Bristol Oil Services

10 minutes ago, JulieH said:

The footage didn’t seem to catch it , but on the final whistle there was a deep silence, really eerie looking - . Lots of genuine football fans deeply upset, and a few idiots that got all the publicity unfortunately 

That moment you describe there was reality crashing through the reinforced concrete walls of lies, certainty and delusion. Decades of it. Momentarily, a (small) crowd of poorly dressed people collectively see themselves for what they really are. There is no hiding place. No delusion to escape to and bask in. At that eerie, silent moment, none of the usual lies, the bollocks, the bullshit and delusion work anymore  - all that was swept away, leaving only truth and reality. This is what we are: non-league shite.

17 minutes ago, Shaun Taylor said:

Swindon had 13,100 today second biggest club in the west behind you guys!

Blimey - who were you playing, the blue half of Bristol? 

3 minutes ago, GasDestroyer said:

Correct, Newport were a highly active, violent mob that did not need Cardiff to help them. Were well known for being tooled up on many occasions v City. Nasty bunch.

Before the league game at Newport early in '84/85 season, which was on the Saturday, we played them at AG in the first leg of the league cup a few days before, midweek. They were being escorted in (or out, forget which now) by the plod and chanted "Saturday, Saturday, Saturday" to the locals eyeing them up.

I don't remember Newport doing anything here but over there it was different. 

13 minutes ago, Shaun Taylor said:

I never witnessed that in all the matches I saw between the two clubs only Pompey once or twice but granted you rearranged the concrete in the old shrivenham road stand and kept the local glaziers busy in the Town centre 

Leeds were in there in early 90s. As was I. Not a peep out of the locals. Leeds taken out and marched around the pitch and onto Stratton bank. Locals find their voice! Swindon win, though (good side. Hence the visit).

In early 80s, City were in the main stand, unchallenged. It changed from taking yer end (boot boys), to larging it in your seats (casuals, in golf clothes!)

3 hours ago, myol'man said:

Training ground 'swamp' an issue

In his post-match press conference, Ollie Clarke made a comment that Rovers’ training base at Cribbs is a “swamp”. 

The skipper added it is “not pretty or nice”, and it is not the first time the facility – home to Western League outfit Cribbs FC – has been criticised. 

Previous manager Graham Coughlan was said to be unhappy with the playing surfaces there, concerned it was contributing to injuries, and there is no doubt the facility is not up to the lofty standards of some of their League One rivals.

Rovers’ lease for Cribbs expires in the summer, and the club are sure to be exploring their options over the coming weeks and months.

Of course, the club still own the 28-acre site at Almondsbury off the M5, but no building work for the new training ground project – known as The Colony – has begun and the land remains undeveloped.

MTG !!!

Can they not Drain The Swamp?

2 hours ago, redsquirrel said:

What has prevented you from visiting a game at the Memorial Stadium this season?    I couldn't find a stadium

Geoff Dunford's electric milk float has been in the garage, I think - his milk float brings all the gas to the mem

38 minutes ago, JBFC II said:

Taking big followings away is just what they do...

Where is the fella on this forum upsetting himself last year (was it?) when we "only" took whatever we took to West Brom midweek, insisting Rovers would take more blah blah blah? Where are you????!!!!

Rovers have been there a couple of times now, St. Andrews, Brum in a cup replay, and Cov in LeagueNowhere, and as we told upset bloke on the West Brom thread, the numbers tend to drop off after a few visits in a shortish time.

Same for us, same for them. Same for most clubs, other than the biggest. Context is important. 

Minus context, we can say: we took 1300 further away last night, they took 300. Therefore, we are MASSIVE. 

Actually, that's what they would be doing, so why don't we?

City: 1300,

Rovers: 300.

Conclusion: We are MASSIVE, they are tinpot.

47 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

The best bit is if they had any sense they would take the pain right now and let him get on with it. But they will more than likely hound the guy out before he can get the job in motion and revert to some long ball Neanderthal Manager that they seem to adore out there and off they go again....

That mob have been long ball for about 40 years!!

To be fair, I remember them playing it on the deck a bit with David Williams at sweeper (I think) in about '83. Yes, they definitely passed the ball on the floor a bit, in 1983. Then Gerry Francis arrived .....

