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BRISTOL CITY have been FA Cup finalists and in the highest Division in the domestic League, but over the last few years, they've endured a lot of ups and downs, despite spending heavily on players... 

The Club and The Ground

BRISTOL CITY were formed in 1887, originally as Southville AFC, and they later became Bedminster AFC, playing their matches at Bedminster Park - now Greville Smyth Park.

Later renamed to Bristol City, the club have yo-yoed between the Divisions and have never really established themselves as a top Division club, despite their big fan base and big-money player purchases. 

The ground, Ashton Gate, is one of the best in League One.  The Atyeo stand at one end of the ground is a smart looking, covered, all-seated single-tiered stand. It was opened in 1994, replacing a former open terrace and made a great difference to the overall look of the ground. At the other end is the smaller, covered Wedlock Blackthorn Stand housing the Hatters supporters. On one side, is the two-tiered GWR Dolman Stand, with the lower tier used as a family area. Opposite, the Brunel Ford Williams Stand is an older looking single-tiered stand, with several supporting pillars. A small band resides in one corner of the Atyeo Stand which on occasions helps to boost the atmosphere.

Hatters supporters are housed at one end in the Wedlock Blackthorn Stand, where the normal allocation is 2,800. If required, this can be increased to 5,500. The acoustics are excellent, so even a small number of away fans can generate some noise. The facilities are pretty standard, plus there are a number of supporting pillars running across the front of this stand, which could impede your view. The delicious 'Football's Famous Chicken Balti Pie' (£2.20) is available inside the ground. A day out at Bristol City, in line with the general improvement in football, is now far more enjoyable for away fans than it once was. 

A scheme for a new 30,000 capacity stadium adjacent to the M49, which would have been shared by both Bristol City & Bristol Rovers, plus Bristol Rugby Club has been scrapped. This may mean that the club will instead re-instate plans to re-develop Ashton Gate. This will involve the re-building of three sides of the ground, resulting in an increased capacity of around 30,000. The Williams Stand will be the first to be re-developed increasing the capacity to 23,500. Next will be the Wedlock Stand (taking the capacity to 26,000) and then finally the Dolman Stand. Planning permission has already been granted for the new stands and work could commence at the end of the 2003/04 season.

Ground Guide courtesy of the excellent Internet Football Ground Guide.

History - Bristol City Football Club

BRISTOL CITY were formed in 1887, originally as Southville AFC, and they later became Bedminster AFC, playing their matches at Bedminster Park - now Greville Smyth Park.

After internal dissention in Bedminster AFC, and after Bristol South AFC disbanded, Bedminster members Fred W. Keenan and John Durant formed a new club, Bristol South End, on April 12th 1894, which, in red shirts and navy blue shorts, played its first game at St.Johns Lane, Bedminster, on September 1st - 3500 watching the home side lose 2-4 to Swindon Town.

In 1896, Bedminster AFC beat Staple Hill 4-2 in their first game at the Bedminster Athletic Ground - Ashton Gate.

In 1897, after several attempts, on August 7th, Bristol South End succesfully changed their name to Bristol City, now to play in white shorts and red shirts, and soon after turned professional.

In 1900, Bristol City and Bristol Rovers were the only remaining professional clubs in Bristol, and on April 10th Bedminster AFC agreed to become part of Bristol City, matches being shared between St. Johns Lane and Ashton Gate.

Bristol City were finally elected to the Football League in 1901, making their permanent home at St. Johns Lane, and opening their campaign with a 2-0 win at Blackpool, a 0-3 defeat at Port Vale, before returning home to beat Stockport 3-0 in front of 7000 supporters. On March 9th, Billy Jones became the first Bristol City player to be capped, playing for England in a 3-0 win over Ireland at Southampton.

In 1904, Bristol City moved to Ashton Gate for the beginning of the 1904-05 season, their home ever since.

The club continued to improve and in 1906, Bristol City became the first team to win 30 games in a season, also setting a points record, and a record for most consecutive wins, 14, still unbroken today, on their way to promotion from the old Second Division to the top flight.

Their rise continued in 1907 as they finished runners-up in the top division, whilst Billy Wedlock won his first of 26 England caps in a 1-0 victory over Ireland at Everton on February 16th.

