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Bristol City F.C.

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Bristol City
Full nameBristol City Football Club
Nickname(s)The Robins, Cider Army
Founded1894; 130 years ago (1894)
GroundAshton Gate
Capacity40,000
OwnerSteve Lansdown
ChairmanJon Lansdown
Head CoachLiam Manning
LeagueEFL Championship
2023–24EFL Championship, 11th of 24
Websitehttps://www.bcfc.co.uk/
Current season

Bristol City Football Club is a professional football club based in Bristol, England. The team compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league system.

Founded in 1894, the club competed in the Southern League and Western League, being crowned Western League champions in 1897–98. They were admitted into the Football League in 1901 and won the Second Division in 1905–06. They finished second in the First Division the following season, three points behind champions Newcastle United, and went on to lose to Manchester United in the 1909 FA Cup final. Relegated in 1911, they dropped to the third tier in 1922, though would claim the Third Division South title in 1922–23 and again in 1926–27. They were returned to the third tier in 1932, remaining there until they won the Third Division South again in 1954–55. Having been relegated in 1960, Bristol City won promotion from the third tier in 1964–65 and then from the second tier in 1975–76. They played four seasons in the top-flight before being relegated in three consecutive seasons by 1982.

Bristol City spent just two seasons in the Fourth Division and went on to win the Associate Members' Cup (Football League Trophy) in 1986. Promoted out of the Third Division in 1989–90, the club were relegated in 1995 and again in 1999 after another promotion in 1997–98. Bristol City won the Football League Trophy again in 2003, and were promoted from League One in 2006–07. Relegated after six seasons in the Championship, they won the Football League Trophy for a third time in 2015 on their way to the 2014–15 League One title, and have remained in the Championship since that promotion.

They have played their home games at Ashton Gate since moving from St John's Lane in 1904. The club's home colours are red and white, and their nickname is The Robins—a robin featured on the club's badge from 1976 to 1994 and from 2019 onwards. Their main rivals are Bristol Rovers, with whom they contest the Bristol derby, and Cardiff City, with whom they contest the cross-border Severnside derby.

History

[edit]

Early years and early successes (1894–1922)

[edit]

The club was founded in 1894 as Bristol South End and changed their name to Bristol City on adopting professionalism three years later when they were admitted into the Southern League. Finishing as runners-up in three of the first four seasons, in 1900 the club amalgamated with local Southern League rivals Bedminster F.C., who had been founded as Southville in 1887. Bristol City joined the Football League in 1901 when they became only the third club south of Birmingham (following in the footsteps of Woolwich Arsenal and Luton Town) to perform in the competition. Their first game in the Football League was on 7 September 1901 at Bloomfield Road, when Blackpool were beaten 2–0.[1]

A scheme has been informally approved by the parties interested for the amalgamation of the Bristol City and Bedminster Association Football Clubs. The leading conditions are that the name and colours of Bristol City shall be retained, that matches shall be played alternately on the ground of each club for one season, and that five directors shall be nominated by each club. This should lead to Bristol securing one of the strongest teams in the south.

Gloucestershire Echo, 12 April 1900.[2] The announcement of the merger between Bristol City and Bedminster.

Winning the Second Division Championship with a record number of points when they became the first club in Football League history to win 30 league games in a season (out of 38 played) as well as equalling Manchester United's achievement of the previous season in winning 14 consecutive games (a record until 2018, also accomplished by Preston North End in 1950–51). Nicknamed the Bristol Babe at this time, they finished as runners-up in their inaugural First Division campaign (1906–07) as the only southern club to finish in the top two prior to World War I.

In 1909 they won through to their only FA Cup final, though they were somewhat fortunate that a last-gasp spot-kick saved them from defeat in the semi-final versus Derby County at Stamford Bridge. In the final at the Crystal Palace (now the National Sports Centre) Bristol City lost to Manchester United 1–0. After a five-season stay in the top flight, despite winning 1–0 at Newcastle at the start of the 1910–11 campaign, failure to beat Everton in the season's finale brought City's first-ever taste of relegation and it was to be 65 years before top-flight status would be regained.[3]

Bristol City would then go on to stay in Division 2 until three years after the First World War had ended, and in that time they reached the semi-finals of the 1919–20 FA Cup before being beaten 2–1 by Huddersfield Town and finished third in the Second Division in the 1920–21 season.[4][5] However, in the next season they were relegated to the Third Division South.[6]

