Bristol City F.C. facts for kids

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Bristol City

Full name	Bristol City Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Robins, Cider Army
Founded	1894; 131 years ago (1894)
Ground	Ashton Gate
Ground Capacity	27,000
Owner	Steve Lansdown
Chairman	Jon Lansdown
Head Coach	Liam Manning
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 are known as "The Robins" and play in the Championship, which is the second highest league in English football.

The club started in 1894. They joined the Football League in 1901 and won the Second Division in 1905–06. The next year, they almost won the top league, finishing second. In 1909, they reached the FA Cup final but lost to Manchester United.

Bristol City has moved between different leagues over the years. They spent four seasons in the top league in the late 1970s. They also won the Football League Trophy three times (in 1986, 2003, and 2015). In 2015, they won the League One title and have been in the Championship ever since.

Their home stadium is Ashton Gate, where they have played since 1904. Their team colors are red and white. Their main rivals are Bristol Rovers (in the "Bristol derby") and Cardiff City (in the "Severnside derby").

History

How it all started (1894–1922)

Bristol City was founded in 1894 as Bristol South End. They changed their name to Bristol City three years later when they became a professional team. In 1900, they joined up with another local team, Bedminster F.C.

In 1901, Bristol City joined the Football League. Their first game in the league was on September 7, 1901, where they beat Blackpool 2–0.

The team won the Second Division Championship in 1905–06, setting a record by winning 30 out of 38 games. They also won 14 games in a row, which was a record at the time. They were nicknamed the "Bristol Babe." The next season, 1906–07, they finished second in the top league, which was a great achievement for a team from the south of England.

In 1909, Bristol City reached their only FA Cup final. They played against Manchester United and lost 1–0. After five seasons in the top league, they were moved down to a lower league in 1911. It took them 65 years to get back to the top league!

After World War I, they reached the semi-finals of the 1919–20 FA Cup in 1920. But in the next season, they were moved down to the Third Division South.

Ups and Downs (1922–1965)

This chart shows where Bristol City finished in the Football League each year.

The 1920s were a bit like a rollercoaster for City, as they kept moving between the Second Division and the Third Division South. They won the Third Division South title in 1922–23 and again in 1926–27.

In 1934, they won the Welsh Cup, beating Tranmere Rovers in the final. However, in the same year, they also had their biggest league defeat ever, losing 9–0 to Coventry City.

During World War II, part of their stadium, Ashton Gate, was damaged by a German air raid. In 1946–47, City had a record league win, beating Aldershot 9–0. Even though Don Clark scored 36 goals that season, they didn't get promoted.

The late 1950s were better, with the team spending five years in the Second Division. They returned to that league again in 1965.

Back to the Top (1966–1980)

In 1967, Alan Dicks became the manager, and things started to get better. In 1976, they were promoted to the First Division, which was the top league, ending their 65-year wait!

Between 1975 and 1981, City often played in the Anglo-Scottish Cup. They won this trophy in 1977–78, beating St Mirren in the final.

City's second time in the top league was not as successful as their first. Their highest finish was 13th place in 1979. Some of the star players from this time included Peter Cormack, Geoff Merrick, and Gerry Gow.

Tough Times and Comeback (1980–2000)

In the 1980s, Bristol City faced big problems. They were moved down three times in a row, ending up in the Fourth Division in 1982. The club also went bankrupt. A new club was formed, and some senior players, known as the 'Ashton Gate Eight', agreed to end their contracts for less money to help the club survive.

City spent two seasons in the Fourth Division before getting promoted in 1984. In 1990, under manager Joe Jordan, they were promoted again to the Third Division. Sadly, during this time, striker Dean Horrix died in a car crash in March 1990.

A famous player, Andy Cole, joined City in 1992. He later became a star for Manchester United. In 1994, City had a surprise 1–0 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup at their famous stadium, Anfield.

After being moved down again in 1995, City got promoted in 1998 but then went straight back down in 1999.

