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Post by toddy1953 on Dec 18, 2020 13:19:29 GMT
With no football this side of Christmas, it’s got me thinking, well reminiscing really, of games gone by & what player would be my all time Rovers hero. I could pick a team plus subs easily, but if I had to name just one, who would it be & why?
As a Hartcliffe lad, Dad took me to my first game ever in 1963 at Ashton Gate. It was a night game v Brentford, I was mesmerised, as the lights took effect the brightness of the colours even the sweat on the players faces, the goals, 3-3, the roar of the crowd. When I got home Mum said ‘how was it?’ I said it was alright, I thought then that I should have said, it was brilliant, I loved it, but deep down I knew I didn’t. She then went on to say, she used to go down the Rovers & worked there in the tea hut as a girl. The rest of the season went by & I never went to another game, but found myself being drawn to the Rovers, and felt more of an affinity despite not ever seeing them. It wasn’t until Sept 1964, that I went to Eastville, for the first time, I stood at the front of the Tote End, just to the right of the goal. I knew straight away that this was to be my team, even before kick off, I felt at home. We won 5-2 v Carlisle & Alfie Biggs scored 3, one with a thunderous header, I can still remember the sound of the thud, the old heavy leather ball made when it hit the back of the net. Didn’t get to see his first spell, but although his second spell was at a lower level his goals ratio over a period of time was brilliant, probably a little bit of heart over head, but for me, the best.
At 11 years old I knew what it was like to fall in love & no matter how she treated me over the years or how rough she looked, I knew she was the one - I miss my Rovers that’s all 😢
What was it like for you first time & if you had to pick just one player, who would it be?
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Post by albaron on Dec 18, 2020 13:58:18 GMT
Mine was very similar to you Toddy 1953 . My dad took me to AG Dec 61 to see City versus Notts County then against Bradford Park Avenue later in the season. I thought OK but not really getting that buzz. Then we went to Eastville to watch Stoke City and i knew this was the team for me. We used to alternate between the 2 grounds until about 66 and then i simply started to go on my own and just to Eastville. From 71/72 started to go away as well. My first hero was John Frowen as a kid. Never really had another one but Harold,Biggsy,Bobby Jones & Jason Roberts were all up there.
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Post by bluestargas on Dec 18, 2020 15:32:26 GMT
With no football this side of Christmas, it’s got me thinking, well reminiscing really, of games gone by & what player would be my all time Rovers hero. I could pick a team plus subs easily, but if I had to name just one, who would it be & why? As a Hartcliffe lad, Dad took me to my first game ever in 1963 at Ashton Gate. It was a night game v Brentford, I was mesmerised, as the lights took effect the brightness of the colours even the sweat on the players faces, the goals, 3-3, the roar of the crowd. When I got home Mum said ‘how was it?’ I said it was alright, I thought then that I should have said, it was brilliant, I loved it, but deep down I knew I didn’t. She then went on to say, she used to go down the Rovers & worked there in the tea hut as a girl. The rest of the season went by & I never went to another game, but found myself being drawn to the Rovers, and felt more of an affinity despite not ever seeing them. It wasn’t until Sept 1964, that I went to Eastville, for the first time, I stood at the front of the Tote End, just to the right of the goal. I knew straight away that this was to be my team, even before kick off, I felt at home. We won 5-2 v Carlisle & Alfie Biggs scored 3, one with a thunderous header, I can still remember the sound of the thud, the old heavy leather ball made when it hit the back of the net. Didn’t get to see his first spell, but although his second spell was at a lower level his goals ratio over a period of time was brilliant, probably a little bit of heart over head, but for me, the best. At 11 years old I knew what it was like to fall in love & no matter how she treated me over the years or how rough she looked, I knew she was the one - I miss my Rovers that’s all 😢 What was it like for you first time & if you had to pick just one player, who would it be? I'm sure 3 days later beat Grimsby 5-3 also at Eastville on the Tuesday night, magic memories. |
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Post by toddy1953 on Dec 18, 2020 16:18:22 GMT
