Steve Smith: Bristol Rovers get off to a flyer while Bristol City struggle
But for the Robins, a winning start was forgotten by the end of the same period.
This flying start was totally unexpected for the Pirates as their manager of the last 18 months, Fred Ford, relinquished his post in order to take up a similar position at League Cup holders Swindon Town.
Stepping into the breach was Rovers' chief scout Bill Dodgin, the club's former wing-half from the mid-30s, who almost steered Southampton to the top-flight just after the war and was responsible for discovering Johnny Haynes whilst in the hot-seat at Fulham.
The season kicked-off on August 9 with Rovers securing their first ever point at Southport at the third time of asking with a 0-0 draw.
Making his debut between the posts at Haig Avenue was new signing Dick Sheppard, a local lad brought in on a free transfer from West Bromwich Albion. It was the first time Rovers had failed to score in an opening fixture since the 3-0 defeat at Ashton Gate on August 24, 1963.
From then on it was goals all the way, starting with a 3-3 draw at home to Barnsley before a crowd of just over 7,500, who were about to witness the goal-scoring prowess of £10,000 summer signing Robin Stubbs – the prolific Torquay frontman who had netted 119 goals in 219 League matches for the Gulls.
Ray Graydon and Bobby Jones found the back of the net to complete the scoring.
Rovers' best win of the campaign came in their second away match where Reading were thumped 5-1 at Elm Park, with Bobby Jones, Stubbs and Graydon finding the back of the net again – the latter bagging a brace. The other goal came via Colin Medrum putting through his own net.
Plymouth, fresh from their 2-1 local-derby match win at Torquay, faired no better when they arrived on August 27.
Stubbs and Jones again proved a handful as they claimed a goal apiece with wing-half Gordon Marsland, signed for £6,000 from Carlisle during the summer, scoring his only goal for the Pirates in a 3-1 victory.
The month of August ended on a high for the Gas with a 2-0 win over Halifax on August 31.
Watched by 11,768, Rovers took both points courtesy of a double-strike from Harold Jarman, one of which was from the spot.
The only black-spot in the month came with a first-round exit in the League Cup as Bournemouth ran out 3-0 winners at Dean Court.
Bristol City manager Alan Dicks had spent his summer shelling out £23,000 on two players – Dickie Rooks came down from Middlesbrough for £13,000 with just over 130 games behind him and was joined by defender Brian Drysdale, from Carlisle, who had played 170 matches for the Cumbrians.
A bumper crowd of 19,346 took advantage of the sunshine to see Watford dismissed at Ashton Gate thanks to a solitary John Galley effort. That, sadly, was as good as it got for the Robins at home or away as they suffered defeats for the remainder of the month.
Manager Dicks' tenure was seriously being questioned by the City faithful as a 2-0 defeat at Hull City on August 16 was followed one week later by a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Cardiff.
Next came a trip to south Yorkshire and high-flying Sheffield United, who had yet to concede a goal at Bramall Lane in their first two matches.
City did manage to put one past their former England international goalkeeper Alan Hodgkinson through a Trevor Tainton effort in the first half to make the score 2-1 but would later suffer a major defensive blow with the withdrawal of Geoff Merrick with a dislocated elbow.
The month ended with a journey to west Yorkshire on August 30 to face eventual Division Two champions Huddersfield Town. The Terriers, with their inspirational Frank Worthington conducting matters in midfield, made light work of City and thumped them 3-0.
For the third time in the last four seasons, City had recorded four league defeats on the bounce in August.
The only comfort came by way of their 3-2 League Cup first-round replay win over Division Four strugglers Exeter City on August 19 thanks to a goal apiece from Bobby Kellard, Gerry Sharpe and Rooks.
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