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Post by Kingswood Polak on May 15, 2023 16:29:09 GMT
Always loved reading and hearing stuff like that and would always be around the older guys, at half time, at Eastville. Good times. My father was of the opinion that Ateyo was the best player of all from Bristol I’m sure Ateyo was from Wiltshire, might be wrong. I would have no idea but what i meant was that my dad would say he was the best of all players that played for the two Bristol clubs |
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Post by oldie on May 15, 2023 16:56:21 GMT
I’m sure Ateyo was from Wiltshire, might be wrong. I would have no idea but what i meant was that my dad would say he was the best of all players that played for the two Bristol clubs You dad was wrong, that was Geoff Bradford |
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Post by Kingswood Polak on May 15, 2023 17:00:44 GMT
I would have no idea but what i meant was that my dad would say he was the best of all players that played for the two Bristol clubs You dad was wrong, that was Geoff Bradford As i said, I’d have no idea but i do know that there were/are a lot who say that Ateyo was extremely skilful. |
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Post by oldie on May 15, 2023 17:32:47 GMT
You dad was wrong, that was Geoff Bradford As i said, I’d have no idea but i do know that there were/are a lot who say that Ateyo was extremely skilful. Watched him at the tail end of his career and like Bradford he was a good player. But the red shirt made me sea sick |
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Post by aghast on May 15, 2023 22:49:42 GMT
Two superb servants for both clubs, playing at the same time and appearing for England within a month of each other. Rather sad that neither lived to a ripe old age, but they will always be legends in Bristol. I never saw either play, sadly, but my granddad watched both many times and said he couldn't choose between them.
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2023 4:57:17 GMT
Two superb servants for both clubs, playing at the same time and appearing for England within a month of each other. Rather sad that neither lived to a ripe old age, but they will always be legends in Bristol. I never saw either play, sadly, but my granddad watched both many times and said he couldn't choose between them. did he not end up watching us at twerton as they made him pay to attend games at the 82? |
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Post by The Equaliser on May 16, 2023 5:42:28 GMT
You dad was wrong, that was Geoff Bradford As i said, I’d have no idea but i do know that there were/are a lot who say that Ateyo was extremely skilful. Your dad wasn’t wrong KP, it was his opinion, and many, many others would agree with him. There is no measuring stick, both were incredible players and great ambassadors 👍🏾 |
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Post by Kingswood Polak on May 16, 2023 7:07:38 GMT
Two superb servants for both clubs, playing at the same time and appearing for England within a month of each other. Rather sad that neither lived to a ripe old age, but they will always be legends in Bristol. I never saw either play, sadly, but my granddad watched both many times and said he couldn't choose between them. As i previously alluded, it was my dad who saw them and it was he who started us boys going to football. He was one of those rare folk who did not have a favourite team but just loved decent football. Given his command of English would not have been that great, not at that time, he did well and was popular at Rovers but he always went onto the home end of the muller road end. I remember him telling me that Bradford would never back out of a chance but that Ateyo was the more skilful player, i just wish i had the chance to have seen both. I think someone told me that players would often play cricket as well as football and i know a couple who did that. Always loved listening to the older guys talk about those days. |
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Post by bidefordgas on May 16, 2023 7:09:10 GMT
Watched both players on many occasions in the late fifties/sixties.
Ateyo was your typical old fashioned centre forward, a real fox in the box and rightly deserves his highly regarded status.
Bradford was a really skilled much more all round player who could dribble and beat his man as well as being deadly in the area.
In my opinion Geoff was the better all round footballer, but John was deadly anywhere around the six yard box, hence his scoring record.
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Post by Kingswood Polak on May 16, 2023 7:13:46 GMT
As i said, I’d have no idea but i do know that there were/are a lot who say that Ateyo was extremely skilful. Your dad wasn’t wrong KP, it was his opinion, and many, many others would agree with him. There is no measuring stick, both were incredible players and great ambassadors 👍🏾 When i hear the remaining people, who saw both, talk of them i feel a tinge of envy and not just because of the two players but because football really was a true working mans sport back then. I don’t know if it’s nostalgia but people seemed happier. |
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Post by Kingswood Polak on May 16, 2023 7:18:42 GMT
Watched both players on many occasions in the late fifties/sixties. Ateyo was your typical old fashioned centre forward, a real fox in the box and rightly deserves his highly regarded status. Bradford was a really skilled much more all round player who could dribble and beat his man as well as being deadly in the area. In my opinion Geoff was the better all round footballer, but John was deadly anywhere around the six yard box, hence his scoring record. Morning fella, am i right in thinking it was more the norm for fans to go and watch both teams home games or was it just a select few, i ask because we were always taken to both, up until one of us made the choice to pick the one ? I chose Rovers because the atmosphere was better, it was easier to get to and i just enjoyed the gallows humour at Eastville. I never took to going to AG but it wasn’t like i had a choice, given i would have been less than 10 at that time |
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Post by oldie on May 16, 2023 7:20:26 GMT
Your dad wasn’t wrong KP, it was his opinion, and many, many others would agree with him. There is no measuring stick, both were incredible players and great ambassadors 👍🏾 When i hear the remaining people, who saw both, talk of them i feel a tinge of envy and not just because of the two players but because football really was a true working mans sport back then. I don’t know if it’s nostalgia but people seemed happier. Growing up in South Bristol most of my school friends were City fans. But there was not the sort of animosity we see now. More p*ss taking. Most of my mates played on a Saturday afternoon but I never did after about 11 years old. But I loved to go to games. So on any given Saturday I would alternate between Ashton Gate and Eastville. But rovers were always in my heart. In the early days, I was shocked at how dilapidated Ashton Gate was compared with Eastville. No proper flood lights, open terracing opposite the Dolman Stand and open terracing behind one goal. How times change |
