2021 7th August - Bristol City v Blackpool Championship

ROB NS 2 0 2 1 / 2 2 O F F I C I A L B R I S T O L C I T Y D I G I TA L M AT C H DAY P R O G R A M M E

TERRY COOPER 1944-2021

v

BLACKPOOL

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP ASHTON GATE | SAT AUG 07 | 3PM

P RI NCI PA L PA RT NER

M ATC H S PONS OR

ROBINS IN

FOCUS

23 TAYLOR MOORE

AGE: 24 POSITION: Centre-back JOINED: August 2016

DID YOU KNOW? The centre-back spent the second half of the 2019/20 season on loan with the Tangerines, making nine appearances in total between February and March. The campaign would be cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and he made his final appearance for Blackpool against Tranmere Rovers. The Walthamstowborn defender, who played his youth football in France, scored his first and currently only goal for City, in a raindrenched 3-3 draw away at Preston North End in September 2019.

T H E R O B N S Blackpool | 3

THE GAFFER

NIGEL PEARSON 4 | T H E R O B N S Blackpool

I

t really is a great honour to be here today, at the start of a new season with supporters back to fill Ashton Gate. It’s a return to relative normality, it’s good to have that matchday feeling back and it’s been a very long time coming.

the season against Blackpool. We all know how much the club and the fanbase mean to each other, you have been sorely missed and we’re all looking forward to hearing you in full voice over the next 10 months.

I am proud to say every member of the squad will be taking the knee ahead of each kick-off this season. They will form a tight group around the centre circle in a show of solidarity against all forms of discrimination. This YOU HAVE BEEN was a conscious decision led by the SORELY MISSED players and myself AND WE’RE and the staff rightly support their efforts.

ALL LOOKING

I want everybody to connect and create a positive atmosphere as we aim to start the season positively and build off the back of what has been a very good pre-season.

The players responded to the demands and expectations really well and we saw improved fitness levels over the course of pre-season. These were important training sessions with a competitive edge, and I thought the players gave good accounts of themselves in different scenarios.

FORWARD TO HEARING YOU IN FULL VOICE OVER THE NEXT TEN MONTHS

I was deeply saddened by the news of Terry Cooper’s passing last weekend and it is right that we show our respects to a man who did so much for this football club, so please join us in a minute’s applause ahead of kick-off. I’m sure it will be an emotional moment that will reflect the fanbases’ connection to Terry and our thoughts are with his family and friends.

Thank you for your support last weekend and thank you again if you are here for the opening match of

It’s a long journey ahead starting against a Blackpool team who put together a strong run of results to earn promotion from League One. Neil Critchley and his staff did magnificently, especially as that was Neil’s first full season as manager there, and I expect a difficult opening game.

However, I know what this squad is capable of, we know the levels the players are at and I expect us to meet the challenges and demands head on. Let’s make it a good one.

Cheers, Nige

T H E R O B N S Blackpool | 5

HERE’S A ST AT I BET YOU DIDN’T KN W

OVER HALF A MILLION SKY BET CUSTOMERS USE DEPOSIT LIMITS TO MANAGE THEIR BETTING BUDGET. THAT’S ENOUGH TO FILL: 6 WEMBLEYS. 201 ALLY PALLYS. OR 8 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP DAYS. (THAT’S A LOT OF TWEED)

ALL GOOD BOOKMAKERS HAVE DEPOSIT LIMITS. SO WHOEVER YOU BET WITH, SET AN APPROPRIATE ONE FOR YOU AND THEN ENJOY THE SPORT. DEPOSIT LIMITS

THAT’S BETTING BETTER.

