Bristol City F.C. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bristol City

Full name	Bristol City Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Robins, Cider Army, Red army
Short name	BCFC
Founded	1894; 131 years ago (1894)
Ground	Ashton Gate
Ground Capacity	27,000
Owner	Steve Lansdown
Chairman	Jon Lansdown
Head coach	Gerhard Struber
League	Championship
2018–19	Championship, 8th of 24
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Bristol City Football Club is a professional football team from Bristol, England. They play in the Championship, which is the second-highest league in English football.

The club started in 1894. They played in local leagues before joining the Football League in 1901. Bristol City won the Second Division in 1905–06. The next season, they finished second in the top league. In 1909, they reached the FA Cup final but lost to Manchester United. The team has moved between different leagues over the years. They have won the Football League Trophy three times. Since 2015, they have been playing in the Championship.

Bristol City's home stadium is Ashton Gate. They have played there since 1904. The team wears red and white. Their nickname is The Robins, and a robin has been on their badge for many years. Their main rivals are Bristol Rovers and Cardiff City.

Club History

Early Days and First Wins (1894–1922)

Bristol City started in 1894 as Bristol South End. Three years later, they became a professional club and changed their name to Bristol City. They joined the Southern League. In 1900, they joined with another local team, Bedminster F.C..

In 1901, Bristol City joined the Football League. They were one of the first clubs from the south of England to do so. Their first game in the Football League was a 2–0 win against Blackpool.

The team won the Second Division in 1905–06. They set a record by winning 30 games in a season. They also won 14 games in a row. In 1906–07, they finished second in the First Division, which was their highest league finish ever.

In 1909, Bristol City played in their only FA Cup final. They lost 1–0 to Manchester United. After five seasons in the top league, they were relegated in 1911. It took 65 years for them to return to the top flight. After World War I, they reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1920. In 1922, they were relegated to the Third Division South.

Moving Up and Down (1922–1965)

Chart of yearly table positions of Bristol City in the Football League

The 1920s were a time of change for Bristol City. They moved between the Second Division and the Third Division South. They won the Third Division South title twice, in 1922–23 and 1926–27.

In 1934, they won the Welsh Cup. However, in the same year, they had their biggest league defeat, losing 9–0 to Coventry City. During World War II, part of their stadium, Ashton Gate, was damaged by an air raid.

In 1946–47, City had a record league win, beating Aldershot 9–0. In the late 1950s, the club spent five years in the Second Division. They returned to this league in 1965.

Back in the Top League (1966–1980)

In 1967, Alan Dicks became manager. The team improved and earned promotion to the First Division in 1976. This ended their 65-year wait to be back in the top league.

Between 1975 and 1981, City played in the Anglo-Scottish Cup. They won the trophy in 1977–78, beating St Mirren in the final. Their best finish in the top league during this time was 13th place in 1979.

Tough Times and Comeback (1980–2000)

In the 1980s, Bristol City faced financial problems. They were relegated three times in a row, ending up in the Fourth Division in 1982. The club went bankrupt, but a new club was formed. Some senior players, known as the 'Ashton Gate Eight', agreed to end their contracts for less money to help the club.

City spent two seasons in the Fourth Division. They won promotion in 1984 under manager Terry Cooper. In 1990, under Joe Jordan, they were promoted from the Third Division. Sadly, striker Dean Horrix died in a car crash during this promotion season.

In 1993, Andy Cole, who had joined City, was sold to Newcastle United. He later became a very successful player for Manchester United. In 1994, City had a famous 1–0 FA Cup win against Liverpool at Anfield. Joe Jordan returned as manager in 1994, but the team was relegated to Division Two.

In 1998, under John Ward, City were promoted again. However, they struggled in Division One and were relegated in 1999. Danny Wilson became manager in 2000.

21st Century Successes

In the early 2000s, Bristol City often challenged for promotion from Division Two. They won the Football League Trophy in 2003. In 2004, they reached the play-off final but lost.

Gary Johnson became manager in 2005. In the 2006–07 season, Bristol City finally won promotion to the Championship. They finished second in the league, securing automatic promotion.

Pitch invasion at Ashton Gate after securing promotion in 2007

In their first Championship season (2007–08), City did very well. They reached the play-off final at Wembley Stadium but lost 1–0 to Hull City. After a few more seasons in the Championship, Gary Johnson left in 2010.

After several manager changes, Steve Cotterill joined the club in 2013. He led the team to a fantastic season in 2014–15. Bristol City won the League One title, their first league title since 1955. They also won the Football League Trophy for a record third time.