The 21st Century (2000–Present)

In the early 2000s, Bristol City often came close to getting promoted. In 2003, they won the Football League Trophy in Cardiff. They reached the play-off final in 2004 but lost to Brighton & Hove Albion.

In the 2006–07 season, Bristol City finally got promoted to the Championship (the second tier). They secured their spot on the last day of the season with a 3–1 win against Rotherham United.

Pitch invasion at Ashton Gate after securing promotion in 2007

In their first season back in the Championship (2007–08), City did very well, finishing 4th. They reached the play-off final at Wembley Stadium but lost 1–0 to Hull City.

After some changes in managers, including Steve Coppell who only stayed for two matches, City were moved down to League One in 2013.

However, things quickly turned around! In the 2014–15 season, under manager Steve Cotterill, Bristol City won the League One title, their first league title since 1955. They finished the season with a club record of 99 points. In the same season, they also won the Football League Trophy for the third time, beating Walsall 2–0. This made them the club with the most wins in that competition.

Since then, Bristol City has remained in the Championship. In 2016, former player Lee Johnson, son of former manager Gary Johnson, became the new head coach. In the 2017–18 season, they had a great run in the League Cup, beating several Premier League teams like Manchester United to reach the semi-finals.

More recently, Nigel Pearson managed the team from 2021 to 2023. In November 2023, Liam Manning was appointed as the new head coach.

Club Identity

Bristol City has worn red and white kits since the 1890s. Sometimes, black is also included in their home kit. Their away kits change more often, but are usually white, black, or yellow. They've even had green, purple, and lime kits!

• The club's current badge has a modern robin on it. The robin has been a symbol for the club and its fans for a long time.
• Their previous badge was a simpler version of the coat of arms of the city of Bristol.
• The club's mascots are called Red and Robyn. Before them, the mascot was Scrumpy the robin from 2005 to 2022.
• Bristol City has a special connection with the West Country band The Wurzels. Their song "One for the Bristol City," written for the club in 1976, is played when the team runs out at Ashton Gate. Another hit, "Drink Up Thy Zider," is played after home wins.

Around 2007–08, manager Gary Johnson wanted the fans to make the stadium "bounce." Supporters took this idea and started singing "Johnson says bounce around the ground" to the tune of "Yellow Submarine" while jumping up and down. This chant became very popular at Ashton Gate stadium. When Gary Johnson's son, Lee Johnson, became manager in 2016, he said he wanted the fans to keep singing it!

Shirt sponsors

Stadium

Bristol City plays its home games at Ashton Gate Stadium, located in the southwest of Bristol. They moved there from St John's Lane in 1904. The stadium can hold 27,000 fans, and all seats are covered.

Ashton Gate was also the home of Bedminster F.C. before they joined with Bristol City in 1900. The combined team played some games there, but it became Bristol City's permanent home in 1904.

There have been plans to make Ashton Gate bigger or even build a new stadium. In 2007, the club announced plans for a new 30,000-seat stadium in Ashton Vale. If England had won the bid to host the 2018 World Cup, the stadium might have been made even bigger, to 42,000 seats.

The South stand at Ashton Gate opened in 2015. The old Williams stand was taken down and replaced by the Lansdown stand in 2016. A new type of grass pitch was put in, and the Dolman stand was updated. In 2021, a "safe standing" area was added for fans who prefer to stand during games.

In 2020, a modern training facility called the Robins High Performance Centre opened in Failand, not far from Ashton Gate.

Gallery

• 

  The Atyeo Stand at Ashton Gate.

• 

  Bristol City playing against Cardiff City on March 15, 2009.

• 

  Ashton Gate Stadium with the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge in the background.

• 

  Flags used by the "Ultras" fan group in the Wedlock Stand.

• 

  A view from the home section of the Wedlock Stand.

• 

  Inside the Wedlock Stand during a game against rivals, Cardiff City.

• 

  The stadium empty before a concert.

