Jerseybean

A trip to Stoke for our final game of the season, with kick off at 1230, they’ve had a poor season but are safe. I was at St Mary’s last weekend when they deservedly beat Southampton 1-0.  They deserved to win and it could’ve been more comfortable to to be honest. There was a tangible sense of relief amongst their fans as they secured championship football for another season.

Scoring has been a big issue for them. No one has scored more goals for them since January last year than right back Hoever, who is on loan from Wolves, with eight, you aren’t going to get very far when your top scoring forward only has three this season!

On the last day of September we lost 2-3 to them at home having been 2-0 up inside 20 minutes!

https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2023/september/30/extended-highlights-bristol-city/

It had been 25 years since Stoke won an away game after being 2-0 down.

They finished with 53 points in 16th place last season their worse league position in twenty years. Ahead of this they are 18th on 53 points.

Bristol to Stoke is a 250 mile round trip, so a massive well done to the traveling faithful who make the trip.

Previous games: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/stoke-away-memories/ we have won on our last five visits to Stoke.

In January they signed Luke Cundle on loan (we were reported to be interested in him) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67922058

On 10 December Alex Neil was sacked https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67672073 after 16 months in charge. On 19 December they appointed Plymouth Argyle boss Steven Schumacher as their head coach: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67753445

In April they appointed their former striker Jonathan Walters as technical director after two months in an interim role working alongside head coach Steven Schumacher.

Last season we recorded a 2-1 win at the Bet365 stadium, thanks to an excellent second half performance and goals from Vyner and Mehmeti who came off the bench to score his first City goal in the 85th minute. That was our fifth successive win at their place. Highlights: https://youtu.be/Zho0MIq8V3U

There will be more who’ve played for both clubs but the only one I can think of is Junior Bent.

We will be without James and Pring, Vyner could return.

Head-to-head record

Won: 20

Lost: 28

Drawn: 15

LM presser: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/interviews/manning-previews-final-game/

Officials

Referee: Sam Barrott

Assistants: Shaun Hudson and Blake Antrobus

Fourth official: John Busby

Match preview: https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/stoke-city/preview/preview-stoke-vs-bristol-city-prediction-team-news-lineups_542747.html

In January they signed Million Manhoef, https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68164597

NP was there between1999 and 2001 he was recruited as Stoke City's first team coach by Gary Megson.Although Megson was sacked later that year by the club's Icelandic consortium, Pearson was kept on for a further two years under Guðjón Þórðarson, before being sacked in 2001.

Ground guide: https://footballgroundguide.com/leagues/england/championship/bet365-stadium-stoke-city.html

Famous fans:

• Nick Hancock - 1990s "They Think It's All Over" TV legend.
• Jeremy Bates - 1980s tennis legend.
• Sugar Ray Leonard - 1970s boxing legend.

Their forum, https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/313013/bristol-city-team-selection

My mate Bill, who supports the Potters, had this to say, ‘Two reflections, the first a fortnight ago I had the misfortune of watching Bristol City play Huddersfield Town. It was one of the most sterile and boring games that I’ve ever had the misfortune to watch. ‘Manning ball’ seems to be an attempt to bring walking football to the Championship. Given that your new coach was purportedly  brought to the club with the promise of front-footed, high pressing, high penetration football, then you’ve obviously been blatantly lied to.

Second reflection, I’m just back from watching Southampton lose to Stoke in what was a very entertaining football match of, funnily enough, Stoke employing a very high press, with lots of athleticism, rapid counter attacks and no little verve. The complete opposite to ‘Manning ball.’

I am aware, however, that you are on a run of being undefeated, but if Bristol City come to the Britannia Stadium to play as they did against Huddersfield, where only a very dubious penalty in very dubious time added on, got you a very underserved point, then not only will Stoke do the double over you (remember 2-0 up to lose 3-2) for the first time in ages, but we will end the season with three wins in a row, something else we haven’t done for years.

I’m really looking forward to that!’

