Team of Bristolians

[RedRoss]

Due to our recent academy showing. I got thinking what a full team of active Bristol players would look like.

What's the best team you can make out of these:

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/detailsuche/spielerdetail/suche/32397745

I'm sure there probably more that aren't in that list. Also there's an interesting one in there a 22 year Joe Bell who is a current New Zealand International but was born in Bristol.

[The Fat Controller]

Must be struggling for Bristolians if 88 year old Johnny Watkins has made the shortlist.

[GrahamC]

Why does it have to be Bristolians?

So Max O’Leary wouldn’t be eligible because he was born a whole 11 miles away? Did we see Rob Newman (Bradford-on-Avon) or Atyeo (Dilton Marsh) as not “home grown”?

I prefer the Athletic Bilbao definition myself, which is not only birth but school & area that you see as local to your club (for us that’s Glos & Somerset) so where did you grow up.

If you add Lloyd Kelly, Joe Bryan, Alfie Jones, Jordan Storey, Herbie Kane, Bobby Reid to our current Academy crop then it would certainly compete.

[RedRoss]

Just now, GrahamC said:

Why does it have to be Bristolians?

So Max O’Leary wouldn’t be eligible because he was born a whole 11 miles away? Did we see Rob Newman (Bradford-on-Avon) or Atyeo (Dilton Marsh) as not “home grown”?

I prefer the Athletic Bilbao definition myself, which is not only birth but school & area that you see as local to your club (for us that’s Glos & Somerset) so where did you grow up.

If you add Lloyd Kelly, Joe Bryan, Alfie Jones, Jordan Storey, Herbie Kane, Bobby Reid to our current Academy crop then it would certainly compete.

To be fair I was going to let the surrounding areas in aswell. Or even players not born in Bristol but moved when the were very young.

[Tinmans Love Child]

45 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Why does it have to be Bristolians?

So Max O’Leary wouldn’t be eligible because he was born a whole 11 miles away? Did we see Rob Newman (Bradford-on-Avon) or Atyeo (Dilton Marsh) as not “home grown”?

I prefer the Athletic Bilbao definition myself, which is not only birth but school & area that you see as local to your club (for us that’s Glos & Somerset) so where did you grow up.

If you add Lloyd Kelly, Joe Bryan, Alfie Jones, Jordan Storey, Herbie Kane, Bobby Reid to our current Academy crop then it would certainly compete.

You know it’s just for fun right?

[Rich]

People often propose teams made up of local players and we do produce a few, not usually top class. So we'd most probably end up with a team struggling to stay in the third tier of English football. 

I remember using an old Rothmans book to make this comparison back in the 90's. There were 26 professional players from the Bristol region (50 miles around) playing in the football league. The majority playing in the lower reaches. Liverpool had I think, 96, the majority playing in the top two divisions.

I was hoping things would change over time, as the game has changed and, things might have improved slightly but, we just don't produce that many players and certainly not top class players.

[Steve Watts]

3 hours ago, sinenomine said:

Must be struggling for Bristolians if 88 year old Johnny Watkins has made the shortlist.

Would still be more mobile than Chris Brunt ever was for us!

[Merrick's Marvels]

16 minutes ago, Steve Watts said:

Would still be more mobile than Chris Brunt ever was for us!

Do you know what?

I'd completely forgotten about him. So, thanks. Thanks very much. And a happy new year. 

[cidered abroad]

9 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Why does it have to be Bristolians?

So Max O’Leary wouldn’t be eligible because he was born a whole 11 miles away? Did we see Rob Newman (Bradford-on-Avon) or Atyeo (Dilton Marsh) as not “home grown”?

I prefer the Athletic Bilbao definition myself, which is not only birth but school & area that you see as local to your club (for us that’s Glos & Somerset) so where did you grow up.

If you add Lloyd Kelly, Joe Bryan, Alfie Jones, Jordan Storey, Herbie Kane, Bobby Reid to our current Academy crop then it would certainly compete.

The Bilbao definition would be OK for John Atyeo who was actually born in Standerwick village in Somerset, about three/four miles from Dilton Marsh. He grew up in Dilton Marsh but was only able to play cricket for Somerset Second team as he was born in Somerset as per rules in operation at that time. Birth or residency in the county. Birth and living in Wiltshire would have not allowed him to register with Somerset CCC.

Plenty of Bristol boys. Tom Doherty, Brian Clark, Bobby Williams, Jantzen Derrick to name just a few.

[BS4 on Tour...]

10 hours ago, RedRoss said:

Due to our recent academy showing. I got thinking what a full team of active Bristol players would look like.

