Bristol City v Derby County
The Bristol City v Derby County matchday programme. A detailed look at Wayne Rooney's Rams, plus the Rainbow Laces campaign, an exclusive interview with Callum O'Dowda and a look back down memory lane with Bristol City's history writers.
The Bristol City v Derby County matchday programme. A detailed look at Wayne Rooney's Rams, plus the Rainbow Laces campaign, an exclusive interview with Callum O'Dowda and a look back down memory lane with Bristol City's history writers.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
ROB NS<br />
2021/22 OFFICIAL BRISTOL CITY DIGITAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME<br />
CHRIS<br />
MARTIN<br />
#9<br />
v DERBY<br />
COUNTY<br />
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
ASHTON GATE | SAT DEC 4 | 3PM<br />
PRINCIPAL PARTNER<br />
MATCH SPONSOR
ROBINS IN<br />
FOCUS<br />
2<br />
DANNY<br />
SIMPSON<br />
AGE: 34<br />
POSITION: Right-back<br />
JOINED: March 2021<br />
DID YOU KNOW?<br />
Danny Simpson was reunited with Nigel Pearson<br />
when the defender signed for the club in the<br />
second half of the 2020/21 season.<br />
The pair had previously worked together at<br />
Leicester <strong>City</strong> before Simpson went on to form<br />
part of the Foxes side which famously won the<br />
2015/16 Premier League title.<br />
Simpson would later be joined in BS3 by former<br />
teammates Matty James and Andy King, with the<br />
trio having all played together under Pearson at<br />
Leicester <strong>City</strong>.<br />
The defender has won promotion from the<br />
Championship three times – with Sunderland<br />
(loan), Newcastle United and Queens Park<br />
Rangers – and his experience is a boost for <strong>City</strong>’s<br />
younger players.<br />
George Tanner was recently quoted in<br />
THE ROB NS: “He gives me little confidence<br />
boosters and…he’s done nothing but help me.<br />
He’s been in the game a long time and passed<br />
on a lot of tips and support.”
THE<br />
GAFFER<br />
W<br />
elcome back<br />
to Ashton Gate<br />
and another<br />
Saturday<br />
afternoon of<br />
football here on our own patch.<br />
These are my first programme notes since the<br />
victory over Stoke <strong>City</strong>. It was an important win,<br />
if a bit nervy towards the end, but everybody,<br />
including the fans, played a huge part.<br />
We will need more<br />
of that energy today<br />
when we welcome<br />
Wayne Rooney, his<br />
staff and players.<br />
I have the upmost<br />
respect for<br />
Wayne, not only<br />
for his playing<br />
achievements, but<br />
for how he has<br />
handled the difficult<br />
situation around<br />
him so early into his<br />
managerial career.<br />
Much has been<br />
written about<br />
<strong>Derby</strong>’s turmoil off<br />
the pitch but Wayne<br />
will have his squad mentally prepared to give their<br />
all and continue to compete for the three points<br />
at every opportunity, so we expect them to be a<br />
difficult opponent.<br />
For us, it is a chance to bounce back after defeat<br />
at Sheffield United last weekend. Thanks to the<br />
665 supporters who travelled up in treacherous<br />
MUCH HAS<br />
BEEN WRITTEN<br />
ABOUT DERBY’S<br />
TURMOIL OFF<br />
THE PITCH BUT<br />
WAYNE WILL<br />
HAVE HIS SQUAD<br />
MENTALLY<br />
PREPARED TO<br />
GIVE THEIR ALL.<br />
conditions and to those who watched the game<br />
at home.<br />
In the end, poor decisions cost us so today we<br />
have to do exactly what we set out to do. I think<br />
it was also a steep learning curve for the younger<br />
players but that is part and parcel of their journey.<br />
It was good to bring on Nahki Wells and Antoine<br />
Semenyo, who gave us some energy, but we saw a<br />
gulf in experience in general.<br />
Today’s match is our<br />
annual Rainbow Laces<br />
fixture and we’re proud to<br />
show our support for the<br />
LGBTQ+ community. We’re<br />
working hard to ensure<br />
Ashton Gate is a safe,<br />
welcoming and inclusive<br />
environment, while all<br />
clubs collectively work to<br />
Make Sport Everyone’s<br />
Game.<br />
Finally, I’d like to extend<br />
the thoughts of everyone<br />
connected with the club to<br />
the family and friends of<br />
the late John Sillett. it was<br />
sad to hear of his passing<br />
this week, he achieved<br />
so much in the game and<br />
you can read more about<br />
the club’s former First Team Coach in these pages.<br />
Please get right behind us at home once again and<br />
I hope you enjoy the game.<br />
Cheers,<br />
Nige<br />
NIGEL<br />
PEARSON<br />
4 | THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong> | 5
HERE’S<br />
A ST AT<br />
I BET<br />
YOU<br />
DIDN’T<br />
KN W<br />
OVER HALF A MILLION<br />
SKY BET CUSTOMERS USE DEPOSIT LIMITS<br />
TO MANAGE THEIR BETTING BUDGET.<br />
THAT’S ENOUGH TO FILL:<br />
6 WEMBLEYS.<br />
201 ALLY PALLYS.<br />
OR 8 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP DAYS.<br />
(THAT’S A LOT OF TWEED)<br />
ALL GOOD BOOKMAKERS<br />
HAVE DEPOSIT LIMITS.<br />
SO WHOEVER YOU BET WITH,<br />
SET AN APPROPRIATE ONE FOR YOU<br />
AND THEN ENJOY THE SPORT.<br />
DEPOSIT LIMITS<br />
THAT’S BETTING BETTER.
