kmpowell

Thanks all for your kind comments and wishes. It means a lot. He hasn't stopped talking about the day, so it was most certainly well worth the long drive and logistics behind organising it all for him. Job done, memory made. ? Thanks @hinsleburg for helping make his day special. I was also very fearful when their goal went in and the language/atmosphere became very toxic, but our 2 goals quickly dispatched his negative memories/feelings into history, turning into tears of joy! ? It's also made me reflect a bit on how much I've missed the regular home match day experience. Since leaving Bristol I've attended plenty of away matches and sometimes the occasional home 'bigger' game, but it's been 10yrs since I was last a 'proper' season ticket holder who walked up Coronation Road into the eastend week after week for normal games. So as an exile it's true what they say that if it's out of sight it's kind of out of mind, and over the years I've not really realised how much I miss the place. Even with the new stands, the new views, the new singing corner, the redevelopment, and it being a far cry from when I was last there regularly... I still grew up as a city fan, and spending year after year (right up until leaving Bristol) as a season ticket holder, that underlying feeling was re-ignited at the weekend, even at a 'normal' game such as Barnsley. As far as I'm concerned it doesn't matter who's playing, who's managing, the connection you feel for the club never dies. COYR

Having left Bristol in 2011 for work reasons, a separation which means I don't get to see my kids that often, then recent COVID restrictions/lockdown, the chances to get back to the Gate for a game have been very limited for me, but yesterday it was if all the stars aligned... It was my sons 8th birthday, and despite the win-less streak at home I took a punt and got us some tickets for a very early start's drive to Bristol so he could experience his first ever game. He has the shirts and despite him living 3 hours away from Bristol and 4 hours away from me, he's grown up with Bristol City in his heart and we have watched all the sky/robins tv and highlights together etc. A trip to the club shop first so he could spend some of his birthday money, then a walk up the steps for his first experience of the ground... As kick off approached he was in awe of the experience, loving every moment. When Barnsley scored this upset him, and I feared the worst, but then us scoring twice literally had him crying tears of joy, it was just epic! A special thanks at this point to the two guys sat directly next to us who returned at half time with a bag of sweets for him because seeing the ups & downs of joy on his face apparently made their day! Also the guys in the rows behind us and in-front of us who all helped him feel at home and make his first match experience so special. Hearing him join in with the "Red Army" chants in the last 15-20mins, then the joy on his face at the final whistle, with a few verses of "Drink up thy cider".. it was all smiles. A monumental "best day ever" day in his eyes, and a very emotional monumental day in my eyes which took me back to my first game way back in 1990. So it's a thank-you to all the fans for the atmosphere, a thank-you to the guys around us in the Lansdown block W16 who made his first game so special, and it's a thank-you to the team for breaking the home-jinx! COYR. ? The only thing now is he's even more hooked and wants to go every week! ?

If ever there was a photo that screams “conference level”, this is it.

Sadly, it is..

I may be wrong, but I don't think Adam is 'Gas'.

The point you're missing is they don't think they are the smaller club. Their delusional levels of grandeur mean they think they are equal, or in the case of most, bigger than us.

I grew up in Oldland which is a stone's throw from Banjo Island. As as a kid I played for Longwell Green. Hollohead used to train us on a Wednesday night in the tennis courts at the back of the community centre. To be fair he was an alright bloke, but we were shit.

The Lamb is on 'Banjo Island' which is a nickname for a specific place in Cadbury Heath.

Hear it here, just as the video closes... http://youtube.com/watch?v=XNjs4dH5e2g