What's the best team you can make out of these:

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/detailsuche/spielerdetail/suche/32397745

I'm sure there probably more that aren't in that list. Also there's an interesting one in there a 22 year Joe Bell who is a current New Zealand International but was born in Bristol.

I remember an away game at Plymouth quite a few moons ago when we had something like 8 Bristolians in the side - I think I’ve got that right - maybe not though - and under Danny Wilson we often had loads of local lads in the side - probably up to 8 again at times?

[Taz]

7 hours ago, BS4 on Tour... said:

I remember an away game at Plymouth quite a few moons ago when we had something like 8 Bristolians in the side - I think I’ve got that right - maybe not though - and under Danny Wilson we often had loads of local lads in the side - probably up to 8 again at times?

Philips

Carey 

Hill

Doherty

Burnell

Brown A

Brown M

That's 7, although I guess using Marvin is maybe pushing the boundaries a bit as he was never really a "regular".

Clist? Would make 8. 

So you're probably right, the Danny Wilson era was probably the last time we had a core squad of Bristolians/home grown players.

[trickytimes]

Danny Coles as well

[ThornRed]

Clist wasn’t from Bristol, Danny Coles was though 

[Littlesh*t]

17 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Why does it have to be Bristolians?

So Max O’Leary wouldn’t be eligible because he was born a whole 11 miles away? Did we see Rob Newman (Bradford-on-Avon) or Atyeo (Dilton Marsh) as not “home grown”?

I prefer the Athletic Bilbao definition myself, which is not only birth but school & area that you see as local to your club (for us that’s Glos & Somerset) so where did you grow up.

If you add Lloyd Kelly, Joe Bryan, Alfie Jones, Jordan Storey, Herbie Kane, Bobby Reid to our current Academy crop then it would certainly compete.

So you get annoyed that Bradford and Dilton Marsh aren't include but then go on to say it should  be Bristol, Somerset and Gloucester. Do you realise these 2 places are both in Wiltshire

[Fordy62]

Nicky Maynard’s boy up front?

[LondonBristolian]

2 minutes ago, Fordy62 said:

Nicky Maynard’s boy up front?

Maynard would be gert proud of his babber!

[SydneyCity]

Similar but not the same… I saw an interview with Carragher where he was talking about when he was growing up in Liverpool. He was explaining how nobody there really liked the Spice Boy era team as - despite being good - they didn’t reflect the attitude of the city.

Got me thinking what attitude or attributes a team would need to be an accurate representation of Bristol?

[Phileas Fogg]

24 minutes ago, SydneyCity said:

Similar but not the same… I saw an interview with Carragher where he was talking about when he was growing up in Liverpool. He was explaining how nobody there really liked the Spice Boy era team as - despite being good - they didn’t reflect the attitude of the city.

Got me thinking what attitude or attributes a team would need to be an accurate representation of Bristol?

Lots of monied Uni students from the home counties who enjoy drum & bass and engage in recreational drugs. 

[GrahamC]

5 minutes ago, Phileas Fogg said:

Lots of monied Uni students from the home counties who enjoy drum & bass and engage in recreational drugs. 

Plus a load of Bristolians having to live on the outskirts because they couldn’t afford to live there any more, reading articles in the local media written by people who moved here in the last 5 years saying how much they loved it, concentrating entirely on a mile or two around the bottom of Gloucester Rd..

[Bristol Oil Services]

I'd have Gary Mabbutt in my X1. And Larry Lloyd (surely the most decorated Bristol footballer there is, or was. Or likely will be)

[Curr Avon]

1 hour ago, Phileas Fogg said:

Lots of monied Uni students from the home counties who enjoy drum & bass and engage in recreational drugs. 

I enjoy a pint of Bass, but Drum?

[Davefevs]

38 minutes ago, Moments of Pleasure said:

I'd have Gary Mabbutt in my X1. And Larry Lloyd (surely the most decorated Bristol footballer there is, or was. Or likely will be)

Julian Dicks, Darren Peacock, both had fantastic PL careers.

[ollywhyte]

Looking at that list, would be something like

Butland

Jones   Kelly   Pring
Edwards                                          Bryan 

  Bell   Kane     
    Benarous    

      Britton   De-Cordova Reid 

 

*Still playing XI that is! 

Edited January 5, 2022 by ollywhyte

[Davefevs]

Pring is Cheltenham way, is that ok?

[GrahamC]

2 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Pring is Cheltenham way, is that ok?

Wotton-Under-Edge.