The yo-yo era (1922–65)

[edit]
Chart of yearly table positions of Bristol City in the Football League

The 1920s were a rocky time as City bounced between the Second Division and the Southern Section of the Third Division. The season after City were relegated, they achieved promotion back to the Second Division, before being relegated back to the Southern Section of the Third Division again the following season. After successive high finishes in the league, they were promoted again in 1926–27. However, by the 1930s they had slumped into the lower division and stayed that way until over 10 years after the Second World War. During this stay in the Third Division South, they won the Welsh Cup in 1934, beating Tranmere Rovers in the final. However, in the same year they also suffered their biggest ever league defeat, a 9–0 loss to Coventry City The 1937–38 season was the most successful season for City since they were relegated to the Third Division, coming second in the league and reaching the final of the Third Division South Cup, before losing 6–2 to Reading on aggregate.[7][8] They then came eighth in the Third Division South in the final full season before the war, in which the Grandstand of Ashton Gate was destroyed by a German air raid.[9]

In 1946–47, City recorded a record league win by beating Aldershot 9–0, although despite Don Clark scoring 36 goals in the League, City failed to get promoted that season. Harry Dolman became chairman in 1949, a post he would hold for over 30 years. An engineer who had bought out the firm he worked for, he designed the first set of floodlights installed at Ashton Gate in the early 1950s. The late 1950s were a better time for City, with a five-year stay in the Second Division, a league they returned to for a further spell in 1965.

Back among the elite (1966–80)

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In 1967, Alan Dicks was appointed manager, and things gradually began to improve, with promotion to the First Division in 1976, ending a 65-year exile from the top flight.

Between 1975 and 1981 City were regular participants in the Anglo-Scottish Cup, winning the trophy in 1977–78, beating Hibernian in the semi-finals, and winning 3–2 on aggregate in the final against St Mirren (managed at the time by a relatively new manager, Alex Ferguson). St Mirren had their revenge two seasons later, with an aggregate 5–1 victory over City to become the only Scottish team to win the trophy.

City's second stint in the top flight was less successful than the club's first, with thirteenth position in 1979 being their highest finish during this era. Stars of this era included Peter Cormack, Geoff Merrick, Tom Ritchie, Clive Whitehead, Gerry Gow, Trevor Tainton and Jimmy Mann.

Financial difficulties and revival (1980–2000)

[edit]

In 1980, the City team went back to the Second Division in the first of three relegations, their debt mounted and their financial losses increased, with two successive relegations following. Thus, in 1982, they fell into the Fourth Division, and were declared bankrupt. A new club was formed[10] and BCFC (1982) Ltd acquired the club's player contracts. The highly paid senior players Julian Marshall, Chris Garland, Jimmy Mann, Peter Aitken, Geoff Merrick, David Rodgers, Gerry Sweeney and Trevor Tainton, who became known as the 'Ashton Gate Eight', each accepted termination of his contract for half the amount due. The club's previous owners had failed to pay its debts to many local businesses. The resulting ill will towards the club made it difficult for the new owners to obtain credit.

City spent two seasons in the Fourth Division before winning promotion under Terry Cooper in 1984. They consolidated themselves in the Third Division during the latter part of the 1980s, and in 1990 Cooper's successor Joe Jordan achieved promotion as Third Division runners-up to local rivals Bristol Rovers.

There was a tragedy for the club, however, in that promotion campaign. In March 1990, two months before the club sealed promotion, striker Dean Horrix was killed in a car crash barely two weeks after joining the club, and having played three league games for them.[11]

Jordan moved to Heart of Midlothian in September 1990, and his successor Jimmy Lumsden remained in charge for 18 months before making way for Denis Smith. Smith's first signing was the 20-year-old Arsenal striker Andy Cole. He was sold to Newcastle United in February 1993 and later played for Manchester United, where he collected five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the European Cup.

Meanwhile, City remained in the new Division One (no longer the Second Division after the creation of the Premier League in 1992) and Smith moved to Oxford United in November 1993. His successor was Russell Osman. In January 1994 Osman led City to a shock 1–0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield in a third round replay in the FA Cup, a result that would cause the Liverpool manager at the time, Graeme Souness, to resign. Osman was sacked within a year of taking charge.

Joe Jordan was brought back to Ashton Gate in September 1994, but was unable to prevent relegation to Division Two.

