Thank You Gary Johnson And The Ashton Gate Eight

[arpaul]

This is it. One more sleepless night until our destiny is decided.

One more sleepless night until we have the opportunity to step up and grab a place in the Worlds top domestic league.

Premier League beckons for Bristol City FC, for you and for me.

Whilst praise and thanks from the highest level must be bestowed upon Gary Johnson, we must, as Bristol City fans, pause for a moment and look at the bigger picture, or from outside our little bubble.

For those who can remember, let's cast our minds back 26 years.

In fact lets go back to 30th January 1982. Not quite the glorious surroundings of tomorrows venue, but the more humble surroundings of Somerton Park, home of Newport County FC.

This, in truth, was probably as big a day in our clubs history as tomorrow if not bigger! This day of destiny 26 years ago, was to be the last ever game to be played by Bristol City Football Club. The club could no longer continue, it's self inflicted demise had come to a head. Nothing was left.

Then in our darkest hour, when all appeared lost, when a life time without football beckoned, enter The Ashton Gate Eight.

Eight highly paid professionals were prepared to give up their life styles that Bristol City had afforded them, so that the club could live on.

Without this unbelievable gesture by these players, there would've been nothing. No Wembley Vrs Bolton, No Wembley Vrs Mansfield, No Wembley Vrs Stoke, No Millenium Vrs Carlisle, nor a Millenium play off final Vrs Brighton. We wouldn't have enjoyed the promotion parties, nor suffered the dejection of our relegations.

Above all: There would have been no tomorrow, Saturday 24th May 2008 and another day of destiny

Thank you Peter Aitken. Thank you Chris Garland. Thank you Jimmy Mann. Thank you Julian Marshall

Thank you Geoff Merrick. Thank you David Rodgers. Thank you Gerry Sweeney. Thank you Trevor Tainton

THANK YOU THE ASHTON GATE EIGHT

[kamikazee]

60 mil if we go up? repay a debt of gratitude i think

[Brizred]

But more importantly than these eight, thank you to Deryn Coller and Ken Sage the real saviours of the Club in 1982.

[thatcham red]

Top post.

The 8 were instrumental in the build up. Now it's up to the 16 tomorrrow to do the business and get us across the line.

[Dorset_Cider]

I would also add the thanks of the blind Bristol City supporting folk that bought shares in BCFC 1982

Shite team .... as so many others thought..... dropped to the bottom of the league.... must be crap

But still these fools stuck their hard earnt money behind a club that was going nowhere..... but up all these years since

Thank you all....... you have kept this fine club going and have helped as much as anyone to get us to where we are today........ some might call some of these people 'Part Timers' on here because they just don't undersatand that everyone that has ever put a penny into Bristol City FC over the years...... has helped?

UP THE BRISTOL CITY!

We find out tomorrow..... but we remain BCFC no matter what

[arpaul]

But more importantly than these eight, thank you to Deryn Coller and Ken Sage the real saviours of the Club in 1982.

Absolutely. However, wasn't their rescue package based on the condition that the eight surrendered their contracts.

It's so long ago, I've shed so many tears, both in despair and delight.

Either way, whoever was instrumental in the saving of our fantastic football club, Thanks

[Loderingo]

This is it. One more sleepless night until our destiny is decided.

One more sleepless night until we have the opportunity to step up and grab a place in the Worlds top domestic league.

Premier League beckons for Bristol City FC, for you and for me.

Whilst praise and thanks from the highest level must be bestowed upon Gary Johnson, we must, as Bristol City fans, pause for a moment and look at the bigger picture, or from outside our little bubble.

For those who can remember, let's cast our minds back 26 years.

In fact lets go back to 30th January 1982. Not quite the glorious surroundings of tomorrows venue, but the more humble surroundings of Somerton Park, home of Newport County FC.

This, in truth, was probably as big a day in our clubs history as tomorrow if not bigger! This day of destiny 26 years ago, was to be the last ever game to be played by Bristol City Football Club. The club could no longer continue, it's self inflicted demise had come to a head. Nothing was left.

Then in our darkest hour, when all appeared lost, when a life time without football beckoned, enter The Ashton Gate Eight.

Eight highly paid professionals were prepared to give up their life styles that Bristol City had afforded them, so that the club could live on.

Without this unbelievable gesture by these players, there would've been nothing. No Wembley Vrs Bolton, No Wembley Vrs Mansfield, No Wembley Vrs Stoke, No Millenium Vrs Carlisle, nor a Millenium play off final Vrs Brighton. We wouldn't have enjoyed the promotion parties, nor suffered the dejection of our relegations.

Above all: There would have been no tomorrow, Saturday 24th May 2008 and another day of destiny

Thank you Peter Aitken. Thank you Chris Garland. Thank you Jimmy Mann. Thank you Julian Marshall

Thank you Geoff Merrick. Thank you David Rodgers. Thank you Gerry Sweeney. Thank you Trevor Tainton

THANK YOU THE ASHTON GATE EIGHT

Well said. Let us never forget the sacrifice they made.

[forbespm]

brilliant post.lest we forget..i remember newport away,also digging deep to buy the shares

and loads of us doing a sponsored walk around ashton gate before playing portsmouth

circa 82....i really thought we'd had it.tomorrow will be sweet!