1982

[Wanderingred]

Last night I got chatting to a fan of Torquay United. The poor bloke is facing up to the real possibility that he may not have a club to support by the end of the season. I imagined how I would feel if my beloved team were in such a dire situation and if I had to contemplate life without BCFC. Then I of course remembered that before my lifetime back in 82, so many of you went through this exact feeling.

So Id like to pick the brains of some of you older fans... What was going through your mind in the days leading up to that Newport game and on the day itself? Was there any talk of a phoenix club, or going to watch other teams? And where were you when you heard the news that the club had been saved? Id love to hear your stories!

[Offside]

I was only 8/9 years old at the time so even though I had started attending games by then I was too young to be fully aware of how dire a position the club was in. I do remember the "support Bristol City, now or never" stickers and the black shorts that I think I remember hearing were worn because they were cheaper than white ones (which sounds odd, so I'm not sure how true it is). I recall my dad saying that one of the things he found difficult was seeing the empty spaces in the ground as our attendances plummeted. I'm still not sure why so many fans stopped attending when the club desperately needed money.

[Gert Mare]

I remember the squatters circling like vultures poised to take "Trashton" from the dead club. (Another reason why I hold no affection for the blue 1/4 of Bristol).

It was dire times, apart from Jan Moller and Mick Harford. 

I remember the "Support Bristol City Now or NEVER" campaign.

No wonder we get the jitters with losing streaks because we fell like a stone. 

What I do remember is the comradery amongst supporters week in week out. We knew what was coming but we partied all the same.

 The thing was that the directors at the time haemorrhaged loads of money fighting for control of the club. Suits and football are always a problem, just look at the FA!

For me it wasn't about one game it was just a relief to know that I still had a club to support.

 I was gutted for the players as they were made to pay for the errors of the faceless suits behind the scenes. 

Going bottom of Division 4 delighted my Gas acquaintances as they saw another way for us to go completely, but we came back because there was no pressure any more.

Within 2 years Trevor Morgan was firing in the goal at Chester that finally confirmed our promotion back to Division 3. Great times. The closest I ever felt between club and fans was during the early 80's.

[ashton_fan]

I went to that Newport game, despite all the Press coverage at the time I don't think anyone believed the club would go under, maybe we were a bit naive but nothing like that had happened to other clubs at the time and there was talk of a takeover/rescue and the fans just expected somebody to sort it out although at the same time realised it might be the last game and so there was a good turnout. 

Shortly afterwards all the 'eight' left and we didn't have any experienced players. The following game at home to Fulham half the team was made up of youngsters making their debut, but a large crowd gave tremendous support and we managed a miraculous 0-0 draw (I think Roy Hodgson might have been in charge for that game). Scoring goals was a problem though and we went down to Div 4 at the end of the season and Terry Cooper took over as manager the following season, he managed to turn things around on a very small budget.

[archie andrews]

don't let cock robin die was the hashtag/buzzword at the time....

[22A]

For the build up to 1982, there were a few things I couldn't comprehend. During our third season in Div 1 there was muted talk of finishing high enough to qualify for Europe. but that didn't work out. At the end of the season Gary Collier arranged his own transfer to Coventry and we seemingly couldn't replace him in defence. At the end of 79-80 the club was relegated. Back in Div 2 and so many games we expected to be victories were draws and there came 1-0 defeats at Cambridge, Watford and Grimsby resulting in a second relegation. Results did not improve and at the risk of being branded a heretic, those players who had played so well just a few years before in Div 1 could not perform in Div 3.

Then came the news of the impending winding up. I too remember the stickers "Support Bristol City, now or never" and hundreds of programme collectors from all over the country went to Somerton Park to buy up copies of the programme of City's final game. National TV news showed City's equaliser against Newport and asking the question "Will this be Bristol City's last ever goal"? There was no talk of supporting any other club when City died and at the time, we didn't know about Phoenix clubs.

The following Wednesday, I was at work and at lunch time I asked if anyone had heard the news. A Leeds fan stated "Some players have left and you still have a club to support". I was just so relived, I wasn't too concerned about it's state, just so long as there was still a Bristol City. The final game saw City home to Chester; both teams were already relegated, but 3,200 turned up; to me every one of those is a TRUE supporter.

The second half of that season and the Div 4 days produced so much unity of fans and players. In the second season In Div 4, City beat York in October and went top of the Division. Over 10,000 attended Ashton Gate that night. At the end of the season City travelled to Chester and had to send their own Stewards here to help the home club cope with the vast number of travelling fans. City were back.

[KURTZ]

      An old friend of mine said the sags were trying to buy Ashton Gate for Peanuts, anyone know if that was true?

[Ciderhead433]

Remember it well went to last game at Newport went down the ground on the day a BBC and ITV were there interviewing then Stoney came out and said were ok deal sorted.

