Dear Incider,
It was during the promotion season we finished second behind the Gas (I cant remember the date as I was usually cidered up and in a haze watching through one eye) Anyway, as usual 19 of us loyal to the Reds (and cider) were in The Robins by 11.30am with pockets bulging full of pound coins to get down to our Saturday game of cards. It was our last game of the season and Walsall were going to be put to the the sword.
Every thing about the day so far had been perfect. The sun was shining, spring was in the air and around the pub the atmosphere was jovial. Little did we know that in a few hours history was going to be rewritten.
After three hours, and six to eight Blackthorns later, it was time to change my winnings up into notes as I had won quite a considerable amount that day and would have needed legs like Stuart Pearce to carry that lot around with me. At ten to three (yes ten to - we used to get there just as the game began) we started to make our way to the ground - usually three steps forward, two sideways and one back. Our spiritual home then was the Enclosure, which was all standing in the lower part of the Williams Stand, or Grandstand as it was called then, towards the East End . I remember the crush barriers and steps with fond memories.
By the last game of the season, we were going up. I can't remember if we could catch the Gas or not. But it was a tight squeeze in there that day. The singing started straight away. Walsall did not stand a chance. If my memory serves me right, our first goal came from the penalty spot, Mark Gavin stepping up to take it. 1-0 to the red boys. The crowd, already loud, now went wild and screamed for more. It wasn't a long wait. Trevor Morgan, a bullet header from a corner. We were now in dreamland. 2-0.
It stayed at 2-0 until half-time. I was starting to be able to open my other eye and the swaying had stopped. Things were looking even better for the second half. The crowd was buzzing. We were going up, bring on West Ham, bring on Blackburn Rovers, Swindle Town , Leicester City and a few more. The second half started. We scored again. I cant remember how far into the second half this goal came, but I think it was in the last quarter. A few spectators ran onto the pitch hugging David Rennie, the scorer with a shot from range. It took a few minutes for the fans to clear the pitch. The stewards and police seemed very laid back that day. I think they could see it was just a day of celebration, no trouble.
Anyway, into the last ten minutes of the game people start climbing over the barriers onto the edge of the pitch in anticipation of the end of the game. Someone said to me: "Let's go for it". "Okay,” I replied. I then did something I have never done before or since - climbed over the barrier when the game was still in progress. We were at the back of what was a very large crowd on the edge of the pitch, so we found ourselves moving around the edge until we came to the goalpost to the right of the Walsall keeper at the East End . We were right on the edge of the playing surface now. It was about four people deep behind us. Phil (my mate) was right up against the goalpost.
There was about two minutes of the match remaining when Gary Shelton picked up the ball in midfield and cut inside, running towards goal. Everthing started to slow down. About twenty yards from goal he shot. At first we could not see the ball. There was a crowd of players in front off us. Then…there it was coming straight at us. It was missing. It was going wide by about a foot. At that moment Phil stuck his foot out and SCORED. I looked up. The ref could not possibly give it. Could he?!!!!
As they say, the rest is history. The ref gave the goal, we won 4-0 and were promoted in second place behind the Gas. But the history is incorrect. Until now, there have only been about ten of us who know that the fourth goal was scored by my mate Phil and not Shelts. One of those people is the Walsall keeper. He saw what happened and, fair play to him, did not utter a word.
Just one last thing. Did we party that night!
Andy Bevan (Cidercity)
Dear Incider,
The thing about football is.........
There can't be many activities that you go to see that make you come back again and again and again. Or make you send text messages, make phone calls or ping emails from wherever you may be in the world to find out how you're team has done/is doing. I can't see anyone doing this to find out how a tennis match has gone.
Once you've been, unless you have no soul you are hooked. It doesn't matter if you haven't been able to see your team for a while (work, or prison). They will always be your team. Funnily enough, all your friends will know this and you will always be identified with that team...go on, ask them.
I started in the 60's with a friend's dad taking us to see City vs Hull . I think it was 3-0 but it really doesn't matter. The heaving swaying crowd, the shouting, the cheering and above all the rattles! The 70's as an East End wannabe with the scarf on the wrist, the crombie (actually M&S, but whatever) with the red handkerchief in the top pocket. The mad Welsh geezer who would invariably shout "Panic Stations Charlton" or Fulham, or whoever, at every City corner. (We didn't score from corners then either). Watching from the Open End as the ball bounced over the keeper's head into the goal from Ray Cashleys' clearance. The noise Gerry Sharpe's leg made when it was broken against Middlesbrough (Craggs?) John Galley's volley against Orient and his header against Birmingham ; I can still hear the ball hitting the back of the net. Gerry Sweeney's goal at Sunderland in that promotion season remains the best goal I have ever seen 'live'.
Leeds United away and Don Gillies' goal (I was the fan on the pitch hugging him and Geoff Merrick and Keith Fear - amazing what six pints of Yorkshire bitter will make you do), and the fearful twatting I received from a steward when I got back to my seat, not to mention the clout I got from Gordon McQueen when I wandered down the tunnel after the game (don't ask). They knew how to treat errant fans in those days.
Dave Smith and Mark Gavin (now there was a player) creating havoc, and Robbie Turner taking out the Reading keeper throat-high (Steve D'eath?). Jacki - was he talented or what? Beating Chelsea (deservedly) and Turner again putting the fear of God into Beasant. Robbie taking Jacki out in the Chateau in Park Street (great combination). And Bob Taylor could not stop scoring goals, from everywhere.