Rivalries

Bristol City has some big rivalries with other football clubs.

Bristol Derby

Bristol City's main rivals are Bristol Rovers. This is known as the "Bristol derby." The two clubs have played each other 105 times, with Bristol City winning 43 of those games. However, they haven't been in the same league for many years. They last played in the same division in the 2000–01 season. Since then, they've only met three times in cup competitions.

Severnside Derby

Another big rivalry is with Cardiff City, who play in nearby Cardiff, Wales. This rivalry is special because it crosses the border between England and Wales! The two clubs have often been in the same league, playing against each other frequently.

Other Rivalries

Some fans also see Swindon Town as rivals, sometimes calling them 'Swindle'. This rivalry was strong in the 2014–15 season when both teams were fighting for promotion. Plymouth Argyle has also been considered a rival, especially in the 2000s, as both were the top teams in the West Country. Other clubs like Swansea City have also had rivalries flare up, for example, after a match in 2019.

Records and Statistics

Here are some interesting facts and records about Bristol City:

• Biggest League Win – 9–0 against Aldershot (December 28, 1946)
• Biggest FA Cup Win – 11–0 against Chichester City (November 5, 1960)
• Biggest League Loss – 0–9 against Coventry City (April 28, 1934)

• Highest Home Attendance – 43,335 against Preston North End (February 16, 1935)
• Highest Attendance (any ground) – 86,703 against Hull City at Wembley Stadium (May 24, 2008, in a play-off final)
• Most League Appearances – 597 by John Atyeo (1951–66)
• Most League Goals Scored – 314 by John Atyeo (1951–66)
• Most Goals Scored (overall) – 351 by John Atyeo (1951–66)
• Most Goals in a Season – 36 by Don Clark (1946–47)
• Record Transfer Fee Paid – £8 million to Chelsea for Tomáš Kalas (July 2019)
• Record Transfer Fee Received – £25 million from Bournemouth for Alex Scott (August 2023)
• Longest Winning Streak in League – 14 games (September 9 to December 2, 1905)
• Longest Unbeaten Streak in League – 24 games (September 9, 1905 to February 10, 1906)
• Record Points in a Season – 99 points in the 2014–15 Football League One season.

League history

Bristol City has played in different leagues over the years. Here's a quick look at the levels they've played at:

• 1897–1901: Southern League Division One (Level 3)
• 1901–1906: Football League Second Division (Level 2)
• 1906–1911: Football League First Division (Level 1 – the top league!)
• 1911–1922: Football League Second Division (Level 2)
• 1922–1923: Football League Third Division (Level 3)
• 1923–1924: Football League Second Division (Level 2)
• 1924–1927: Football League Third Division (Level 3)
• 1927–1932: Football League Second Division (Level 2)
• 1932–1955: Football League Third Division (Level 3)
• 1955–1960: Football League Second Division (Level 2)
• 1960–1965: Football League Third Division (Level 3)
• 1965–1976: Football League Second Division (Level 2)
• 1976–1980: Football League First Division (Level 1)
• 1980–1981: Football League Second Division (Level 2)
• 1981–1982: Football League Third Division (Level 3)
• 1982–1984: Football League Fourth Division (Level 4)
• 1984–1990: Football League Third Division (Level 3)
• 1990–1995: Football League Second Division / Football League First Division (Level 2, after the Premier League started)
• 1995–1998: Football League Second Division (Level 3)
• 1998–1999: Football League First Division (Level 2)
• 1999–2007: Football League Second Division / Football League One (Level 3, name changed)
• 2007–2013: Football League Championship (Level 2)
• 2013–2015: Football League One (Level 3)
• 2015–present: Football League/EFL Championship (Level 2)

Most appearances

These players have played the most games for Bristol City:

#	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

On December 29, 2013, Louis Carey became the player with the most appearances for Bristol City, passing John Atyeo's record.