 

Lucky for me old man was a gashead i could have ended upthere

[Cowshed]

Finally old enough to earn a wage and donated a weeks to the club as did my friends.

Different times. BCFC were a club. Everybody mattered. The attendances completely collapsed but being there created a sense of pride, we have not given up as fans. That pride and spirit would have ensured BCFC continued. It did not appear realistic that there would be no BCFC even if a XI from the Rising Sun called themselves Bristol City FC people would have rallied round to support that instead.

Post Newport ..

Supporting City was a badge of honour. Competing v Liverpool, Arsenal then losing v anybody including Torquay.

At away games City were seen as a ex first division scalp. The local hooligans would appear in large numbers like vultures. You HAD to stick together. On occasions people would sheepishly ask to tag along for protection at train stations (no escorts) , hours later you were friends.

On this forum there is a thread about City fans being the worst - We were the best. Its was BCFC against the world. We had something that has sadly been generally lost now. A rare essence now in what was a very exciting time as a fan.

[Ivorguy]

47 minutes ago, Cheesleysmate said:

I remember the squatters circling like vultures poised to take "Trashton" from the dead club. (Another reason why I hold no affection for the blue 1/4 of Bristol).

It was dire times, apart from Jan Moller and Mick Harford. 

I remember the "Support Bristol City Now or NEVER" campaign.

No wonder we get the jitters with losing streaks because we fell like a stone. 

What I do remember is the comradery amongst supporters week in week out. We knew what was coming but we partied all the same.

 The thing was that the directors at the time haemorrhaged loads of money fighting for control of the club. Suits and football are always a problem, just look at the FA!

For me it wasn't about one game it was just a relief to know that I still had a club to support.

 I was gutted for the players as they were made to pay for the errors of the faceless suits behind the scenes. 

Going bottom of Division 4 delighted my Gas acquaintances as they saw another way for us to go completely, but we came back because there was no pressure any more.

Within 2 years Trevor Morgan was firing in the goal at Chester that finally confirmed our promotion back to Division 3. Great times. The closest I ever felt between club and fans was during the early 80's.

Was at that Chester game

 Magical  times with the incomparable Terry Cooper.  He,gave us our pride back.

The atmosphere generated by the few of us there is unforgettable.

My daughter was three, her first game, and kept shouting 'Come on City'. Terry acknowledged the support!

Happy days

 

[Ciderhead433]

4 minutes ago, Cowshed said:

Finally old enough to earn a wage and donated a weeks to the club as did my friends.

Different times. BCFC were a club. Everybody mattered. The attendances completely collapsed but being there created a sense of pride, we have not given up as fans. That pride would and spirit would have ensured BCFC continued. It did not appear realistic that there would be no BCFC even if a XI from the Rising Sun called themselves Bristol City FC people would have rallied round to support that instead.

Post Newport ..

Supporting City was a badge of honour. Competing v Liverpool, Arsenal then losing v anybody including Torquay.

At away games City were seen as a ex first division scalp. The local hooligans would appear in large numbers like vultures. You HAD to stick together. On occasions people would sheepishly ask to tag along for protection at train stations (no escorts) , hours later you were friends.

On this forum there is a thread about City fans being the worst - We were the best. Its was BCFC against the world. We had something that has sadly been generally lost now. A rare essence now in what was a very exciting time as a fan.

Got a tear in me eye

[Red Grovesy]

Had a quick look and found this in my pile of programmes......

 

[Portland Bill]

1 hour ago, Kim_il_sung said:

Last night I got chatting to a fan of Torquay United. The poor bloke is facing up to the real possibility that he may not have a club to support by the end of the season. I imagined how I would feel if my beloved team were in such a dire situation and if I had to contemplate life without BCFC. Then I of course remembered that before my lifetime back in 82, so many of you went through this exact feeling.

So Id like to pick the brains of some of you older fans... What was going through your mind in the days leading up to that Newport game and on the day itself? Was there any talk of a phoenix club, or going to watch other teams? And where were you when you heard the news that the club had been saved? Id love to hear your stories!

I'm not sure if I really knew what was happening behind the scenes at the time, but I knew we were in deep shit. I can remember discussions with my mates in the pub about what we would do if the club did fold. As we all lived in Bridgwater I think Exeter City's name came up, but I think we would have ended up watching Bridgwater Town!.

My only memories of Newport away are just watching it go 'off' in their end constantly for what seemed like 90 minutes. It was a surreal day thinking this could be my last time watching our beloved club. 

The following week's game v Fulham ( after we were saved by the AG8 ) was the dawning of the new era, a very young side played out of their skins and drew 0-0 ( I think?) with Fulham in front of 11,000 of us, a brilliant atmosphere and a real coming together of the fans. 

