel less optimistic than I did on 28 Oct.

What’s telling is that 9 of LM’s 15 points came from 3 consecutive games. Of those 3, only the Watford match was a good performance. It was a daylight robbery win against Sunderland and a fortunate win against Hull. In a way it doesn’t matter how you pick up points but long term, if you want promotion, it’s the style of play and the team performance that’s important. Unfortunately for City too many of the last 11 matches have been dire. A common theme after a some matches is “when did you see as bad a match as that”. Then the next match is worse and so on 

2 hours ago, Jerseybean said:

Last season we won 2-1 with Sam Bell registering his first league goal. See photo https://youtu.be/8dGOFn61cNQ

When we played them in the first game of the season it finished 1-1 https://www.pnefc.net/news/2023/august/highlights-bristol-city-1-pne-1/

On deadline day they signed Milutin Osmajic on a four-year deal and Liam Millar on loan for the rest of the season.

Head-to-head record

Won: 29

Lost: 34

Drawn: 35

Players who’ve played for both teams include Josh Brownhill, Greg Cunningham and Callum Robinson.

Manager Lowe is under pressure their forum is running an in/out poll: https://www.pne-online.net/forum/index.php?threads/fresh-poll-lowe-in-out.3439640/page-70#post-4655367

‘Some PNE fans, possibly quite a lot, will happily take a hammering by you lot providing it hastens the manager’s exit. Check out the poll on our forum which shows 97% of forum users want him out. The other 3% are blind, stupid or related to Lowe’.

This article stresses that this could be a make or break game for Lowe: https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/preston-north-end-manager-ryan-lowe-leeds-united-bristol-city-millwall-4473385

LM presser: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/interviews/manning-talks-preston-away/

RL pre-match: https://www.pnefc.net/news/2024/january/gaffer-expecting-different-bristol-city-test-to-opening-day/

Last weekend they lost 4-0 to Chelsea in the FA Cup. They are 19th in the Championship form table with two wins and four defeats in their last six league games. They only have four wins in their last 20 league matches.

Jack Whatmough is unavailable for them. While we will be without Mark Sykes and I guess Andi W.

Officials

Referee: Sam Barrott

Assistants: Jonathan Hunt and Daniel Leach

Fourth official: Simon Mather

The EFL HQ is in Preston.

Last campaign they finished in 12th place on 63 points.

Deepdale guide: https://footballgroundguide.com/leagues/england/championship/deepdale-preston-north-end.html + https://www.pnefc.net/news/2024/january/matchday-information-bristol-city-h/

Their match preview: https://www.pnefc.net/news/2024/january/match-preview-bristol-city-h/

Pubs

Back in February some City fans made for the Black Horse a listed ornate Victorian pub in a pedestrianised street; splendid mosaic-tiled main bar serving eight well kept ales (Robinsons and guests), friendly helpful staff, panelling, stained glass and old local photographs, open fires, two quiet cosy snugs, mirrored back area and upstairs function room; open all day from 10.30am (noon Sun). Black Horse, 66 Friargate, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 2EJ (01772) 204855 www.blackhorse-preston.co.uk

The Station Telephone: 01772 737164

The Station is located in the heart of Preston, directly opposite Preston Train Station. With Preston North End just a 10 minute drive away, the Station is the perfect place to welcome away football fans as soon as they step off the train, before heading to the game. The pub is also a popular place to grab a quick pint before getting back on the train post-match.

The Station has loyalty pricing just for football fans which is accessible by simply showing your football ticket to the bar staff. The pub also has live entertainment on every Friday and Saturday as well as a large selection of draught, bottled beer, cask and craft ales, wines and spirits.

Moor Park Sports and Social Club Telephone: 01772 717709

Moor Park Sports & Social Club (formerly Fulwood Conservative Club) is based on Blackpool Road, Preston. The postcode is PR2 3AE, but for your Sat Nav use PR1 6AD.

The club is close to motorway junctions for the M6 and M55 and just 10 minutes easy walk to Preston’s Deepdale Stadium. A warm welcome awaits visiting supporters both before and after matches with a spacious car park at a minimal charge.

The bar stocks a very good selection of beers, wines and spirits at competitive prices. The club has a separate function room, 2 large bowling greens, 2 match-standard snooker tables and a pool table.

