Dave Garland RIP

[slartibartfast]

Sad news, just heard long time City fan passed away yesterday. Dave was (like me) a City fan of a certain vintage, who went home and away for many years until ill health caught up with him. Like to wish his family and friends my condolances .

RIP "The Congresbury Kid "

[Atyeo's Love Child]

RIP Congresbury

[Phantom]

Thoughts and prayers with his family and friends in this sad time 

[Sturgess]

Condolences to his family. RIP fellow Robin. 

[GrahamC]

Very said, would expect I knew him by sight if not in person.

RIP.

[cidered abroad]

Farewell Dave Garland.

 

[Chessels Chick]

Oh no that is sad news Had lots of laughs on many away trips with him (there was a regular group of us that went together - with you too @slartibartfast) I'm chuckling at some of the memories now And sat two seats away from him in the Dolman (and Enclosure before then) for years - RIP Congresbury  

Edited January 5 by Chessels Chick

[Enclosure Old Timer]

Travelled home and away with Dave for many years.

R.I.P. Congresbury old friend. 

[Chessels Chick]

14 minutes ago, Enclosure Old Timer said:

Travelled home and away with Dave for many years.

R.I.P. Congresbury old friend. 

Do I know you??!!

[slartibartfast]

1 hour ago, Chessels Chick said:

Do I know you??!!

You do .

[f c with glasses]

R I P. Dave,sad news a true Red  spent many games sat near him .    
 

Condolences to his family              

[slartibartfast]

6 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Very said, would expect I knew him by sight if not in person.

RIP.

Yes, you would have done, certainlyon the "Beryl" coach in the early fourth div days, he would have sat with myself and Nigel H .

[BTRFTG]

13 hours ago, slartibartfast said:

Sad news, just heard long time City fan passed away yesterday. Dave was (like me) a City fan of a certain vintage, who went home and away for many years until ill health caught up with him. Like to wish his family and friends my condolances .

RIP "The Congresbury Kid "

I watched from 'Congresbury's seat' yesterday and we raised a glass in his honour beforehand. Funny thing footy - despite knowing him for decades I had no idea his name was anything other than 'Congresbury'.

[The Original OTIB]

R.I.P. Dave, as ever, would be nice if someone could post a picture.

[GrahamC]

1 hour ago, slartibartfast said:

Yes, you would have done, certainlyon the "Beryl" coach in the early fourth div days, he would have sat with myself and Nigel H .

100% mate.

[Always red]

Knew Dave for past few years drinking in the Smyth Arms (The Ashton) before the game. Encyclopaedic knowledge of the City. In recent times during ill health he wrote a book which he called 'A love divine' and presented a few of us with it in a red lever arch folder. It contains his memories of being a City fan. Goes into 170 pages

RIP Dave (after quite along period of illness)

The lads from the pub.

[slartibartfast]

46 minutes ago, Always red said:

Knew Dave for past few years drinking in the Smyth Arms (The Ashton) before the game. Encyclopaedic knowledge of the City. In recent times during ill health he wrote a book which he called 'A love divine' and presented a few of us with it in a red lever arch folder. It contains his memories of being a City fan. Goes into 170 pages

RIP Dave (after quite along period of illness)

The lads from the pub.

I didn't know that, I bet it's a fasinating read .

[westonred]

Is that the Dave Garland who worked for Bristol Council ?

[slartibartfast]

3 minutes ago, westonred said:

Is that the Dave Garland who worked for Bristol Council ?

I believe so, rings a bell..................but we didn't talk much about work when we were "at church" !

[westonred]

1 minute ago, slartibartfast said:

I believe so, rings a bell..................but we didn't talk much about work when we were "at church" !

Yes it is the one i knew then  I went to a few meetings with him at BCC but spent most of the time talking about City (after the meetings of course) RIP Dave you were a top fella

[Sir Leigh of Somerset]

Was Dave any relation of Bob Garland who (i think) was involved with City way back?

[slartibartfast]

1 hour ago, Sir Leigh of Somerset said:

Was Dave any relation of Bob Garland who (i think) was involved with City way back?

I really couldn't say, of course he was always getting asked if he was any relation to Chris !

[Davefevs]

Didn’t know of Dave, but rip fellow red.

[Maesknoll]

I used to fish matches on the River Kenn at Clevedon with a City fan called Dave Garland, lost touch many years ago, possibly the same guy.  RIP Dave.

[slartibartfast]

1 hour ago, Maesknoll said:

I used to fish matches on the River Kenn at Clevedon with a City fan called Dave Garland, lost touch many years ago, possibly the same guy.  RIP Dave.

I think that would be him, yes .

[Maesknoll]

5 minutes ago, slartibartfast said:

I think that would be him, yes .

Thought so, I’m going back 30 or 40 years probably.