As others have said, us fans then became as one and stuck with each other through the really bad times. I will always remember about 500 of us away at places like Shrewsbury doing the 'dying fly' on the terraces!. We had hundreds of 'lads' going to away games and everyone stuck together, a real camaraderie.  These times were the best I've ever had with City even though we were pretty shite 'on' the pitch!

When we finally got promotion at Chester out of the fourth division it was as good a feeling as winning the Champions league, it was reward for the fans that had stuck behind the club, ( we went from 25,000 gates to 4,000 in three years!) it was a real feeling of it being 'our' club.

Terry Cooper deserves an award from our club for what he did, he pulled us up from nothing with a team of kids and a few experienced heads, he truly was an inspiration. Perhaps the club could name something at the ground after him. Because he and the AG8 were the saviours of this club and it should never be forgotten. 

 

[italian dave]

Well, for a start it helped put runs like the one we're currently on into perspective. Newport was the culmination of a poor run, and I mean a really poor run, when you just knew we were going to lose, that went on three years.

It was the first time anything like it had really happened, so I think everyone was just uncertain. It felt as though it shouldn't be possible for our club to go out of existence, but at the same time there was no tried and tested route out like there is today.

I remember doing a sponsored walk round the pitch to raise money. I remember buying shares, and even the wife buying some too! I remember the Rovers waiting in the wings to pick on the bones, wanting to buy the ground, objecting to the council baling us out. remember the game after we were 'saved' at Walsall, where we had only reserves and youth team players left to pick.

But most of all, Terry Cooper. Exactly right Ivor, he gave us our pride back, and he made football fun again. He did more for City than any manager I've known before or after and probably ever will do. Although it was in the third and fourth division, they were some of the best times watching City. Strange!

[BobBobSuperBob]

1 hour ago, Ivorguy said:

Was at that Chester game

 Magical  times with the incomparable Terry Cooper.  He,gave us our pride back.

The atmosphere generated by the few of us there is unforgettable.

My daughter was three, her first game, and kept shouting 'Come on City'. Terry acknowledged the support!

Happy days

 

The wire fence didn't last long as I remember !!! 

[Aberdeen Pete's Dad]

I flew from Sydney in Australia. My old man picked me up at Heathrow and we drove straight to Newport. I really thought it was going to be our last match. We should all be grateful to all of those - Coller, Sage, Boyd, Leslie Kew et all- who saved the club by forming the new company.

[Erithacus]

Looking at that teamsheet v Fulham - some good names on it! Served this (new) club well. But is that Fulham centre-half that Sean O'Driscoll? How times have changed...

[Sixtyseconds]

Still a kid barely into work and not getting the full sketch of what was going on.

But what was saved then was this "We had hundreds of 'lads' going to away games and everyone stuck together, a real camaraderie".

In nearly deserted Ashton Gate you would see Bikers, Mods, Punks, Skins, Bay City roller looking relics from the seventies scarves on wrists, characters shuffling round the EE whom all knew had health problems, people who had stood on their spot for aeons.

Saved.

No Bristol Sport.

It was BCFC.

We are red we are white we are ******* ... The football as it was there was no illusion of taking that tooooooooo seriously ... Think its bad now, you ain't seen proper poor ... It was all about fans.

[22A]

Five other points;

Ipswich & Southampton, two 1st Div clubs who played attractive football, staged a friendly at AG to raise funds for City. As has been posted above, Rovers did nothing to help us and indeed announced they'd buy AG for a pittance.

We didn't know if we'd have a club in ten months time, but as they were desperate for income, City offered a ten year season ticket for £500. Come 1992, anyone who had bought one would have realised they had a bargain.

After the Ashton Eight left, the Youth team were pitched in and the first game was a goal less draw home to Fulham. The final whistle was greeted with the cheers normally reserved for a massive win.

The Football League, were concerned for the integrity of the League and provided support and advice to help keep the club going. Many Rovers fans were and still are, annoyed by this which is why they believe City should have been kicked out of the League and not allowed to keep going.

At the start of 82-83 both clubs were in Div 3 and had poor attendances. City's then Chairman offered an open door if Rovers wanted to amalgamate in the interests of Bristol football in general. They declined the offer.

[Portland Bill]

6 hours ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

The wire fence didn't last long as I remember !!! 

We all undid the wire fence during the last 15 mins didn't we  as the final whistle went it literally collapsed!! 

[Guest Star of a gunner]

9 hours ago, Kim_il_sung said:

Last night I got chatting to a fan of Torquay United. The poor bloke is facing up to the real possibility that he may not have a club to support by the end of the season. I imagined how I would feel if my beloved team were in such a dire situation and if I had to contemplate life without BCFC. Then I of course remembered that before my lifetime back in 82, so many of you went through this exact feeling.