DERBY COUNTY<br />
CLUB FACTS<br />
GROUND<br />
PRIDE PARK<br />
FORMED<br />
1884<br />
MANAGER<br />
WAYNE ROONEY<br />
NICKNAME<br />
THE RAMS<br />
HONOURS<br />
2<br />
1<br />
Football League champions<br />
1971/72, 1974/75<br />
FA Cup winners<br />
1946<br />
FA Charity Shield winners<br />
1974<br />
Second tier champions<br />
1911/12, 1914/15, 1968/69, 1986/87<br />
Third tier champions<br />
1956/57 (Division Three North)<br />
Texaco Trophy winners 1972<br />
Watney Cup winners 1970<br />
DERBY ARRIVE IN BS3<br />
ROCK BOTTOM OF THE<br />
CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE, YET<br />
REGARDLESS OF THEIR<br />
POINTS DEDUCTION ROONEY’S<br />
RESILIENT RAMS WILL NO<br />
DOUBT BE PUTTING UP A<br />
FIGHT.<br />
Clockwise from top: Manager Wayne Rooney; ex-Everton and England<br />
defender Phil Jagielka; England U21 international defender Lee Buchanan;<br />
top scorer Tom Lawrence and Scottish international Graeme Shinnie.<br />
The teams shared the same<br />
scoreline in both games played<br />
behind closed doors last season.<br />
<strong>City</strong> beat the Rams 1-0 at Ashton<br />
Gate through Famara Diédhiou's<br />
second-half strike, inflicting a<br />
first defeat for Wayne Rooney<br />
as manager, but the Rams won<br />
1-0 at Pride Park through Colin<br />
Kazim-Richards’ early goal.<br />
LEAGUE ONE CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
23<br />
GOALS<br />
SCORED<br />
7<br />
TOP SCORER<br />
ANDI<br />
WEIMANN<br />
POSSESSION<br />
42.7 %<br />
30<br />
GOALS<br />
CONCEDED<br />
PASSING PERCENTAGE<br />
66.7 %<br />
TACKLE SUCCESS<br />
68.3 %<br />
AVERAGE AERIAL<br />
DUELS WON<br />
26.9<br />
V<br />
HEAD TO HEAD<br />
LEAGUE<br />
POSITION<br />
JAN<br />
2022<br />
YELLOW<br />
35 0<br />
CARDS<br />
77<br />
MATCHES PLAYED<br />
Best victory: 6-2, January 1980 (FA Cup)<br />
Best league win 4-1 (Mar 1967 / Sep 2017)<br />
Worst defeat: 0-8, September 1923<br />
2021/22 IN NUMBERS<br />
18 TH<br />
7.02<br />
BEST AVERAGE<br />
RATING (OPTA)<br />
CHRIS<br />
MARTIN<br />
R1<br />
RED<br />
CARDS<br />
4<br />
MOST<br />
ASSISTS<br />
CHRIS<br />
MARTIN<br />
22<br />
GOALS<br />
SCORED<br />
5TOP SCORER<br />
TOM<br />
LAWRENCE<br />
W<br />
21<br />
D<br />
18<br />
25<br />
GOALS<br />
CONCEDED<br />
7.09<br />
BEST AVERAGE<br />
RATING (OPTA)<br />
CURTIS<br />
DAVIES<br />
CITY v RAMS<br />
27 %<br />
WIN RATE<br />
POSITION<br />
JAN<br />
2022<br />
24 TH<br />
YELLOW<br />
39 2<br />
CARDS<br />
POSSESSION<br />
48.6 %<br />
L<br />
38<br />
RED<br />
CARDS<br />
3<br />
MOST<br />
ASSISTS<br />
TOM LAWRENCE,<br />
GRAEME SHINNIE<br />
PASSING PERCENTAGE<br />
75.9 %<br />
TACKLE SUCCESS<br />
67 %<br />
AVERAGE AERIAL<br />
DUELS WON<br />
18.9<br />
R2<br />
8 | THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong> | 9
DERBY COUNTY<br />
DID YOU<br />
KNOW?<br />
The club’s nickname is The Rams, a link to the county’s<br />
First Regiment of <strong>Derby</strong> Militia, which took the animal as its<br />
mascot. The club also adopted the song "The <strong>Derby</strong> Ram" as<br />
its regimental song.<br />
KEY PLAYER<br />
33<br />
CURTIS<br />
DAV I E S<br />
The 36-year-old defender has played every<br />
minute of the Championship campaign,<br />
playing an experienced role as <strong>Derby</strong> fight a<br />
tough task ahead.<br />
The veteran centre-back has chipped in three<br />
goals and proved a key performer in a 2-1<br />
win against Stoke <strong>City</strong>, as well earning the<br />
plaudits as the Rams earned clean sheets<br />
against the likes of West Bromwich Albion,<br />
Preston North End and Fulham, where he won<br />
the Man of the Match award.<br />
Davies made the headlines on Monday night,<br />
tweeting about a “cruel” result against QPR<br />
who struck a late winner: “I don’t think we<br />
were at our best but I think a point would<br />
have been fair. No time to cry about it! Roll on<br />
<strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong>!”<br />
Davies’ career started at Luton Town in 2003<br />
before years in the West Midlands where he<br />
enjoyed spells with West Bromwich Albion,<br />
Aston Villa and Birmingham <strong>City</strong>. He’s also<br />
represented the likes of Leicester <strong>City</strong><br />
and Hull <strong>City</strong> and is now closing in on 600<br />
professional appearances in all competitions.<br />
TROUBLES OFF THE PITCH HAVE HAD BIG<br />
CONSEQUENCES FOR THE CLUB ON IT,<br />
BUT THE PLAYERS CAN ONLY FOCUS ON<br />
THE JOB AT HAND.<br />
<strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong> went into<br />
administration in September<br />
following the collapse of<br />
takeover talks, earning them an<br />
immediate 12-point deduction,<br />
a punishment increased to<br />
21 points in November after<br />
admitting to breaching EFL<br />
accounting rules.<br />
The deduction leaves them<br />
11 points off Barnsley in the<br />
Championship table, and they<br />
are now 19 from safety at this<br />
early point in the season.<br />
Wins have been few and far<br />
between for Wayne Rooney’s<br />
men, with four from 20 games,<br />