5 hours ago, RedLionLad said:

1180 (48 away)

48 people who would've attended were away?

4 hours ago, JBFC II said:

They really are massive...

Looks like 5 thousand to me. Including the bird in the red bobble hat

I cut some mistletoe (growing on a crab apple tree) earlier, it made me think of them, up that Mem. 

My understanding he's only "gone" there to collect the away shirts .... from the game when they borrowed some shirts

2 hours ago, Ska Junkie said:

I clearly overestimated their home support when predicting around 5000 home supporters, 3128 is truly pathetic!

Tbf, it was pissing it down ...... no, sorry, that was yesterday. As you were

On 23/10/2019 at 14:14, hitchin red2 said:

A charity I support asked me to write a piece about my running story:

https://pwsauk.wordpress.com/2019/09/01/kerrys-fundraising-journey/

One of the best decisions I've ever made was entering that first 10K. Changed my life.

 

Great story, well done. And a foster carers too, hats off

2 minutes ago, 77 punk said:

6677 its getting lower with the  cold  winter coming up could they below 6000 !

I can't see it getting that cold....

In true Bristolian / West Country / BCFC fashion, I just can't be arsed with running for hours on end. It's such a bloody effort! And requires so much enthusiasm. 

I much prefer my own take on high(ish) intensity interval training whereby you get much of the benefits of hours plodding the pavements in a much reduced amount of time (thereby freeing up time to then slouch on the sofa, eating cake and browsing otib, which requires much less effort and is more suited to the natural Bristolian / West Country disposition).

I like to get the old fast-twitch fibres firing and stoke the growth hormones with a quick dash up an incline, hill, set of stairs, escalators at shopping centre, vomitories at football stadium, or such like. The Lansdown Upper, Christmas Steps, Jacob's Ladder steps Falmouth (if it were on me doorstep), I do love a flight of steps.

My 14 year old early this year beat me in a short dash for the first time, so that's the end of that. I won't be quicker than him again. I might still be able to beat him over the long haul but I can't be bothered with that. He probably couldn't either.

So, it's short bursts of reasonably high intensity for me, followed by the all important "intervals" which are critically important, and longer in duration.

21 minutes ago, JBFC II said:

They took a massive 419 up to Lincoln today. 

Quality support again...

9 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

TBF , its' a long way, and they're shit.

To also be fair: 735 Janners at Port Vale. In L2.

Bristol to Lincoln: 183 miles; 3 hours 4 mins.

Plymouth to the Potteries: 240 miles; 3 hours 54 mins.

4 hours ago, luke_bristol said:

If they had to squat somewhere I’d hope S.L. would tell them to sod off...

Surely we're bigger than them ... er, silly me! What am I thinking? Surely we're bigger than that?

2 hours ago, Numero Uno said:

Even by Gaslogic criteria that comment is just plain mental. We may as well say our potential support is up there with United, Barca, Bayern and Juve.......it’s about as realistic as that guff!!

You mention "realistic" there and I think this is the key:- reality (ie that which cannot be denied or fibbed about or dreamed up or manipulated or massaged in the mind: the league table, which does not lie remember) has them wedged between Mk Dons and Shrewsbury, and trailing "the likes of" Wycombe, Fleetwood, Burton and Rochdale.

Who wants to dwell on and inhabit that reality, that undeniable, unbearable truth? When you can dream up your own more pleasant, alternative "reality" where your support could be up there with West Ham or Blackburn (imagine imagining your support could be "right up there" with Blackburn!)

I know what I would do, if we were wedged between Mk Dons and Shrewsbury, and trailing the likes of Wycombe. ...... and your crowd was smaller than Leyton Orient, of L2, at the weekend.....

1 hour ago, Bar BS3 said:

Rovers really are missing a trick here (unless negotiations/bullying are already underway)

It’s the perfect opportunity for them to steal another ground and #### off out of Bristol..!

There will surely be furious, feverish, frenetic excitement in the heat and the sweat of the Tents this week as they await news of the latest football club going into administration and bankruptcy and they prepare to cry: "Bolton 2019!" along with Southampton 2009!, Chester 2010! Aldershot '92! Accrington Stanley '66! Portsmouth whatever year it was, Rangers 2012!, Huddersfield 2003!, and Leeds/Leicester/Hull, and of course, City 82.