Jordan remained at the helm for two seasons after City's relegation, but left in March 1997 after failing to get them back into Division One. Former Bristol Rovers manager John Ward took over, and achieved promotion in 1998 as Division Two runners-up. But City struggled back in Division One, and Ward stepped down in October 1998 to be succeeded by Benny Lennartsson, their first non-British manager. City were relegated in bottom place and Lennartsson was dismissed in favour of Gillingham's Tony Pulis, who lasted six months before leaving to take over at Portsmouth. During his time at Ashton Gate he was manager of perhaps the worst City side since the one that completed a hat-trick of successive relegations almost 20 years earlier.

Coach Tony Fawthrop took over until the end of the season, when Danny Wilson was appointed. Wilson was arguably the most prominent manager to take charge of a City side since Denis Smith, as he had guided Barnsley to promotion to the Premier League in 1997 and Sheffield Wednesday to a 12th-place finish in 1999.

21st century

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In the early 2000s Bristol City were regular Division Two play-off contenders during Wilson's spell as manager. They just missed out on the play-offs in 2002, finishing 7th. The following year, Wilson almost took them to automatic promotion, finishing 3rd and winning the Football League Trophy in Cardiff in 2003. The taste of the play-offs was bitter though, losing to rivals Cardiff City 1–0 on aggregate in the semi-final. In 2004, they finished in 3rd place again, and this time they reached the play-off final, but lost to Brighton & Hove Albion. He was sacked within days and replaced by veteran player Brian Tinnion.

City just failed to make the play-offs in Tinnion's first season as manager, finishing seventh, and he stepped down in September 2005 after a poor start to the season. Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson was recruited as his successor in September 2005. Johnson led Bristol City to a 9th-place finish.

Pitch invasion at Ashton Gate after securing promotion in 2007

In the 2006–07 season, Bristol City finally achieved the elusive promotion that had evaded them in their 8 years in the third tier. Promotion to the Championship was confirmed on the final day of the season with a 3–1 win against already relegated Rotherham United, securing the runners-up place in the division and resulting in automatic promotion.

After a good start in the Championship, City established themselves as real contenders, sitting in 3rd place at Christmas. By the start of March, City were top of the Championship, making an improbable second successive promotion a possibility. However, a poor run ended City's chances of an automatic promotion place but qualified for the play-offs with a 4th-place finish, their highest finish since 1980. City overcame Crystal Palace 4–2 on aggregate to progress to the play-off final at Wembley Stadium, where they were beaten 1–0 by Hull City.

After a poor start in the first half of the 2008–09 season, City recovered after Christmas, peaking at 4th place in late February. After a lot of draws, the season eventually petered out and City finished the season in tenth place. The 2009–10 season saw some good results in the autumn, but heavy defeats by local rivals Cardiff City (0–6) and Doncaster Rovers (2–5) in early 2010 led to much dissatisfaction amongst fans,[12] and Johnson left the club on 18 March 2010.[13] Assistant manager Keith Millen took charge as caretaker manager, and led a series of good results, resulting in a second successive tenth-place finish.

Steve Coppell became manager in 2010[14] but resigned after just two matches.[15][16] Longtime assistant manager Keith Millen was announced as Coppell's successor[16][17] and City fell to a 15th-place finish in 2010–11. After a poor start to the 2011–12 season, Millen left the club in October 2011.[18]

Derek McInnes was appointed next, but after a promising start, City fell into the relegation zone, eventually surviving in 20th place, their worst since promotion in 2007. This steady decline would continue and after a poor start to the 2012–13 season, McInnes was sacked in January 2013 with City bottom of the Championship. He was replaced by Sean O'Driscoll, the club's fifth head coach in three years,[19] but City were relegated to League One after six seasons in the Championship. O'Driscoll left with the team 22nd in League One.

Steve Cotterill joined the club when Bristol City were second bottom of League One.[20] Cotterill guided the club to a 12th-place finish.[21] Bristol City were promoted back to the Championship after securing the League One title in 2014–15, their first league title since 1955. In their last home game, against Walsall, they finished the season with an 8–2 win.[22] Bristol City finished the season with 99 points,[22] the most points in a single season in the club's history, and 5 losses. In the same season, they also won the Football League Trophy after a win over Walsall, which finished 2–0 and their third league trophy, a record held by the club for having the most wins in that competition.

