|
Post by LJG on Oct 23, 2017 22:03:49 GMT
I was out of the fold for most of the Twerton years and only saw about a dozen matches there in total.The game that sticks out for me was one that vary rarely gets a mention,and it was a win against the 82! 2-0 up but they got it back to 2-2,a dodgy penalty for them possibly?Then from a corner Billy Ocean gives the thieving Postman an almighty shove in the back and heads in the winner for us.Still makes me laugh now. 21 December 1991. Still got the ticket.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2017 23:14:12 GMT
I was out of the fold for most of the Twerton years and only saw about a dozen matches there in total.The game that sticks out for me was one that vary rarely gets a mention,and it was a win against the 82! 2-0 up but they got it back to 2-2,a dodgy penalty for them possibly?Then from a corner Billy Ocean gives the thieving Postman an almighty shove in the back and heads in the winner for us.Still makes me laugh now. I was sat in the temp stand right next to the teds, giving them some stick when we were two up, got it back when they scored the equaliser, but made the winner even sweeter, the look on their faces was like they wanted to kill me, very enjoyable.
|
|
|
Post by Captain Jayho on Oct 23, 2017 23:52:57 GMT
I started watching Rovers when we were at Twerton. It's easy to have rose-tinted specs when it comes to looking back at those days now although we were utter rag-bag of course. I'm never quite sure if it's just the memories over time or if it really was that much better but it felt pretty amazing to be a part of despite the destitution the club was in at the time. Beating established teams in a run-down old rented stadium with a bunch of low paid journeymen was a great feeling. I used to stand on the Popular Side and remember singing all the way through half-time a couple of times in the John Ward era (albeit that was the later Twerton days) - not sure we were even winning at the time. Johnny Ward's Barmy Army ad infinitum, probably got a bit tedious for a few people...
There's definitely something about being a small fish in a big pond that galvanises the support whereas more latterly we seem to have - rightly or wrongly - considered ourselves as a bigger fish in a smaller pond which leads to greater expectation and more disappointment I guess.
|
|
|
Post by LJG on Oct 24, 2017 6:45:56 GMT
I started watching Rovers when we were at Twerton. It's easy to have rose-tinted specs when it comes to looking back at those days now although we were utter rag-bag of course. I'm never quite sure if it's just the memories over time or if it really was that much better but it felt pretty amazing to be a part of despite the destitution the club was in at the time. Beating established teams in a run-down old rented stadium with a bunch of low paid journeymen was a great feeling. I used to stand on the Popular Side and remember singing all the way through half-time a couple of times in the John Ward era (albeit that was the later Twerton days) - not sure we were even winning at the time. Johnny Ward's Barmy Army ad infinitum, probably got a bit tedious for a few people... There's definitely something about being a small fish in a big pond that galvanises the support whereas more latterly we seem to have - rightly or wrongly - considered ourselves as a bigger fish in a smaller pond which leads to greater expectation and more disappointment I guess. Precisely. To the point where some took some sort of blood vendetta against Byron Anthony for daring to say he was looking forward to playing for Oldham when he'd just signed for them. Bizarre.
|
|
|
Post by BrightonGas on Oct 24, 2017 7:06:57 GMT
Watching that clip puts our current struggles into context, how cool was GD rocking up in his 911 Targa!
|
|
|
Post by gregsy on Oct 24, 2017 7:15:02 GMT
I started watching Rovers when we were at Twerton. It's easy to have rose-tinted specs when it comes to looking back at those days now although we were utter rag-bag of course. I'm never quite sure if it's just the memories over time or if it really was that much better but it felt pretty amazing to be a part of despite the destitution the club was in at the time. Beating established teams in a run-down old rented stadium with a bunch of low paid journeymen was a great feeling. I used to stand on the Popular Side and remember singing all the way through half-time a couple of times in the John Ward era (albeit that was the later Twerton days) - not sure we were even winning at the time. Johnny Ward's Barmy Army ad infinitum, probably got a bit tedious for a few people... There's definitely something about being a small fish in a big pond that galvanises the support whereas more latterly we seem to have - rightly or wrongly - considered ourselves as a bigger fish in a smaller pond which leads to greater expectation and more disappointment I guess. Precisely. To the point where some took some sort of blood vendetta against Byron Anthony for daring to say he was looking forward to playing for Oldham when he'd just signed for them. Bizarre. Think you're talking about Joe Jacobson mate....
