handsofclay

I was replying to your original suggestion that it was 37,000. The first 3 seasons in the top flight, and the match you refer to was at the top end of that, the 29,914 would have been a very good crowd indeed, but we had quite a few attendances of 25k to 30k. That was obviously at the top end of that. But the only clubs I recall us getting bumper attendances of 30k plus (and in one case nearly 40k) was against the likes of Liverpool, Man United, Leeds etc.

Agree with you, Graham C, I remember being in a crowd of just 16,000 v Norwich when we went 3-0 up in the first 15 minutes and then their keeper Kevin Keelan picked up a nasty hand injury. It was in the days of only one sub and that was never a keeper so he remained in goal saving shots mainly with his legs and feet. But he kept it at 3-0. Also recall only 18,000 v Middlesbrough for a Tuesday night game. The first season prior to the 38,000 v Liverpool last match we had an average gate of 24,000 so with that bumper crowd it would've taken the average to 25,000. But like you said, it was mainly the big guns we got over 30,000 for. Most crowds that first season against the other slightly less attractive sides ranged between 20,000 to 28,000. That was the best season out of the four in the top flight crowd wise. I believe the final season our average gate was something like 17,000 to 19,000. As you say any of the WBA games would not have attracted a crowd of 37,000. The only season that was possible was 1976-77 as the following season the capacity was reduced to 32,000. The only time I recall a bumper crowd v WBA in the top flight at home was Boxing Day in either 77 or 78 when City won 3-1. I think Hunter made a mistake to put the Baggies one up but we thundered back and I think Hunter got one of our three.

Correct it wasn't a ticket game, the capacity (37,000) was exceeded and just under 39,000 announced as the gate. A good couple of thousand were also locked outside. I don't know if the exceeding of the capacity by nearly 2,000 had an effect upon the capacity the next season onwards which was reduced to 32,000. I remember being in the Open End on that Monday night, where Garland headed the winner against Clemence. I think the first was a diving header near halftime in the East End goal to equalise Johnson's opener for Liverpool.

It was a great idea several years ago to have a transfer sub forum as I check on there regularly particularly during windows and when they are approaching, however, there's no real impetus to check a former players sub forum, it's the sort of thing I would like to read in the football chat forum. Thus, if in the football chat forum I see a post titled 'Fammy Annoying Bluebirds' I'm likely to read it, whereas I won't go specifically onto the ex players forum in the hope of seeing a post to the effect that our ex striker is peeing them off over the bridge.

I think Graham C was referring to the Championship Play Off Final v Hull in 2008 when the Brighton fan mate of his now in his 30s was still at school. Obviously, mention of Brighton and play off final brought terrible memories back of the 3rd tier play off final in 2004 when his Brighton supporting mate had probably not long started senior school.

Since Mangotsfield United dropped to the Hellenic League two seasons ago I have seen this used for dissent. The first couple of months the Mangos lost players during matches but once the message sunk in it has rarely happened since. I think the only time I have seen it this season was when a visiting keeper was adjudged to have brought Jaydn Crosbie down in the box. He argued the toss with the ref about it, got sent off for ten minutes, an outfield player had to put the keeper's jersey on and Crosbie put the pen past him. For the next ten minutes the Mangos didn't manage a shot against the stand in, and the opposition more than matched them. On previous occasions too it hasn't been noticeable the team are depleted. It's like the remaining ten players think they have to up their game ten percent for just ten minutes and manage to do so. However, that's at Hellenic League level where livelihoods are not at stake.

Used on Premier League grounds regardless of whether it's a replay and not used in the original tie or vice versa. Indeed, a few seasons ago it was used in our tie at Bramall Lane even though City wouldn't have been able to use it had there been a replay.

I am guessing the City players have access to TV coverage as on Radio Bristol we were told that King's shot that hit both posts was knocked in by Knight on the replay. Smart lad that Jason Knight. I think that's the first time it's ever been done.

Did you point out that the emperor wasn't wearing any clothes in a previous life?

JP has already indirectly mentioned us twice. He has said the words 'Front Foot Football' on a couple of occasions. Something we have now become renowned for.