So Id like to pick the brains of some of you older fans... What was going through your mind in the days leading up to that Newport game and on the day itself? Was there any talk of a phoenix club, or going to watch other teams? And where were you when you heard the news that the club had been saved? Id love to hear your stories!

me and my mates put are pocket money in the buckets before the game probably only came to  2 or three quid but it seemed like loads to us ,must admit though those years just after 1982 were some of my favourite .     Terry coopers red and white army ,one nil down two one up we knocked rovers out the cup.

[Mike Hunt-Hertz]

9 hours ago, Cheesleysmate said:

I remember the squatters circling like vultures poised to take "Trashton" from the dead club. (Another reason why I hold no affection for the blue 1/4 of Bristol).

It was dire times, apart from Jan Moller and Mick Harford. 

I remember the "Support Bristol City Now or NEVER" campaign.

No wonder we get the jitters with losing streaks because we fell like a stone. 

What I do remember is the comradery amongst supporters week in week out. We knew what was coming but we partied all the same.

 The thing was that the directors at the time haemorrhaged loads of money fighting for control of the club. Suits and football are always a problem, just look at the FA!

For me it wasn't about one game it was just a relief to know that I still had a club to support.

 I was gutted for the players as they were made to pay for the errors of the faceless suits behind the scenes. 

Going bottom of Division 4 delighted my Gas acquaintances as they saw another way for us to go completely, but we came back because there was no pressure any more.

Within 2 years Trevor Morgan was firing in the goal at Chester that finally confirmed our promotion back to Division 3. Great times. The closest I ever felt between club and fans was during the early 80's.

That Div4 promotion campaign was miles better than the sanitised, insipid hogwash we get today.

[Red Exile]

Different world in those days. We went back to the Gate after the Chester match, waiting for the players bus. Tom Ritchie ran off the coach and into the arms of my late brother (a regular on OTIB in his day)...and then we joined the players in the Supporters Club bar (as I recall) for a spontaneous party. Alan Crawford stating on a table singing offensive songs about Aldershot.

Hard to imagine anything like that today...but I wouldn't have wished that drop down the divisions on anyone dressed in anything other than blue and white quarters.

On the up side the day we went bottom of the league was the last day of term at uni and I consoled myself by chatting with a very nice girl who became my wife...who is currently consoling me and my eldest after the latest City fiasco...

[Mike Hunt-Hertz]

3 minutes ago, Red Exile said:

Different world in those days. We went back to the Gate after the Chester match, waiting for the players bus. Tom Ritchie ran off the coach and into the arms of my late brother (a regular on OTIB in his day)...and then we joined the players in the Supporters Club bar (as I recall) for a spontaneous party. Alan Crawford stating on a table singing offensive songs about Aldershot.

Hard to imagine anything like that today...but I wouldn't have wished that drop down the divisions on anyone dressed in anything other than blue and white quarters.

On the up side the day we went bottom of the league was the last day of term at uni and I consoled myself by chatting with a very nice girl who became my wife...who is currently consoling me and my eldest after the latest City fiasco...

Alan Crawford always seemed a nice fella...can`t imagine him singing bawdy ditties!

[Red Exile]

9 hours ago, archie andrews said:

don't let cock robin die was the hashtag/buzzword at the time....

I've still got the poster...

[Red Exile]

4 minutes ago, Mike Hunt-Hertz said:

Alan Crawford always seemed a nice fella...can`t imagine him singing bawdy ditties!

He was well away...and I think he and the others, like Tom and Terry, really cared...that promotion was one hell of an achievement and hard fought.

[Mike Hunt-Hertz]

3 minutes ago, Red Exile said:

He was well away...and I think he and the others, like Tom and Terry, really cared...that promotion was one hell of an achievement and hard fought.

That team were mint!

[glynriley]

Not that I'd ever want City to be plying their trade in the basement again, but I loved it back then. Kids who weren't much older than I was, busting a gut for the shirt. Coops waving his magic wand, Glyn sticking it to defences up and down the land. Tom Ritchie returning, and along with John Shaw guiding the kids to a promotion.

Anyone under the age of 40, have no illusions, they were dark days but all of us who were there will never forget them.

 Those who talk of turning their back on the club because of the current malaise can't have been around then, because this is a walk in the ******* park in comparison.

[Lack of Action Man]

6 hours ago, 22A said:

Five other points;

Ipswich & Southampton, two 1st Div clubs who played attractive football, staged a friendly at AG to raise funds for City. As has been posted above, Rovers did nothing to help us and indeed announced they'd buy AG for a pittance.

We didn't know if we'd have a club in ten months time, but as they were desperate for income, City offered a ten year season ticket for £500. Come 1992, anyone who had bought one would have realised they had a bargain.

After the Ashton Eight left, the Youth team were pitched in and the first game was a goal less draw home to Fulham. The final whistle was greeted with the cheers normally reserved for a massive win.

The Football League, were concerned for the integrity of the League and provided support and advice to help keep the club going. Many Rovers fans were and still are, annoyed by this which is why they believe City should have been kicked out of the League and not allowed to keep going.