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2017 7:36:04 GMT
Precisely. To the point where some took some sort of blood vendetta against Byron Anthony for daring to say he was looking forward to playing for Oldham when he'd just signed for them. Bizarre. Think you're talking about Joe Jacobson mate.... Spot on Paul.
|
|
|
Post by chilly1883 on Oct 24, 2017 7:45:23 GMT
I was a ball boy at twerton from 1988 - 1991, fantastic times!. Met some great people and players. UTG
|
|
|
Post by LJG on Oct 24, 2017 7:57:56 GMT
Precisely. To the point where some took some sort of blood vendetta against Byron Anthony for daring to say he was looking forward to playing for Oldham when he'd just signed for them. Bizarre. Think you're talking about Joe Jacobson mate.... I am indeed. Anthony went to Hereford.
|
|
|
Post by francegas on Oct 24, 2017 7:58:11 GMT
I remember driving back to London after our last ever match at Eastville thinking I had just seen the last match in the history of Bristol Rovers. It was such worrying times. But we moved to Twerton I renewed my season ticket and we started again. Twerton was good times but we would never have survived as a club without our move back to Bristol. Not being patronising but some of our younger fan base need to watch that film before complaining about our current situation.
|
|
|
Post by scoobydoogas on Oct 24, 2017 8:00:06 GMT
Good and mainly enjoyable times at Twerton. Those that turned up regularly were the true hard core supporters that the club needed to keep going. Cracking team in the promotion year. Everyone playing together and for the shirt. Battled to the end and never gave up. So many late winners. I have never left a football ground before the final whistle in my life but I can still remember the occasion when I was moving around the ground to get near the exit for a quick getaway after a game that we dominated but just couldn't score. I was making my way across the home end when David Mehew scored in the 90th minute and the crowd went bonkers. Another 3 pts on the board. Just can't recall who they were playing.
|
|
|
Post by Gastafari on Oct 24, 2017 8:05:10 GMT
I think I'm right in thinking he backed Ian Holloway with inspired signings like Jason Roberts etc. Didn't we bottle it on a final day match away at Cardiff? So close to promotion to the 2nd tier with our limited resources etc. The thing about perspective is the new owners have infinitely more money than the Dunfords (so we were told). So I guess expectations have been raised. I would like to see some talisman signings like Jason Roberts or Ricky Lambert again just to get the juices flowing. I wouldn't say we had limited resources. We made quite a bit of money from selling the likes of Stewart and Browning. Hayles cost £250k, Roberts and Ellington were £200k each I think, as was Cureton. Players like Walters, The Latvian, David Hillier and Ronnie Mauge would of all been on decent money. That squad cost a hell of a lot more than this current one. Preston, Wigan, Stoke, City and ourselves were the biggest spenders back then. Clubs at that time had their eyes lit up by the prospect of ITV Digital money which completely collapsed a couple of years later. We were spending far more 20 years ago than we are now.
|
|
|
Post by peterparker on Oct 24, 2017 8:09:34 GMT
I remember driving back to London after our last ever match at Eastville thinking I had just seen the last match in the history of Bristol Rovers. It was such worrying times. But we moved to Twerton I renewed my season ticket and we started again. Twerton was good times but we would never have survived as a club without our move back to Bristol. Not being patronising but some of our younger fan base need to watch that film before complaining about our current situation. Myself (along with others) have obviously had our run ins with Geoff over the years. I remember back in the old days of the forums back around 2000 and Geoff was always generally happy to join in chat and answer questions as best and honestly as he could. Obviously the later years became a bit more fractious and the shutters came down, but will never question the man’s commitment to the Gas or deny what he did do for the club in earlier times. I will always remember his I’m Ashamed post after we got dicked by Yeovil at Huish park, where he reeled off all that he had done in the face of growing criticism. If anything went wrong with Geoff’s tenure, it was more that it became stale and the club probably needed fresh blood sooner than it got it. Not to bash Nick Higgs, because I don’t doubt he is a Gashead, but his tenure in charged helps highlight the many positives Geoff (and his father) did for the club even more so and I don't think Geoff would have let certain things happen that happened under Nick because of his experiences RIP Geoff. Thank You and sorry
|
|
|
Post by Gasshole on Oct 24, 2017 9:35:33 GMT
Agree when we went to Azteca Twerton, there was a real hardcore of fans who made the journey each week. There was an unbreakable loyalty and an attitude of “you will never get rid of the Gas”. This coupled with new fans from the surrounding Bath area help keep us afloat. It was an adventure that lasted 10 years, and we made the most of it. The players seemed to adopt the same mindset, they didn’t know when to quit. I remember one particular game in the 86 / 87 season. 2 nil down against Chesterfield who get a penalty, looks like it’s going to be 3. Penalty saved and we go straight down the other end and score, 2:1 , the ground went fkin nuts...limbs everywhere. In the ensuing mayhem I get dragged out and taken to Bath Police station. I got out at 9pm to find we had won 3:2. Missed a good one. True story.