With no football this side of Christmas, it’s got me thinking, well reminiscing really, of games gone by & what player would be my all time Rovers hero. I could pick a team plus subs easily, but if I had to name just one, who would it be & why? As a Hartcliffe lad, Dad took me to my first game ever in 1963 at Ashton Gate. It was a night game v Brentford, I was mesmerised, as the lights took effect the brightness of the colours even the sweat on the players faces, the goals, 3-3, the roar of the crowd. When I got home Mum said ‘how was it?’ I said it was alright, I thought then that I should have said, it was brilliant, I loved it, but deep down I knew I didn’t. She then went on to say, she used to go down the Rovers & worked there in the tea hut as a girl. The rest of the season went by & I never went to another game, but found myself being drawn to the Rovers, and felt more of an affinity despite not ever seeing them. It wasn’t until Sept 1964, that I went to Eastville, for the first time, I stood at the front of the Tote End, just to the right of the goal. I knew straight away that this was to be my team, even before kick off, I felt at home. We won 5-2 v Carlisle & Alfie Biggs scored 3, one with a thunderous header, I can still remember the sound of the thud, the old heavy leather ball made when it hit the back of the net. Didn’t get to see his first spell, but although his second spell was at a lower level his goals ratio over a period of time was brilliant, probably a little bit of heart over head, but for me, the best. At 11 years old I knew what it was like to fall in love & no matter how she treated me over the years or how rough she looked, I knew she was the one - I miss my Rovers that’s all 😢 What was it like for you first time & if you had to pick just one player, who would it be? I'm sure 3 days later beat Grimsby 5-3 also at Eastville on the Tuesday night, magic memories. I think the Grimsby game was before in the midweek, as I was going on my own from Hartcliffe, I wasn’t allowed to go to a night game & remember moaning that I missed a good game 😀 |
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Post by toddy1953 on Dec 18, 2020 16:22:37 GMT
Mine was very similar to you Toddy 1953 . My dad took me to AG Dec 61 to see City versus Notts County then against Bradford Park Avenue later in the season. I thought OK but not really getting that buzz. Then we went to Eastville to watch Stoke City and i knew this was the team for me. We used to alternate between the 2 grounds until about 66 and then i simply started to go on my own and just to Eastville. From 71/72 started to go away as well. My first hero was John Frowen as a kid. Never really had another one but Harold,Biggsy,Bobby Jones & Jason Roberts were all up there. Yeah shortly after my first game I used to alternate as my mate was a c*** fan - unfortunately I was there with him on the last game that season when they beat Oldham 2-1 to go up😫 |
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Post by rememberhalifax on Dec 18, 2020 16:35:04 GMT
Strange and a shame that i can never remember the opponents in my first game or exactly when it was, i do remember that coming from a tiny village i was mesmerized by the whole experience, the sounds, the smells, the colour, the pies , rosettes, rattles, the football specials, i was in a complete daze!( prob the Gas!) must have been late 50s and well remember the cup run of 58, the forward line of Petherbridge, Biggs, Ward, Bradford, Hooper ....wow! beating City 4-3 at Ashton in the 5th round and listening to the 6 th round v Fulham away on the Wireless, well beaten 3-1 i think, despite that great forward line Fav ever player has to be Harold, had a few great players since but none have come close to knocking Harold off his perch, happy days!
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Post by francegas on Dec 18, 2020 16:43:26 GMT
My first match was 17th April 1976 v Southampton. My Dad got tickets via Downend Roundtable who he was a member. He took me and we took our seats in the North Stand.
I to this day remember the noise coming from the Tote End and was instantly hooked. Rovers won 2-0 with Frankie Prince scoring I think both goals. Despite living in Frenchay at the time all the kids in the street supported the other lot and I was proud to be a Rovers fan.
It was a good job I was hooked immediately because the second match my Dad took me to was a 5-1 home defeat by Wolves which was the last time Rovers had a home league attendance in excess of 20,000.
Spent many happy and frustrating days after standing on the Tote End. Moved to Surrey in 1979 and when old enough to drive travelled week in week out around the country following Rovers.
Two players who stood out for me were Frankie Prince and Paul Randall. There were of course many others including the great Micky Barrett.
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Post by rememberhalifax on Dec 18, 2020 16:43:28 GMT
Mine was very similar to you Toddy 1953 . My dad took me to AG Dec 61 to see City versus Notts County then against Bradford Park Avenue later in the season. I thought OK but not really getting that buzz. Then we went to Eastville to watch Stoke City and i knew this was the team for me. We used to alternate between the 2 grounds until about 66 and then i simply started to go on my own and just to Eastville. From 71/72 started to go away as well. My first hero was John Frowen as a kid. Never really had another one but Harold,Biggsy,Bobby Jones & Jason Roberts were all up there. Yeah shortly after my first game I used to alternate as my mate was a c*** fan - unfortunately I was there with him on the last game that season when they beat Oldham 2-1 to go up😫 Saw that game with City mates, Ateyo's swan song i believe, though could never ever warm to City did not feel no where near the dislike i feel for them now. |
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Post by Rod1883 on Dec 18, 2020 16:45:51 GMT
My Goodness, this is a bit "Forgive me Father, for I have sinned...."