At the start of 82-83 both clubs were in Div 3 and had poor attendances. City's then Chairman offered an open door if Rovers wanted to amalgamate in the interests of Bristol football in general. They declined the offer.

Well I did not know that. Ooft it makes me feel a bit unwell...

[REDOXO]

I hate thinking about it!

Terrible times and some good ones too.

The day of the AG eight agreement I remember thinking, this could be it! What am I going to do. The Sags were hovvering around AG as has been mentioned and it looked bad. GG, Clive and Tom the only ones worth money were gone and we had nothing but kids and contracts that lasted into old age.

My old man came in from work and said the club have been reformed and the players were gone. 16 year olds in the first team on Saturday....we were 92nd before you knew it.

Terry Cooper should have something named after him....If not just for that cup win at Eastville....Christian Roberts against Hartlepool was mad....That was insane....Hirst has, it audible gasp........GGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL! The Muller road end was madness as were the blokes watching from the flyover!....Nearly in tears just thinking about it!!...

 

[Ivorguy]

For all the angst

-We had a manager who was a near genius

- We had a team that fought for each other and us, and above all cared

- We had true support from us diehards

- We had no SL, five pillars, or Bristol Sport.  Yes the roof in the 'old stand' still leaked but what the hell there a real Bristol spirit then

[Lanterne Rouge]

1 hour ago, glynriley said:

Not that I'd ever want City to be plying their trade in the basement again, but I loved it back then. Kids who weren't much older than I was, busting a gut for the shirt. Coops waving his magic wand, Glyn sticking it to defences up and down the land. Tom Ritchie returning, and along with John Shaw guiding the kids to a promotion.

Anyone under the age of 40, have no illusions, they were dark days but all of us who were there will never forget them.

 Those who talk of turning their back on the club because of the current malaise can't have been around then, because this is a walk in the ******* park in comparison.

They were dark, dark days but we came through it thankfully. No-one who wasn`t around then can appreciate the sense of despair followed by elation that we still had a club to support. Don`t forget there was no admin/points deduction and carry on as before back then, we were hours away from doing an Accrington.

 I`ve also never forgiven the pikeys for trying to pick over our corpse before we were actually dead and never will. Bastards.

Still 1-0 down, 2-1 up and all that - that`s when we knew we were back and fighting our corner again.

CTID

[Chappers]

Scary times, listening for news, ultimately the AG8 would get nothing if club folded, so in many ways there could only be one outcome. Once TC took over, we were so glad just to have a Club, and then we beat the Gas, got promoted and won at Wembley. City had returned. Best thing was that joy at just having a club, expectations were low, ambitions realistic, and above all, TC's brand of attacking football. Halliday, Phillipson-Masters, Stroud, Crawford, Shaw, Middlemass. All unsung heroes of that time.

Real football, real pros, real fans.

[Norn Iron]

It's nice to read Alan Crawford getting honourable mentions.  I thought he was a great winger and was always giving his best. He lived about 100 yards from me in Nailsea and in the summer could be found in The Ring O'Bells......working behind the bar. His BCFC salary must have been poor.

Regarding that Newport game at Somerton Park. I remember Mick Harford scoring the goal with his kneecap and that the feeling was that it wouldn't be our last ever game.....but if it was, we had to be there.

We stood on a bank of loose stone chippings. In a previous era, the away end used to be the old speedway bend. The Newport Speedway team, featuring Phil Crump, became The Bristol Bulldogs.....and they shared their Bristol Stadium with ......greyhounds but not on the same night!

[City Rocker]

It was a mud bank wasn't it, the away end at Somerton Park, though I seem to recall it was terraced with railway sleepers or similar, which would be OH so chic in Southville these days. Newport in '82 was a game of such magnitude that you simply had to be there. Strangely though I remember little of the game except the 1-1 scoreline, the sporadic outbreaks of crowd trouble, and standing with the then EMI recording artists Dave Bateman (RIP) and Shane Baldwin off of Vice Squad. Unfortunately Beki wasn't into football as it turned out.

Chester in '84 remains without doubt my most emotional moment in 40 years of watching City. When Terry Cooper and the team emerged in their main stand after the game, with us lot massed on the pitch, this was the moment of The Resurrection and still brings a tear to the eye, now I think about it.

[Mike Hunt-Hertz]

3 minutes ago, City Rocker said:

It was a mud bank wasn't it, the away end at Somerton Park, though I seem to recall it was terraced with railway sleepers or similar, which would be OH so chic in Southville these days. Newport in '82 was a game of such magnitude that you simply had to be there. Strangely though I remember little of the game except the 1-1 scoreline, the sporadic outbreaks of crowd trouble, and standing with the then EMI recording artists Dave Bateman (RIP) and Shane Baldwin off of Vice Squad. Unfortunately Beki wasn't into football as it turned out.

