The story of Bristol City and Ashton Gate Eight

15th May 1982 at their final home game of the season, 1,034 turned up to see City beat Chester City 1-0. Hodgson was sacked and went back to Sweden. His replacement was Terry Cooper, who had been part of ‘the great’ Leeds side of the 60’s and 70’s and had recently been player-manager at Bristol Rovers. Cooper is credited by City fans as reviving the club by working miracles in finding youth players, doing loan deals and scouring free transfers to keep the club going on a shoestring.

The following season (1982-83) got worse before things began to improve. They lost 6 of their opening 10 matches, including a 7-1 hammering at Northampton. They finally won a game when they beat Wimbledon, 4-2 at home yet there was only one club below them in the whole League . Having only won 2 matches in the first half of the season, they turned things round and finished a worthy 14th. The following season they had something to cheer about at last as they won promotion from Division Four.

It was a nightmare ride and one which few clubs have ever experienced. It was the first and only deal of its kind as the Football League changed the rules afterwards. Whether you believe The Ashton Gate Eight held the club to ransom, what cannot be denied is that they sacrificed their careers and home lives to make sure the club continued. Had they not done so then people under the age of 30 today may never have heard of Bristol City.

Think about the recent incidents at Portsmouth or Glasgow Rangers and consider whether those players were prepared to rip up their contracts. In addition to the Eight, the four directors are also worthy of remembering as they worked tirelessly, regardless of personal cost both financially and mentally, to keep the club going. Deryn Coller, Ken Sage, Les Kew and Ivor Williams

What Happened Next

Geoff Merrick (aged 30) – Never played professional football again, but had a brief spell at Gloucester City.Gerry Sweeney (aged 36) – Moved down a division to York City but only made 12 appearances before playing non-league football at Gloucester City. Later managed City in 1997Trevor Tainton (aged 33) – Moved down a division to Torquay, but made just 19 appearances and dropped out of league football at Trowbridge in 1983.Jimmy Mann (aged 29) – Moved up a division to Barnsley then brief spells at Scunthorpe and Doncaster before dropping out of League football at end of 1983 at his hometown club, Goole Town.David Rodgers (aged 30) – Moved down a division to Torquay, playing just 5 times before an even briefer spell at Lincoln and then to non-league with Forest Green Rovers.Chris Garland (aged 32) – Was re-employed by City for one more season, before dropping out of league football with Gloucester City and Minehead.Julian Marshall (aged 24) – Moved up a division to Blackburn Rovers but never played for the first team. Joined Worcester City in 1983Peter Aitken (aged 27) – Moved down a division to York City, but at the end of the season left league football to move to Bath City then Trowbridge Town and Forest Green Rovers.

And what of the players who came in for that historic game against Fulham;

Allan Hay (aged 23) – Joined in 1979 had already played several games during 1981-82 season. Left in August 1982 for York CityRob Newman (aged 18) – Signed as an apprentice in October 1981, became club captain. sold to Norwich in 1991, played in team which finished 3rd in Premier League and beat Bayern MunichAlan Nicholls (aged 18) – Made his debut in this game. Broke his leg a year later and retired only 22Wayne Bray (aged 17) – Only spent 2 years at the club before moving to Bath CityJon Economou (aged 20) – aged 20 for this game, promising midfield player left in 1983.Russell Musker (aged 19) – Started at the club as an apprentice. Moved to Gillingham in 1984

To understand the emotions which went through the club and its supporters at that time, here is the view of BBC commentator, Jonathan Pearce

“This week in 1982 I saw the club I worshipped as boy, Bristol City, climb through legal and financial loopholes to survive. The ‘Ashton Gate Eight’ affair went into football infamy. The Robins had been bobbin‘ along nicely in the old First Division, but they seriously over-extended. Players were signed on staggering 10-year contracts, the big slide came and it was a record for English football.

From the top flight to the bottom in successive seasons, it was Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’ in football terms. Bankruptcy loomed and a survival plan was dreamed up. The old club would be wound up and a new company would take over the club’s title and fixtures. The League approved but it could only happen if eight players agreed to tear up their contracts.

The professional careers and the home lives of those eight heroes, many of whom I’d known since the age of 12, were the acceptable collateral damage for the suited boardroom money men who’d allowed the chaos to loom in the first place.My dad, who worked for the club, continued on for a couple of years for a pittance. His love affair had turned sordid.”

But Bristol City survived, although they have yet to make it back to the First Division/Premier League they reached the League Cup Semi-Finals in 1988-89 and have won the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy twice, in 1986 and 2003 and have been beaten finalists in 1987 and 2000.

Bristol City has never forgotten ‘The Eight’ and the Supporters Club has erected a plaque in their honour. On 24th March 1982 there was a special match at Ashton Gate between Ipswich Town and Southampton where a crowd of 6,020 turned up to help raise money for them. At the time both clubs were in the top five in First Division.

The players concerned have since spoken about their experience and have all said they were completely unaware of the financial state of the club, although Peter Aitken said he ‘was not surprised’ given the falling attendances and salaries of some of the players. There is clearly some bitterness amongst The Eight who feel they still receive bad press from some quarters. Given only Garland played much league football after 1982, the whole business was clearly something they never got over.

Sources – Deryn Coller Story 1982

Marxism Today April 1982Bristol City Fans Forum

BBC Sport (All the quotes are taken from the above sources)

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