[Chessels Chick]

2 hours ago, Maesknoll said:

I used to fish matches on the River Kenn at Clevedon with a City fan called Dave Garland, lost touch many years ago, possibly the same guy.  RIP Dave.

Expect it was him - on the rare occasion he drove to away matches we had to share the car with his maggots

[The Happy Farmer]

 

I feel I have to post on hearing this very sad news about my good friend Dave. 

 

I first met Dave 29 years ago when he fished a lake on the farm. Dave was a keen angler, fishing the river Kenn and with Stoke Bishop Angling Club but first and foremost, Dave was a City fan. 

 

From the time he left school until 2020, some 50 years, Dave only missed three home games and went to numerous away games including City knocking the great Leeds Utd side of the 1970’s out of the FA Cup - in Dave’s opinion, our best result ever!

 

I have so many shared football memories with Dave: going away to Grimsby on Tuesday night - Aaron Brown scoring a late winner; going to Carlisle and witnessing Bradley Orr’s unintentional stroke of genius - his intended cross screaming into the top corner; Torquay away - sea fog meant we could only see half of the pitch and as Dave often told me, his happiest City memory was Tom Ritchie equalising for City against Rovers at Eastville when we knocked them out of the FA Cup in 1984!

 

Things Dave disliked:

No 1, Bristol Rovers Football Club - to quote Jonathan Pearce “pathological liars”;

“Tippy-tippy football”;

Any game not kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday.

 

Things Dave liked:

Centre forwards who could play with their back to goal - “John Galley is our King”;

Hard-tackling defenders and midfielders;

Managers, not coaches.

 

In my mind there’s one story that sums Dave up and that is he gave up his time freely to help in an old people’s home in Bristol but only on the condition that they stopped buying their milk from Dunfords Dairies!

 

Dave was the biggest Bristol City fan I ever met but I will miss him most because he was such a good mate.

 

[Davefevs]

@The Happy Farmer what lovely words.

[slartibartfast]

9 minutes ago, The Happy Farmer said:

 

 

I feel I have to post on hearing this very sad news about my good friend Dave. 

 

I first met Dave 29 years ago when he fished a lake on the farm. Dave was a keen angler, fishing the river Kenn and with Stoke Bishop Angling Club but first and foremost, Dave was a City fan. 

 

From the time he left school until 2020, some 50 years, Dave only missed three home games and went to numerous away games including City knocking the great Leeds Utd side of the 1970’s out of the FA Cup - in Dave’s opinion, our best result ever!

 

I have so many shared football memories with Dave: going away to Grimsby on Tuesday night - Aaron Brown scoring a late winner; going to Carlisle and witnessing Bradley Orr’s unintentional stroke of genius - his intended cross screaming into the top corner; Torquay away - sea fog meant we could only see half of the pitch and as Dave often told me, his happiest City memory was Tom Ritchie equalising for City against Rovers at Eastville when we knocked them out of the FA Cup in 1984!

 

Things Dave disliked:

No 1, Bristol Rovers Football Club - to quote Jonathan Pearce “pathological liars”;

“Tippy-tippy football”;

Any game not kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday.

 

Things Dave liked:

Centre forwards who could play with their back to goal - “John Galley is our King”;

Hard-tackling defenders and midfielders;

Managers, not coaches.

 

In my mind there’s one story that sums Dave up and that is he gave up his time freely to help in an old people’s home in Bristol but only on the condition that they stopped buying their milk from Dunfords Dairies!

 

Dave was the biggest Bristol City fan I ever met but I will miss him most because he was such a good mate.

 

Brilliant, but you missed out another major dislike/ hate.......................Yeovil Town !

[weepywall]

Didn't know Dave..may have known him by sight as our paths may have crossed over the last 50 odd years but sounds like the City family have lost a goodun...condolences to family and friends.

[Rickyrobin]

RIP Dave. 

[RoystonFoote'snephew]

So sad to lose another long loyal supporter. Heartfelt condolences to all family and friends. 

[Red Cyril 2]

RIP Dave fellow red

[Maesknoll]

4 hours ago, Chessels Chick said:

Expect it was him - on the rare occasion he drove to away matches we had to share the car with his maggots

IIRC at one time he had a mini, must have been a squeeze to get too many in there with the maggots……

[The Original OTIB]

4 hours ago, Chessels Chick said:

Expect it was him - on the rare occasion he drove to away matches we had to share the car with his maggots

That's no way to talk about Geoff and Nigel!

On 05/01/2025 at 07:29, GrahamC said:

Very said, would expect I knew him by sight if not in person.

RIP.

Hopefully someone will post a picture soon.

[slartibartfast]

17 minutes ago, The Original OTIB said:

That's no way to talk about Geoff and Nigel!

 

Oh, ha    ha !