Despite huge success in the previous season, the club struggled on their return to the second tier. Steve Cotterill was relieved of his duties in January 2016 after a poor run of form which had seen Bristol City slip to 22nd in the Championship table. Lee Johnson, former player and son of former manager, Gary Johnson, was appointed as Bristol City's new head coach on 6 February 2016.[23] Bristol City eventually finished in 18th place.[21]

In the 2016–17 season, City were only just able to accumulate enough points to ensure survival at the end of the season. Lee Johnson remained at the helm for the following season, again making a positive early start. At the midpoint of the season, after 24 league games,[24] they sat second in the Championship, whilst also knocking out Premier League opposition in Watford, Stoke City, Crystal Palace and Manchester United to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup.[21][25] However, City would eventually finish in 11th place.[26]

Bristol City ended the 2018–19 season in 8th.[21] The battle for the last play-off spot came down to the final day, before Derby County managed to win their final game and clinch it.[27] From March to June, the 2019–20 season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite again challenging for the play-offs during the season, Johnson was sacked on 4 July 2020 after a run of just one win in 10 league matches.[28] His long-time assistant, Dean Holden, was appointed as his replacement on 10 August 2020.[29] After suffering six straight defeats in all competitions, Holden was dismissed on 16 February 2021 after just six months in charge.[30] He was replaced by Nigel Pearson.[31]

On 29 October 2023, Pearson was sacked with Bristol City 15th in the Championship following a run of 5 losses in 7 games.[32] Despite the poor form, Pearson had overseen year on year points increases in his time at the club and many fans felt he has been undermined by a loss of key players such as Alex Scott and a lack of reinvestment in the playing squad.[citation needed]

On 7 November 2023, Liam Manning was appointed as the new head coach of Bristol City, joining from Oxford United.[33]

Club identity

[edit]

Bristol City have played in red and white since the 1890s, occasionally also including black.[34] The away kit is more variable. It is traditionally white, but has also featured black or yellow. Other colours featured have included green and a purple and lime combination, the latter of which has become a fan favourite.

  • The club's current crest is a modernised version of the Robin which has long ties to the fans and the club.
  • The club's previous crest was a simplified version of the coat of arms of the city of Bristol.
  • The club's mascots are Red and Robyn, replacing Scrumpy the robin who had been the club's mascot from 2005 until 2022.[35]
  • The club has a long association with West Country band The Wurzels: "One for the Bristol City", written for the club in 1976, is the run-out song at Ashton Gate, while their 1960s hit "Drink Up Thy Zider" is played after home wins.

About halfway through the 2007–08 season Bristol City manager Gary Johnson said in an interview that he hoped the team could get the whole ground bouncing.[36][37] City supporters took this rallying cry on board and began to sing "Johnson says bounce around the ground" to the tune of Yellow Submarine, while continually bouncing up and down. The first game at which it was sung was in an away match against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium, and it was also sung at away at Queen's Park Rangers in February. When Bristol City fans travelled to London to play Charlton Athletic on 4 March 2008, the visiting fans, using the rail network to return home, adapted the song to "Bounce Around the Train". Since then, it has become an often used chant at Ashton Gate stadium by the fans.[citation needed] It was also sometimes used by supporters of Gary Johnson's former side Northampton Town, primarily at away matches. When Gary Johnson's son, Lee Johnson returned to his former club in 2016 as their new manager, he stated that he wished to inherit the chant and keep the fans singing it.[38]

Shirt sponsors

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Period Kit supplier Kit sponsor
1976–1981 Umbro None
1981–1982 Coffer Sports Park Furnishers
Feb 1982 Hire-Rite
1982–1983 Lynx
Aug–Dec 1983 Umbro
Dec 1983–1990 Bukta
1990–1992 Thorn Security
1992–1993 Nibor
1993–1994 Dry Blackthorn Cider
1994–1996 Auto Windscreens
1996–1998 Lotto Sanderson
1998–1999 Uhlsport
1999–2000 DAS
2000–2002 Admiral
2002–2005 TFG Sports
2005–2006 Bristol Trade Centre
2006–2008 Puma
2008–2010 DAS
2010–2011 Adidas
2011–2012 RSG (Home)
Bristol City Community Trust (Away)
2012–2014 Blackthorn
2014–2016 Bristol Sport RSG
2016–2018 Lancer Scott
2018–2020 Dunder
2020–2022 Hummel MansionBet
2022–2023 Huboo

Digital NRG[39][40]

2023–present O'Neills

Stadium

[edit]

Bristol City have played at Ashton Gate Stadium in the south-west of Bristol, just south of the River Avon, since moving from St John's Lane in 1904. The ground currently has an all-seated capacity of 27,000.[41] It was the home of Bedminster until the 1900 merger, and the merged team played some games there the following season, but it did not become the permanent home of Bristol City until 1904.

