NickJ Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 My first was circa 1970 at Eastville, and despite being a very young lad recall the sheer intensity. It was in the days of the Gloucester Cup when that end of season event used to draw huge crowds, because for several years it was the only time we'd play the Rovers (they weren't called the Gas then) as for several years we had been second division and they were third. Then Warboys and Bannister (Smash n Grab) got Rovers promoted and for a couple of seasons there were league games, the best being Easter 1976 at Ashton Gate, our promotion season to the top division. The game finished 1-1 if I recall in front of 28,000 with hundreds locked out for some reason even though the capacity back then was well over 30,000. The best feeling was the 1980's cup game at Eastville when Martin Hirst scored the winner, we were in the 4th division and for about the only time I can remember we were the underdogs. It was also my first memory of shenanigans shall we say going on off the pitch, during an escorted march of City lads from the city centre pubs where we'd met. It was also around this time they were officially re-named the Gas. The funniest game was some time in the 90's at Ashton Gate, the one where the Gas smashed the ball up to Devon White at every opportunity. It encapsulated the traditional difference between our footballing style of play and their alternative "football" style, and after a while a few City lads started the "whoosh" every time another ball was hoofed upfield. By the end of the game 3 sides of the ground bellowed "whoosh" every time a Gas centre half was about to launch another ball 50 yards in the general direction of our goal. Then there was the game I didn't get to see, our 3-0 defeat at Twerton in the 80's towards the end of the season we both went up from the 3rd division with the Gas as champions. The week before I'd bought a ticket for the game up at Bolton (I'm sure there are a few on here that recall that lively one) from a City lad selling dozens of them. They turned out to be forgeries. Unfortunately they all had the same serial number on the back and hence easy for the police to identify the following week. I ended up watching along with hundreds of other City on the top of the hill overlooking the ground, the players were like ants. For anyone that hasn't been to a derby before and not too sure about the intensity, google the game at Ashton Gate shown on Sky Sports circa 2000. That's the one where Rovers did a mini pitch invasion and were caught in a classic pincer movement from a Dolman and Williams multi task force, and the petrified Gas players escaping down the wrong tunnel. My last derby was the Mickey Mouse cup game at the Mem a few years ago, and I shouldn't really say this but the pitch invasion that night was a pleasant re-assurance that the old hostility hasn't disappeared despite the stricter policing nowadays. Naturally we were by the far better footballing team that night, as always, but the Gas players to be fair really equally raised their game against us. I won't be going tonight as the clowns running our ticketing system made it so difficult bordering on impossible to buy my tickets when they were on sale to season ticket holders, and so I made other plans for tonight instead. I'm really peed off about it and I won't be allowing those jokers to dampen my enthusiasm again. Enjoy the night everyone I'm expecting to hear the noise levels down here in the Chew Valley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Aldhelms Red Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 My first was circa 1970 at Eastville, and despite being a very young lad recall the sheer intensity. It was in the days of the Gloucester Cup when that end of season event used to draw huge crowds, because for several years it was the only time we'd play the Rovers (they weren't called the Gas then) as for several years we had been second division and they were third. Then Warboys and Bannister (Smash n Grab) got Rovers promoted and for a couple of seasons there were league games, the best being Easter 1976 at Ashton Gate, our promotion season to the top division. The game finished 1-1 if I recall in front of 28,000 with hundreds locked out for some reason even though the capacity back then was well over 30,000. The best feeling was the 1980's cup game at Eastville when Martin Hirst scored the winner, we were in the 4th division and for about the only time I can remember we were the underdogs. It was also my first memory of shenanigans shall we say going on off the pitch, during an escorted march of City lads from the city centre pubs where we'd met. It was also around this time they were officially re-named the Gas. The funniest game was some time in the 90's at Ashton Gate, the one where the Gas smashed the ball up to Devon White at every opportunity. It encapsulated the traditional difference between our footballing style of play and their alternative "football" style, and after a while a few City lads started the "whoosh" every time another ball was hoofed upfield. By the end of the game 3 sides of the ground bellowed "whoosh" every time a Gas centre half was about to launch another ball 50 yards in the general direction of our goal. Then there was the game I didn't get to see, our 3-0 defeat at Twerton in the 80's towards the end of the season we both went up from the 3rd division with the Gas as champions. The week before I'd bought a ticket for the game up at Bolton (I'm sure there are a few on here that recall that lively one) from a City lad selling dozens of them. They turned out to be forgeries. Unfortunately they all had the same serial number on the back and hence easy for the police to identify the following week. I ended up watching along with hundreds of other City on the top of the