[GrahamC]

1 hour ago, Moments of Pleasure said:

I'd have Gary Mabbutt in my X1. And Larry Lloyd (surely the most decorated Bristol footballer there is, or was. Or likely will be)

Think Eddie Hapgood takes that honour, 5 winners medals for the top division, 2 FA Cups, 30 England caps, 21 as captain. Didn’t win the European Cup of course (but it didn’t exist then).

Barton Hill boy, I believe.

Roy Bentley also deserves an honourable mention, too..

Edited January 5, 2022 by GrahamC

[RedRoss]

45 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Pring is Cheltenham way, is that ok?

Honestly I'm quite liberal with the rules. I would class Pring as one of our own and local. 

[Sleepy1968]

What about Kevin Mabbutt. Surely better than Britton upfront based on career to date. Plus he'd be able to select a decent bottle of wine for the post match wind down.

[ZiderEyed]

Scott Sinclair's from Bath isn't he? Does that count?

[Oh Louie louie]

Did Darren peacock, break a transfer record once?

He was local

[Oh Louie louie]

Another million dollar south bristol player.

Julian dicks.

[redpole]

James Hill - Fleetwood Town, about to sign for Bournemouth. Matt Hill son and born in Bristol. 

[Merrick's Marvels]

12 hours ago, cidered abroad said:

The Bilbao definition would be OK for John Atyeo who was actually born in Standerwick village in Somerset, about three/four miles from Dilton Marsh. He grew up in Dilton Marsh but was only able to play cricket for Somerset Second team as he was born in Somerset as per rules in operation at that time. Birth or residency in the county. Birth and living in Wiltshire would have not allowed him to register with Somerset CCC.

Plenty of Bristol boys. Tom Doherty, Brian Clark, Bobby Williams, Jantzen Derrick to name just a few.

Being like Bilbao would be fantastic. Sadly not feasible but a lovely dream. 

You could make a very decent team out of players from the region who never played a single game for either Bristol team or very few (before being flogged to the highest bidder or retired in Arthur Milton's case):

 

Nicky Johns or Jack Butland

Eddie Hapgood, Julian Dicks, Jason Drysdale, Phil King, Jason Dodd (not many Right Backs and a lot of Left Backs - and Dicks not the hardest!)

Tony Book, Larry Lloyd, Darren Peacock, David Mail, Tyrone Mings

Cliff Britton, Arthur Milton, Scott Sinclair, Andy Johnson

Roy Bentley, Ashley Barnes

 

Now that our Academy's up to scratch, let's hope the region's top class talent of the future finds it way into our first team and not someone else's.  

Edited January 5, 2022 by Merrick's Marvels

[Davefevs]

28 minutes ago, Oh Louie louie said:

Did Darren peacock, break a transfer record once?

He was local

Might’ve broke the PL record for a defender???

16 minutes ago, Oh Louie louie said:

Another million dollar south bristol player.

Julian dicks.

Yep, mentioned both of these earlier.  Peacock was in my brother’s year at school, I played against Dicks (Raleigh Sports), we lost 11-0, he got 8!!!

@Merrick's Marvels Drysdale was Keegan’s first signing at Newcastle.

[maxjak]

Talking of teams made up from local players...........i always think that one remarkable statistic from the history of the game that stands out for me, and will NEVER be repeated is..... When Celtic became the first British team to win the European Cup in 1967, the team consisted of players all born within a 10 mile radius of Glasgow City Centre.  I find that fact incredible.    Talk about a local Victory!!

Edited January 5, 2022 by maxjak

[Bristol Oil Services]

2 hours ago, ollywhyte said:

Looking at that list, would be something like

Butland

Jones   Kelly   Pring
Edwards                                          Bryan 

  Bell   Kane     
    Benarous    

      Britton   De-Cordova Reid 

 

*Still playing XI that is! 

Managed by, er, Ian Holloway. No, sorry, scrub that: managed by Keef Curle. 

[maxjak]

2 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Julian Dicks, Darren Peacock, both had fantastic PL careers.

Was  Chris Garland Bristolian ?

[Bristol Oil Services]

25 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Might’ve broke the PL record for a defender???

Yep, mentioned both of these earlier.  Peacock was in my brother’s year at school, I played against Dicks (Raleigh Sports), we lost 11-0, he got 8!!!

From left back? Did you "lose concentration," Dave? Were you dreaming of stats and graphs? Heat maps and amortisation? 

Edited January 5, 2022 by Moments of Pleasure

[Red-Robbo]

Surely, if we allow time-travelling, you'd have Fatty Wedlock? Best centre half in England in his day. 

