FanCasts

Sit back, relax and listen to our FREE Football Podcasts. Subscribe 4 FREE to get your teams show each week.

Blogs

Intelligent, articulate, opinion. Read, rate and comment!

Banter

Create your own discussion and debate - Sign up and get involved!
Tagged: Championship

The Watford FanCast's Comedy Crammond looks at how his city of residence have surprised us all in the Championship promotion race, and predicts that Bristol may be set for yet another end of season party.

There is an energy here in Bristol, one that is quite contagious I have to admit. Many of you may know that I live in Bristol and travel down to watch the Golden Boys every other weekend. Despite that, I've always taken an interest in my local side, I was a Bristolian resident during last season's epic promotion (the last time this city had enjoyed promotion to the second tier of English football was 1998) and watched - with the locals - the fine FA Cup match against Middlesbrough that got everyone talking about Johnson's hardworking team.

This season everybody thought that the Robins' title charge would fall away at any point, except no-one told the locals. It's time we treat these cider-loving folk with some respect. It has been a while since Bristol have achieved anything in the game, the last piece of major silverware was the Welsh Cup in 1934. How they got into the Welsh Cup is anybody's guess, the Severn Bridge didn't even exist then! I imagine they bribed the native welsh some of that Somerset cider, which is their specialty down in these parts; either way, guess who they beat in the final? That's right, that very Welsh team of Tranmere Rovers.

Saying that, it would be fantastic for the area if they did gain promotion (not at the expensive of Watford of course!!!), Bristol has a Wikipedia population of 410, 500 people, yet Bolton, an established Premier League team has only 139, 000. Of course size doesn't matter (when it comes to football) as look at the Golden Boys with a Wikipedia size of only 80,000! These boys remind me of a certain Championship side that won promotion in 2005.

A series of relatively unknown players, tipped for the drop, and one of those "not a big club" tags. Bristol City are the Watford from two years ago and take teams by surprise with fast, brave and competitive football. I will disagree with Matt, Neil and Craig on the Watford FanCast and say that Bristol City are set for automatic promotion rather than West Bromwich Albion. The only question is; will the Hornets be joining the red and white half of Bristol in the top two at the end of the season? The answer is yes, of course.... 

To listen to the latest Watford FanCast, click here, as the Watford FanCast team reflect upon the weekend's draw at Turf Moor and ponder the Hornets promotion chances. And to listen to ex-City legend Brian Tinnion talk to the Championship FanCast about the Robins' promotion hopes, simply follow this link.



 

  • No votes yet
BCFC
Picture of BCFC
I think it will be great to
I think it will be great to get promoted, but I cant help but feel that it will hard for us in the top flight and feel we maybe need another season of consolidation first.

James
Picture of James
I think it will be great for
I think it will be great for the City if we got promoted. We would be well supported accross the country and will sell out all home games. It is about time the West Country was represented in the Premier League.

Belfastpete
Picture of Belfastpete
Are you NUTS BCFC?? This is
Are you NUTS BCFC?? This is a best opportunity for getting into the Prem, why would you want to stay in the CCC for another season. Even if we did come straight back down, it would be with a bigger bank balance which will set us up for years to come. And let's not for Colchester, they where riding high last season, and now look at the table! Upwards and upwards!! Red Army

Farmeronecow
Picture of Farmeronecow
Gotta take the chance if we
Gotta take the chance if we get it, We may not get a better chance for years and i for one have waited long enough to see us at the top level of the english game again. Would be great to see the cider army in the premiership. Why not, Come on city, you can do it, Keep the red flag flying high....

CiderJar
Picture of CiderJar
Very kind of you Mr Comedy
Very kind of you Mr Comedy Crammond. I feel the Bristolian in you has been influential in a lot of your comments though. Things are really looking good on the sporting front. Both clubs even managed to get council backing for stadium developments something of a novelty in Bristol in the last 30 years. A little FA cup tie takes place in the City this weekend, but South Bristol will be deserted as 3,000 head for Leicester, where the local team is managed by Bristolian and City hater Ian of the Hollow Way. It would be nice if we hang on in there having come so far; but whatever happens, what a marvellous season?

sthcffejamespafc
Picture of sthcffejamespafc
Posts: 56
Joined: 2008-02-18
gotta say im a little
gotta say im a little suprised youre only getting 15,000 and not selling out every week,what with having such a season in your first one back up.Why is this?Even argyle managed an average of 16,500 in our first year back in this league and we were near the bottom of the table.Have you really got as much "potential" as you think?

CiderJar
Picture of CiderJar
The thing is James, that
The thing is James, that 15,000 is sustainable and a 3,000 (25%) increase on our average attendances of the past 10 years. Increased prices have somewhat reduced the desire for the pay on the day supporter to, well to pay on the day. You should also know that the 15,000 you quote is actually 15,572 with five home games left. Capacity is currently restricted to 18,500 by draconian policing. We are therefore averaging 84% capacity. Some fans are discouraged by being separated when only odd seats remain available on match days. Given a purpose built 30,000 stadium (which we will get in 2012) then we would probably be averaging nearer 25,000. Where are your 16,000 now that you are flirting with the play-offs? You currently average 12,748 http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Attendance/0,,10794~2007... Hope this helps.