cidered abroad

Not quite true about sectarianism, as far as I know, although it may have had a bearing. In those days players only had a one year contract with summer wages a £ or two lower than in season. But any City player from 1955 promotion team, hadbeen promised no wages reduction in summer. Doherty tried to change this but John Atyeo led a players delegation to Harry D and Harry instructed Doherty to fulfil his promise. That was the major cause of the dressing room split which ended with relegation in 1960

Fred Ford was a very good manager and a very good person. Once lent me 5 shillings at Walsall as I'd lost my cash. Travelled on trains to away matches a few times with him and he was always willing to chat with us boys. First time all night from TM (not Parson St) to Manchester and he told us to go to Old Trafford and Maine Road before we went on to Bury where City were playing. We got a good welcome at both and he also got comps for the ten of us at Bury. Lost 1-0 but really memorable day out. Then on train to London going on to Southend on a Monday night. I had a weeks holiday and he said go to Spurs and get a ticket for European Cup tie against Gornik of Poland on the Wednesday. Got to ticket office, wearing my red and white scarf, only to be told that it was a sell out. Guy in the office asked why Red/White and I explained who I supported and who told me to buy a ticket. Instantly a complimentary ticket appeared and I was told to deliver it to Ford but if I didn't see him, I could use it. Spurs first home match in European Cup and they won 8-1. Absolutely brilliant football. We lost 1-0 at Southend!

You got the wrong one. Peter was an Irish international and came from Doncaster Rovers. Tommy was a Jock.

Thanks for posting my thoughts for me.

Is Paul Cook still manager?

@BS2 Red I have been doing my weekly shop with Sainsbury's for many months by ordering online for delivered to my house. Try it as if you use a 4 hour slot it only costs £1 delivery. Ocado is pretty good also.

@Kid in the Riot Thanks for your comments which are very spot on. When I was a child and especially after the inception of the NHS, I cannot remember anyone even considering not having any of the new vaccines as they arrived. In fact everyone that I knew, parents and relatives, who never even considered not taking advantage of a way of avoiding the horrible diseases that were still rampant in many parts of this planet. I suppose our parents firstly wanted us to have a healthy life but by doing so, helping many others to also benefit. I stopped going to City and Bears before last year's lockdown not only because I was scared for myself but also for my wife who has mild asthma. How could I live with myself if I had brought it home. Nowt to do with political beliefs, just caring about others and being sensible.

@Riaz I was born in 1943 so could have had a bomb land on my bed until 1945. Just after the war, children were dying of several horrible diseases. I spent two weeks in hospital with measles and a further three weeks in convalecence at Clevedon. Just after a vaccine was introduced. Do we hear much about measles now? Also polio, Mumps, Whooping cough, TB, smallpox and maybe a couple more that I cannot remember. All vaccines have a risk of one death in a very large number. But all of these medical advances turned the average anticipated life span for most "Western" children in the rich and developed countries from around 35 years in the mid 1800's to over 70 by mid 1970's. There is not any guarantee that you reach that age but we all have a much better chance of a life not ridden with illness and early deaths. Hence the big increase in human population numbers in the last forty/fifty years. There is a downside though. I first watched City in April 1950 and got instantly hooked. So if I had died earlier in my life, I would not have had to suffer seven relegations and a helluva lot of crap seasons like the one just passed!

More than dated as I saw it first hand at rugby on Saturday. Outdated and beginning to look quite tatty and worn.

Another thread derailed!

Strange that two big clubs like Schalke and Werder have both been relegated in the same season. The German equivalents of Everton and Arsenal?

He's an athlete who can play football. But he is not a footballer. His timing and ball control is haphazard and his "reading" of the game is almost non existent. Sell while a Premier League club is daft enough to pay £5 million. And watch natural goal scorers like Sam Bell, Conway and Britton improving with match experience.

Very true, @ChubStixx. If that is a reflection of the passion shown by all of the Bristol Bears squad and coaching staff, is it any wonder that they are able to dig themselves out of holes time and time again. This team spirit did not happen overnight. It has taken Pat Lam about four years to build the squad this quality, where every one in the team, pulls their weight for the team. And that has been achieved within the Financial Rules imposed by the English Premiership. I believe that we have finally gained a Manager/Head Coach at City, who if given time and resources, is capable of doing the same. Pearson is a leader by example and who will build a team spirit that is essential to achieving what the club and supporters wish for. And assuming that happens, he (NP) will immediately give credit to the players and coaching staff, rather than claiming the glory for himself. How do we get to show our City OTIB members the Sinckler interview? It is a real eye opener!

Wow! Give the other side some credit.

I am proud of the way we performed today. With a side that comprised so many young "rookies", we made Brentford work for their win. We competed well, even if at times we were outclassed by a very good Brentford. None of our's left anything on the pitch today and one cannot ask for more. Now for the "Repair Shop" to begin an interesting summer.

Brentford are a good footballing team and very clever at the cheating side also. Niggly little fouls to break up the game when we have the ball. Ref doing OK but not impressed with him having a love in with the Brentford players while one of their's was being treated for a headache. We are doing OK so far.

Another chance for NP to weigh up if he wants Marriappa and Baker to stay? We know he rates Vyner from previous comments

You are a three eyed, four arms with six fingers on each hand monster! If you want to go into show business, I'll be your manager.

First home game next season? Guaranteed it'll be the Posh and a hat trick for you know who!

The type of game like Burnley v Sheffield United where I don't really give a thought to it and if both sides could lose, it would be the ideal outcome.

I wonder if Pearson can instil such dogged determination in City's squad. Many of us jokingly say that City can snatch defeat from the jaws of victorty. Well Bristol Bears are doing it regularly the other way round, whoever is in the team, however many injuries there are and even when the referee appears to be an additional member of the opponents.

My forum name was initiated when I lived in Portugal. I moved back to Bristol in 2013. My initial post was a reply to Hampshire Red @Hampshire Redwho appears to be stuck up Lee Johnson's rectum, or is chairman of his fan club. The LJ whose continual purchase of players has given us a grossly oversize playing staff with many of them clearly not good enough for top end of Championship. As for BRFC, as a youngster growing up in post war Bristol, I often went to watch Rovers because apart from City it was the only way to watch a game every other Saturday. Dad also, as a Welsh man, took me to Cardiff and because we had relatives there Leicester City. Also to City away games. So like many of my era, I loved watching football to see so many of the stars of the day. I had coaching from City and Rovers players as a teenager. I've always supported City but I respect players and fans from all other teams. And I genuinely believe that if BRFC were in the same league as us, we'd get two humdinger derby games and make our club more determined to finish above them every year. A good enough reply to your sarcasm? @slartibartfast

Oh you are all are in love with him, aren't you! As a Bristolian who remembers some cracking local derbies with the Gas at home and away. I'm a City supporter but that doesn't mean I want them to sink into the Fourth Tier. I'd rather they were in the same league as us, giving us an extra incentive to remain as Bristol's best. So for me, I'd like to see them stuff Sunderland and their manager this evening.

I don't know what if any regulations on finance exist in Women's football but the difference in the ridiculous amounts spent by the men's Premier League top clubs in their Women's teams is obscene - bears no resemblance of the gate money received. A Premier League problem magnified many times in the Women's game.

Another well worked evening for the Bears. Mention for Tiff Eden who kicked well despite the horrible weather. Yet again the only drawback is not being there to watch in person. I get my second jab in early april so will be raring to go as soon as allowed. We did!