Pubs

This is a good area for decent beers, https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/three-stoke-trent-pubs-included-7121743

Power League Sports Club, Dennis Viollet Avenue, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4TN

Harvester - Trentham Lakes, Trentham Lakes District Centre, Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4TL, https://www.harvester.co.uk/restaurants/eastandwestmidlands/harvestertrenthamlakesstokeontrent#/

The Poacher's Cottage, Stone Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 8AA, https://www.facebook.com/HarvesterPoachersCottage/

The Plough, Campbell Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4EN, https://hotelescon.com.es/The-Plough-Motel/

The Gardeners Retreat, 6 Sideway Rd, Boothen Green, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4BJ, https://the-gardeners-retreat.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral

The Terrace,185 Leek Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2BW, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100072011134582

Bulls Head, St Johns Square, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 3AJ, (01782) 834153, www.titanicbrewery.co.uk

Old-fashioned two-room tap for Titanic with up to ten real ales (including guests) from horseshoe bar, also good selection of Belgian beers, real ciders and wines; well cared-for interior with varnished tables on wood or carpeted floors, coal fire; monthly live folk music, bar billiards and table skittles; drinking area outside (may be barbecue if Port Vale are at home), open all day Fri-Sun, closed till 3pm other days.

Glebe, 35 Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 1HG, (01782) 860670, www.joulesbrewery.co.uk/our-taphouses/our-pub-list/glebe

Well restored 19th-c Joules corner pub, their ales, Weston's cider and good reasonably priced wines from central mahogany counter, William Morris-attributed leaded windows, bare boards and panelling, some civic portraits and big fireplace with coat of arms above, wholesome bar food (not Sun) and all-day deli counter, friendly staff; live music Tues, open mike Thurs; children and dogs welcome, benches in small garden, quite handy for station, closed Mon evening, otherwise open all day.

Holy Inadequate, 67 Etruria Old Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 5PE, 07771 358238. Drinkers' pub with five well kept ales including Joules Pale and maybe one from on-site microbrewery, good range of British craft kegs, German lagers and lots of bottled beers, snacky food such as pies and scotch eggs, friendly staff; dogs welcome, outdoor covered terrace, open all day Fri-Sun, from 4pm other days.

So, that’s it for another season, thank you fellow-Reds, if you’ve read or contributed to the match threads this season and hope to see you again next season. On our opening game against PNE there were 18,329 on this superb forum now it’s 18,721.

Take care. COYR.

On 20th April 1976 we were promoted to the top flight after an absence of 65 years. I remember it being a humid evening at Ashton Gate, with City needing a win against already relegated Portsmouth, managed by Ian St. John.

Clive Whitehead scored in the third minute in front of the open end (now the Atyeo Stand), but it was a nerve jangling 87 minutes to follow, especially in the second half when Geoff Merrick's sliced clearance nearly ended up in his own net.

27,000 fans went bonkers at the final whistle, there was a huge pitch invasion and City management and players took their bow in the directors' box. Alan Dicks ended up fully clothed in the players' bath, and the sports page headlines in the next day's Sun read "Splash! Bristol jump back".

The two games before the Pompey game had seen City at home to Chelsea, drawing 2-2 in front of 26,000, and most surprisingly a 0-0 draw at Eastville against the Rovers, watched by a now unbelievable 26,400!

What are your memories of that evening 48 years ago?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk8VE4BrlqU

Norwich are still hoping to secure a play-off place and are currently 6th so will be well up for this. They have three matches to secure their spot in the play-offs, as they lead seventh-placed Hull by six points but with the Tigers having played one game less.

The game pitches together the division’s two best teams over the last five games; City have taken 11 points and scored eight goals, conceding once, during that time whereas Norwich have 10 points with seven for and six against.

Fan’s view

Few saw operation play-offs coming in late 2023.

‘What a weird old season this has turned into. And not just because Norwich City have gone from something the dog passed to genuine promotion contenders in the space of four months.

The Carrow Road crowd has also done a full 180 – transforming themselves into Portsmouth’s finest (a Delia joke) when, for the first half of the season, our spiritual home was the place to go on a Saturday afternoon if you needed some quiet time.

(It’s only fair to point out that those who follow City on their travels have been admirably steadfast throughout).

But it doesn’t end there. In November, David Wagner – nice chap that he is – was, in a footballing sense, Norfolk’s public enemy number one.

Even some of those for whom the cup is usually half-full had to reluctantly admit that his useful life at Carrow Road appeared to be nearing its end. At the time the debate was around who would pull the trigger and when. There appeared to be no 'if'.

