Steve Smith: Poor starts proved costly for both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers in August 1980

Before this weekend's opening fixtures, the only time in Football League history that has placed Bristol Rovers at home to Leyton Orient and Bristol City away at Preston North End was on August 16, 1980, when both our local clubs were in Division Two (now the Championship). Sadly, it was a campaign that both sets of supporters will want to forget.

Pirates manager Terry Cooper was embarking on his first full season in charge, following his appointment in April 1980 but he faced an uphill battle in turning round a club that had been languishing in the bottom half of the table since their promotion in 1974.

The poor turn-out of 5,831 for the opening match of the season against Orient remained the highest attendance at Eastville until West Ham arrived in early November.

Little wonder that the average home gate of 5,929 placed them above Cambridge United and Shrewsbury Town as the third-lowest supported club in Division II.

The resulting 1-1 draw, achieved through a David Williams strike, got the ball rolling – but it was followed three days later with a 4-0 demolition at Queen's Park Rangers' Loftus Road. Playing for Rangers that night was young Gary Waddock, in only his second full season as a professional footballer. His experience in the game was well received in 1992 when he signed for Rovers in a £100,000 deal.

Nothing sets the expectation alight more than a good old Bristol derby and in August 1980 supporters camp were treated to an early-season encounter.

The build-up to this first meeting in the League since April 1976 put City only a fraction ahead, having already secured two valuable points in their first season out of the top flight in four years. As derby matches go this was no classic, in front of what would be City's highest gate of the season as 16,612 watched a disappointing 0-0 draw, the first in the League since February 1953 when 35,372 spectator witnessed Rovers edge ever more closer to promotion to Division 2.

In the Robins' opening match at Deepdale, City soon found to their cost that bouncing back to the big-time was no easy matter. All looked rosy just after the break when a long-range effort from Jimmy Mann put the visitors ahead, but it was cancelled out on the hour for what proved to be a fair point gained.

Another point was garnered when West Ham came to Ashton Gate the following Tuesday. But again City squandered a lead, as Tom Ritchie's goal on 15 minutes was levelled five minutes later by David Cross.

Ashton Gate would become a temporary home for Rovers for their next five matches, due to a serious fire destroying the South Stand at their Eastville Stadium 24 hours after the opening fixture.

So one week after the City match, Rovers faced Grimsby Town at 'home', gaining another point from a 2-2 draw, with former Robins utility man Donnie Gillies wearing the blue-and-white quarters.

Also returning to South Bristol was former City midfielder Mike Brolly, playing for the opposition.

Scoring for Rovers that afternoon was in-form Aiden McCaffrey, a £50,000 purchase from Derby County, who had already opened his Gas account in the 2-1 defeat at York City in the League Cup three days before. The other goal came from Grimsby's Kevin Moore, who put through his own net. Twelve years later he signed for the Pirates and managed one goal in his 11 league matches at Twerton Park.

Meanwhile, City took their unbeaten run of three league games to Watford, only to be completely outclassed by Graham's Taylor's ever-improving side, going down 1-0 late in the game.

Just like their neighbours, City were in free-fall as they went on to lose their next five league matches. Rovers recorded their first league win (one of only five) on November 4 by beating Watford 3-1.

With both Bristol clubs having scored just two league goals by the end of the first month of the season, there is little wonder both were relegated at the end of the campaign.

Bristol Rovers kicked off their first season in Division 2 on August 20, 1953 in dramatic fashion when they fought out a 4-4 draw at Fulham's Craven Cottage with Geoff Bradford firing in a hat-trick for the visitors, with Geoff Fox netting the other. Scoring for Fulham that afternoon was Johnny Haynes, Arthur Stevens and the late Bobby Robson firing in a brace before a crowd of around 25,000.