Chester in '84 remains without doubt my most emotional moment in 40 years of watching City. When Terry Cooper and the team emerged in their main stand after the game, with us lot massed on the pitch, this was the moment of The Resurrection and still brings a tear to the eye, now I think about it.

It was a cinder bank, I think.

[Mike Hunt-Hertz]

4 hours ago, REDOXO said:

I hate thinking about it!

Terrible times and some good ones too.

The day of the AG eight agreement I remember thinking, this could be it! What am I going to do. The Sags were hovvering around AG as has been mentioned and it looked bad. GG, Clive and Tom the only ones worth money were gone and we had nothing but kids and contracts that lasted into old age.

My old man came in from work and said the club have been reformed and the players were gone. 16 year olds in the first team on Saturday....we were 92nd before you knew it.

Terry Cooper should have something named after him....If not just for that cup win at Eastville....Christian Roberts against Hartlepool was mad....That was insane....Hirst has, it audible gasp........GGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL! The Muller road end was madness as were the blokes watching from the flyover!....Nearly in tears just thinking about it!!...

 

Some fella in a beemer kept stopping to watch, then getting moved on by the scuffers. I`m sure he came around several times, but it sure was a long time ago!

[Mike Hunt-Hertz]

6 hours ago, Portland Bill said:

We all undid the wire fence during the last 15 mins didn't we  as the final whistle went it literally collapsed!! 

Remember that rush onto the pitch! There was another chain link fence (FFS!) in front of their main stand that came down too. TC hoisted up on some lad`s shoulders, and looking like he was going to fall about 30` to the ground. Can still see the look of momentary panic on his face.

[BobBobSuperBob]

1 hour ago, Norn Iron said:

It's nice to read Alan Crawford getting honourable mentions.  I thought he was a great winger and was always giving his best. He lived about 100 yards from me in Nailsea and in the summer could be found in The Ring O'Bells......working behind the bar. His BCFC salary must have been poor.

Became good friends with Crawfs

After his commitment to the Club, both as a player and Youth Team Coach he found out he was out of a job (Under Osman) with a letter left on his desk !!!

Good honest bloke Crawfs

[Mike Hunt-Hertz]

4 minutes ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

Became good friends with Crawfs

After his commitment to the Club, both as a player and Youth Team Coach he found out he was out of a job (Under Osman) with a letter left on his desk !!!

Good honest bloke Crawfs

Does he still live in the Bristol area?

[BobBobSuperBob]

5 minutes ago, Mike Hunt-Hertz said:

Does he still live in the Bristol area?

No Mike 

Lost touch last few years but him and Anne  were living up,in the North West

 

[BobBobSuperBob]

Crawls did alright with the youth team then - The 'Academy' consisted of a bag of balls and a minibus !!

But in a couple of years , from. A YTS group of 8/10  a year a few  got to make their first team debuts when we were in the then Div 1 ( Now Championship) 

Not World beaters but even so , from a tiny Youth set up

Fowler

Wyatt

Milsom

All LOCAL Lads too !!

and the one who had the most successful career who was 'nee local'

Mickey Mellon

[T R]

Question that has always been on my mind, when we got relgated from the 1st division, how in hell did we drop like a stone, was this down to the players giving up? Can anyone tell me what happened because it is all a vague memory to me leading up to the 82 situation. 

[Red-Robbo]

6 hours ago, glynriley said:

Not that I'd ever want City to be plying their trade in the basement again, but I loved it back then. Kids who weren't much older than I was, busting a gut for the shirt. Coops waving his magic wand, Glyn sticking it to defences up and down the land. Tom Ritchie returning, and along with John Shaw guiding the kids to a promotion.

Anyone under the age of 40, have no illusions, they were dark days but all of us who were there will never forget them.

 Those who talk of turning their back on the club because of the current malaise can't have been around then, because this is a walk in the ******* park in comparison.

You are right of course.

Football was just so different then and as near as "corporate" got was players driving a Ford Granada with the name of some local garage on it!!

That said, in case anyone thinks it's only today's supporters who get going when the going gets tough,  it's worth remembering we were getting below 5K at our worst. ..

[In the Net]

Ironically, I used to work for Chris Barlow, the insolvency expert who advised on how to keep the club alive by re-inventing yourselves as BCFC 1982 Ltd. I think that the Football League closed that loophole fairly soon afterwards, when Wolves used a similar tactic.

All a million years away from the corporate comforts which people take for granted these days, but I do think that fans in general had a closer bond back then, which has been somewhat diluted as football evolved into all seater stadiums etc.

[Portland Bill]

7 hours ago, Threshing Red said:

Question that has always been on my mind, when we got relgated from the 1st division, how in hell did we drop like a stone, was this down to the players giving up? Can anyone tell me what happened because it is all a vague memory to me leading up to the 82 situation. 