But here we are, four months hence and Wagner’s star is rising. While he still may not be everyone’s vision of a Norwich City head coach of the future, in the here and now he’s earned the respect of just about everyone of a yellow and green hue for what has happened in 2024. That, in doing so, he’s recently overseen a win over Ipswich certainly did his street cred no harm.

And there’s more. All of the angst around our majority owners and their questionable ability to run the club has been shelved for the time being. Even their most vociferous critics have put on hold their gripes and concerns while a promotion charge is ongoing. Delia’s “20 per cent of our fanbase are whingers” rant has also been temporarily overlooked.

All of these positives are, of course, related. Little would have changed without the transformation on the pitch but, as things stand, we are all currently in the grip of operation play-offs. An 'operation' that's been a while coming.

Not since back in 2001-02 – when we sneaked into the play-offs and lost in the final to Birmingham (in Cardiff) – have we been in this position. Since then, it’s been either automatic promotion, just missing out on the automatics, or missing out on the top-six altogether by some considerable margin.

This is different. From being outsiders for the top-six, this good run has gradually hauled us into the play-off picture and, thanks to all of the above, we’ve stayed there… so far.

There is still work to be done, but even if we somehow conspire to miss out, few expected this season to still be ‘alive’ when we reached game 46. And it will be.

Like I said, weird old times.’

On the first Sunday of December at Ashton Gate we witnessed a very poor game with us conspiring to throw away a one goal lead, thanks to Knight’s first league goal for us, with George Tanner putting through his own goal and then Norwich stealing a winner in the 94th minute. Highlights: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/highlights/highlights-bristol-city-1-2-norwich-city/

Guide to Carrow Road: https://footballgroundguide.com/leagues/england/championship/carrow-road-norwich-city.html

PotD is available, https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/pay-on-the-day-at-carrow-road-2/

Their forum: https://forum.pinkun.com/index.php?/topic/156283-bristol-city-saturday/

Match preview: https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/norwich-city/championship-promotion-race/preview/preview-norwich-vs-bristol-city-prediction-team-news-lineups_541569.html

LM grew up in Norwich. Here he is with Mark Sykes, pre the game: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/manning-and-sykes-preview-canaries-trip/

Rob Dickie is expected to be in the squad, https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-receive-timely-injury-9224257

Their manager David Wagner grew up in West Germany. He made his professional debut with Eintracht Frankfurt in 1990 and played as a striker for several clubs in the first and second division of German football. Son of an American stepfather and German mother, Wagner played for the United States national team, earning eight caps from 1996 until 1998.

From 2011 to 2015 Wagner managed Borussia Dortmund II. In November 2015 he took the manager's position at Huddersfield Town, whom he led to the Premier League via the 2017 EFL Championship play-off final. He left Huddersfield in January 2019, and then had brief spells at Bundesliga club Schalke 04 and Swiss Super League club Young Boys.

Their nine most successful managers: https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/norwich-citys-best-managers-in-order-of-games-won-ranked/

In this fixture last season they came out on top, https://youtu.be/-ibCyMnAw6I

Interesting Radio 4 food programme looking at Delia’s impact on food at NCFC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001jbx9

Head-to-head record

Won: 21

Lost: 39

Drawn:18

They lay claim to the oldest football chant in the world - On the ball, City! Which is 121 years old. 

Talking of ages https://www.onthisday.com/people/adolf-hitler Hitler was born on 20 April.

Officials

Referee: Sam Barrott

Assistants: Jonathan Hunt and Greg Read

Fourth official: Ollie Yates

Defender Dimitris Giannoulis is out having picked up a hamstring injury last month.

In March Ashley Barnes was banned indefinitely from attending horse racing meetings in the UK. Barnes, 34, was placed on the British Horseracing Authority's excluded list because he did not co-operate with an ongoing BHA investigation.

Norwich nonsense

From Medieval times right through to the Early Modern Age, Norwich was second only to the capital in terms of population. Immigrants came from all around to partake in the city’s wool trade and weaving industry.

NORWICH IS THE ONLY ENGLISH CITY LOCATED IN A NATIONAL PARK. The Norfolk Broads is designated an Area of Outstanding Beauty – all 125 miles of navigable lock-free waterways, beautiful countryside and picturesque towns, villages and cities. It’s also mentioned in David Bowie’s hit song Life on Mars.