Must be exhausting for them, but as we know, fiscal propriety and scrupulous boardroom and administrative conduct is what they are passionate about, known for around the football community and quite simply it is what they do. Along with the other thing what they always do.

18 minutes ago, Andre_The_Giant said:

This is spot on.

We’ve tried - and largely failed - to be successful. The Rovers, they’ve never really tried at all. What have they ever actually done?

Better to die trying in my opinion. If they want to wax lyrical about the Tote End, Twerton, terraces, underdog spirit etc then fair enough but it’s just pining for a football world that is long gone.

What have they ever actually done, you ask? They won the Third Division decades ago. Wow. And they have never "shafted" any players, local businesses, any one or thing ever, like what we did.

Rather one day like a lion than 100 years asleep. Or sheep, or something.

To be fair - not mandatory on this thread, but hey: let's give it a go - it's more like: rather "about an hour like a lion and the rest of the day a cross between a sloth and a goat than 100 years as Bristol Rovers." Not as snappy, clearly, but it'll do.

1 hour ago, Gert Mare said:

The way Gasheads look at it is that Bristol City F.C died taking with it our history and ALL past achievements, thus (in their minds) erasing the painful and bitter memories of Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester United etc playing competitively at Ashton Gate and having to hear about their rivals every week and read about them in the national papers (which is part and parcel of playing top flight football) whilst they (again in their minds) were ‘forgotten about’. 

It promised to be the beginning of an exciting period for Gasheads in the early 70’s, winning the pointless Watney Cup in a dire 0 - 0 draw and decided by the lottery of a sudden death penalty and then following on from that success by thrashing Brian Clough’s Brighton team 8 - 2 with the legendary ‘Smash and Grab’ firing them back to the Second Division. 

For a short time they were back on a level playing field with Bristol City, but City had to go and spoil it by going up to the First Division, whilst Rovers started to struggle in the Second.

So imagine seeing the momentum at your club disappear and at the same time hearing about your rivals not only going up but staying up on the last day in a game that has been often described as a ‘fix’ (obviously discounting beating Liverpool and Leeds and drawing with Man Utd to give us any hope in the first place). They must have felt like it was all a big conspiracy against them because as we all know they are always the victim. The rage must have been incredible.

Then in 1977 they became record breakers by being the losing team in the biggest ever televised Match of The Day thrashing (9-0 at the hands of Tottenham), and then being unfairly robbed of beating Ipswich Town when Bobby Gould’s legitimate goal was ruled out for offside.

As things weren’t working out on the pitch for them and City seemingly being unfairly kept in the top flight (in their minds) they saw an opportunity of getting some attention and media limelight finally......unfortunately it was for all the wrong reasons competing with Millwall, Aston Villa etc in the Hooliganism league table (as glorified in a book).

Seething, jealous, hard done by, cast aside and forgotten about in favour of ‘The Shit’.

Then in 1980 City are relegated from the top flight and start their own downward trajectory. The following season both Bristol clubs are shit and are both relegated back to the third tier. It’s bad for Rovers that their time in the Second Division came to an end, but it was fine and dandy because ‘The Shit’ went down with them.

So imagine then when City ended up in financial difficulty? As a Rovers fan this was their moment to not only be on an equal footing but they could actually end up as Bristol’s top team, emerging from the shadows. 

Having had to endure being ‘forgotten about’ that is what they wanted for Bristol City, they wanted Bristol City to be forgotten and they delighted in it, revelled in it, laughed at the ‘Support Bristol City Now Or Never’ campaign. After all, it was Bristol City who had stamped all over their early 70’s success by going up to the First Division. Their own demise had been Bristol City’s ‘fault’ for going one better.

So when the dust settled they were able to say that this was a new club, this wasn’t Bristol City, and they could block out the pain and suffering they felt in the late 70’s. City was gone, it was all a dream, Rovers are top dogs, the 82ers are in the basement (so bragging rights about Rovers never being in the bottom division ended up a regular taunt until ‘2nd May’ - a Gasheads favourite day).

This is my view of why Rovers bang on about 1982. The fact that we have been far more successful than them since 1982 is somehow lost on them, as is anything pre-1982. It’s their own little way of convincing themselves that Bristol is 50/50. 