The better players were sold, and replaced by others who weren't good enough, basically we just weren't good enough to avoid the relegations. Add on the fact our gates halved and got even worse as we fell further down the divisions. 

The money ran out, we went from 37,000 watching us play Liverpool to 4,000 watching us play Rochdale, all this in 3 years!

[archie andrews]

15 minutes ago, Portland Bill said:

The better players were sold, and replaced by others who weren't good enough, basically we just weren't good enough to avoid the relegations. Add on the fact our gates halved and got even worse as we fell further down the divisions. 

The money ran out, we went from 37,000 watching us play Liverpool to 4,000 watching us play Rochdale, all this in 3 years!

partly true bill but my theory is AD always had the same nucleus of players for too long...ok we added the likes of hunter Cormack royle and bit part players like cooper and meijjer but we never really overhauled the team enough so they were more equipped for the first division

that coupled with silly long term contracts given out willy nilly meant the club were financially facing ruin which came to a head in 82 when again the team for example 80/81 season was still 7/8 players who had been through the 76 promotion season and 4 seasons in the top flight but were now struggling to adapt to the new lower levels but were on the same money as 1st division days

real dark days but fun seeing the resurrection  

[Ska Junkie]

What a great thread!

My own memories as a 14 year old City mad young 'un was 'that' day. I went to the old St Brendan's college, not the crappy 6th form it is now and boy was it strict! We went into lessons and were allowed to wear scarves not knowing if we would have a club to follow when we came out. Half way through one lesson, a teacher burst into our room to tell us the news that we had been saved.

As a youngster, that day at Chester will never be forgotten, the utter passion and togetherness was something I fear we will never see again. Actually, I know we won't as it wouldn't be allowed anymore. It felt like the whole support were at Sealand Rd that day yet there were only 3,000 of us, it definitely felt like a lot more.

Sad, dark times but wonderful memories. 

[Hello]

Even as a Gashead, I have been interested to read this. I was only born in 82 so I have no real knowledge of the back story

 

I would hate to be in that position as a Rovers fan and we have had our own issues in the past. I suppose at one time there was a threat of both clubs ceasing to be and we both could have been in the Southern League or whatever as new clubs

 

Amongst all the BS, banter and bluster I am glad both clubs are around and in the league. Would be a bit shit otherwise

[Guest Star of a gunner]

19 hours ago, Red Right Hand said:

They were dark, dark days but we came through it thankfully. No-one who wasn`t around then can appreciate the sense of despair followed by elation that we still had a club to support. Don`t forget there was no admin/points deduction and carry on as before back then, we were hours away from doing an Accrington.

 I`ve also never forgiven the pikeys for trying to pick over our corpse before we were actually dead and never will. Bastards.

Still 1-0 down, 2-1 up and all that - that`s when we knew we were back and fighting our corner again.

CTID

that day at east vile  was the day I new we were on are way back, still my favourite away day ever .

[Lanterne Rouge]

3 minutes ago, Star of a gunner said:

that day at east vile  was the day I new we were on are way back, still my favourite away day ever .

Mine too I think. I loved Bradford, Forest, Boro in the cup, Chester, Liverpool, Arsenal, Coventry and all the many others down the years but that day meant so much. It was when I really started to believe again.

Sometimes you need dark times to really appreciate what you have. As someone said above, the current troubles are a cakewalk compared to those days.

[Guest Star of a gunner]

On 2 January 2017 at 11:19, Portland Bill said:

I'm not sure if I really knew what was happening behind the scenes at the time, but I knew we were in deep shit. I can remember discussions with my mates in the pub about what we would do if the club did fold. As we all lived in Bridgwater I think Exeter City's name came up, but I think we would have ended up watching Bridgwater Town!.

My only memories of Newport away are just watching it go 'off' in their end constantly for what seemed like 90 minutes. It was a surreal day thinking this could be my last time watching our beloved club. 

The following week's game v Fulham ( after we were saved by the AG8 ) was the dawning of the new era, a very young side played out of their skins and drew 0-0 ( I think?) with Fulham in front of 11,000 of us, a brilliant atmosphere and a real coming together of the fans. 

As others have said, us fans then became as one and stuck with each other through the really bad times. I will always remember about 500 of us away at places like Shrewsbury doing the 'dying fly' on the terraces!. We had hundreds of 'lads' going to away games and everyone stuck together, a real camaraderie.  These times were the best I've ever had with City even though we were pretty shite 'on' the pitch!

When we finally got promotion at Chester out of the fourth division it was as good a feeling as winning the Champions league, it was reward for the fans that had stuck behind the club, ( we went from 25,000 gates to 4,000 in three years!) it was a real feeling of it being 'our' club.

Terry Cooper deserves an award from our club for what he did, he pulled us up from nothing with a team of kids and a few experienced heads, he truly was an inspiration. Perhaps the club could name something at the ground after him. Because he and the AG8 were the saviours of this club and it should never be forgotten. 