NORWICH WAS FIRST TO BE PEDESTRIANISED. The city had the first-ever pedestrianised street back in July 1967. At the time giving people priority over traffic was a bit of novelty – so ubiquitous and much-loved had the car become – but other cities caught on to the benefits of restricting traffic and well, the rest is history really…

Pubs ++++ Back in the day (or rather the 17th century), Norwich had 600 pubs. But the 1904 Licensing Act, Second World War and slum clearances in the 1960s saw many forced to close. King Street was the worst hit, with the number of pubs there falling from 58 to one. And the name of that one pub? It’s the Last Pub Standing, of course…

 NORWICH CITY FC’S CLUB SONG IS OLDEST IN UK. Today’s footie fans still sing the song ‘On the Ball City’ at Carrow Road Stadium today. It was written for another team in Norwich back in 1890 before the city’s football team claimed it in 1902.

ALAN PARTRIDGE IS FROM NORWICH. OK, the self-promoting Alan Partridge may be a fictional character, but his creator Steve Coogan is real enough. Partridge is a DJ on Radio Norwich in the series, spouting his ‘words of wisdom’ to the city’s general population.

COLMAN’S MUSTARD IS FROM THE CITY. Jeremiah James Colman started producing mustard at his factory back in 1814 and it’s been going strong ever since. Some of today’s farmers who supply the mustard seeds for the condiment are fifth generation of the original family suppliers.

NORWICH HAD THE FIRST-EVER POSTCODES. Yep, today there are more than 1.8 million postcodes in the UK – every street has one. But, at one time, only streets in Norwich were recalled by a series of letters and numbers. That’s because the GP decided to trial it here back in 1959. Looks like it proved successful then.

SALE OF THE CENTURY WAS FROM NORWICH. One of the most popular programmes on TV from 1971 to 1983, Sale of the Century began every show with “And now, from Norwich, it’s the quiz of the week!” Quizmaster was Nicholas Parsons. It had the same kudos as today’s The Chase with Bradley Walsh.

Pubs

There is no designated away team pub in Norwich. This is due to one too many issues of damage being caused to the Compleat Angler that means they no longer accept away fans. Furthermore alcohol is not served in the stadium to away fans. Sometimes the Waterfront pub or Stadia (both close to the ground) permit away fans but this is very hit and miss. Places to consider are:

The Wildman, 29 Bedford Street, Norwich, NR2 1AG, https://www.wildmannorwich.co.uk

Prince of Wales, 8-14 Prince of Wales Road, Norwich, NR1 1LB, http://www.inapub.co.uk/venues/the-prince-of-wales/norwich/nr11lb/1937

The Coach and Horses, 82 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1BA, https://www.facebook.com/thecoachthorperoad and http://www.thecoachthorperoad.co.uk

Light and airy tap for Chalk Hill brewery (tours available) with eight own brews plus guests, food from baguettes up including lunch deals, Sat brunch and imaginative weekly specials, friendly staff, L-shaped bare-boards bar with open fire, pleasant back dining area; sports TVs, gets very busy on home match days; disabled access possible (not to lavatories), front terrace, open all day.

Revado Hotel, Restaurant and Bar, 2 Stracey Road, Norwich, NR1 1EZ, https://revadohotels.com

The Rose Inn, 235 Queens Road, Norwich, NR1 3AE, https://www.facebook.com/RoseInnNR1/

Adam and Eve, https://m.facebook.com/theadamandevenorwich/?locale2=en_GB 17 Bishopgate, NR3 1RZ Norwich (a 25 minute walk from the ground)

The oldest pub in Norwich dating from at least 1240 when used by workmen building the cathedral, has a Saxon well beneath the lower bar floor and striking Dutch gables (added in 14th and 15th c); old-fashioned small bars with tiled or parquet floors, cushioned benches built into partly panelled walls and some antique high-backed settles, well kept ales such as Adnams and Wolf, Aspall's cider and around 40 malt whiskies, traditional pubby food (not Sun evening) from baguettes up, friendly service; background music; children allowed in snug till 7pm, no dogs inside, picnic-sets out among pretty tubs and hanging baskets, open all day.

Duke of Wellington, http://www.dukeofwellingtonnorwich.co.uk

91-93 Waterloo Road, Norwich, NR3 1EG (8 minute drive from the ground)

Rambling corner local with huge range of well kept quickly changing ales including Fullers, Oakham and Wolf, many served from tap room casks, foreign bottled beers too, no food apart from sausage rolls and pies (can bring your own, cutlery is provided) and weekend summer barbecue, real fire; live music and traditional games; well behaved dogs welcome, small back terrace, open all day.