|
|
|
Post by adrian301 on Oct 24, 2017 15:44:51 GMT
I think I'm right in thinking he backed Ian Holloway with inspired signings like Jason Roberts etc. Didn't we bottle it on a final day match away at Cardiff? So close to promotion to the 2nd tier with our limited resources etc. The thing about perspective is the new owners have infinitely more money than the Dunfords (so we were told). So I guess expectations have been raised. I would like to see some talisman signings like Jason Roberts or Ricky Lambert again just to get the juices flowing. I wouldn't say we had limited resources. We made quite a bit of money from selling the likes of Stewart and Browning. Hayles cost £250k, Roberts and Ellington were £200k each I think, as was Cureton. Players like Walters, The Latvian, David Hillier and Ronnie Mauge would of all been on decent money. That squad cost a hell of a lot more than this current one. Preston, Wigan, Stoke, City and ourselves were the biggest spenders back then. Clubs at that time had their eyes lit up by the prospect of ITV Digital money which completely collapsed a couple of years later. We were spending far more 20 years ago than we are now. What I'm trying to say is the Dunfords had a real good go at promotion and backed the manager.
|
|
|
Post by Gastafari on Oct 24, 2017 15:54:48 GMT
I wouldn't say we had limited resources. We made quite a bit of money from selling the likes of Stewart and Browning. Hayles cost £250k, Roberts and Ellington were £200k each I think, as was Cureton. Players like Walters, The Latvian, David Hillier and Ronnie Mauge would of all been on decent money. That squad cost a hell of a lot more than this current one. Preston, Wigan, Stoke, City and ourselves were the biggest spenders back then. Clubs at that time had their eyes lit up by the prospect of ITV Digital money which completely collapsed a couple of years later. We were spending far more 20 years ago than we are now. What I'm trying to say is the Dunfords had a real good go at promotion and backed the manager. Apologies. I misread your post. He certainly did back Holloway.
|
|
|
Post by adrian301 on Oct 24, 2017 20:12:41 GMT
What I'm trying to say is the Dunfords had a real good go at promotion and backed the manager. Apologies. I misread your post. He certainly did back Holloway. That was a quality 3rd tier team. It would easily beat the current team, I guess that's how far we have slipped, and the only way to get back to that standard is heavy investment in the team.
|
|
|
Post by oldgas on Oct 24, 2017 20:26:23 GMT
Am I mistaken in thinking that Geoff Dunford had written, or was in the process of writing a book regarding his time at Rovers?
If so, does anyone know when it will be published?
|
|
|
Post by Strange Gas on Oct 24, 2017 20:39:27 GMT
Am I mistaken in thinking that Geoff Dunford had written, or was in the process of writing a book regarding his time at Rovers? If so, does anyone know when it will be published? He talked about it and teased on Twitter. Was definitely saying he was writing it but never saw a firm date. Hope he did finish it as I’m sure it will be a cracking read. Said still writing in Feb 2017
|
|
|
Post by Gastafari on Oct 24, 2017 20:42:05 GMT
Apologies. I misread your post. He certainly did back Holloway. That was a quality 3rd tier team. It would easily beat the current team, I guess that's how far we have slipped, and the only way to get back to that standard is heavy investment in the team. It was. But around that time, we never seemed to be consistent season on season. We'd have a good season, followed by an indifferent one. I agree we do need to bring in better players if we are to improve, but considering where we were just over 2 years ago, we shouldn't be too disheartened at where we are at the moment.
|
|