but they will need as many<br />
as they can get if they are to<br />
succeed in their unlikely bid to<br />
avoid relegation.<br />
The Rams have proved<br />
resilient, however, conceding<br />
fewer goals than any club<br />
outside the top six. They were<br />
on course for a fourth match<br />
unbeaten on Monday night<br />
before Andre Gray’s<br />
90th-minute stunner for Queens<br />
Park Rangers stole the show;<br />
a gutting end to the night<br />
at Pride Park where <strong>Derby</strong>’s<br />
<strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong> supporters are enduring a season to forget at Pride Park as<br />
administration and a subsequent points deduction hit their league hopes<br />
performance under the lights<br />
was described as “spirited”.<br />
Is it an impossible ask for the<br />
two-time English champions this<br />
season? Their fate lies in the<br />
hands of some major slip ups<br />
from the likes of Peterborough<br />
United and Barnsley, not<br />
forgetting Reading and Cardiff<br />
<strong>City</strong> who are level on points just<br />
outside the drop zone.<br />
There’s still plenty of football<br />
to be played, but while the<br />
club's administrators are<br />
“hopeful” the club will get out<br />
of administration by January it<br />
is a situation that will continue<br />
to occupy the minds of all those<br />
connected with the famous East<br />
Midlands club.<br />
10 | THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong> | 11
21/22<br />
half<br />
season<br />
cards<br />
Adults from £180<br />
U12s from £50<br />
bcfc.co.uk/halfseason<br />
SAT DEC 18<br />
3PM KO<br />
CITY<br />
1894<br />
CITY<br />
1894<br />
CITY<br />
1894<br />
CITY<br />
1894<br />
CITY<br />
1894<br />
CITY<br />
1894<br />
CITY<br />
1894<br />
CITY<br />
1894<br />
TICKETS ON SALE NOW | BCFC.CO.UK/TICKETS
THANK YOU TO OUR<br />
PARTNERS<br />
PRINCIPAL<br />
BRISTOL CITY<br />
PROGRAMME<br />
ELITE<br />
Mechanical<br />
FULL PAGE<br />
Engineering<br />
& Pipework Services<br />
ADVERT<br />
SUPPORTING<br />
aquatonics.co.uk
<strong>Bristol</strong><br />
Panthers FC<br />
ROBINS<br />
OBITUARY<br />
JOHN<br />
SILLETT<br />
WE ARE CITY<br />
<strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong> is<br />
proud to show<br />
its support<br />
for LGBTQ+<br />
inclusivity this weekend.<br />
Today's fixture is the club’s annual<br />
Rainbow Laces game and the<br />
focus of this year’s campaign<br />
is ensuring that all sporting<br />
events are a safe, welcoming and<br />
inclusive environment as clubs<br />
across the EFL collectively work to<br />
Make Sport Everyone’s Game.<br />
Rainbow corner flags and<br />
substitution boards will be used<br />
by clubs at their selected fixture to<br />
highlight their continued support<br />
for LGBTQ+ fans, players and staff<br />
across the game. Rainbow laces<br />
have also been provided.<br />
The Robins Foundation has also<br />
invited to the game the <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />
Panthers – an LGBTQ+ friendly<br />
team associated with the club<br />
through the ‘We Are <strong>City</strong>’ project.<br />
The Panthers are one of only two<br />
LGBTQ+ clubs in the country to<br />
have a formal affiliation with an<br />
English Football League side.<br />
The team play in Division 2 of the<br />
GFSN (Gay Football Supporters<br />
Network) League.<br />
If you are looking for a fun and<br />
friendly environment to enjoy<br />
football and make new friends in<br />
the <strong>Bristol</strong> LGBTQ+ community,<br />
check them out.<br />
They train every Thursday evening<br />
from 8:45pm at South <strong>Bristol</strong><br />
Sports Centre (BS14 9EA). If you'd<br />
like to come along just get in touch<br />
for details (your first session is<br />
free!).<br />
www.bristolpanthers.com<br />
BRISTOL CITY IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE RAINBOW LACES<br />
CAMPAIGN AND REMINDS ITS SUPPORTERS THAT IF THEY<br />
WITNESS OR EXPERIENCE ANY DISCRIMINATORY BEHAVIOUR,<br />
THEY SHOULD REPORT IT VIA THE KICK IT OUT APP.<br />
FANS CAN ALSO REPORT ANY HOMOPHOBIC OR OTHER<br />
DISCRIMINATORY ABUSE TO 07770 736 047<br />
<strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong> is<br />
saddened at<br />
the passing of<br />
former coach<br />
John Sillett (1938-2021), who<br />
was recruited by Alan Dicks<br />
to join the club as Youth Team<br />
Coach in 1968.<br />
Sillett’s youth sides ventured<br />
into Europe to win tournaments<br />
in France and Holland, which<br />
included victory over Ajax in the<br />
final of the Blauw Whit Trophy.<br />
They also reached the FA Youth<br />
Cup semi-final in 1970.<br />
He also played a major part in in<br />
the development of young talent<br />
coming into the club in the<br />
late-1960s and early-1970s,<br />
many of which would go on to<br />
play for the first team. They<br />
included: Gerry Gow, Tom Ritchie,<br />
Ray Cashley, Gary Collier, Keith<br />
Fear and David Rodgers.<br />
John Sillett celebrates with goalscorer Donnie Gillies following <strong>City</strong>'s<br />
famous 1-0 FA Cup win over Leeds United at Elland Road in 1974<br />