Despite this success, the team struggled back in the Championship. Steve Cotterill left in January 2016. Lee Johnson, a former player and son of Gary Johnson, became the new head coach. The team managed to stay in the Championship.

In the 2017–18 season, City had a great run in the League Cup. They beat several Premier League teams, including Manchester United, to reach the semi-finals. They finished 11th in the Championship that season.

In 2019–20, the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lee Johnson left in July 2020. Dean Holden and then Nigel Pearson took over as managers. Pearson left in October 2023.

On November 7, 2023, Liam Manning became the new head coach. City finished the 2022–23 season in 11th place. In the 2024–25 season, the club reached the play-offs for the first time in 17 years. They had a strong home record, losing only three home games. However, they lost to Sheffield United in the play-off semi-final.

On June 3, 2025, it was announced that Liam Manning would leave. On June 19, 2025, Gerhard Struber was appointed as the new head coach of Bristol City.

Club Identity

Bristol City has worn red and white kits since the 1890s. Sometimes, black is also included. Their away kits change more often, but are usually white, black, or yellow.

• The club's current badge is a modern version of a robin, which has been a symbol for the club and its fans for a long time.
• The club's mascots are Red and Robyn.
• The local band The Wurzels has a strong connection with the club. Their song "One for the Bristol City" is played at Ashton Gate, and "Drink Up Thy Zider" is played after home wins.
• Fans often sing "Johnson says bounce around the ground" during matches. This chant started when former manager Gary Johnson encouraged fans to make the stadium "bounce."

Shirt Sponsors

Stadium

Bristol City's home ground is Ashton Gate Stadium. It is located in the south-west of Bristol. The team moved there from St John's Lane in 1904. The stadium can hold 27,000 fans, and all seats are covered.

Over the years, there have been plans to make Ashton Gate bigger or build a new stadium. In 2007, the club announced plans for a new 30,000-seat stadium in Ashton Vale.

The stadium has been updated recently. A new South stand opened in 2015. The Williams stand was replaced by the Lansdown stand in 2016. A new Desso pitch was installed, and the Dolman stand was improved. In 2021, a special "safe standing" area was added for fans.

In 2020, a modern training facility called the Robins High Performance Centre opened. It is located near Ashton Gate.

=Images for kids

• 

  Atyeo Stand

• 

  Bristol City v. Cardiff City – 15 March 2009

• 

  Ashton Gate with Clifton Suspension Bridge in the background

• 

  Flags used by fans in the Wedlock Stand

• 

  View from the home section of the Wedlock Stand

• 

  Inside the Wedlock Stand during a game against Cardiff City

• 

  The stadium before a concert

Rivalries

Bristol City has two main rivals:

• Bristol Rovers: This is the traditional local derby. The teams have played 105 times since 1897. Bristol City has won 43 of these matches. However, the clubs have not been in the same league for many years. They last played each other in a league cup match in 2013.
• Cardiff City: This is known as the Severnside derby. It's a unique rivalry because it crosses the border between England and Wales. The two clubs have often been in the same league, leading to many exciting games.

Other clubs sometimes seen as rivals include Swindon Town and Plymouth Argyle.

Club Records and Statistics

Here are some interesting facts and records for Bristol City:

• Biggest League Win: 9–0 against Aldershot (1946)
• Biggest FA Cup Win: 11–0 against Chichester City (1960)
• Biggest League Loss: 9–0 against Coventry City (1934)
• Highest Home Attendance: 43,335 against Preston North End (1935)
• Most League Appearances: 596 by John Atyeo (1951–66)
• Most League Goals: 314 by John Atyeo (1951–66)
• Most Goals Overall: 351 by John Atyeo (1951–66)
• Most Goals in a Season: 36 by Don Clark (1946–47)
• Record Transfer Fee Paid: £8 million for Tomáš Kalas (2019)
• Record Transfer Fee Received: £25 million for Alex Scott (2023)
• Longest Winning Streak: 14 league wins (1905)
• Longest Unbeaten Streak: 24 league matches (1905–06)
• Most Points in a Season: 99 points in 2014–15 Football League One

Most Appearances

#	Name	Career	Appearances
1	Louis Carey	1995–2004; 2005–2014	646
2	John Atyeo	1951–1966	645
3	Trevor Tainton	1967–1982	581
4	Brian Tinnion	1993–2005	551
5	Tom Ritchie	1972–1981; 1983–1985	504
6	Gerry Sweeney	1971–1981	490
7	Rob Newman	1981–1991	483
8	Gerry Gow	1969–1981	445
9	Geoff Merrick	1967–1982	433
10	Scott Murray	1997–2003; 2004–2009	427