 

 

Rovers are older than us, too, they were around before us but, crucially, in my opinion, they played safe anchoring themselves in the safe harbour of the Southern League, not having the gumption to go out into the choppy waters of the new-fangled professional national, Northern leagues.

Meanwhile, we were the upstart, younger brother that came from nowhere and took the leap into the shark-infested waters out beyond the comparatively gentle Southern League (largely amateur, anti professional. Unlike the northern Football League, ruthlessly professional. Cut throat) blazing a trail. And not only that, but succeeding, gloriously, almost immediately. 

We cut a dash, for a while. And were inches from glory; we touched greatness, briefly, but it slipped away. We were amongst the big boys. And then we went back there again with a team we made ourselves in the '70s.

Rovers have always remained tied to mother's apron strings - taking shelter in the safe harbour of League One and Two, with even a dip back down into the part-time rubbish whence they originated when L2 was too much/rough for them - sucking their thumb, afraid to risk anything more, watching us while we have gone out into the world and tasted some of it's delights and disasters.

The delights we enjoyed, they bitterly, and enviously resent; the disasters they revel in. They have no glory of their own to eulogise. They had five or six years in the Second Division in the 1950s where they mixed it with, for them, the big boys, and must've thought their moment had come, but it never happened. Back to mummy ever since.

Rovers have never gone bust like us (1982), because they have never gone boom! like us (not that our boom! is anything to write home about, really). They would never dare! They've never had the bottle (the imagination/the audacity/the ambition/the gumption/the delusion). They won't let go of mummy.

They like to see it (1982) as evidence of their moral superiority, when in fact their infatuation with our "moral failing" is a defence against their own fearfulness, timidity and sense of inferiority. 

They are still a Southern League club, at heart. They despise us because they despise themselves and their gutless, pathetic, fearful dependence on the safety of "mummy" and inability to make or even have a bloody good go amongst the big boys, where the glory is to be found. Like we're currently doing (the Championship, now, is a level way beyond anything they have ever experienced). Again.

Not that Miah and co will admit this, or even recognise it. 

9 hours ago, Miah Dennehy said:

So City went bust, impacting on local businesses and shafting the playing squad and Rovers are the one with no morals. Okay then

 

You might also mention City go boom! every now and then, too - like right now; and in the 70s; and long before that - also "impacting on local businesses." Just for balance. You seem somewhat fixated on the bust whilst overlooking the boom - I'd imagine reaching the FA cup final had a positive affect upon "local businesses" not to mention "local" civic prowed and the subsequent impact on the "local" workforce and economy. Likewise, playing in the top division of English football more than once.

Do we have the numbers to illustrate the respective "impact on local businesses" of the two Bristol clubs over the last five/fifty/one hundred years? Would that be of any interest to you?

4 minutes ago, BS4 on Tour... said:

Me too - but that May 1990 game at Twerton was hard to take ...

Yes, "was," but I seem to remember being well over it by the time we hammered Blackburn 4:2 about three months later, never mind months later in March '91 (the 5th, wasn't it?)

It was hard then but 30 years on, do we really all hanker after another Div 3 title to add to our "honours?" A big deal for them, we walk in bigger shoes than that now though.

13 hours ago, Unan said:

The only league club with a better ground 70 years ago than now?

 

 

I feel quite nostalgic, seeing that. I wouldn't mind a tinpot Bristol Derby again if it meant going there, with room for a decent number of us (ie about half the entire attendance), and a nice boozy, boisterous, noisy march from town up Old Market, then along Stapleton Road for us lot to "announce ourselves". Mind, I'm a bit past all that now.

Going to the other places they have begged/borrowed/stolen since, not in the slightest bit interested. Nor them coming to us. They don't deserve to be/belong in a ground like AG now. 

1989/90 I remember with great affection. Their run of league dominance was all but over by that game in May '90 (the ninth of ten straight unbeaten league games, I believe) and we achieved what we set out to do in August '89 (it was "go up" never "we must be Third Division Champions: that'll be great for our trophy cabinet"). I went to every game that season. Cherished memories.

You could get a good view of the pitch on the Muller Road end, good elevation, and you could barely hear a thing from the Few in the other stand and a half.

The Rovers that picture brings to mind I almost remember with some affection, the Bristol Rovers of 2019 are strangers to me now. They could be any little League One club. If it wasn't for this thread I would know nothing about them.......