Steve Smith: In November 1981, Bristol Rovers were in the third tier of English football for the first time in seven years and were steadily adapting to life under new manager Bobby Gould.

With a squad that was primarily assembled by former boss Terry Cooper, Gould began to bring stability to the side and the Pirates picked up three valuable points from the visit of Newport County.

Rovers favourite Martyn Thomas returned to replace Phil Kite in goal for the midweek fixture on November 3, 1981 and Paul Randall and David Williams netted in a 2-0 victory.

Gillingham were then no match for the Gas as Randall was joined on the scoresheet by local lad Keith Curle, the 17-year-old defender who scored on his debut on the opening day of the season.

Rovers then faced a tricky trip to Millwall, who in their previous match at The Den had dismissed Bristol City 2-0.

Gould named an unchanged side for the match, which ended in a goalless draw.

The Lions line-up included former Bolton and Sunderland defender Sam Allardyce at the heart of the defence and lively 19-year-old Dean Horrix up front.

Horrix died in a car accident in March 1990 after making just three appearances for Bristol City following a £50,000 move from the London club.

On November 28, the Gas faced Walsall at Fellows Park for the first time in eight years.

Michael Barrett returned to the side at the expense of Curle, but his first-half goal was not enough as the Saddlers triumphed 2-1.

Meanwhile, the dark clouds of financial instability were gathering at Ashton Gate as Bristol City, managed by Bob Houghton, began life back in Division Three for the first time since the mid- 1960s.

The void left by Crystal Palace-bound Kevin Mabbutt was filled by Mick Harford, a £16,000 purchase from Newcastle United.

City started the month with an trip to Millwall, but went down 2-0 at The Den with defender Terry Boyle scoring an own goal.

A small piece of history was made with the trip to Brentford on November 7 when Harford's late header gave the Robins victory.

For Trevor Tainton, Jimmy Mann, Peter Aitken and David Rodgers it would be the last time they would taste victory in City colours, for they would later be joined by Geoff Merrick, Gerry Sweeney, Julian Marshall and Chris Garland – the Ashton Gate Eight – in tearing up their contracts to enable the club to stay in business.

The two home matches that followed both ended in defeat, beginning with Southend's 2-0 win in front of 6,381 supporters to notch up their first win in the League at Ashton Gate for 30 years.

Burnley's visit finished off the month as Garland and Mann scored their last goals for the club as the Robins lost 3-2 – the Clarets snatching a last-minute winner from the spot.

Rovers ended the 1981-82 season in 15th place in Division Three, while City became the first club to be relegated from DivisionOne to Division Four in successive seasons.