Pies

The Butter Pie is legendary in Preston. This beloved Lancashirian delicacy consists of onions, potatoes and of course, butter – baked until golden with a thick pastry crust. This savoury pie is a half-time favourite at Preston North End Football Club, and was even mentioned in former-Beatle Paul McCartney’s 1971 song ‘Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey’. Where to get yours: https://www.lancs.live/whats-on/food-drink-news/visited-preston-search-best-butter-23312864 and https://www.tasteatlas.com/lancashire-butter-pie/wheretoeat and https://www.lep.co.uk/lifestyle/food-and-drink/the-best-pie-shops-in-preston-these-are-the-14-highest-rated-places-to-get-a-pie-in-preston-according-to-google-reviews-4041110

Preston

Preston's origins can be traced back to the Roman period, with evidence of a Roman road running through the town. The famous Cuerdale Hoard was also discovered near Preston, showing evidence of Viking activity after the Romans. The hoard is one of the largest Viking silver hoards ever found.

In 1179 Preston's first Royal Charter was granted by Henry II conveying the right for the town to have a Guild Merchant. Celebrations, known as the Preston Guild, have since been held every 20 years; with Preston being the only place to still hold these celebrations today. The first recorded celebration of the Preston Guild was held in 1397, when it was already 200 years old.

The first town outside of London to be lit by coal gas. In 1816 Reverend Joseph "Daddy" Dunn, of St Wilfrid's Parish in Preston, created an improved gas lighting technique through chemical experiments. Joseph rapidly changed the whole of Lancashire by transporting the cool-gas lighting into the area as well as throughout the UK. By the mid 1800s, Preston became the second town in England, after London, to be fully lit by coal gas, making it the first provincial town in England to be lit this way. When laying the pipes for the lighting process some pipes were created from surplus musket barrels to save money.

Joseph's Preston Gaslight Company offices were located in Avenham. You can see the first building in Preston to be lit by coal gas on the Preston Blue Plaque Trail.

Where the word "teetotal" was born

Joseph Livesey started the Temperance Movement in Preston in 1832. The followers of the movement were required to sign a pledge of total abstinence. Livesey's first pledge was drawn up in Preston at "The Old Cock Pit". The term "teetotal" is derived from a speech made in Preston by Richard Turner, who was a follower of Livesey. It is said Richard Turner had a speech impediment and during his speech urging total abstinence from all alcohol, rather than just the abstinence of spirits, he remarked "they must insist upon tee-tee-tee total abstinence".

Inspiration for Charles Dickens

It is believed that Charles Dickens' novel "Hard Times" was inspired by his time in Preston. The writer travelled to Preston in 1854 during the Great Lock Out. The strikes saw 26,000 workers put out of work and made headlines across the country as a struggle of the cotton workers against the Preston Cotton Masters. Dickens stayed at the Bull and Royal Hotel on Church Street, along with many other notable names. The Bull & Royal can be seen on the Preston City Heritage Trail.

Home to Britain's first motorway

The Preston by-pass was Britain's first motorway. It was conceived, promoted, built, and initially operated by its engineer James Drake. The by-pass was opened on 5 December 1958 by the Prime Minister Harold MacMillan. It later became part of the M6 motorway. 

The first Kentucky Fried Chicken

In 1965 Ray Allen opened the UK's first Kentucky Fried Chicken store on Fishergate High Street, Preston. Ray met Colonel Harland Sanders in 1963, securing the famous American's fast food rights for his secret fried chicken recipe for the UK. 

The arrival of KFC in the UK came almost a decade before McDonald's, Burger King, and Pizza Hut.

The tallest spire in England

St Walburge's Church boasts a towering 309ft spire. The spire is the tallest of any Parish church in England and the third tallest of any church in the UK, with only the spires of Salisbury and Norwich Anglican Cathedral reaching higher. 

The church was built in the mid-19th century and was designed by Gothic Revival architect Joseph Hansom, who was also the designer of the Hansom cab.

Home of the famous Dick, Kerr Ladies

The Dick, Kerr Ladies were formed in 1917 in Preston and shaped women's football.

The team worked and came together in Dick, Kerr and Co Ltd; a Preston munitions works. By 1921 the team were incredibly popular and were booked to play an average of two games a week. Despite the team's roaring success, the FA eventually banned women from using league grounds.