Tinman's goal at Liverpool . Junior Bent's shooting. Scott's goal against Oldham - go on, have you ever seen a player run the WHOLE length of the pitch and score?
There are many more memories, but we all have them, don't we? Newcomers or seasoned veterans, it may not be this week or the next, and you may remember entire matches or just 10 seconds of one, but YOU WILL REMEMBER, because…
That's the thing about football.
Keep up the good work,
Barrie Morris
Dear Incider,
What a breath of fresh air seeing the old Wedlock full of atmosphere. With that low roof, the noise and singing of the few is more than the rest of the Gate. I for one will be in there now at every opertunity, as I'm sure that the new-found buzz will spread itself around the Gate before to long. To the club, I say: Well done! You have taken the step forword. Please don't walk back, as this is a very positive move in creating the type of atmosphere that we see in most other grounds. The noise we create should drown out the away fans, and as we are soon to play the top two I NEVER want to hear away fans sing: ”Shall we sing a song for you.”
D Charles, Exeter
Dear Incider,
Whilst every letter on this page is about how well the team is doing, what an amazing run we have had, predictions for the First Division etc, I thought that I would add a completely different view and point out how two-faced and fickle us fans really are…
What the hell am I going on about? Since the start of the season, the Bristol City faithful seem to have introduced some rules about players without telling anyone. For instance if Louis Carey plays a bad ball up the line looking for Goodfellow or Roberts then the fans (in the Atyeo, anyway) put their heads in their hands, followed by loud groans and shouts of “you're sh*t, Carey” and “Wilson, get him off”. If the same scenario happens on the left-hand side and Matt Hill plays a shocking ball up to Aaron, no-one bats an eyelid, not one moan or shout! Why is this? We all know Matt Hill's distribution is poor, so why do we accept bad passes from him when everyone gets on Louis' back if he does it once or twice?
Don't get me wrong, I am not against Matt Hill, I just think some work on his passing needs to be done. Other examples of these new rules are Joe Burnell and Tommy Doc. The Doc passes the ball back to Phillips/Coles etc and everyone says, “Well done Tommy, pat on the back.” If Joe Burnell does the same then he gets a completely different reaction: “You're crap, Burnell” or “Play the ball forward not backwards!”.
Swiftly moving on to Robbo and Aaron. Robbo tries to take a player on using his pace and skill, but gets caught out. Everyone (and I mean everyone) moans. Yet Aaron gets the ball, runs forward ten metres, stops and plays it back to Hill/Woody and everyone moans again because he hasn't tried to take on the defender! How hypocritical can we get?
Other examples : Coles – Butler , Wilkshire – Tins, Peacock - Miller
Surely its about time we got behind every player, or if we are going to moan about a player make sure it is for something that he has done badly, and not just because he isn't the fans' favourite. At the end of the day everyone connected with the club - the board, managers, players and of equal importance the fans - all want the same thing, and that is promotion come the end of the season. A way of helping achieve this is not be fickle, two-faced and knock the confidence out of the players with our little snipes, but to back the team fully and all celebrate come the end of this roller-coaster season.
Matt Phippen (Private Cider)
*Just for reference the dictionary definitions of fickle are as follows - Wavering; unsettled; unstable; inconsonant; unsteady; variable; mutable; changeful; shifting.
I think it sums up perfectly
Dear Incider,
Hello. Before you say anything, yes I am a Gashead. I was just wondering is there a date for Tinnion's testimonial yet? Fair play to the bloke for sticking with your lot through thick and thin and I can't help but appreciate the fact that he seems like a genuinely decent bloke.
Cheers,
Dave ( Mesa Boogie on the Rovers Forum)
Dear Incider,
Ooh, I just read something that you obviously see as funny in Bristol , but the RIP regarding Tony Pulis is a very large piss-take that will probably come and kick you in the arse very soon. Pulis has done a reasonable job at Stoke and may just get us into the promotion to the Premmie. Yes...the Premier League.
I would probably act like a prat too if I had to drive a tractor as a company car.
Marty and Trish (Kidsgrove Casuals 251's)
Australia
Dear Incider,
I stumbled across The Incider quite by chance, but was Lady Luck smiling that day! You produce a great fans site and it is now on my list of favourites. Keep up the good work
Dave
Dear Incider,
Unfortunately when I last wrote to you on the 23rd February following the Wrexham match I was in the grip of that well-known virus which you can catch at Ashton Gate from time to time recognised as 'excessive over optimism'.
On the back of the 11 match winning run we were all convinced that promotion was ours and, fuelled by the local Press and TV, all Bristol City had to do was continue to turn up at the remaining fixtures.
Since when I have dreaded the next issue of The Incider when my letter might appear and I will be revealed as yet another pillock who got carried away. Us regulars in the Williams Stand have tried to get to grips with the mystery of the Team's dramatic freefall into losing mode which must rank alongside the disappearance of Shergar and may yet surpass the Gas's late plunge from the top a few seasons ago.
My depression of these last few weeks has been lifted a little by the Board's brave (or foolish) funding of the re-purchase of Scott Murray plus the addition of Tony Rougier (very impressive for Brentford at the Gate) and Darren Caskey (talented but temperamental). The run-in to the end of the season will now have us all lining up in the local Health Centres for large supplies of tranquillisers every Monday and my hope of avoiding that dreaded visit to the Millenium Stadium is tottering on the brink.
Richard James
Nailsea (Suffering Ageing Red)