BLACKPOOL CLUB FACTS

FORMED

1887 GROUND

BLOOMFIELD ROAD MANAGER

NEIL CRITCHLEY

Newly-promoted Blackpool are in BS3 to kickstart their campaign back in the Championship. The League One play-off winners were in fine form in the latter half of last season, losing only twice from mid-February, and they look to pick up where they left off on the back of their promotion wave…

NICKNAME

THE SEASIDERS, THE TANGERINES HONOURS

1

2

1

Highest league finish: Runners-up, 1955/56 FA Cup winners: 1952/53 Football League Trophy winners: 2001/02, 2003/04 Anglo-Italian Cup: 1971 Second tier title winners: 1929/30 Second tier play-off winners: 2009/10 Third tier play-off winners: 2006/07, 2020/21 Fourth tier play-off winners: 1991/1992, 2000/01, 2016/17

8 | T H E R O B N S Blackpool

Blackpool celebrate winning promotion at Wembley in May

V HEAD TO HEAD

95

Today’s fixture is the first between the two teams since March 2nd 2013. It was a goalless draw in the Championship, chiefly remembered for Tom Heaton’s superb save to deny a header from Kirk Broadfoot. The result kept City two points from safety at the time, but the campaign would ultimately end in relegation.

GOALS SCORED

11 TOP SCORER NAKHI WELLS

POSSESSION

47.3

%

PASSING PERCENTAGE

70.5

%

CHAMPIONSHIP

TACKLE SUCCESS

61.2

%

LEAGUE ONE

AVERAGE AERIAL DUELS WON

24.4

WIN RATE

Worst defeat: 1-7, October 1929 Last City win: September 2009

D 27

2020/21 IN NUMBERS

19TH

R5 54

38%

Best victory: 5-0, December 1903

POSITION

GOALS CONCEDED

L 32

W 36

MATCHES PLAYED

LEAGUE

57 73

CITY v BLACKPOOL

YELLOW CARDS

R3

3

RED CARDS

6

MOST ASSISTS ANTOINE SEMENYO

6.95 BEST AVERAGE RATING (OPTA) TOMAS KALAS

74

42

POSITION

GOALS CONCEDED

R4

GOALS SCORED

67

YELLOW CARDS

23 BEST AVERAGE RATING (OPTA) DANNY BALLARD

R1

4

RED CARDS

10

MOST ASSISTS SULLAY KAIKAI

TOP SCORER JERRY YATES

7.21

3RD

PLAY-OFF WINNERS

POSSESSION

49.5% PASSING PERCENTAGE

71.3% TACKLE SUCCESS

75.5% AVERAGE AERIAL DUELS WON

24

T H E R O B N S Blackpool | 9

BLACKPOOL KEY PLAYER

JERRY YATES Last season was Yates’ first for the Tangerines after completing a switch from Rotherham United. He ended the campaign as top goalscorer with 23 goals in all competitions, despite a slow start without finding the back of the net in his first 11 appearances. The 24-yearold Doncaster-born forward has not previously played at Championship level, after loan spells with Swindon Town (where he scored 14 goals from 36 appearances in 2019/20), Carlisle United and Harrogate Town in past seasons.

10 | T H E R O B N S Blackpool

T

DID YOU KNOW?

Whilst a Blackpool player, Sir Stanley Matthews – hero of the 1953 FA Cup final win over Bolton Wanderers – was the inaugural winner of the Ballon d’Or in 1956.

HE TANGERINES ARE BACK IN THE SECOND TIER FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEIR RELEGATION IN 2015.

IN THAT TIME, THEY’VE SPENT ALL BUT ONE SEASON IN LEAGUE ONE, BOUNCING STRAIGHT BACK UP FROM A DROP INTO LEAGUE TWO IN 2016.

The 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns saw Blackpool finish around the midtable mark, but fine form – with a nine-game winning run amid a 16-game unbeaten streak – helped them to a third-placed finish last term and a play-off spot at long last.

A top six finish was secured on the final day of the season in a 1-0 win over Bristol Rovers, which was a fourth consecutive clean sheet as well.

The Seasiders met Oxford United in the semi-final, who they beat 6-3 on aggregate, winning 3-0 at home before a 3-3 draw in which former City striker Matty Taylor, as well as Nigel Pearson’s new signing Rob Atkinson, scored for the U’s. But Blackpool earned their place at Wembley where a brace from Kenny Dougall secured a 2-1 win over Lincoln City, as they overcame an opening-minute setback.

It was the perfect conclusion to Neil Critchley's first full season in charge at Bloomfield Road, the former Liverpool Under-23s boss having taken over from Simon Grayson in March 2020.