Most Goals

#	Name	Career	Goals
1	John Atyeo	1951–1966	351
2	Tom Ritchie	1969–1981, 1982–1984	132
3	Arnold Rodgers	1949–1956	111
4	Jimmy Rogers	1950–1956, 1958–1962	108
5	Alan Walsh	1984–1989	99
6	Scott Murray	1997–2003, 2004–2009	91
7	Tot Walsh	1924–1928	91
8	John Galley	1967–1972	90
9	Brian Clark	1960–1966	89
10	Sam Gilligan	1904–1910	87

Players

First-Team Squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Max O'Leary 2 DF Ross McCrorie 3 DF Cameron Pring 5 DF Robert Atkinson 6 MF Max Bird 7 FW Yū Hirakawa 8 MF Joe Williams 9 FW Fally Mayulu 10 MF Scott Twine 11 MF Anis Mehmeti 12 MF Jason Knight (captain) 13 GK Joe Lumley 14 DF Zak Vyner

No. Position Player 15 DF Luke McNally 16 DF Rob Dickie 17 MF Mark Sykes 19 DF George Tanner 20 FW Sam Bell 24 DF Haydon Roberts 26 FW Josh Stokes 27 FW Harry Cornick 30 FW Sinclair Armstrong 32 GK Lewis Thomas — FW Emil Riis Jakobsen — MF Adam Randell

Under 21 Squad

No. Position Player 31 MF Elijah Morrison 33 DF Josh Campbell-Slowey 34 DF Joseph James 35 FW Leo Pecover 39 MF Billy Phillips GK Josey Casa-Grande GK Joe Duncan GK Isaac Finch GK Jack Witchard DF Zach Ali DF Raphael Araoye DF Max Davies DF Jack Hooper

No. Position Player DF Jamie Knight-Lebel DF Archie Taylor MF Tom Chaplin MF Charlie Filer MF Calum Hewlett MF Zac King-Phillips MF Adam Murphy MF Raekwan Nelson MF Ruebin Sheppard FW Jack Griffin FW Luke Skinner FW Olly Thomas FW Ephraim Yeboah

Players on Loan

No. Position Player GK Ben Clark (On loan at Weymouth until 31 May 2026) DF Taine Anderson (On loan at Cheltenham Town until 31 May 2026) MF Jed Meerholz (On loan at Aldershot Town until 1 January 2026)

Player of the Year Awards

Year	Winner	Position
1970–71	Gerry Sharpe	Forward
1971–72	Geoff Merrick	Defender
1972–73	John Emanuel	Midfielder
1973–74	Gerry Gow	Midfielder
1974–75	Gary Collier	Defender
1975–76	The whole squad
1976–77	Norman Hunter	Defender
1977–78	Norman Hunter	Defender
1978–79	Gerry Gow	Midfielder
1979–80	Geoff Merrick	Defender
1980–81	Kevin Mabbutt	Forward
1981–82	No award
1982–83	Glyn Riley	Forward
1983–84	Howard Pritchard	Midfielder
1984–85	Alan Walsh	Forward
1985–86	Bobby Hutchinson	Midfielder
1986–87	Rob Newman	Defender
1987–88	Alan Walsh	Forward
1988–89	Keith Waugh	Goalkeeper
1989–90	Bob Taylor	Forward
1990–91	Andy Llewellyn	Defender
1991–92	Martin Scott	Defender
1992–93	Andy Cole	Forward
1993–94	Wayne Allison	Forward
1994–95	Matt Bryant	Defender
1995–96	Martin Kuhl	Midfielder
1996–97	Shaun Taylor	Defender
1997–98	Shaun Taylor	Defender
1998–99	Ade Akinbiyi	Forward
1999–2000	Billy Mercer	Goalkeeper
2000–01	Brian Tinnion	Midfielder
2001–02	Matt Hill	Defender
2002–03	Scott Murray	Midfielder
2003–04	Tommy Doherty	Midfielder
2004–05	Leroy Lita	Forward
2005–06	Steve Brooker	Forward
2006–07	Jamie McCombe	Defender
2007–08	Adriano Basso	Goalkeeper
2008–09	Dele Adebola	Forward
2009–10	Cole Skuse	Midfielder
2010–11	Albert Adomah	Midfielder
2011–12	Jon Stead	Forward
2012–13	Tom Heaton	Goalkeeper
2013–14	Sam Baldock	Forward
2014–15	Aden Flint	Defender
2015–16	Aden Flint	Defender
2016–17	Tammy Abraham	Forward
2017–18	Bobby Reid	Forward
2018–19	Adam Webster	Defender
2019–20	Famara Diédhiou	Forward
2020–21	Dan Bentley	Goalkeeper
2021–22	Andreas Weimann	Forward
2022–23	Alex Scott	Midfielder
2023–24	Rob Dickie	Defender
2024–25	Jason Knight	Midfielder