Sillett was promoted to First<br />
Team Coach in 1970 where,<br />
alongside Dicks the pair began<br />
to forge a top-flight side for the<br />
future, with signings such Gerry<br />
Sweeney and Donnie Gillies.<br />
Improvement in <strong>City</strong>'s fortunes<br />
was evident during their 1974 FA<br />
Cup run, in which they famously<br />
beat Leeds United in the Fifth<br />
Round. Don Revie's 'Mighty Leeds'<br />
were top of Division One at the<br />
time and unbeaten in 29 matches.<br />
Following his departure, Sillett had<br />
spells as manager at Hereford<br />
United (1974-78), where he won<br />
the Division Three title in 1976,<br />
before returning to his former<br />
club Coventry <strong>City</strong>. He became<br />
manager between 1986-1990 and<br />
guided the Sky Blues to a famous<br />
FA Cup final win in 1987.<br />
The club wishes to remember long-serving supporter Michael Hodge (1931-2021),<br />
who passed away aged 90. Michael used to attend what was known as ‘Crackers<br />
Corner’ at Ashton Gate, where he would stand with his dad, uncle Roly and friends<br />
Brian Sage, Keith Gibbs and David Mills.<br />
His first match was in the 1946/47 season and he would ride from his home in<br />
Sylvia Avenue, Knowle, on his trusty BSA Bantam with his dad, Denys, riding pillion.<br />
In his later years, Michael followed <strong>City</strong>'s progress in the Western Daily Press but<br />
his son Richard and grandson Ricky still attend games today. Michael will be sorely<br />
missed by all his family and friends.<br />
16 | THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong> | 17
PLAYER<br />
INTERVIEW<br />
Words James Crawley<br />
WITH HIS INJURY STRUGGLES BEHIND HIM,<br />
CALLUM O’DOWDA LOOKS AHEAD TO<br />
MAKING BIG STRIDES IN THE FIRST TEAM…<br />
CAL OF<br />
DUTY<br />
Injuries can happen at<br />
any given moment but<br />
to be forced off eight<br />
minutes into a new<br />
season was a bitter<br />
pill to swallow for<br />
Callum O’Dowda.<br />
He was on the receiving end of<br />
a challenge from Blackpool’s<br />
James Husband and O’Dowda,<br />
in somewhat disbelief as the<br />
pain began to set in, would have<br />
to leave the field of play and be<br />
replaced by Kasey Palmer.<br />
It was a high ankle injury,<br />
a devastating start to<br />
the Republic of Ireland<br />
international’s campaign. He<br />
wouldn’t feature again until the<br />
end of September, or be in the<br />
starting XI until October’s trip to<br />
Peterborough United.<br />
“It was really hard to take,”<br />
O’Dowda told T HE ROB NS. “I<br />
was pinching myself because<br />
this came after a move we<br />
had worked on where I ran in<br />
behind and touched the ball<br />
towards goal when the tackle<br />
came in. It’s hard to describe it,<br />
I just couldn’t believe what had<br />
happened.<br />
“I was struggling to walk but I<br />
didn’t want to believe that I was<br />
coming off. Then the symptoms<br />
started showing but I kept<br />
saying to myself I would be fine<br />
the following weekend. It was<br />
hard after having gone through<br />
my hamstring injury the season<br />
before.”<br />
A period of rest followed,<br />
before O’Dowda was fit enough<br />
to compete. He completed<br />
minutes here and there but in<br />
<strong>City</strong>’s last four games, he has<br />
played all but just two minutes.<br />
“I feel really good now and I<br />
don’t think about my injuries at<br />
all,” he said. “The manager has<br />
helped me on that front and<br />
he’s told me it’s about<br />
getting ourselves into<br />
a position where it’s<br />
not in our heads.” 4<br />
20 | THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong> | 21
IT'S BEEN SO<br />
UPLIFTING HAVING<br />
THE FANS BACK...<br />
HAVING THE<br />
ATMOSPHERE AT<br />
GAMES MAKES<br />
THE MATCHES SO<br />
MORE IMPORTANT<br />
SQUAD NUMBER<br />
11<br />
DOB: 23.04.1995<br />
Birthplace:<br />
Kidlington, Oxfordshire<br />
Position: Midfielder /<br />
left-wing back<br />
Joined: July 2016<br />
PLAYER PROFILE<br />
4That’s been encouraging<br />
for O’Dowda, who suffered<br />
a near repeat of the ankle<br />
injury which struck him<br />
down against Hull <strong>City</strong><br />
in November 2017. “This<br />
was a slow burner but I’m<br />
in a good place now and I<br />
don’t feel it all.”<br />
He’s now pleased to<br />
be back in the team,<br />
competing for more<br />
regular minutes but it’s the<br />
ability to play back in front<br />
of crowds which has been<br />
the biggest difference for<br />
the wide man.<br />
O’Dowda said: “I’ve had a<br />
lot more minutes recently<br />
and it’s been so uplifting<br />
with the fans back,<br />
compared to not having<br />
them last season. From<br />
seeing them and having<br />
the atmosphere at games,<br />
it makes the matches so<br />
more important. Going<br />
into games last season<br />
and internationally in a<br />
World Cup qualifier, you<br />
had nobody cheering or<br />
singing around you and it<br />
made matches feel like a<br />
training session.<br />
“They create such a good<br />
feeling, they’re the feeling<br />
you want and you thrive<br />