The summer transfer window has welcomed eight new players to Bloomfield Road including Josh Bowler (Everton), Oliver Casey (Leeds United) and veteran defender Richard Keogh (Huddersfield Town) as well as left-back Reece James, the brother of City’s own Matty James.

Winger Sullay Kaikai has been among the outgoings, moving to Wycombe Wanderers, while goalscorer Ellis Simms has returned to parent club Everton though 20 -year-old Arsenal forward Tyreece John-Jules has come in on loan.

The Seasiders ended their pre-season schedule with a behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester City on Wednesday.

4 New arrival: Former Robins defender Richard Keogh

T H E R O B N S Blackpool | 11

THANK YOU TO OUR

PARTNERS PRINCIPAL

ELITE

SUPPORTING

SEASON PREVIEW New signing Rob Atkinson has impressed in League One with Oxford United

IT’S THE BEGINNING OF A NEW CHAPTER AS THE CLUB SITS ON THE CUSP OF THE 2021/22 SEASON...

ROBINS REBUILD

N

igel Pearson takes charge of the team having agreed a three-year deal in the summer, the players and staff have settled into life at the Robins High Performance Centre and there’s a sense of optimism and new opportunity as the club rebuilds.

Pearson has tapped into his Leicester City past with the arrivals of Premier League winners Matty James and Andy King as well as Head of Medical Performance Dave Rennie, while Rob Atkinson joined from Oxford United with the defender impressing in the lower league of English football.

Several players would depart but the Robins secured new deals for Danny Simpson, Andreas Weimann and Nathan

14 | T H E R O B N S Blackpool

Baker – all ensure experience is retained within the club and the trio will be pushing themselves to avoid the injuries of last term.

Rennie’s task of improving the fitness of players has already come to the fore, with the players put through their paces (and then some) during pre-season.

It was evident in the friendly matches, notably City’s ability to fight back in the 3-3 draw with Portsmouth, and the valiant efforts of the second half against Aston Villa, for example.

Half of those pre-season encounters showed off the HPC in all its glory too. The players and staff have settled into their new surroundings, particularly in pre-season, with ease and much has already been written about

2021/22 ARRIVALS Matty James (free agent) Andy King (free agent) Rob Atkinson (Oxford Utd) Andi Weimann, Nathan Baker and Danny Simpson signed new contracts

its first-class facilities, providing the foundations for the club to rise to the next level.

There is little to be read into friendly results but the defeat to Villa showed there is always work to be done and, despite the scoreline, there were plenty of positives at the end of a good pre-season. Certainly, Pearson was encouraged by what he has seen from the group and after arriving in February he will be keen to see his philosophy begin to rub off.

Premier pedigree: Andy King and Danny Simpson – bottom right – were members of Leicester City's 2015/16 Premier League winning squad.

Top right: Head of Medical Performance David Rennie with Matty James.

Then there is the influence of supporters with last season and the 2019/20 Project Restart played behind closed doors.

The passion and the energy which comes from fans inside the stadium has truly been missed and it’s going to be quite the occasion when Saturday comes.

Various reports suggested a lack of supporters impacted ‘home advantage’ and a drop in the quality of football played across the game, so there’s excitement to be had in terms of how the Robins can bounce back after last season when supporters return for good.

After more than 7,000 of you attended last weekend’s friendly, thousands more will pack BS3 for Saturday’s curtain

raiser against newly-promoted Blackpool. They are joined by Hull City and Peterborough from League One, while coming down from the Premier League are Fulham, West Brom and Sheffield United.

As Pearson has explained post-Villa, the aim is to start the season positively. Then the task is about maintaining the levels and expectation as well hurdling the challenges which the Championship throws up.

Avoiding the first-team injuries of last term will be key, though the ability of the younger players to step up was pleasing to watch and expect to see some of them get their chance again.

But the players look fit, robust and their important pre-season efforts could go a long way… may the hard work continue!