Top League Scorer Awards

Year	Winner	Goals
1996–97	Shaun Goater	23
1997–98	Shaun Goater	17
1998–99	Ade Akinbiyi	19
1999–2000	Tony Thorpe	13
2000–01	Tony Thorpe	19
2001–02	Tony Thorpe	16
2002–03	Scott Murray	19
2003–04	Lee Peacock	14
2004–05	Leroy Lita	24
2005–06	Steve Brooker	16
2006–07	Phil Jevons	11
2007–08	Darren Byfield	8
2008–09	Nicky Maynard	11
2009–10	Nicky Maynard	20
2010–11	Brett Pitman	13
2011–12	Nicky Maynard	8
2012–13	Steve Davies	13
2013–14	Sam Baldock	24
2014–15	Aaron Wilbraham	18
2015–16	Jonathan Kodjia	19
2016–17	Tammy Abraham	23
2017–18	Bobby Reid	19
2018–19	Famara Diédhiou	12
2019–20	Famara Diédhiou	11
2020–21	Nahki Wells	9
2021–22	Andreas Weimann	22
2022–23	Nahki Wells	11
2023–24	Tommy Conway	9
2024–25	Anis Mehmeti	12

Club Officials

Management

• Head Coach: Gerhard Struber
• Assistant Head Coach: Bernd Eibler
• Assistant Head Coach: Curtis Fleming
• Goalkeeping Coach: Pat Mountain
• Head of Medical: Paul Tanner
• Head of Communications: Sheridan Robins
• Head of Sports Science: Andy Kavanagh

Managerial History

Name	Period
Sam Hollis	1897–1899
Robert Campbell	1899–1901
Sam Hollis	1901–1905
Harry Thickitt	1905–1910
Frank Bacon	1910–1911
Sam Hollis	1911–1913
George Hedley	1913–1917
Jock Hamilton	1917–1919
Joe Palmer	1919–1921
Alex Raisbeck	1921–1929
Joe Bradshaw	1929–1932
Bob Hewison	1932–1949
Bob Wright	1949–1950
Pat Beasley	1950–1958
Peter Doherty	1958–1960
Fred Ford	1960–1967
Alan Dicks	1967–1980
Bobby Houghton	1980–1982
Roy Hodgson	1982
Terry Cooper	1982–1988
Joe Jordan	1988–1990
Jimmy Lumsden	1990–1992
Denis Smith	1992–1993
Russell Osman	1993–1994
Joe Jordan	1994–1997
John Ward	1997–1998
Benny Lennartsson	1998–1999
Tony Pulis	1999
Tony Fawthrop	2000
Danny Wilson	2000–2004
Brian Tinnion	2004–2005
Gary Johnson	2005–2010
Steve Coppell	2010
Keith Millen	2010–2011
Derek McInnes	2011–2013
Sean O'Driscoll	2013
Steve Cotterill	2013–2016
Lee Johnson	2016–2020
Dean Holden	2020–2021
Nigel Pearson	2021–2023
Liam Manning	2023–2025
Gerhard Struber	2025–

Bristol City Women's Team

The women's team started in 1990. They reached the semi-finals of the FA Women's Cup in 1994. In 2004, they were promoted to the Premier League. In 2008, the senior women's teams were disbanded. Many players moved to the University of Bath and formed a new team.

Honours

Bristol City has won several trophies and titles:

League Titles

• Second Division (Level 2)
  • Champions: 1905–06
• Third Division South / League One (Level 3)
  • Champions: 1922–23, 1926–27, 1954–55, 2014–15

Cup Wins

• Associate Members' Cup / Football League Trophy
  • Winners: 1985–86, 2002–03, 2014–15
• Welsh Cup
  • Winners: 1933–34
• Anglo-Scottish Cup
  • Winners: 1977–78

See also

In Spanish: Bristol City Football Club para niños