In 1909, having overcome replays in all but one round, Bristol City reached the FA Cup Final, but lost 1-2 to Manchester United on April 24th, in front of 71401 supporters at Crystal Palace - the largest attendance for any Bristol City match until 91 years later, in the year 2000. On February 13th, Joe Cottle became the clubs third ever England player, in the side which beat Ireland 4-0 at Bradford Park Avenue.  However, in 1911, Bristol City were relegated back to the old Second Division - and 11 years later, the club were relegated from the old Division Two to the Third Division South.

However, Bristol City finished their first season in Division Three South in first place, achieving promotion back into the old Second Division at the first attempt.  Unfortunately, the upturn in fortunes does not last long, and Bristol City change divisions for a third consecutive season, relegated back into the Third Division South after just one season.

The club bounce back three years later, with record breaking points and goals-scored, Bristol City finish first and are convincingly promoted back into the old Second Division.  But, in 1932, Bristol City slip back into the Third Division South, completing a roller-coaster ten years of ups and downs.

In 1934, Tranmere Rovers were beaten 3-0 on March 3rd in a replay of the Welsh Cup Final, Bristol City securing their first major trophy.  A year later, 43335 supporters descend on Ashton Gate on February 16th for a Fifth Round FA Cup tie with Preston North End - it is a record home attendance for the club.

On June 14th 1951, the club successfully captured the greatest player in their history - John Atyeo. He scored the first of many in his debut on August 18th in a 3-0 home win over Newport County.

In 1955, Bristol City were finally promoted back to the old Second Division, finishing in first place, with John Atyeo scoring 28 League goals and earning an England debut - scoring in a 4-1 win over Spain at Wembley on November 30th. The legend would go on to score five goals in six internationals in the following two years.  In 1957, Atyeo grabbed the fastest ever goal in Bristl City's history, scoring after just nine seconds on March 16th in a 2-0 win over Bury at Ashton Gate.

In 1960, crippled by internal wrangling, a highly-rated Bristol City side finish a miserable season relegated to the old Division Three.  Three years later, the club end the season in 14th with a dubious record, the lowest ever placing for a side scoring 100 League goals.  However, in 1965, finishing in second place, the club secure promotion back into the old Second Division.

In 1966, after 15 seasons, May 10th marks the final League game for Bristol City legend John Atyeo, who signs off in typical style with two goals in a 4-1 Ashton Gate win over Ipswich, bringing his totals to 350 goals in 645 games. On October 10th he made his final outing as Leeds visited for his testimonial.

In 1974, Bristol City grabbed one of the greatest ever cup upsets, defeating the mighty Leeds United 1-0 in an FA Cup Fifth Round replay at Elland Road.

Just two years later, a 1-0 Ashton Gate victory over Portsmouth in front of 27394 supporters on April 20th saw Bristol City finish second, and achieve promotion back to the top flight for the first time in 65 years. The side made a great start at the higher level on August 21st, winning 1-0 at Arsenal's Highbury Stadium. On July 22nd the club had replaced the Bristol coat of arms on their shirts with a new logo consisting of a Robin and football in front of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

May 19th 1977 marks one of the most well remembered games in the clubs history, with Bristol City needing only a draw to survive in the old First Division they travelled to Coventry, with many of their supporters in the 36903 crowd at Highfield Road. At 0-2 down their fate looked sealed, but a second-half fight back earned a memorable and all important 2-2 draw. The year also saw the Wurzels release 'One For The Bristol City', an anthem to the club, and back on the pitch Bristol City win the Anglo-Scottish Cup, defeating St. Mirren 3-2 on aggregate in the final on December 5th.

Three years later, St. Mirren gained revenge in the Anglo-Scottish Cup on 16th April, defeating Bristol City 5-1 on aggregate in a repeat of the final from three years earlier. This disappointment is nothing compared to the heartbreak at Bristol City's 2-5 defeat to Southampton at the Dell two weeks later, on April 29th - it relegated the club back into the old Second Division.  The club City was in complete freefall as they suffered a second successive relegation, tumbling into the old Division Three a year later. On November 18th the club introduced their first-ever shirt sponsor, 'Park Furnishers' appearing on the players shirts.