off that, so it’s been great<br />
to be back among all that.”<br />
Now O’Dowda wants<br />
to kick on with more<br />
consistency to his game.<br />
“That’s in terms of<br />
impacting games, be<br />
that playing left-wing<br />
back or elsewhere, and<br />
getting minutes. It’s about<br />
consistency in terms of<br />
what I can produce both<br />
defensively or attackingwise<br />
but I’m not setting<br />
myself any figures in<br />
particular,” he said.<br />
O’Dowda expects another<br />
tough afternoon against a<br />
<strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong> team which<br />
he believes will want to<br />
play on the front foot and<br />
without fear.<br />
“It’s a really unfortunate<br />
CAREER HIGHS<br />
AUGUST 2013<br />
Makes his professional debut for<br />
Oxford United v Charlton Athletic<br />
MAY 2016<br />
Makes his Republic of Ireland debut v Belarus<br />
JULY 2016<br />
Signs first contract with <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />
NOVEMBER 2017<br />
Scores his first goal for the Robins<br />
in a 2-1 win against Cardiff <strong>City</strong><br />
SEPTEMBER 2019<br />
Signs a three-year extension with<br />
the option of a further 12 months<br />
turn of events. It’s horrible to<br />
see what’s been thrown on<br />
the fans, the staff and the<br />
players,” he said, regarding<br />
the Rams’ points deduction.<br />
“But I expect them to play<br />
with the attitude of ‘What<br />
have we got to lose’? That<br />
can make teams more<br />
dangerous. People have<br />
probably already started to<br />
write them off but it can be<br />
hard to play against.<br />
“I watched them first hand<br />
against QPR on Monday<br />
and was looking at how<br />
they operate and how we<br />
can exploit them. Those are<br />
areas we have worked on<br />
this week, we expect them<br />
to commit going forward<br />
but for us it’s another<br />
opportunity to extend what<br />
we have done well at home.<br />
“I think the penny has started<br />
to drop when it comes to<br />
our home form and I’m<br />
really looking forward to it.<br />
It’s great to come back to<br />
Ashton Gate and feel the<br />
buzz of the place again.”<br />
Above<br />
Being<br />
congratulated<br />
by Ayman<br />
Benarous on<br />
his goal against<br />
Blackburn<br />
Rovers<br />
Left<br />
Joining in the<br />
celebrations at<br />
Peterborough<br />
United<br />
following <strong>City</strong>'s<br />
3-2 away win –<br />
O'Dowda's first<br />
game back in<br />
the starting XI<br />
following his<br />
ankle injury<br />
Below right<br />
Playing for<br />
Republic of<br />
Ireland versus<br />
Oman in August<br />
2016<br />
BRISTOL CITY SEASON STATS<br />
APPEARANCES<br />
10<br />
TOTAL<br />
MINUTES PLAYED<br />
547<br />
2004-13<br />
Youth<br />
GOALS<br />
CAREER PATH<br />
2013-2016<br />
Professional<br />
2016-present<br />
Signed<br />
INTERNATIONAL CAREER<br />
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND CAPS<br />
Qualifies through his grandfather<br />
23<br />
BEST OPTA<br />
RATING<br />
1 7.77<br />
v Blackburn Rovers<br />
PASS SUCCESS RATE<br />
67.2 %<br />
AVERAGE OPTA RATING<br />
6.48<br />
22 | THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong> | 23
ADVERTORIAL<br />
IS THERE<br />
A BETTER<br />
WAY TO<br />
BUY YOUR<br />
NEXT CAR?<br />
CAZOO<br />
YEAH!<br />
BRISTOL CITY<br />
WOMEN<br />
Abi Harrison in action<br />
against Lewes in the FA<br />
Women's Championship<br />
fixture in September<br />
HIGH TIMES<br />
<strong>City</strong> headed into the current<br />
international break on a high,<br />
with Head Coach Lauren<br />
Smith watching her side finish<br />
their past block of games with a commanding<br />
performance against Watford in Hertfordshire.<br />
The Robins are unbeaten since the previous<br />
international break with last Sunday’s 3-0 victory<br />
over Watford capping four wins and one draw from<br />
their last five outings.<br />
<strong>City</strong> Women now have six players on<br />
international duty, which includes FIFA World<br />
Cup qualifiers for Abi Harrison and Ffion<br />
Morgan (pictured), before the squad<br />
reunites for the cup clash against Lewes:<br />
Abi Harrison (Scotland), Ffion Morgan<br />
(Wales), Fran Bentley (England U23s),<br />
Brooke Aspin and Naomi Layzell<br />
(England Development Squad), Aggie<br />
Beever-Jones (England Pathway).<br />
LEWES AGAIN<br />
Tickets are available to purchase for <strong>City</strong><br />
Women's Vitality Women's FA Cup Third Round<br />
tie against Lewes on Sunday, December 12th<br />
(3pm) at the Robins High Performance Centre.<br />
The two sides are set to meet in the West<br />
Country for the fourth time this campaign, after<br />
previously meeting once in pre-season, the FA<br />
Championship and FA Continental Cup group<br />
stages.<br />
<strong>City</strong> will be aiming to repeat their league<br />
and cup victories over Lewes come<br />
mid-December and advance to the Fourth<br />
Round which is scheduled to take place in<br />
the New Year.<br />
NB Vitality Women's FA Cup fixtures are not<br />
included in the 2021/22 Season Card.<br />