Most goals

These players have scored the most goals for Bristol City:

#	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 Rodgers	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 4 DF Kal Naismith 5 DF Robert Atkinson 6 MF Max Bird 7 FW Yu Hirakawa (on loan from Machia Zelvia) 8 MF Joe Williams 9 FW Fally Mayulu 10 MF Scott Twine 11 MF Anis Mehmeti 12 MF Jason Knight (captain) 14 DF Zak Vyner 15 DF Luke McNally

No. Position Player 16 DF Rob Dickie 17 MF Mark Sykes 18 MF Ayman Benarous 19 DF George Tanner 20 FW Sam Bell 21 FW Nahki Wells 23 GK Stefan Bajić 24 DF Haydon Roberts 27 FW Harry Cornick 29 MF Marcus McGuane 30 FW Sinclair Armstrong 32 GK Lewis Thomas 40 MF George Earthy (on loan from West Ham United) MF Adam Murphy

Out on loan

No. Position Player 22 MF Taylor Gardner-Hickman (at Birmingham City until end of season) 26 FW Josh Stokes (at Cambridge United until end of season) DF Jamie Knight-Lebel (at Crewe Alexandra until end of season) FW Seb Palmer-Houlden (at Dundee until end of season) FW Ephraim Yeboah (at Doncaster Rovers until end of season)

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 DF Zach Ali DF Taine Anderson DF Raphael Araoye DF Archie Taylor DF Callum Wood

No. Position Player MF Tommy Backwell MF Kai Churchley MF Callum Hewlett MF Jed Meerholz MF Raekwon Nelson MF Marley Rose MF Omar Taylor-Clarke FW Tim Ap Sion FW Brandon Bak FW Luke Skinner FW Olly Thomas

Notable players

Former players

For a list of all Bristol City players with a Wikipedia article, see Category:Bristol City F.C. players. Bedminster merged with Bristol City in 1900; for a further list of all Bedminster players with articles see Category:Bedminster F.C. players.

Player of the Year

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

Top league scorer

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

Club officials

Management

• Head Coach: Liam Manning
• Assistant Head Coach: Chris Hogg
• First Team Coach Analyst: James Krause
• Goalkeeping Coach: Pat Mountain
• Head of Medical: Paul Tanner
• Head of Communications: Sheridan Robins
• Head of Sports Science: Andy Kavanagh
• Head of Athletic Performance: Derrick Bonsu
• International Scout: Kalifa Cissé

Managerial history

Name	Period
Sam Hollis	1897–1899
Robert Campbell	1899–1901
Sam Hollis	1901–1905
Harry Thickett	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–Present

Bristol City Women's

Bristol City also has a women's team, which started in 1990. Their biggest success was reaching the semi-finals of the FA Women's Cup in 1994. They also earned promotion to the top women's league, the Premier League, in 2004. In 2008, the senior women's teams were changed, and the youth girls' side joined with the Bristol Academy W.F.C.

Honours

Here are the main trophies and achievements of Bristol City Football Club:

League Titles

• Second Division (Level 2)
  • Champions: 1905–06
  • Promoted (2nd place): 1975–76
• Third Division South / Third Division / Second Division / League One (Level 3)
  • Champions: 1922–23, 1926–27, 1954–55, 2014–15
  • Promoted (2nd place): 1964–65, 1989–90, 1997–98, 2006–07
• Fourth Division (Level 4)
  • Promoted (4th place): 1983–84
• Western League
  • Champions: 1897–98

Cup Wins

• FA Cup
  • Runners-up: 1908–09
• Associate Members' Cup / Football League Trophy
  • Winners: 1985–86, 2002–03, 2014–15
  • Runners-up: 1986–87, 1999–2000
• Welsh Cup
  • Winners: 1933–34
• Anglo-Scottish Cup
  • Winners: 1977–78

See also

In Spanish: Bristol City Football Club para niños

• Ruch Radzionków - a Polish football club with a similar identity, nicknamed Cidry.