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Post by Kingswood Polak on May 16, 2023 7:25:50 GMT
When i hear the remaining people, who saw both, talk of them i feel a tinge of envy and not just because of the two players but because football really was a true working mans sport back then. I don’t know if it’s nostalgia but people seemed happier. Growing up in South Bristol most of my school friends were City fans. But there was not the sort of animosity we see now. More p*ss taking. Most of my mates played on a Saturday afternoon but I never did after about 11 years old. But I loved to go to games. So on any given Saturday I would alternate between Ashton Gate and Eastville. But rovers were always in my heart. In the early days, I was shocked at how dilapidated Ashton Gate was compared with Eastville. No proper flood lights, open terracing opposite the Dolman Stand and open terracing behind one goal. How times change I grew up remembering the same attitudes and i was blissfully unaware of any real animosity and that would have been early 70’s. It was not until i was allowed onto the Tote, that i felt and saw anything close to hatred. |
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Post by oldie on May 16, 2023 8:45:14 GMT
Growing up in South Bristol most of my school friends were City fans. But there was not the sort of animosity we see now. More p*ss taking. Most of my mates played on a Saturday afternoon but I never did after about 11 years old. But I loved to go to games. So on any given Saturday I would alternate between Ashton Gate and Eastville. But rovers were always in my heart. In the early days, I was shocked at how dilapidated Ashton Gate was compared with Eastville. No proper flood lights, open terracing opposite the Dolman Stand and open terracing behind one goal. How times change I grew up remembering the same attitudes and i was blissfully unaware of any real animosity and that would have been early 70’s. It was not until i was allowed onto the Tote, that i felt and saw anything close to hatred. Neanderthals |
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Post by rememberhalifax on May 16, 2023 10:08:21 GMT
Back in the day folk did go to watch both clubs. I am one of 5 brothers ,2 of us staunch Rovers the others with leanings to the red half, though not with the same passion as us 2, Friends were equally divided and we would frequent the others home ground occasionally and watch with silent indifference, i actually saw what i believe was Ateyo's final game at City, the day they clinched promotion v Oldham. He was indeed a gent and very well respected by fans of both clubs. Friendly Arguments twixt red and blue re merits of Ateyo and Bradford were part of everyday life but what every one can agree on is that both were the greatest for their respective clubs and were great servants to same, strange thing is though i can remember that Ateyo farewell i can't remember Bradford's, shocking i know and i should be ashamed! do remember Geoff playing full back at the end of his career though.
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Post by Tilly's Thighs on May 16, 2023 10:49:49 GMT
Two superb servants for both clubs, playing at the same time and appearing for England within a month of each other. Rather sad that neither lived to a ripe old age, but they will always be legends in Bristol. I never saw either play, sadly, but my granddad watched both many times and said he couldn't choose between them. did he not end up watching us at twerton as they made him pay to attend games at the 82? He wrote a column for the Sunday Independent sports paper, so I would imagine that he attended both clubs when they were at home, maybe he had a press pass? He didn't seem to be the sort of chap who would expect to attend games for free as a spectator. |
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Post by oldie on May 16, 2023 10:52:49 GMT
Back in the day folk did go to watch both clubs. I am one of 5 brothers ,2 of us staunch Rovers the others with leanings to the red half, though not with the same passion as us 2, Friends were equally divided and we would frequent the others home ground occasionally and watch with silent indifference, i actually saw what i believe was Ateyo's final game at City, the day they clinched promotion v Oldham. He was indeed a gent and very well respected by fans of both clubs. Friendly Arguments twixt red and blue re merits of Ateyo and Bradford were part of everyday life but what every one can agree on is that both were the greatest for their respective clubs and were great servants to same, strange thing is though i can remember that Ateyo farewell i can't remember Bradford's, shocking i know and i should be ashamed! do remember Geoff playing full back at the end of his career though. Didn't we play West Ham for his testimonial game? I went to that |
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Post by rememberhalifax on May 16, 2023 11:48:37 GMT
Been digging and Geoff had a testimonial in 1964 , Bristol combined v international 11, ironically Ateyo scored for the latter! in a 4-1 win. should have been there but blowed if i can remember!
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Post by rememberhalifax on May 16, 2023 11:50:41 GMT
did he not end up watching us at twerton as they made him pay to attend games at the 82? He wrote a column for the Sunday Independent sports paper, so I would imagine that he attended both clubs when they were at home, maybe he had a press pass? He didn't seem to be the sort of chap who would expect to attend games for free as a spectator. Good paper that for local football Tilly, extensive coverage of all west country teams, Plymouth based i believe but available up here . |
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Post by erniegandhi on May 16, 2023 12:10:43 GMT
I have the programme for Geoff's testimonial match in which, if memory serves, Geoff was injured and did not play.
The teams listed are: for Rovers Bernard Hall, Doug Hillard, Gwynfor Jones, Terry Oldfield,Joe Davis, Ray Mabbutt, Harold Jarman, Brian Clark, Alf Biggs, Bobby Williams, Bobby Jones.
An International X1: Ron Springett, EddieMcCreadie, Marvin Hinton, Mick mcNeil, Ian Ure RonnieClayton, Alan Skirton, Bryan Douglas, John Atyeo, Frank Blunstone, Mike Summerbee.
Names to remember for some of us.
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