Buy or finance a car online and we’ll deliver it to<br />
your door with a 7-Day Money Back Guarantee.<br />
BUY BRISTOL CITY WOMEN TICKETS<br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong> | 27
89418941894189418941894<br />
CITY<br />
ARCHIVES<br />
89418941894189418941894<br />
894 HALL 1894 OF 1894 FAME 1894 1894 1894<br />
TOM HOPEGOOD PROFILES CITY NUMBER ONE MIKE GIBSON<br />
89418941894189418941894<br />
Mike Gibson<br />
Chairman Harry Dolman told<br />
Steve Johnson<br />
climbs above<br />
became a<br />
Ford to strengthen the team<br />
Manchester United's<br />
cult hero<br />
because he wanted to take<br />
Mike Duxbury<br />
894to 1894<br />
the 1894<br />
<strong>City</strong> to the First 1894<br />
Division. 1894 1894<br />
East End at Ashton Gate and<br />
But Ford said who could<br />
became <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong>’s greatest<br />
he leave out of the team,<br />
keeper bar none.<br />
which was playing so well<br />
89418941894<br />
together? 1894 1894 1894<br />
Alongside centre-half Jack<br />
Connor, they found an uncanny<br />
Southampton crucially beat<br />
understanding as <strong>City</strong> were<br />
<strong>City</strong> at Ashton Gate on Good<br />
89418941894189418941894<br />
promoted in spring 1965. They<br />
Friday 1966 and drew the<br />
were mainstays in the team as<br />
return at The Dell on Easter<br />
Fred Ford’s boys were close<br />
Monday – taking three<br />
894<br />
to bringing a successive 1894<br />
promotion the following points 1894<br />
off <strong>City</strong>, which enabled them to 1894<br />
pip <strong>City</strong> to 1894 1894<br />
<strong>City</strong>’s rise – and you would imagine<br />
season.<br />
promotion.<br />
the presence of Terry Cooper – 3<br />
attracted both Manchester United<br />
Over the next five seasons, Gibbo’s brilliance<br />
and Liverpool to Ashton Gate<br />
8941894between 1894<br />
the sticks along with John Galley’s 1894<br />
goals 1894<br />
in the 1985/86 pre-season. 1894<br />
kept <strong>City</strong> in the Second Division. This gave Alan<br />
Dicks help to bring on his own team with Geoff<br />
Merrick, Trevor Tainton and Gerry Gow to take the<br />
8941894Club 1894<br />
to the First Division in 1976.<br />
1894 1894 0 11894<br />
Saturday, August 3rd 1985<br />
Mike joined Gillingham in 1972 now in the veteran<br />
8941894stage. 1894<br />
He helped the Gills to promotion<br />
1894<br />
in 1974<br />
A 6,000-plus crowd saw this match decided by a<br />
1894 1894<br />
before returning to <strong>Bristol</strong> to become a postman,<br />
fantastic strike from Mark Hughes.<br />
a job he held for 37 years, while also running <strong>City</strong>’s<br />
Junior and Youth teams and was very much part<br />
With his back to goal, the Welshman controlled a long<br />
8941894of 1894<br />
Terry Cooper’s backroom staff in <strong>Bristol</strong> 1894<br />
<strong>City</strong>’s 1894<br />
throw-in from Peter Barnes on his 1894<br />
chest and juggled<br />
hours of need.<br />
the ball in the air to make room to smash the ball on<br />
the turn past Keith Waugh. I remember it well – it<br />
Mike Gibson will always be a legend at Ashton<br />
would deserve to win any game!<br />
8941894Gate, 1894<br />
much respected by his fellow pros. 1894<br />
He and 1894 1894<br />
his greatest friend Jack Connor were <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong>’s<br />
<strong>City</strong> had a few chances all well saved by keeper Gary<br />
MIke Gibson in action during the 1968/69 season<br />
finest-ever servants.<br />
Bailey but last season's FA Cup winners could have<br />
scored more.<br />
89418941894189418941894<br />
Saturday, August 10th 1985<br />
Steve Neville challenges<br />
Liverpool's Alan Hansen<br />
FRIENDLY FIRE<br />
MIKE ADAMS CONTINUES HIS LOOK BACK AT THE LATE<br />
TERRY COOPER'S SPELL IN CHARGE OF THE ROBINS<br />
3<br />
One week later 8,000-plus were treated to a goal fest.<br />
Liverpool mounted an opening blitzkrieg – Ian Rush<br />
saw his shot parried by Waugh but deflect into the net<br />
via defender Rob Newman before turning provider for<br />
Ronnie Whelan. Steve Neville continued his good form<br />
from the previous season, converting Gary Marshall’s<br />
cross after it had been nodded down by Steve<br />
Johnson. Liverpool’s two-goal margin was restored<br />
before half-time, however, when Kevin McDonald<br />
chipped neatly over Waugh from 25 yards.<br />
Cooper reorganised <strong>City</strong>’s defence at the break,<br />
moving experienced new signing Brian Williams from<br />
midfield to left back. This gave <strong>City</strong> more freedom to<br />
play and Bobby Hutchinson played a pass across the<br />
area to Neville who scored his second. Then on 75<br />
minutes Alan Walsh produced one of his trademark<br />
thunderbolts to force a creditable draw.<br />
189<br />
189<br />
189<br />
189<br />
189<br />
189<br />
189<br />
189<br />
189<br />
189<br />
189<br />
189<br />
189<br />
28 | T HE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong> | 29
JUST £25 *<br />
BRISTOL CITY<br />
MEMBERSHIP<br />
£5 OFF HOME LEAGUE MATCHES<br />