I grew up out in the Mendips and my Dad wasn't into football so I didn't get taken to any games until...
My first game was a Bristol City Reserve match at AG. It was probably about 1967 so I would have been 7 or 8 years old.
My Great Uncle Reg, who lived on Hall Street, took me. I remember that he just left me to do what I wanted and that you could run all around the ground at that time and I recall being 'introduced' to smelling salts by some other young oiks at the match.
My main recollection, other than smelling salts, was being impressed by, or at least aware of, Trevor Tainton.
Living to the South of Bristol I was in City territory, so why am I Gas - probably through friends of friends I got to know one or two from the North of the City and wanted to be different to the majority at school etc.
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Post by tinkerbell on Dec 18, 2020 16:50:45 GMT
First game was Rovers first home match after England won the World Cup in 1966. Dad gave me two bob extra pocket money. Haven’t a clue who against. My favourite all time player has to be Harold.
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Post by alanrg on Dec 18, 2020 17:06:57 GMT
One of my first games was December 1963 Geoff Bradfords last game we beat the Sh*t 4-0 we were 3 up after 15 minutes what a day that was
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Post by cockergas on Dec 18, 2020 17:11:59 GMT
I don’t recall the opponents of my first game but it will have been in the early/middle 70’s. I remember being in the Tote end and my mum saying I looked like Kenny Stevens with my shirt untucked. I remember the gravel on the terracing from the speedway and the crowd surging forward to get out of the way of some away fans throwing stones over the fence. Was hooked and have never looked back. Time flys by way too fast.
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Post by warwickgas on Dec 18, 2020 17:23:20 GMT
I'm sure 3 days later beat Grimsby 5-3 also at Eastville on the Tuesday night, magic memories. I think the Grimsby game was before in the midweek, as I was going on my own from Hartcliffe, I wasn’t allowed to go to a night game & remember moaning that I missed a good game 😀 I remember that game too. Under the lights, Grimsby played in a red strip |
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Post by Jester on Dec 18, 2020 17:48:56 GMT
My first match was March '58 against the then 'not so mighty' Liverpool. Sat in the South stand with my Dad and Uncle. Rovers won 3:1 and I was hooked! For my 6th birthday, my uncle bought me a season ticket for the next year and we all sat in the south stand for the next 5 years, until I announced I wanted to go alone. Ended up with Gordon Bennett & Co standing next to the pitch entrance in the south enclosure until everyone moved to the Tote in the mid 60's. My first hero was 'wee Georgie Petherbridge' until that 'young upstart' Harold Jarman came along and took his place, although it didn't take long to convert me to Harold.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2020 17:57:01 GMT
First match I remember going to as a Blue was the Watney Cup Final - Hero automatically was Dick Shepherd.
Weirdly though as a young ‘un I also remember watching the now Bankrupt and dissolved BCFC losing to a Crystal Palace side including Alan Whittle ... And also going to the Gate to see England u21 lose to East Germany 0-1 and to bizarrely attend something called ‘All in the Game ‘ where football teams did Its a Knockout type stuff hosted by Dickie Davies. Got an amazing autograph collection from that.
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Post by Wembley_Gas on Dec 18, 2020 19:14:32 GMT
Wayne Jones remains my “hero” from my first game and Harold Jarman and Phil Roberts from that same game continue to take their place alongside him in my all time best Rovers XI
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Post by station on Dec 18, 2020 19:18:06 GMT
H .. 1966. Haaaaaaarooold
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Post by yattongas on Dec 18, 2020 19:31:31 GMT
The first game I can remember going to was Rovers 5 Charlton 5 .... I probably went before this but can’t remember! Paul Randall was my first hero
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Post by CrispPusher on Dec 18, 2020 19:34:22 GMT
Not really sure when my first game was, however Barry Hayles was my hero. When Hayles was sold to Fulham I was so upset I wrote Ian Holloway a letter, which resulted in his wife passing on his apologies to my mum at my brother's parents evening.  |
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Post by smudge1 on Dec 18, 2020 19:46:22 GMT
1971 v Plymouth think we lost then beat Gillingham on the Tuesday night. Robin Stubbs!
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