T H E R O B N S Blackpool | 15

PLAYER INTERVIEW

THIS CHAMPIONSHIP OPENER IS A BIGGER OCCASION THAN USUAL FOR THE JAMES FAMILY AS BROTHERS MATTY AND REECE GO HEAD-TO-HEAD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR CAREERS…

BROTHERLY

LOVE

M

atty James couldn’t quite believe it when he saw the fixture list revealed at 9am on Thursday, June 25th, pitting the Robins up against Blackpool on the opening day of the 2021/22 campaign.

The midfielder had only signed for City two days earlier, while his brother Reece had become a Tangerine player only a few weeks prior.

It has made the build-up to the match even more personal and

18 | T H E R O B N S Blackpool

exciting as James prepares to make his potential City debut in front of an Ashton Gate crowd.

The James family are also set to be in the stands on what will be a rather emotional day in BS3.

“I thought it was a joke when I saw the fixture list come out,” James told T H E R O B N S .

"We’ve never played against each other before so it will be emotional but exciting. It’s a home game at Ashton Gate so I’m excited to see fans back and hopefully we can get off to a good start with three points before a long season ahead.

“We’ll have a lot of family there: Mum, Dad, my wife’s side, Reece’s wife’s side…so a lot of people!

It’s a big occasion for the James family but at the same time it’s a game of football and there’s a job to be done from both myself and Reece. When the game starts it will be business as usual but we are looking forward to it and it will be a good day.

“We’ve chatted a bit, no details about tactics or players because that would be unprofessional, but we’ve spoken about how we’ve settled in at our respective clubs. We speak every day, we’re extremely close and that will 4

Words James Crawley

T H E R O B N S Blackpool | 19

WHEN HE ARRIVES, WE’LL WISH EACH OTHER THE BEST, BUT THEN I’LL TELL HIM TO STAY AWAY FROM ME! 4continue ahead of kick-off. I’ll see him when he arrives, show him where his family are sitting and we’ll wish each other the best, but then I’ll tell him to stay away from me!”

James is reunited with Nigel Pearson and Dave Rennie – he worked alongside both at Leicester City – having arrived as a free agent in the summer.

James explained both have been good for him adding: “They know my background, what makes me tick and I’ve enjoyed every minute working with them.

“It’s been a really good pre-season with them, I’m in a new team, it’s a new chapter, a fresh start and I’m looking forward to the game starting now.”

The curtain raiser – with fans back to watch 20 | T H E R O B N S Blackpool

competitive action for the first time since March 2020 – comes off the back of a hard-going yet successful pre-season for the Robins, who were put through their paces at the Robins High Performance Centre as well as Loughborough University.

James said: “I’ve done a few pre-seasons so you get fewer butterflies, you get used to what it’s about. There’s still the feeling of dread, in terms of have I done enough and wondering where you’re going to be in the pecking order, but it’s more can you come through it unscathed?

“The demands are put on you straight away and the staff are there to make sure you stay injury-free during that process. It has been really tough but there was a shift in players, in

CAREER HIGHS FEB 2009

Scores inside ten minutes on his professional debut for Preston North End (loan) versus Sheffield United SEP-OCT 2009

Plays for England at the Under-20s World Cup MAY 2014

Promoted with Leicester City who are crowned the 2013/14 Championship winners and named Young Player Of The Year

MAY 2021

Scored and twice assisted in a 6-1 win for Coventry v Millwall, the joint biggest team victory of his career

PLAYER PROFILE

6

SQUAD NUMBER

DOB: 22.07.1991 Birthplace: Bacup Position: Midfielder Joined: Free agent, 23.06.2021

2020/21 STATS APPEARANCES

GOALS

MINUTES PLAYED

ASSISTS

39

management and I think the manager wanted to set his intentions from day one.

“We’ve seen the intensity he wants us to train and play at, so I feel really good and excited for the future.

“It’s an amazing feeling to have signed for Bristol City and I can’t wait to play in front of our fans. Everyone has been through a tough period, in life not just football but the game hasn’t been the same without fans, and it felt like training games in a stadium at times.