TWO FREE TICKETS FOR U19S & U12S<br />
$£5 REWARDS BALANCE<br />
BCFC.CO.UK/MEMBERSHIP<br />
* Does not include booking fee<br />
2021/22<br />
HOME KIT
8941894189418941894189418941894<br />
894 CITY 1894 IN CARTOONS 1894 1894 1894 1894YOU 1894 CAN 1894<br />
with club historian David Woods<br />
89418941894189418941894QUOTE 1894ME<br />
1894<br />
As mentioned<br />
previously, the<br />
ON THAT<br />
principal <strong>Bristol</strong><br />
894Evening 1894<br />
World 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894<br />
cartoonist pre-World War Two<br />
was Arthur Potts, who drew under<br />
STEVE SMITH LOOKS BACK AT<br />
the pen name of ‘Spot’, as per<br />
89418941894189418941894<br />
AN INTERVIEW 1894<br />
WITH FORMER 1894<br />
CITY<br />
the examples on this page which<br />
appeared in the paper during the<br />
BOSS JOE JORDAN IN THE 1990S<br />
1938/39 season...<br />
8941894189418941894As 1894<br />
our former player and Junior 1894<br />
Bent and Mark Flatts in the last 1894<br />
few weeks<br />
3 2<br />
manager Joe Jordan turns of the season when we couldn’t get the ball out to<br />
70 later this month, in the them on that boggy surface? Our opponents didn’t<br />
Booth 18,<br />
Davies 3, were reduced to ten men due Bourton, Mardon, Booth,<br />
June/July 1995 issue of the like it and neither did we.”<br />
894<br />
Peters 40, 1894<br />
Chadwick 80 to an injury picked 1894<br />
up by Davies Wilshaw. 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894<br />
Bourton 60<br />
monthly magazine, Matchday,<br />
on scoring the opener. Booth Ipswich: Burns; Dale, Parry;<br />
he reveals why he left Ashton The magazine goes on to say that <strong>City</strong> were still<br />
Saturday, December 3rd 1938 equalised with a full-bloodied Bell, Fillingham, McLuckie;<br />
Gate in September 1990 to struggling to find a regular goalscorer in the 29 years<br />
Division Three (South)<br />
drive, then Peters fired in another Mulraney, Davies, Chadwick,<br />
8941894189418941894manage 1894<br />
Hearts.<br />
since<br />
1894<br />
John Atyeo finished with 350 goals<br />
1894<br />
in 647<br />
as a prelude to Bourton’s<br />
Perrett, Fletcher.<br />
games between 1951to 1966: ‘Wayne Allison barely<br />
A somewhat mixed display of pile-driver.<br />
Referee: L Brown<br />
“I had a get-out clause in my contract. I did fancy managed to bag a baker’s dozen over the season.<br />
good and indifferent football <strong>City</strong>: Dawson; Brook, Bridge; (Barnes, London)<br />
managing a top Scottish club, it’s true, but the fact Second striker, Ian Baird scraped eight in 27 games.’<br />
in beating an Ipswich side who<br />
8941894<br />
Caldwell, Roberts,<br />
1894<br />
Hick; Peters, Attendance: 9,105<br />
1894<br />
(£435.11s.6d)<br />
1894<br />
is no one asked me to stay 1894<br />
at Ashton Gate, so I left. However, 1894<br />
as a former frontman himself, 1894<br />
Joe knows<br />
what to look for.<br />
“This time I have come back to a different group of<br />
directors who made me feel wanted. That was the “A proven goalscorer is essential for any side that<br />
894 1 1894 1 1894 1894 1894<br />
most important thing to 1894<br />
me. I have signed a threeyear<br />
contract with no get-out clause this time. I look homework and have a list of strikers that could fill<br />
wants 1894<br />
success in any division. I have 1894<br />
done my<br />
Armstrong 15 Egan 8<br />
Saturday, April 1st 1939<br />
at the Ashton Gate stadium and I see progress. the role. It is a question of what financial help the<br />
Division Three (South)<br />
directors can give me because I really don’t want to<br />
8941894189418941894189418941894<br />
"Now I have to strive to achieve progress on the sell the best players already here.”<br />
Egan opened the scoring with<br />
field worthy of the excellent conditions.”<br />
a fine overhead kick for the<br />
The club’s general manager, Geoff Clements, points<br />
894<br />
visitors in this grand 1894<br />
game. 1894 1894 1894<br />
Jordan’s appointment in 1894<br />
November 1994 failed to out 1894<br />
that the shirt sponsor, Auto Windscreens, 1894<br />
Armstrong sneaked in to fire an<br />
halt the slide into the third tier of English football, brings £100,000 to the club, which goes some way<br />
equaliser that ended the scoring,<br />
but the former Scottish striker, with three World Cup to install the new playing surface (£40,000) and<br />
but not the thrills. Near the finish <strong>City</strong>: Pearson; Brook, Bridge; Kelso; Corkhill, Ballsom,<br />
final tournaments to his name, was optimistic about perimeter track (£20,000). “They sponsor <strong>Derby</strong><br />
894<br />
Roberts was fortunate 1894<br />
that C Morgan, Roberts,<br />
1894<br />
Armstrong; Nicholson; McKenzie,<br />
1894<br />
Walton,<br />
1894<br />
the forthcoming 1995/96 1894<br />
campaign, especially as a <strong>County</strong> 1894<br />
as well,” explains Clements. “When 1894<br />
the two<br />
the referee failed to notice his Peters, Chilcott, Rowles,<br />
Egan, Hill, Prescott.<br />
new pitch was being prepared.<br />
clubs met at Ashton Gate on September 13th, and<br />