In the past plans were considered for expansion work to be carried out at Ashton Gate. There were also proposals to build a new 36,000-seat stadium at Hengrove Park. This was turned down in a local referendum in December 2000.[42] In 2002, the local council was looking at possible sites for a new 40,000-seat stadium which would house both City, Rovers and Bristol Rugby, but these plans were scrapped and it is widely accepted that this would not have been welcomed by the majority of supporters from all clubs.[43] Ashton Gate's current capacity is an average size for Championship grounds; however, in November 2007 the club announced plans to relocate to a new 30,000-capacity stadium in Ashton Vale. Plans were also in place to increase capacity to 42,000 had England's 2018 World Cup bid been successful.[44][45][needs update]

The South stand opened for the 2015–16 season, with the existing Williams stand being demolished and replaced by the Lansdown stand in 2016. A new partly-artificial Desso pitch was laid and the current Dolman stand refurbished. A safe standing area was added to the south-east corner of the ground (roughly analogous to the old East End) in 2021.

A state-of-the-art training facility became operational in 2020. The Robins High Performance Centre is at Failand a short distance from Ashton Gate Stadium.

[edit]

Rivalries

[edit]

Bristol City's traditional rivals are Bristol Rovers. The clubs have met 105 times, with the first meeting in 1897. Bristol City have the most wins on 43. However, the clubs have not been in the same league for a number of years; they were last in the same division in the 2000–01 season. Since then, they have only met three times; in the two-legged southern final of the 2006–07 Football League Trophy, which Rovers won 1–0 on aggregate, and in the first round of the 2013–14 Johnstone's Paint Trophy, which City won 2–1 at Ashton Gate.

City's other main rivals are Cardiff City, who play in nearby Cardiff. Despite being a local derby, it crosses the Wales–England border, making it one of the few international club derbies in the United Kingdom. The two clubs have been at similar levels in recent years, being in the same division for 10 of the last 16 seasons. This has meant frequent meetings in the league including in the semi-finals of the 2003 Second Division play-offs.

Other clubs have been seen as 'third rivals' by the fans and media. Swindon Town are seen by many as rivals, nicknamed 'Swindle' by City fans. This rivalry was most recently relevant in the 2014–15 season, when the two clubs were rivals for promotion to the Championship. Plymouth Argyle have also previously been considered rivals despite a distance of over 100 miles. The rivalry was especially relevant in the 2000s when the two clubs were the highest-ranking West Country clubs for a number of years, and meetings were seen as a decider of the 'Best in the West'. Swansea City, Newport County, Cheltenham Town and even Yeovil Town have previously been mentioned as rivals, but very rarely. However, during a fixture between Bristol City and Swansea City on 2 February 2019 at Ashton Gate, fighting took place between Bristol City and Swansea City fans resulting in a rivalry flaring up between the two sets of fans.[46]

Records and statistics

[edit]
  • Record League victory – 9–0 v. Aldershot (28 December 1946)
  • Record FA Cup victory – 11–0 v. Chichester City (5 November 1960)
  • Record League defeat – 0–9 v. Coventry City (28 April 1934)
  • Highest attendance – 43,335 v. Preston North End (16 February 1935)
  • Highest attendance (at any ground) – 86,703 v. Hull City Championship play-off final – Wembley Stadium – (24 May 2008)
  • Most League appearances – 597, John Atyeo (1951–66)
  • Most League goals scored – 314, John Atyeo (1951–66)
  • Most goals scored (overall) – 351, John Atyeo (1951–66)[47]
  • Most capped player – Billy Wedlock, 26 caps, England
  • Most goals scored in a season – 36, Don Clark (1946–47)
  • Record transfer fee paid – £8 million to Chelsea for Tomáš Kalas (July 2019)
  • Record transfer fee received – £25 million from Bournemouth for Alex Scott (August 2023)[48]
  • Record sequence of League wins – 14; 9 September 1905 – 2 December 1905 – This was a joint league record until 2017.
  • Record sequence of League defeats – 8; 10 December 2016 – 21 January 2017
  • Record sequence of unbeaten League matches – 24; 9 September 1905 – 10 February 1906
  • Record sequence without a League win – 21; 16 March 2013 – 22 October 2013
  • Record points total for a Season – 99pts; 2014–15 Football League One

League history

[edit]

Source:[21]

Note: The numbers in parentheses are the level of football for that season.