[sglosbcfc]

RIP Dave, always sad when the club loses what sounds like one of their very best supporters. CTYD

[DT The Optimist]

I first met Dave G about 25 years ago…when the Ashton PH was called the Smyth Arms.  ( over the years had few names)

I used to meet family members and a friend  at this pub. (I still sit next to  this one friend today)  We got chatting to Dave before games and invariably  Dave G would join us at a table.  We would chat about the forth coming game and general  BCFC gossip.

I would not say he was a friend, who I knew really well, but obviously we had the shared common interest of BCFC, warts and all.

We nick named Dave ‘Mr Angry’ and I used to refer to Dave as Mr A. He laughed at that.  He got that nick name as a result of his dislike of Geoff Twentyman. Whenever I mentioned Twentystone on SOTC he would actually go red in the face and remind me of the time he saw Twentystone stamp on the great legend Superbob Taylor at a derby match here at the Gate.  He would not forgive poor old Geoff T for that and would never forgive him…. Dave G was totally committed to Bristol City and was a font of knowledge re players from the past…

Covid did it for Dave and I do not think he saw a game  live after the plague, although I stand to be corrected on that.  If we were on sky he would give it a miss as he much the preferred local  BBC radio over Sky TV. 
 

Dave's ST was in the middle block of the Dolman. Saw him a few times after he became ill and he maintained that passion for City.  
 

I have no doubt Dave G will still be around Ashton Gate,  RIP Mr Angry 
 

 

Edited January 7 by DT The Optimist

[slartibartfast]

6 hours ago, DT The Optimist said:

I first met Dave G about 25 years ago…when the Ashton PH was called the Smyth Arms.  ( over the years had few names)

I used to meet family members and a friend  at this pub. (I still sit next to  this one friend today)  We got chatting to Dave before games and invariably  Dave G would join us at a table.  We would chat about the forth coming game and general  BCFC gossip.

I would not say he was a friend, who I knew really well, but obviously we had the shared common interest of BCFC, warts and all.

We nick named Dave ‘Mr Angry’ and I used to refer to Dave as Mr A. He laughed at that.  He got that nick name as a result of his dislike of Geoff Twentyman. Whenever I mentioned Twentystone on SOTC he would actually go red in the face and remind me of the time he saw Twentystone stamp on the great legend Superbob Taylor at a derby match here at the Gate.  He would not forgive poor old Geoff T for that and would never forgive him…. Dave G was totally committed to Bristol City and was a font of knowledge re players from the past…

Covid did it for Dave and I do not think he saw a game  live after the plague, although I stand to be corrected on that.  If we were on sky he would give it a miss as he much the preferred local  BBC radio over Sky TV. 
 

Dave's ST was in the middle block of the Dolman. Saw him a few times after he became ill and he maintained that passion for City.  
 

I have no doubt Dave G will still be around Ashton Gate,  RIP Mr Angry 
 

 

Yes, I'd quite forgoten how the "mild mannered janitor" became a flaming torrent of Anglo- Saxon abuse with anything Cityesque that he didn't agree with !

[Julian Evans]

David was a cousin of mine he was a city fan from the start because our Gran lived next door to Don Clark’s mum and Brian Clark’s gran . I think they took him to his first game. I too traveled in the Mini (Hereford away in the FA Cup springs to mind) my Dad rebuilt it from a write off .. The one thing our Dave all ways had was an opinion, his other love was indeed fishing my elder brother took that up and joined him on the wind swept banks…

He fought hard in the last couple of years against his illness and was cared for lovingly by his wife Sandy…

We always had great times together over the years ..

will miss you coz ..

 

[The Original OTIB]

On 07/01/2025 at 10:53, Julian Evans said:

David was a cousin of mine he was a city fan from the start because our Gran lived next door to Don Clark’s mum and Brian Clark’s gran . I think they took him to his first game. I too traveled in the Mini (Hereford away in the FA Cup springs to mind) my Dad rebuilt it from a write off .. The one thing our Dave all ways had was an opinion, his other love was indeed fishing my elder brother took that up and joined him on the wind swept banks…

He fought hard in the last couple of years against his illness and was cared for lovingly by his wife Sandy…

We always had great times together over the years ..

will miss you coz ..

 

Be great if you could post a picture. Condolences to all the family.

[Always red]

Regarding Dave Garlands book, I'm exploring the possibility of getting it on some type of on line forum so fans can read it (with a request for a donation to the Hospice that looked after him) I'll keep OTIB updated

[DT The Optimist]

On 07/01/2025 at 10:53, Julian Evans said:

David was a cousin of mine he was a city fan from the start because our Gran lived next door to Don Clark’s mum and Brian Clark’s gran . 

 

He mentions this in his ‘book’ visiting this address and waiting  at the window for a sight of the man ! Not sure if you have a copy of this read , Which was presented to a few people at a breakfast meeting last summer. .   I would be pleased to give you the copy I have if your at next home game. In a red  binder A4 size.