The Dick, Kerr Ladies are best known for not giving up when times got hard and continued to play over 800 games in the UK and abroad, raising over £180,000 for charity (the equivalent of excess £10 million today). After claiming to be World Champions, the team were challenged by Edinburgh Ladies. The Dick, Kerr Ladies accepted their challenge and won the match 5-1.

Preston's Caribbean Carnival, founded in 1974, is one of the oldest in the UK. The annual carnival celebrates the flamboyant and creative Caribbean culture within the city.

Leo Baxendale, born in Preston in 1930, drew the Bash Street Kids, Minnie the Minx, and Dennis the Menace for the children's comic 'The Beano'.

Alan Schofield broke the world record for the longest putt ever at 166ft 8in. This record-breaking putt occurred on 5 August 2000 at Fishwick Hall Golf Club, Preston. It was recognised as an official world record by the Guinness Book of Records. This putt has since been beaten, however, a plaque remains at the spot where the shot was taken. Here’s the longest putt (over 400 feet) outside of a competition: https://youtu.be/cWE_BpJxmHw?si=6IvhiOJPsWyO3p1e

The row of red public telephone boxes along Preston's Market Street is the longest continuous row of the old style kiosks anywhere in the country. They were designed by Giles Gilbert Scott who also designed the Preston Cenotaph on the Flag Market.

Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, once stayed at a property whilst visiting family on the corner of Cheapside and Friargate in the city centre. A blue plaque can be found here by following the Preston Blue Plaque Trail.

The parents of legendary American outlaw Butch Cassidy lived in Preston before emigrating to America. It was said that Butch spoke with a strong Lancashire accent.

 

 

 

Great thread, as always, @Jerseybean apart from one factual inaccuracy. You state that Butch Cassidy spoke with a strong Lancashire accent. Well, I saw the film and he definitely had an American accent. He was quite a handsome bloke 

I assume that someone must be incoming as the squad is a bit thin. I don’t think he’s one of the top earners as his last contract was on reduced terms (can someone confirm this one way or the other) so it won’t be an enormous saving in wages. I look forward to him scoring against us in March as that’s how these things often pan out 

2 minutes ago, Major Isewater said:

Leaves the way clear for Chris Martin. 
 

You are Roy DeAlien in disguise and I claim my £5

29 minutes ago, kit said:

Our form fell off a cliff at the end of that season when his boy got injured. If he had been able to play his boy in most of the last 10/12 games we probably wouldn't have had to make that change as we'd have gone up automatically. Also who should have gone to right back once Orr had to off instead of Marv?

Hull also had a stroke of luck at their place earlier in the season with mccallister being sent off for two yellows for two fouls with a fair number of equal challenges by hull players going completely unpunished. We probably would have got more than a point there. I also thought we were faurly good value for the win at home to hull, it was two fairly decent teams going at it.

But other than that I completely agree.

City had central defender Tamás Vaskó on the bench. He could have come on to play in the middle with Fontaine switching to full back. This would have meant two defensive changes but it would have kept Elliot in the middle 

10 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

Steve Lansdown said sometime after the redevelopment that the corners can be filled in. 

The corners can be filled in but to do so would require the major work done that I said. It’s possible, but not easy and also very expensive. The cost would probably be very difficult to justify as City would require a sell-out every match to get a return on the investment

At a Senior Reds lunch Steve Lansdown also said that, at the redevelopment stage, he considered rebuilding the Atyeo. With the rebuild the capacity would have been over 30,000 but he decided against it because of the cost that would include buying the houses behind the stand. Possibly at some point in the future, if City are an established Premier League team, the rebuild of the Atyeo end might happen 

10 hours ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

20 hours ago, MattWSM said:

we need a bigger ground, time to fill in the corners 

Easy to say but difficult to do. To fill in the corner between the Lansdown and the Atyeo would require the media centre to be demolished and the Atyeo roof to be changed. The opposite corner is equally difficult as the Atyeo extends beyond the pitch as a result of the pitch being moved as part of the redevelopment. 

In reality most matches will finish the first half at slightly different times due to different extra time added. Similarly, in the second half the actual duration of the matches will vary due to different extra time added. It’s easy to start matches at the same time but impossible to get them to finish at the same time