  • 1897–1901: Southern League Division One (3)
  • 1901–1906: Football League Second Division (2)
  • 1906–1911: Football League First Division (1)
  • 1911–1922: Football League Second Division (2)
  • 1922–1923: Football League Third Division (3)
  • 1923–1924: Football League Second Division (2)
  • 1924–1927: Football League Third Division (3)
  • 1927–1932: Football League Second Division (2)
  • 1932–1955: Football League Third Division (3)
  • 1955–1960: Football League Second Division (2)
  • 1960–1965: Football League Third Division (3)
  • 1965–1976: Football League Second Division (2)
  • 1976–1980: Football League First Division (1)
  • 1980–1981: Football League Second Division (2)
  • 1981–1982: Football League Third Division (3)
  • 1982–1984: Football League Fourth Division (4)
  • 1984–1990: Football League Third Division (3)
  • 1990–1995: Football League Second Division / Football League First Division (rebranding after the Premier League came into existence) (2)
  • 1995–1998: Football League Second Division (3)
  • 1998–1999: Football League First Division (2)
  • 1999–2007: Football League Second Division / Football League One (rebranded) (3)
  • 2007–2013: Football League Championship (2)
  • 2013–2015: Football League One (3)
  • 2015–present: Football League/EFL Championship (2)

Most appearances

[edit]
# Name Career Appearances
1 England Louis Carey 1995–2004; 2005–2014 646
2 England John Atyeo 1951–1966 645
3 England Trevor Tainton 1967–1982 581
4 England Brian Tinnion 1993–2005 551
5 Scotland Tom Ritchie 1972–1981; 1983–1985 504
6 Scotland Gerry Sweeney 1971–1981 490
7 England Rob Newman 1981–1991 483
8 Scotland Gerry Gow 1969–1981 445
9 England Geoff Merrick 1967–1982 433
10 Scotland Scott Murray 1997–2003; 2004–2009 427

Most club appearances including substitute appearances in all competitions (excluding Gloucestershire Cup). Updated 29 December 2013. Note: On 29 December 2013, Louis Carey broke Bristol City's appearance record when he came on as a substitute in the 4–1 win over Stevenage. He overtook John Atyeo after 47 years and is now the club's all-time top appearance maker.

Most goals

[edit]
# Name Career Goals
1 England John Atyeo 1951–1966 351
2 Scotland Tom Ritchie 1969–1981, 1982–1984 132
3 England Arnold Rodgers 1949–1956 111
4 England Jimmy Rodgers 1950–1956, 1958–1962 108
5 England Alan Walsh 1984–1989 99
6 Scotland Scott Murray 1997–2003, 2004–2009 91
7 England Tot Walsh 1924–1928 91
8 England John Galley 1967–1972 90
9 England Brian Clark 1960–1966 89
10 Scotland Sam Gilligan 1904–1910 87

Correct as of 29 July 2018.[49]

Players

[edit]

First-team squad

[edit]
As of 30 August 2024[50]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Republic of Ireland IRL Max O'Leary
2 DF Scotland SCO Ross McCrorie
3 DF England ENG Cameron Pring
4 DF Scotland SCO Kal Naismith
5 DF England ENG Robert Atkinson
6 MF England ENG Max Bird
7 FW Japan JPN Yu Hirakawa (on loan from Machia Zelvia)
8 MF England ENG Joe Williams
9 FW France FRA Fally Mayulu
10 MF England ENG Scott Twine
11 MF Albania ALB Anis Mehmeti
12 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Jason Knight (captain)[51]
14 DF Kenya KEN Zak Vyner
15 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Luke McNally
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 DF England ENG Rob Dickie
17 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Mark Sykes
18 MF England ENG Ayman Benarous
19 DF England ENG George Tanner
20 FW England ENG Sam Bell
21 FW Bermuda BER Nahki Wells
23 GK France FRA Stefan Bajić
24 DF England ENG Haydon Roberts
27 FW England ENG Harry Cornick
29 MF England ENG Marcus McGuane
30 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Sinclair Armstrong
32 GK Wales WAL Lewis Thomas
40 MF England ENG George Earthy (on loan from West Ham United)
MF Republic of Ireland IRL Adam Murphy