handling offence in the penalty Bourton, Spiring.<br />
Referee: WE Plyer (Weymouth).<br />
again at the Baseball Ground on April 1st, both teams<br />
area.<br />
“What is the point of having skilful players like wore the Auto Windscreens logo on their shirts.”<br />
8941894<br />
Cardiff: Fielding;<br />
1894<br />
Glanville, Attendance: 10,003<br />
1894<br />
(£493.5s.0d)<br />
1894 1894 1894 1894<br />
32 | T HE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong> THE ROB NS <strong>Derby</strong> <strong>County</strong> | 33
Giving Football Back to<br />
Small Business<br />
At eBay, we know small business and<br />
football clubs used to be like chips and<br />
gravy, two peas in a pod – a match<br />
made in community heaven.<br />
Ironmongers, ship workers, spring<br />
makers and cobblers, all formed clubs<br />
which decades later are still prospering.<br />
But nowadays, you’d think it was all<br />
eyewatering transfers, Super Leagues<br />
and mega sponsors, detached from the<br />
humble origins of our historic clubs.<br />
That’s why eBay are proud to support<br />
300,000 small businesses who help<br />
power EFL clubs nationwide. We’ll be<br />
donating our advertising space to a lot<br />
of these businesses – on match day<br />
hoardings, around grounds and beyond –<br />
throughout the coming season, to ensure<br />
they can continue to thrive in our local<br />
communities. So, join us in giving your<br />
support to Small Business Power, because<br />
today, they need us more than ever.<br />
Football is a game of many opinions, but<br />
there is one that we must all share. There is<br />
no place for discrimination in our game. If<br />
you do not agree, then you are not welcome.<br />
If you see or hear discrimination in this<br />
stadium, please report it to the nearest<br />
steward or via the Kick it Out App.<br />
Because we are all<br />
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH<br />
#TogetherAgainstDiscrimination<br />
Download the Kick it Out app for free from your app store.<br />
EFL.com
TODAY'S<br />
SQUADS<br />
Saturday December 4th, 3pm kick-off | Ashton Gate | Sky Bet Championship<br />
BRISTOL CITY<br />
v<br />
DERBY COUNTY<br />
TODAY'S<br />
FIXTURES<br />
Coventry v West Brom<br />
Barnsley v Huddersfield<br />
Blackburn v Preston<br />
Blackpool v Luton<br />
<strong>City</strong> v <strong>Derby</strong><br />
Cardiff v Sheff Utd<br />
Middlesbro v Swansea<br />
Millwall v Birmingham<br />
N Forest v Peterboro<br />
Reading v Hull<br />
Played yesterday<br />
Fulham v Bournemouth<br />
Playing Sunday<br />
QPR v Stoke<br />
MANAGER<br />
Nigel PEARSON<br />
HOME<br />
KIT<br />
1 Dan BENTLEY<br />
2 Danny SIMPSON<br />
3 Jay DAS I LVA<br />
5 Rob ATKINSON<br />
6 Matty JAMES<br />
8 Joe WILLIAMS<br />
9 Chris MARTIN<br />
10 Andy KING<br />
11 Callum O’DOWDA<br />
12 Max O'LEARY<br />
14 Andreas WEIMANN<br />
15 Tyreeq BAKINSON<br />
16 Cameron PRING<br />
17 Nathan BAKER<br />
18 Antoine SEMENYO<br />
19 George TANNER<br />
21 Nahki WELLS<br />
22 Tomas KALAS<br />
26 Zak VYNER<br />
36 Alex SCOTT<br />
37 Tommy CONWAY<br />
38 Ayman BENAROUS<br />
42 Han-Noah MASSENGO<br />
45 Kasey PALMER<br />
46 Saikou JANNEH<br />
MANAGER<br />
Wayne ROONEY<br />
HOME<br />
KIT<br />
1 David MARSHALL<br />
2 Nathan BYRNE<br />
3 Craig FORSYTH<br />
4 Graeme SHINNIE<br />
5 Krystian BIELIK<br />
6 Phil JAGIELKA<br />
7 Kamil JOZWIAK<br />
8 Max BIRD<br />
9 Sam BALDOCK<br />
10 Tom LAWRENCE<br />
11 Ravel MORRISON<br />
13 Colin KAZIM-RICHARDS<br />
16 Richard STEARMAN<br />
17 Louie SIBLEY<br />
21 Kelle ROOS<br />
26 Lee BUCHANAN<br />
31 Ryan ALLSOP<br />
32 Jordan BROWN<br />
33 Curtis DAVIES<br />
34 Jack STRETTON<br />
35 Louie WATSON<br />
36 Festy EBOSELE<br />
37 Kornell McDONALD<br />
38 Jason KNIGHT<br />
40 Isaac HUTCHINSON<br />
41 Eiran CASHIN<br />
42 Liam THOMPSON<br />
43 Dylan WILLIAMS<br />
46 Omari KELLYMAN<br />
MATCH OFFICIALS<br />
LEAGUE<br />
TABL E<br />
Not including yesterday or<br />
today’s 12.30pm kick-off<br />
P GD Pts<br />
Fulham 20 33 43<br />
Bournemouth 20 20 42<br />
QPR 20 8 35<br />
West Brom 20 11 34<br />
Blackburn 20 7 33<br />
Coventry 20 4 33<br />
Stoke 20 3 31<br />
Huddersfield 20 0 28<br />
Swansea 20 -1 27<br />
Millwall 20 -1 27<br />
Blackpool 20 -2 27<br />
Middlesbro 20 0 26<br />
Sheff Utd 20 -1 26<br />
Birmingham 20 -2 26<br />
Luton 20 1 25<br />
N Forest 20 1 25<br />
Preston 20 -4 25<br />
CITY 20 -9 23<br />
Hull 20 -7 21<br />
Cardiff 20 -13 21<br />
Reading* 20 -6 20<br />
Peterboro 20 -21 16<br />
Barnsley 20 -18 12<br />
<strong>Derby</strong>** 20 -3 1<br />
* deducted six points<br />
**deducted 21 points<br />
N EXT AT<br />
ASHTON<br />
G ATE<br />
Match<br />
Referee<br />
Graham<br />
SCOTT<br />
Assistant<br />
Referee<br />
Derek<br />
EATON<br />
Assistant<br />
Referee<br />
Daniel<br />
LEACH<br />
Goalkeeper Defender Midfielder Forward<br />
Fourth<br />
Official<br />
Leigh<br />
DOUGHTY<br />
HUDDERSFIELD<br />
TOWN<br />
Ashton Gate<br />
Saturday December 18th,<br />
3pm kick-off<br />
Sky Bet Championship<br />
IF YOU SEE OR HEAR ANY RACIST, HOMOPHOBIC OR ANY OTHER ABUSE<br />
PLEASE REPORT IT TO OUR TEXT LINE 07770 736 047