 

I remember being at an away game once and t.c came and stood with us in the crowd ,think it might of been at Darlington 

[BobBobSuperBob]

Brings back a few memories !!!

[Red-Robbo]

51 minutes ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

Brings back a few memories !!!

Oh blige! Look at the pitch. Like a ploughed field.

[Wanderingred]

Great stories guys!

[cidered abroad]

This will ramble a bit with "soundbite" memories.

Newport County; I don't know how many City there but I was jammed in with loads and just hoping that we'd survive.

Alan Dicks, City's best ever manager on the pitch was the root of the problem as when Collier left under the new freedom of contract, he put the whole squad on long contracts of 8, 10 and 11 years so when the drop from Div One came, we could not pay our way.

So for me, that is why Terry Cooper is the best of City managers for the way he found freebies and encouraged the young ones to start the rebuilding of our club. 

The game v Fulham I remember a tall skinny beanpole called Rob Newman and a tiny little kid, Jon Economou who with all the others in a very makeshift team, worked their socks off to get a 0-0.

Northampton Town away on a Sunday afternoon. Glyn Riley scored at 5-0 down and I'm jumped in the air at the back of the stand. My wife told me to calm down and we still conceded two more; it really was men against boys plu player manager TC.

It was a roller coaster ride but those of us who stuck with the club at home and away, were rewarded within 5 years with one promotion back to Div 3 and two trips to Wembley.

Whether it's Lansdown's money or anyone else's, this is my club, along with thousands of others. I bought £70 of shares and it cleaned out my bank savings. I bought them to save the club for future generations of kids like me who went to Ashton Gate and fell in love with a football team.

Wife was not too happy but she understood how much the club meant to me and it still does.

[red panda]

Can you imagine what it would have been like had the internet, and therefore OTIB, existed in the early '80s 

[ooRya]

Dark times indeed, but as  others have indicated a time that created many great memories and in ingrained love for "our" club.

City may go on in the future to have many good, even great days, but for me nothing will ever surpass the feeling when City walked out at Wembley for the first time with Drink up Thee Cider ringing around the ground, putting the nightmare of 1982 firmly to bed.

[gavlin]

On 1/3/2017 at 01:20, Threshing Red said:

Question that has always been on my mind, when we got relgated from the 1st division, how in hell did we drop like a stone, was this down to the players giving up? Can anyone tell me what happened because it is all a vague memory to me leading up to the 82 situation. 

It all started with the Collier transfer after freedom of contracts came in. The board and Alan Dicks got scared that other players might follow and signed players up on long term contract at top wages sometimes on 5 to 7 year contracts. The result of this was when City got relegated they were either had to sell these players i.e. Gow or they stayed on top wages with falling gates and which lead to the slippery slope. 

I remember the share issue with the new club and our family having a meeting at home to see how much were could put together, we ended up purchasing £250 worth of shares, it was an emotional time. 

[Mike Hunt-Hertz]

On 03/01/2017 at 01:49, Red-Robbo said:

You are right of course.

Football was just so different then and as near as "corporate" got was players driving a Ford Granada with the name of some local garage on it!!

That said, in case anyone thinks it's only today's supporters who get going when the going gets tough,  it's worth remembering we were getting below 5K at our worst. ..

We were seriously shite though!

[Norn Iron]

12 hours ago, ooRya said:

 

City may go on in the future to have many good, even great days, but for me nothing will ever surpass the feeling when City walked out at Wembley for the first time with Drink up Thee Cider ringing around the ground, putting the nightmare of 1982 firmly to bed.

It's great how we remember certain things. I remember how confident I was that they'd play Adge and the boys finest ditty as our tune. What I remember hearing was Jeff Beck's Silver Lining....or maybe that was for the Stoke game? 

[Robin Ashton]

 

Quote

or maybe that was for the Stoke game? 

Yeah, Stoke.

[Southstandoriginal]

8 hours ago, Robin Ashton said:

 

Yeah, Stoke.

I was in the concourse in the old Wembley when that was being played as "our tune". People were looking up with an expression on their faces that said WTF!

[Mr Popodopolous]

10 hours ago, Norn Iron said:

It's great how we remember certain things. I remember how confident I was that they'd play Adge and the boys finest ditty as our tune. What I remember hearing was Jeff Beck's Silver Lining....or maybe that was for the Stoke game? 

They still play it at AG, for some weird reason- I heard it over the PA v Reading, I never really associated it with us though.

[Norn Iron]

It's all flooding back!

It was the Stoke game at Wembley.  The PA announcer said he'd play a song that represents each club. Stoke had Delilah. We had Hi Ho Silver Lining. It's a 60's thing apparently.

However, quite a few clubs play Jeff Beck's song. Why the PA bloke didn't play Adge is filed under 'Gert Mysteries'.