Out on loan

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
22 MF England ENG Taylor Gardner-Hickman (at Birmingham City until end of season)[52]
26 FW England ENG Josh Stokes (at Cambridge United until end of season)[53]
DF Canada CAN Jamie Knight-Lebel (at Crewe Alexandra until end of season)[54]
FW England ENG Seb Palmer-Houlden (at Dundee until end of season)[55]
FW Italy ITA Ephraim Yeboah (at Doncaster Rovers until end of season)[56]

Under 21 squad

[edit]
As of 6 August 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
31 MF England ENG Elijah Morrison
33 DF England ENG Josh Campbell-Slowey
34 DF England ENG Joseph James
35 FW England ENG Leo Pecover
GK Wales WAL Josey Casa-Grande
DF England ENG Zach Ali
DF England ENG Taine Anderson
DF Germany GER Raphael Araoye
DF England ENG Archie Taylor
DF Wales WAL Callum Wood
MF England ENG Tommy Backwell
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF England ENG Kai Churchley
MF England ENG Callum Hewlett
MF England ENG Jed Meerholz
MF England ENG Raekwon Nelson
MF England ENG Billy Phillips
MF Wales WAL Marley Rose
MF Wales WAL Omar Taylor-Clarke
FW England ENG Tim Ap Sion
FW England ENG Brandon Bak
FW England ENG Olly Thomas

Notable players

[edit]

Former players

For a list of all Bristol City players with a Wikipedia article, see Category:Bristol City F.C. players. Bedminster merged with Bristol City in 1900; for a further list of all Bedminster players with articles see Category:Bedminster F.C. players.

Player of the Year

[edit]
Year Winner Po. Ref.
1970–71 England Gerry Sharpe FW [57]
1971–72 England Geoff Merrick DF [57]
1972–73 Wales John Emanuel MF [57]
1973–74 Scotland Gerry Gow MF [57]
1974–75 England Gary Collier DF [57]
1975–76 United Kingdom The whole squad [57]
1976–77 England Norman Hunter DF [57]
1977–78 England Norman Hunter DF [57]
1978–79 Scotland Gerry Gow MF [57]
1979–80 England Geoff Merrick DF [57]
1980–81 England Kevin Mabbutt FW [57]
1981–82 No award [57]
1982–83 England Glyn Riley FW [57]
1983–84 Wales Howard Pritchard MF [57]
1984–85 England Alan Walsh FW [57]
1985–86 Scotland Bobby Hutchinson MF [57]
1986–87 England Rob Newman DF [57]
1987–88 England Alan Walsh FW [57]
1988–89 England Keith Waugh GK [57]
1989–90 England Bob Taylor FW [57]
1990–91 England Andy Llewellyn DF [57]
1991–92 England Martin Scott DF [57]
1992–93 England Keith Welch GK [57]
1993–94 England Wayne Allison FW [57]
1994–95 England Matt Bryant DF [57]
1995–96 England Martin Kuhl MF [57]
1996–97 England Shaun Taylor DF [57]
1997–98 England Shaun Taylor DF [57]
1998–99 Nigeria Ade Akinbiyi FW [57]
1999–2000 England Billy Mercer GK [57]
2000–01 England Brian Tinnion MF [57]
2001–02 England Matt Hill DF [57]
2002–03 Scotland Scott Murray MF [57]
2003–04 Northern Ireland Tommy Doherty MF [57]
2004–05 England Leroy Lita FW [57]
2005–06 England Steve Brooker FW [57]
2006–07 England Jamie McCombe DF [57]
2007–08 Brazil Adriano Basso GK [57]
2008–09 Nigeria Dele Adebola FW [57]
2009–10 England Cole Skuse MF [57]
2010–11 Ghana Albert Adomah MF [57]
2011–12 England Jon Stead FW [57]
2012–13 England Tom Heaton GK [57]
2013–14 England Sam Baldock FW [57]
2014–15 England Aden Flint DF [57]
2015–16 England Aden Flint DF [57]
2016–17 England Tammy Abraham FW [57]
2017–18 England Bobby Reid FW [57]
2018–19 England Adam Webster DF [57]
2019–20 Senegal Famara Diédhiou FW [57]
2020–21 England Dan Bentley GK [57]
2021–22 Austria Andreas Weimann FW [58]
2022–23 England Alex Scott MF [59]
2023–24 England Rob Dickie DF [60]