However, 1982 was perhaps the most devastating year in the club's history, as not only did they become the first team to be relegated from the old First Division to the Fourth in consecutive seasons - Bristol City going down once again, but the club almost went out of business. On February 2nd, Bristol City were one hour from being wound up when 8 of the club's best players agreed to voluntary redundancy, 'The Ashton Gate Eight' selflessly helping secure Bristol City's future, the club re-born with a new company 'Bristol City 1982 PLC' taking over the running. An April share issue provided the funds to ensure Bristol City's survival and on May 7th the new company took over Ashton Gate for £565,000. Although glad to just be in existence, a 0-1 defeat at Rochdale on December 4th sent Bristol City to the bottom of Division Four, their lowest-ever position.

However, two years later, finally Bristol City supporters had cause for celebration as they finished in fourth to ensure promotion back to the old Third Division.  On May 24th 1986, Bristol City made their first-ever visit to Wembley, beating Bolton Wanderers 3-0 in the final of the Freight Rover Trophy.  A year later, the club reached the Freight Rover Trophy final at Wembley for a second consecutive season, but they did not return triumphant this time however, losing on penalties to Mansfield Town.  There was more heartache a year later as a 0-4 defeat at Walsall on May 28th in the Third Division Play-Off Final replay dashed hopes of promotion.

Bristol City's most successful ever run in the League Cup saw them reach the semi-final, before being knocked out by Nottingham Forest in extra-time of the second leg at Ashton Gate on February 26th.  Nottingham Forest went on to win the competition that year, defeating the Hatters 3-1 at Wembley, just a year after Luton had lifted the trophy by beating Arsenal 3-2.

There was plenty to be happy about the followin season though, as promotion to the old Second Division was achieved with a finish in second place.

In 1993, the club sold their first million pound player, hot-shot Andy Cole joining Newcastle on March 12th for £1.75 million. Bristol City had signed him from Arsenal for £500,000 less than a year earlier.

On 25th January 1994, Bristol City earned one of their greatest ever results, knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 replay victory at the famous Anfield ground. Roared on by 8000 travelling supporters, Bristol City completed an extraordinary three match domination of the tie, having twice drawn with the Premiership giants at Ashton Gate, the first match abandoned.  However, in 1995, Bristol City finish bottom of the new First Division and suffer relegation to Division Two.

In 1998, an impressive Bristol City end the season comfortably promoted from Division Two in second place, earning a return to the First Division. The summer saw the club buy their first million pound player, Ade Akinbiyi arriving from Gillingham for £1.2 million, a deal eventually costing nearly twice that amount. Within a week, former Luton Town striker Tony Thorpe had become the second million pound purchase having joined from Fulham.

Just a year later, a hopeless season saw Bristol City finish dead last of Division One and go straight back down. In September star striker Ade Akinbiyi became the second million pound departure from the club, leaving for Wolves in a deal worth over £3.5 million. Within weeks young Canadian full-back Jim Brennan became a third, joining Nottingham Forest for £1.5 million.

In 2000, Bristol City reached the final of the Auto Windscreens Shield, and took 35000 fans to Wembley on the 16th April. Unfortunately, the match ended in a 1-2 defeat. On May 27th, just twenty days into his official post of City manager, Tony Fawthrop resigned, the shortest ever tenure of this role in the club's history.  He was replaced by ex-Hatters player Danny Wilson, who led the club to another Auto Windscreens Shield final (it had been renamed to the LDV Vans Trophy) where victory over Carlisle United gave the fans something to cheer about.

However, Wilson was sacked at the end of the 2003-04 season after the club lost to Brighton & Hove Albion in the play-off final, and he was replaced by the hugely popular and long-serving midfielder Brian Tinnion, who has the task of trying to lead the club into The Championship (formerly Division One).

Luton Town v Bristol City...

A full rundown of all of the past meetings

Home Matches   Apr 8 1997 ND2 D 0 0 8117   Mar 7 1998 ND2 D 0 0 6114   Jan 9 1999 ND2 W 3 1 5063   Oct 19 1999 ND2 D 1 1 5820   Jan 12 2001 ND2 L 1 2 4551 Report Jan 25 2002 ND2 W 1 0 7351 Report Oct 11 2003 ND2 W 3 1 5695 Report Statto's Corner

Away Matches   Sep 7 1996 ND2 W 1 0 6471   Nov 1 1997 ND2 D 2 2 6219   Aug 8 1998 ND2 W 1 0 5252   Apr 29 2000 ND2 W 1 0 5379   Aug 28 2000 ND2 D 1 1 6001 Report Dec 28 2002 ND2 W 2 1 7740 Report Statto's Corner

• Stats taken from Lutonfc.com's 'Statto's Corner'

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