Edith Cavell, https://www.stonegatepubpartners.co.uk/run-a-pub/pubs/Pages/edith-cavell-norwich.aspx 7 Tombland, Norwich, NR3 1HF (6 minute drive to the ground)

Corner pub-restaurant named after the gallant World War I Norfolk nurse; popular if not especially cheap food with emphasis on steaks cooked on hot rocks, three real ales including a house beer from Wolf, friendly helpful service, smallish bar, upstairs restaurant (and loos); diagonally across from Erpingham Gate leading into cathedral green, open all day (till 1am Fri, Sat).

Fat Cat, https://www.fatcatpub.co.uk 49 West End Street, Norwich, NR24NA (10 minute drive from the ground)

Heaven for real ale lovers, this cheerful town pub lies tucked away in a residential area just west of the city centre. With bare floor boards throughout, the no-nonsense furnishings include plain pine tables and simple solid seats, lots of brewery memorabilia, bric-a-brac and stained glass; board games. The knowledgeable Mr Keatley and his hospitable staff can help guide you through the extraordinary choice of 32 perfectly kept and quickly changing beers. On handpump or tapped from the cask in a stillroom behind the bar ' big windows reveal all ' are their own beers (Fat Cat Bitter, Honey Ale, IPA, Marmalade Cat, Tom Cat and Wild Cat), as well as guests such as Adnams Mosaic, Crouch Vale Yakima Gold, Dark Star American Pale Ale, Fullers ESB, Green Jack Mahseer, Greene King Abbot, Oakham Bishops Farewell and Citra and Timothy Taylors Landlord ' and many more choices from across the country. You'll also find 15 draught lagers and craft ales, over 20 international bottled beers, ten malt whiskies, ten rums and 22 ciders and perries. There are pavement tables outside. No children under the age of 16.

Kings Head, http://www.kingsheadnorwich.com 42 Magdalen Street, Norwich, NR31JE (7 minute drive from the ground)

Traditional Victorian local with good friendly atmosphere in two simply furnished bare-boards bars (front one is tiny), up to 14 very well kept changing regional ales, good choice of imported beers and a local cider, no food except pork pies; bar billiards in back bar; dogs welcome, open all day until late.

Plough, https://www.grainpubs.co.uk 58 St Benedicts St, Norwich NR2 4AR (9 minute drive from the ground)

Small city-centre pub owned by Grain, their ales and guests kept well, good wines and cocktails, food limited to sausage pie, cheeseboards and summer barbecues, simply updated split-level interior with bare boards and open fire; background music, occasional DJ; good spacious beer garden behind, open all day.

The Ribs of Beef, https://ribsofbeef.co.uk 24 Wensum St, Norwich NR3 1HY (7 minute drive to the ground)

Comfortable and welcoming riverside pub; nine real ales including Oakham, two traditional ciders and good wine choice, generous well priced food such as burgers and wings, roasts on Sun (no food Sun evening), quick cheerful service, traditional carpeted bar with river views, smaller downstairs room; live music Sun, quiz every other Thurs, sports TV; children welcome, limited seats outside on narrow waterside terrace, open all day.

St Andrew’s Brew House, https://www.standrewsbrewhouse.com 41 St Andrews St, Norwich NR2 4TP (7 minute drive from the ground)

Interesting place visibly brewing its own good beers (can tour the brewery), also plenty of guest ales, craft kegs and bottled beers, utilitarian bare-boards interior with exposed ducting, rough masonry walls and eclectic mix of seating including some button-back booths, popular sensibly priced food from British tapas and sharing boards up including special theme nights, busy efficient staff, upstairs function room; background music, sports TV; children and dogs welcome, pavement tables, open all day.

Wig and Pen, http://www.thewigandpen.com 6 St Martin-At-Palace Plain, Norwich NR3 1RN (6 minute drive from the ground)

Popular 17th-c beamed pub close to cathedral; half a dozen well kept local ales including Adnams, Wolf and Woodfordes, well priced wines and good value food from sandwiches up, Sunday roasts, prompt friendly service; background music, sports TVs, spring beer festival; metal café-style furniture on large terrace at front, open all day (till 6.30pm Sun).