Top league scorer

[edit]
Year Winner Goals
1996–97 Bermuda Shaun Goater 23
1997–98 Bermuda Shaun Goater 17
1998–99 Nigeria Ade Akinbiyi 19
1999–2000 England Tony Thorpe 13
2000–01 England Tony Thorpe 19
2001–02 England Tony Thorpe 16
2002–03 Scotland Scott Murray 19
2003–04 England Lee Peacock 14
2004–05 England Leroy Lita 24
2005–06 England Steve Brooker 16
2006–07 England Phil Jevons 11
2007–08 Jamaica Darren Byfield 8
2008–09 England Nicky Maynard 11
2009–10 England Nicky Maynard 20
2010–11 Jersey Brett Pitman 13
2011–12 England Nicky Maynard 8
2012–13 England Steve Davies 13
2013–14 England Sam Baldock 24
2014–15 England Aaron Wilbraham 18
2015–16 Ivory Coast Jonathan Kodjia 19
2016–17 England Tammy Abraham 23
2017–18 England Bobby Reid 19
2018–19 Senegal Famara Diédhiou 12
2019–20 Senegal Famara Diédhiou 11
2020–21 Bermuda Nahki Wells 9
2021–22 Austria Andreas Weimann 22
2022–23 Bermuda Nahki Wells 11
2023–24 Scotland Tommy Conway 9

Club officials

[edit]

Management

As of 20 February 2024[61]

Managerial history

[edit]
Name Period[65][66]
England Sam Hollis 1897–1899
England Robert Campbell 1899–1901
England Sam Hollis 1901–1905
England Harry Thickett 1905–1910
England Frank Bacon 1910–1911
England Sam Hollis 1911–1913
England George Hedley 1913–1917
Scotland Jock Hamilton 1917–1919
England Joe Palmer 1919–1921
Scotland Alex Raisbeck 1921–1929
England Joe Bradshaw 1929–1932
England Bob Hewison 1932–1949
England Bob Wright 1949–1950
England Pat Beasley 1950–1958
Northern Ireland Peter Doherty 1958–1960
England Fred Ford 1960–1967
England Alan Dicks 1967–1980
England Bobby Houghton 1980–1982
England Roy Hodgson 1982
England Terry Cooper 1982–1988
Scotland Joe Jordan 1988–1990
Scotland Jimmy Lumsden 1990–1992
England Denis Smith 1992–1993
England Russell Osman 1993–1994
Scotland Joe Jordan 1994–1997
England John Ward 1997–1998
Sweden Benny Lennartsson 1998–1999
Wales Tony Pulis 1999
England Tony Fawthrop 2000
Northern Ireland Danny Wilson 2000–2004
England Brian Tinnion 2004–2005
England Gary Johnson 2005–2010
England Steve Coppell 2010
England Keith Millen 2010–2011
Scotland Derek McInnes 2011–2013
Republic of Ireland Sean O'Driscoll 2013
England Steve Cotterill 2013–2016
England Lee Johnson 2016–2020
England Dean Holden 2020–2021
England Nigel Pearson 2021–2023
England Liam Manning 2023–Present

Bristol City Women's

[edit]

The women's team was formed in 1990 supported by the club's community officer, Shaun Parker. Their greatest achievement was reaching the semi-finals of the FA Women's Cup in 1994 and winning promotion to the Premier League under Manager Jack Edgar in 2004. Following the decision by the FA to fund only one centre of excellence in Bristol, the two senior teams were disbanded in June 2008 and the girls' youth side merged with the Bristol Academy W.F.C.[67] The majority of the senior players, with coach Will Roberts, moved to the University of Bath in summer 2008 and now play as AFC TeamBath Ladies in the South West Combination Women's Football League.[68]

Honours

[edit]

Sources:[21][69]

League

Cup

See also

[edit]
  • Ruch Radzionków - a Polish football club with a similar identity, nicknamed Cidry.

References

[edit]
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  2. ^ "Sporting Gossip". Gloucestershire Echo. 12 April 1900. Retrieved 15 December 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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[edit]