Bristol football fans need to stop moaning

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Monday, October 26, 2009
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This is Bristol

Why is it that this great adopted city of mine is polluted with groups of different people who spend their lives protesting and moaning about progress, thereby stopping the city of Bristol becoming one of the top cities in the UK.

When my club Bristol Rovers tried for a new stadium, I went to look at the plans.

I was so excited to be getting away from houses and I wouldn't have to upset people with parking. But no, the begrudgers won the day.

They haven't gone away. I say this with every hope that Bristol City FC fight with everything they have.

Why wouldn't you sell to Tesco, and go and build a new stadium fit for the Premiership? Because that's the only way you are going to go.

I would wish my club was in the same position, but our team at the Mem are doing a fine job. Mr Trollope is a wonderful manager, as is Mr Johnson at Bristol City.

When me and my late wife Phillomena arrived in the 1962-63 football season, I went to both Rovers and City matches every week. Like most Irish people, we love our sport.

When Bristol City got into the old First Division, out one Saturday night with friends, right in the pub with City and Rovers fans, she said "Close your eyes". She handed me a season ticket for the Dolman Stand and did so for the next few years.

I still watched my boys in blue. I got some stick from Rovers' fans. And the City fans couldn't figure me out either.

Bristol City had a great team back then. But with a good football chairman and manager they need the fans of Bristol City to do a lot more to get a new stadium.

Don't let a handful of no-hopers stop your progress. You fans owe it to your club, you owe it to the next generation to build for a new home.

I haven't got a laptop or computer etc, but thousands of City fans have. Stop sending out silly messages to your friends and have a big say in the future of your club.

Remember 1982? I do well. Bristol City nearly went out of business. Eight good players had to rip up their contracts.

That great City player, Geoff Merrick, one of my favourites who came to Bristol Rovers, was greeted like a lost son.

I was sitting in the Dolman Stand. Merrick kicked the ball, it took off and went for the top corner. But the goalkeeper jumped up with our hand, pulled the ball out of the air. That man was the great Pat Jennings. I've supported Arsenal since 1952.

I, like all people in Bristol, want the Premiership here, but the stay at home supporters aren't doing their club any favours. City gates should be 20,000 every home game.

I have spoken to many City fans and they amaze me. The chairman, they tell me, is one of the richest chairmen about, meaning he should go and give his hard earned money to the club.

I'm lost for words when I hear things like that. These fans have been telling me for the past 47 years, "We are the big club" but what are they going to do about their new home? Moan about how rich the chairman is and let him put his money in?

I am a Gashead at heart, my first love. When I went to my first game at Eastville, when Rovers was awarded a corner, the ball came into the penalty area, one head popped up, the ball flew into the net, the player known as the Baron of Eastville – my all time favourite, the wonderful and great Mr Alfie Biggs.

J Murphy St George

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3 Comments

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by JC, Bath

    Monday, November 02 2009, 9:08PM

    “And if there is safe and convenient parking well away from residential areas, the Council idiots slap yellow lines everywhere as near Ashton Gate.”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by Andy P, Brisbane, Australia

    Sunday, November 01 2009, 10:33PM

    “I have to agree with CAS. My daughter lives opposite the mem even though she's City through and through. It was always a pain to visit on a match night - impossible really.
    I have left me beloved BCFC behind and moved to the sunnier climes of Brisbane, Australia. In doing so I now regularly attend matches here in Queensland.
    Now Australia is huge and they can afford the parking next to huge stadia but they actually encourage supportes to leave their cars at home by having public transport included in the ticket. That means you can travel by bus, train and even ferry for free to every sporting event from tennis, cricket, rugby league, union, AFL and the proper game of football.
    Can you imagine the relative agencies doing this in Bristol. No? Nor can I.
    I must mention this is not small fry. Brisbane Sun Corp stadium is a fantastic proper rectnagular football ground holding 55,000, the Gabba holds 39,000. So people movement is a major issue and they do it well.
    Not only here but in Sydney. I recently attended a final with 80,000 and had free rail travel to and from Olympic Park included with the ticket as did the majority of the people there.
    There are solutions Bristol. It just needs the willingness and effort (with quite a bit of politicking) to sort it out.
    As for the cost? Well the cost to road traffic chaos would bring many of theses areas to gridlock affecting business and emergency services, so that's where the cost is recovered.”

  • Profile image for This is Bristol

    by CAS, Horfield

    Wednesday, October 28 2009, 12:53PM

    “I read this letter with interest and completely agree with the stadium comment, begrudgers won the day. I live on the opposite side of the Memorial ground (Churchways) and have to say I was appalled at the parking for last night¿s game. Around 20:20 a bus was stuck, through no fault of its own, just bad inconsiderate parking, my drive and many neighbours drives were blocked by parked cars, I even have a vehicle on my drive, which was obviously ignored. The ignorance of these people never ceases to amaze me and as for the police, where are they; they soon enough give parking tickets in the daylight! A member of my family is gravely ill and I am expecting to be called to the hospital at any time, my drive is blocked how can I get there? I am told there will be another big game in two weeks; will we have the same fiasco then as well? You may say, don¿t live near a stadium, I moved here when it was Bristol Rugby, it was fine, no problems at all, I certainly would not have moved here knowing Rovers are at the ground. This behaviour gives the club a bad name, why don't club committee members police the streets take registration numbers and penalize club members, maybe then we would all get on a lot better. Extremely upset from Horfield.”

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