hill overlooking the ground, the players were like ants. For anyone that hasn't been to a derby before and not too sure about the intensity, google the game at Ashton Gate shown on Sky Sports circa 2000. That's the one where Rovers did a mini pitch invasion and were caught in a classic pincer movement from a Dolman and Williams multi task force, and the petrified Gas players escaping down the wrong tunnel. My last derby was the Mickey Mouse cup game at the Mem a few years ago, and I shouldn't really say this but the pitch invasion that night was a pleasant re-assurance that the old hostility hasn't disappeared despite the stricter policing nowadays. Naturally we were by the far better footballing team that night, as always, but the Gas players to be fair really equally raised their game against us. I won't be going tonight as the clowns running our ticketing system made it so difficult bordering on impossible to buy my tickets when they were on sale to season ticket holders, and so I made other plans for tonight instead. I'm really peed off about it and I won't be allowing those jokers to dampen my enthusiasm again. Enjoy the night everyone I'm expecting to hear the noise levels down here in the Chew Valley. Nick, ticketing **** up or not, you go to be there tonight mate, its ******* Rovers!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickJ Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 Nick, ticketing **** up or not, you go to be there tonight mate, its ******* Rovers!! Mate you don't know how ****** off I am when the tickets were on sale to ST holders I was away and couldn't get through on the phone or online and the way it was going didn't think I be able to get ours because they'd all be sold out by the time I was back, so I promised to take my mrs out somewhere. For the only time in my life I'm putting her over the City, **** I am getting too mellow with age. Still I've got 12 hours to put that right..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avalonred Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 I've been ummming and ahhhing for the last couple of weeks..... should I go? Shouldn't I go?.... I'll be sitting in the Williams, Block B.... only place I could find two seats together! ;-) Got them online last night, printed them out, now good to go! Bit like the geezer on the nut crunch cereal adverts, just couldn't resist! COYR, FTG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formerly known as ivan Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 Is Karl going? No said he couldnt get a ticket. Personally I think he is a pussy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRISTOL86 Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 Typical gas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bar BS3 Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 Mate you don't know how ****** off I am when the tickets were on sale to ST holders I was away and couldn't get through on the phone or online and the way it was going didn't think I be able to get ours because they'd all be sold out by the time I was back, so I promised to take my mrs out somewhere. For the only time in my life I'm putting her over the City, **** I am getting too mellow with age. Still I've got 12 hours to put that right..... I'm not being funny, but having read your previous post.... If your mrs can't appreciate what a Beistol Derby means to you and is willing to change those plans to another night, then get a new one! There are loads of women, but not many Derby days. Enough said...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aizoon Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 I'm not being funny, but having read your previous post.... If your mrs can't appreciate what a Beistol Derby means to you and is willing to change those plans to another night, then get a new one! There are loads of women, but not many Derby days. Enough said...! Cue mouth-frothing rant by the Usual Suspect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter O Hanraha-hanrahan Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 However my next was the 3-2 at christmas, that will never be forgotten. them scoring in first minute to Beadles introduction, Ashton rocked that night. Think I even still got the red cards they gave out that night to hold up. Next was a defeat at their place, 2 nil I think? the week after we went to wembley iirc, I stood in the rovers end that day Sorry to be pedantic but the 2-0 defeat at the Mem was about 9 months before our 3-2 win at the Gate. That defeat at the Mem was the last Bristol derby where they were actually higher in the league than us, 13 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Robin Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 It was my first Bristol derby: I watched it on my pc (thansk to Sky Sports and...streaming ). Well...I'm quite satisfied with the team's performance: good offensive play, whereas the defence didn't look very solid. My MOM is Bryan: good performance, and a stunning gol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK0wnag3 Posted September 4, 2013 Report Share Posted September 4, 2013 My word... That was incredible... A different animal... Can't say enough about the atmosphere. Every stand was rocking, and there was one point in the second half whilst we were defending a corner and the entire ground seemed to erupt in a chorus of "Come on you reds". Sent shivers down my spine. Beyond description. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcfctim Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 Lived up to and far surpassed my expectations from posts on here. Atmosphere was double that of any other game - unreal. My voice won't recover for a long time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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