I think it unlikely we will get relegated but we should never have been in this position as the club had been on an upward trajectory albeit a very gradual one. I have heard that if we are relegated and Derby promoted they will buy Max Bird back off us but lend him to us for the 24-25 season. I want Manning to succeed as I am a Bristol City fan but as Silvio Dante has pointed out the worrying aspect of all this isn't this season it's next. We have been in relegation form since Manning took control fortunately we had enough points in the bag when he took over to most likely avoid the drop this season but what about next. There are parallels, in the opposite way, with when Cottrell became manager. Under SOD we were relegation bound, but Cottrell provided us with promotion form the rest of the season, unfortunately we had far too few points behind us when he took control and only achieved mid table. But as we know that form with some great additions to the squad continued the following season and we were promoted.

They did that with a match a few months ago. Like yourself it wasn't for me.

Yes but he might have placed it on the spot for Tommy.

Jane Austen also predicted one of our loan signings 200 years before it occurred in the title of one of her novels Nathan Abbey* *The publishers weren't keen on the title as they wanted it also included that he would also play for Northampton and he was also a goalkeeper so Jane compromised with the first word which became mashed. So we now know it as Northanger Abbey. Good local girl was Miss Austen. Mixed in the elite circles and picked up all the gossip on City's potential signings way ahead of even Ian Gay.

Brian McNeil played a few games for us but then went over to play in the States. 32 players apparently played for City in the top flight in 1976-80 but he was the only one who couldn't be traced. Last known to be somewhere in Canada.

Gardner Hickman pulled back a player from entering the box off the ball. It was well spotted by the ref. The amount of supporters remarking upon the McCrorie incident as if he did nothing. He did. He pushed off a Forest player in the face. It was again well spotted by the referee. In fact he was somewhat fortunate to escape a yellow. That having been said I thought McCrorie was immense tonight.

I agree that was his only mistake though. Otherwise got everything right, including the McCrorie hand off into the face of his opponent missed by so many others it appears. Also got each yellow card correct. No complaints at all about his performance.

Yes the first game was abandoned at 1-1 due to floodlit failure, the rearranged match also ended 1-1 before City won the replay at Anfield. Highlights were shown on the BBC midweek sports programme. The only live coverage was of the replay when it was broadcast on a big screen at Whitchurch Sports Centre.

That was brilliantly put. I didn't mention Jacki because I feared being targeted as a Neanderthal for as you say he has been elevated to legend status amongst City fans. As soon as Osman dropped him he became the target of the boo boys and it seemed to become fashionable to blame City's struggles in the second tier and lack of entertainment value upon this decision. It wasn't, for as you say we lost plenty and stunk the place out with the mercurial Pole in our side. Yes, he was a fantastic player on his day and I am glad I seen him in a City shirt, but Osman chopped him at the right time and we were a stronger TEAM as a result.

I don't get the downers on Osman's tenure as manager. Yes, the football wasn't great but it hasn't been for years now. But the difference with Osman is he had diddly squat to spend. One of our top signings during the summer when he was boss was a midfielder from Gresley Rovers!!! He kept City in the second tier and beat Liverpool over two and a half matches in the cup. Yet he is much maligned. If the present manager was restricted to signing midfielders from Gresley Rovers yet kept us at this level the paucity of entertainment would be forgiven. He was sacked during a two week break in the fixtures and Joe Jordan brought back and suddenly given the funds Osman was denied.

No it was before Tammy Abraham's time.

I think the rule is he would have needed to have been available for the original tie to be able to play in the replay.

I remember the bandsman before the semi final in 1988, but wasn't there also a member of a band (a guitarist?), performing on the pitch as pre match entertainment in the mid-1970s (just prior to the top flight days?) who died from an electric shock at Ashton Gate? Once again the match went ahead. I'm assuming that as has been stated by others, that back then anybody suffering cardiac arrest or whatever was mainly stretchered off to hospital where equipment was then used to assist them in the recovery process if possible. Whereas now paramedics are working in the serious instances on the spot rather than wasting valuable time by waiting until the patient arrives in hospital. Thus, it is a far more involved procedure. But, despite that, I am surprised games get postponed unless it's very clear that to take this action will help save the life of the person experiencing the trauma. Maybe it's a mixture of that and the prevailing attitude now for organisations etc not to seem insensitive to situations involving life and death. Bill Shankly wouldn't have agreed with that.

It was a split board with Davison, the chairman, wanting Moyes. As chairman he had the casting vote and inexplicably voted for Pulis as he thought it would unify the board more, even though he didn't want him!!!

Great, classy, majestic player. Still think we should have signed him rather than Gary Stanley. RIP