Above Reece James – younger brother of new City signing Matty – in action for Doncaster Rovers Above left Matty in action during his home City debut in the pre-season friendly versus Aston VIlla Below right Playing for Leicester City under Nigel Pearson against Everton in February 2015

2,781

3 3

CAREER PATH

2007-2012 Youth

2010, 2010-11 Loan

2012-21 Transfer

2017, 2020-21 Loan

2021 Loan

2021-present Transfer

“You can create your own adrenaline but there’s no feeling of the fans being right behind you when you’re 1-0 up, or the same process if you’re 1-0 down and the fans push you on to get a draw or the win. I’m really excited to play in front of them and to get the season underway!”

T H E R O B N S Blackpool | 21

Kickstart your day

Your local dairy fuelling bristol sport yeovalley.co.uk

1894 CITY 1894 CITY 1894 CITY 1894 CITY 1894 CITY 1894 CITY 1894 FRI AUG 20 7.45PM KO CITY 1894

TICKETS ON SALE NOW | BCFC.CO.UK/TICKETS

4 Y 4 Y 4 Y 4 Y 4 Y 4 Y 4 Y 4

E R E H T IS R E T T E AB O T Y A W R U O Y BUY ?

R A C NE X T O O Z A C YEAH!

Buy or finance a car online and we’ll deliver it to your door with a 7-Day Money Back Guarantee.

1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 HALL OF 1894 FAME 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 CITY ARCHIVES

NEW SERIES WITH MIKE ADAMS

B

ristol City’s Hall of Fame was inaugurated in 2011 by the Supporters Club & Trust. Two players were installed initially – BILLY WEDLOCK (1905-21) and JOHN ATYEO (1951-66), both pictured.

The others were elected by the fans, creating one player for each position:

The second group was elected in 2014 by the era in which they played:

A third group, added in 2017, honours CIty's promotion to the top-flight in 1976:

H Louis Carey H Mike Gibson H Gerry Gow H Bobby Kellard H Scott Murray H Gerry Sweeney H Bob Taylor H Mike Thresher H Brian Tinnion H Alan Dicks* H Harry Dolman*

H Mickey Bell H Jack Boxley H Tommy Doherty H Alec Eisenträger H Geoff Merrick H Rob Newman H Tom Ritchie H Trevor Tainton H Alan Walsh

H Ray Cashley H Paul Cheesley H Gary Collier H Brian Drysdale H John Emanuel H Keith Fear H Donnie Gillies H Jimmy Mann H Clive Whitehead

* Alan Dicks was manager of the 1975/76 promotion team; Harry Dolman was chairman between 1949-74 and president 1974-77 Each of the above players will receive due recognition in this column and a fourth group will be inducted during this season.

Roger Lucy – pictured with granddaughter Jessica, aged nine – was a loyal City supporter for 65 years, who sadly lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in January 2021, aged 75. His son Tim said: “Roger grew up in Knowle and first visited Ashton Gate aged ten. A memorable game was the top-of-the-table Division Two clash away at Wolves on 27th December 1965 when he took

26 | T H E R O B N S Blackpool

his future wife Jane to her first City game. Roger was a keen amateur footballer. He played for his school – Bristol Grammar – and then Knowle Methodist Youth Club, Hengrove Athletic and Roman Glass. He chose The Wurzels' One For the Bristol City to be played at his funeral.” Tim has followed in his father’s footsteps and is today bringing his seven-year-old son Noah to his first game.

4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 TERRY 1894 189 4 1894 1894 COOPER 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 OBITUARY

1944-2021

B

ristol City was devastated to learn the passing of former player and manager Terry Cooper, whose death was confirmed a week ago.

Cooper played for the club over two spells between 1978-1980 and 1982-1984, before the former England and Leeds United full-back ended his playing career at Ashton Gate.

He managed the Robins during its fight back from near extinction in 1982 and therefore played a vital role in helping the club progress to where it is today.

In 1986 he led his City team to Wembley for the very first time where Cooper oversaw a Freight Rover Trophy win over Bolton thanks to goals from Glyn Riley (2) and Howard Pritchard. Click the button on this page to watch Cooper’s memorable post-match interview.

Cooper left the club in 1988, continuing his managerial career at Exeter City and Birmingham City. He had previously managed at Bristol Rovers prior to his appointment at City.

As a player, Cooper also represented Bristol Rovers, Leeds United, Middlesbrough and Doncaster Rovers.

Finest hour: Cooper is held aloft by Brian Williams and Rob Newman at Wembley in 1986

Our thoughts remain with Terry’s family and friends at this difficult time. Please join us for a minute’s applause ahead of kick-off today as we pay our respects.

T H E R O B N S Blackpool | 27

1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 CITY IN CARTOONS 1894 1894 1894 1894 1 1 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 Cartoons, particularly in the inter-war period and thereafter until the end of the 1964/65 season, were a prominent part of the sports coverage in the Bristol newspapers.

In this new series by club historian David Woods it is hoped to show part of this extensive output while adding information regarding the applicable match.

28 | T H E R O B N S Blackpool

Saturday, January 24th 1959 FA Cup fourth round

A

s Blackpool are our visitors, it seems appropriate to start off with this Bob Bennett carton from the Bristol Evening Post two days after the match when City’s biggest post-war crowd of 42,594 (receipts £5,569.15s.6d.) were treated to what was described at the time as the best post-war FA Cup match seen at Ashton Gate.

City, in the unfamiliar blue of Cardiff, gave Blackpool a torrid afternoon.

Wally Hinshelwood outshone the

great Stanley Matthews – kept quiet

by Mike Thresher – and it was his short corner that lead to Bert Tindill firing City in front after 17 minutes.

Unfortunately, nine minutes into the second-half Ray Charnley forced in Blackpool’s equaliser and despite City’s best endeavours they managed to hang on for a replay, which the Seasiders won 1-0 in front of a 25,933-strong crowd at a foggy Bloomfield Road four days later.

City: Cook; Hopkinson, Thresher; McCall, Alan Williams, Burden; Hinshelwood, Tindill, Atyeo, Etheridge, Watkins.

Blackpool: Farm; Armfield, Wright; Hauser, Gratrix, Kelly; Matthews, Mudie, Charnley, Durie, Perry.

Referee: Ken Aston (Ilford).

4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 YOU 1894 1894 189 CAN 1894 1894 189 4 1894 QUOTE ME ON 1894 1894 189 4 1894 THAT 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 4 1894 1894 1894 189 A NEW SERIES BY STEVE SMITH LOOKING BACK AT THE BRISTOL CITY ARCHIVES IN PRINT

I

n today's multimedia world, the thoughts and opinions of our football heroes can be viewed 24/7 across a wide range of devices and platforms. So, let me take you back to a time when their views could only be found in weekly or monthly magazines and annuals.

While you have been topping up your tan this summer, I’ve been having a good rummage through several stacks of these publications to rediscover what the likes of Alan Dicks, Geoff Merrick and John Atyeo were up to. There is even an article from our first legend, Billy Wedlock.

Moreover, as I trawled through these dusty, dog-eared pages it became all too clear that our status in the Football League would have had to be up towards the higher echelons – or indeed be on the back of a good FA Cup run – to merit more

comprehensive coverage in a national publication. From our 1954/55 Division Three (South) title-winning campaign there are countless images of Atyeo, Jackie White, Cyril Williams, Jimmy Rogers and Bob Anderson. There is even a word from the former no-nonsense Arsenal defender Wilf Copping, who was the club’s trainer at the time. This theme was replicated when promotion to the second tier was achieved again in the mid-1960s.

On the other hand, it’s not just the spoken word that I found, as front-page action and a copious amount of black-and-white images are dotted throughout the weeklies, not to mention splendid colour team photographs, especially amongst the pages of the Football League Review.

However, my aim is to expand a little and take in what our idols were doing before and

after their time here at Ashton Gate. East End favourite Chris Garland, for example, had a good spell at Chelsea following his £100,000 move from Ashton Gate in September 1971 and was regularly featured in GOAL magazine, as were Joe Royle, Peter Cormack and Norman Hunter, who all came to us during our top-flight days from well established clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool and Leeds United.

Besides the interviews of individuals, there are also many club histories dotted around these publications, where views are aired from those in charge. Good examples of these come from Football Monthly during the 1970s and the much-loved Football League Review.

The next issue will feature the thoughts of the Robins’ first superstar, Billy Wedlock…and you can quote me on that.

T H E R O B N S Blackpool | 29

Giving Football Back to Small Business At eBay, we know small business and football clubs used to be like chips and gravy, two peas in a pod – a match made in community heaven.

Ironmongers, ship workers, spring makers and cobblers, all formed clubs which decades later are still prospering.

But nowadays, you’d think it was all eyewatering transfers, Super Leagues and mega sponsors, detached from the humble origins of our historic clubs.

That’s why eBay are proud to support 300,000 small businesses who help power EFL clubs nationwide. We’ll be donating our advertising space to a lot of these businesses – on match day hoardings, around grounds and beyond – throughout the coming season, to ensure they can continue to thrive in our local communities. So, join us in giving your support to Small Business Power, because today, they need us more than ever.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

For the latest news and to share your match day experiences, follow…

EFL

theEFL

EFL

TODAY’S SQUADS

TODAY'S FIXTURES

Saturday August 7th, 3pm kick-off | Ashton Gate | Sky Bet Championship

BRISTOL CITY MANAGER Nigel PEARSON

BLACKPOOL

HOME KIT

MANAGER Neil CRITCHLEY

AWAY KIT

1

Dan BENTLEY

1

Chris MAXWELL

2

Danny SIMPSON

2

Callum CONNOLLY

3

Jay DASILVA

3

James HUSBAND

4

Ádám NAGY

5

Reece JAMES

5

Rob ATKINSON

6

Kevin STEWART

6

Matty JAMES

9

Jerry YATES

8

Joe WILLIAMS

10

Keshi ANDERSON

9

Chris MARTIN

11

Josh BOWLER

10

Andy KING

12

Kenny DOUGALL

11

Callum O’DOWDA

13

Stuart MOORE

13

Max O'LEARY

14

Gary MADINE

14

Andreas WEIMANN

15

Demetri MITCHELL

15

Tyreeq BAKINSON

16

Sonny CAREY

16

Cameron PRING

17

Matty VIRTUE

17

Nathan BAKER

18

Grant WARD

18

Antoine SEMENYO

19

Shayne LAVERY

21

Nahki WELLS

20

Olly CASEY

22

Tomas KALAS

21

Marvin EKPITETA

23

Taylor MOORE

22

CJ HAMILTON

26

Zak VYNER

23

Daníel GRÉTARSSON

37

Tommy CONWAY

24

Joe NUTTALL

42

Han-Noah MASSENGO

25

Cameron ANTWI

45

Kasey PALMER

26

Richard KEOGH

27

Oliver ŠARKIĆ

28

Tyreece JOHN-JULES

29

Luke GARBUTT

32

Daniel GRIMSHAW

38

Bradley HOLMES

Blackburn v Swansea CITY v BLACKPOOL Cardiff v Barnsley Derby v Huddersfield Luton v Peterboro Preston v Hull QPR v Millwall Stoke v Reading Sheff Utd v Birmingham Played yesterday Bournemouth v West Brom Playing tomorrow Fulham v Middlesbrough Coventry v N Forest

LEAGUE TABLE P GD Pts Barnsley 0 0 0 Birmingham 0 0 0 Blackburn 0 0 0 Blackpool 0 0 0 Bournemouth 0 0 0 CITY 0 0 0 Cardiff 0 0 0 Coventry 0 0 0 Derby 0 0 0 Fulham 0 0 0 Huddersfield 0 0 0 Hull 0 0 0 Luton 0 0 0 Middlesbro 0 0 0 Millwall 0 0 0 N Forest 0 0 0 Peterboro 0 0 0 Preston 0 0 0 QPR 0 0 0 Reading 0 0 0 Sheff Utd 0 0 0 Stoke 0 0 0 Swansea 0 0 0 West Brom 0 0 0

NEXT AT ASHTON GATE

MATCH OFFICIALS Match Referee

Assistant Referee

Assistant Referee

Fourth Official

Andy DAVIES

Graham KANE

Michael GEORGE

Declan BOURNE

Goalkeeper

Defender

Midfielder

Forward

SWANSEA CITY Ashton Gate Friday, August 20th, 7.45pm Sky Bet Championship