9 minutes ago, maxjak said:

Was  Chris Garland Bristolian ?

 

He was and is.

[Lanterne Rouge]

3 hours ago, Moments of Pleasure said:

I'd have Gary Mabbutt in my X1. And Larry Lloyd (surely the most decorated Bristol footballer there is, or was. Or likely will be)

There is also another one of `them` who I`ve tried to expunge from my memory over the years but did alright in the top division.

Gary Penrice

[onehowie]

2 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Wotton-Under-Edge.

Cameron does live in Wotton under Edge…but was actually born in Southmead hospital. The club profile says Cheltenham which is wrong . So most definitely ‘one of our own’

Edited January 5, 2022 by onehowie

[Oh Louie louie]

There was a kid from ashton, came on for rovers, scored against us in the gloucester cup.

I think he came on as a sub, and was one of his first touches.

They got him out sunday leauge.

Anybody remember him?

Lived very close to the ground.

[Davefevs]

1 hour ago, Moments of Pleasure said:

From left back? Did you "lose concentration," Dave? Were you dreaming of stats and graphs? Heat maps and amortisation? 

He was a centre-forward in those days, and skinny as a rake.  I was a forward then too, playing a year-up, whereas Dicks had an August birthday that allowed him to play a year down…so there were two school years between us!!

5 minutes ago, Oh Louie louie said:

There was a kid from ashton, came on for rovers, scored against us in the gloucester cup.

I think he came on as a sub, and was one of his first touches.

They got him out sunday leauge.

Anybody remember him?

Lived very close to the ground.

Boyle?

[Oh Louie louie]

This bs3er, was a known city fan dave.

Reckon about 88ish

[Merrick's Marvels]

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

@Merrick's Marvels Drysdale was Keegan’s first signing at Newcastle.

Always liked him - a tidy player. 

Used to irk me that the son of a City legend, with obvious talent, played for the likes of Watford and Swindon but never us. Multiple reasons why players end up where they do though, I suppose.

Mike Ford was another one - another Left Back and son of a former player - played nearly 500 times for Cardiff and Oxford in the 80s and 90s.

At least our Academy means we now have a better chance of finding these talented locals, although personally I'd prefer it if we combined this with plenty of boots on the ground in an old-school scouting network. 

[Oh Louie louie]

His name was ian wilmott.

His brother, i used to play with.

Went on to better things, than ian.

Captained ashton vale boys club.

[GrahamC]

4 minutes ago, Oh Louie louie said:

His name was ian wilmott.

His brother, i used to play with.

Went on to better things, than ian.

Captained ashton vale boys club.

Steve Bailey was a Knowle Wester who was a City fan who ended up playing for the blue few, had to retire early from the game through injury.

[Oh Louie louie]

And jeff meecham gra.

I heard on good authority, he hated francis.

[PHILINFRANCE]

2 hours ago, maxjak said:

Was  Chris Garland Bristolian ?

From the flats behind the Dolman?

[Davefevs]

7 minutes ago, Oh Louie louie said:

His name was ian wilmott.

His brother, i used to play with.

Went on to better things, than ian.

Captained ashton vale boys club.

Enoch?  Pretty sure I played against when he was at Mangotsfield or Taunton (or both)

https://www.theleaguepaper.com/features/featured/7722/where-are-they-now-bristol-rovers-division-three-champions-1989-90/

Who was his brother?

 

[Oh Louie louie]

His brother was called dave, dave!

I know he played for local pub teams too, hence rovers signing him.

Nice kid tbf.

I think he got ill after he retired?

[Steve Watts]

How have Matty's Bryant and Hewlett not had a mention yet?!?

[redysteadygo]

No mention of Trevor Tainton?

Third highest appearances behind Carey and Big John.

Edited January 5, 2022 by redysteadygo
Spelling mistake

[Oh Louie louie]

Matt hewletts nickname was very apt.

Bambi.

[Steve Watts]

2 minutes ago, Oh Louie louie said:

Matt hewletts nickname was very apt.

Bambi.

Fluffy Slippers was another nickname I seem to recall!

He always had the technical ability, but always seemed like he could do with bulking out massively every pre-season.

[GrahamC]

21 minutes ago, Oh Louie louie said:

And jeff meecham gra.

I heard on good authority, he hated francis.

Didn’t we all..

[Merrick's Marvels]

29 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Steve Bailey was a Knowle Wester who was a City fan who ended up playing for the blue few, had to retire early from the game through injury.

Graham Withey too.

At least he had the pleasure of pulling on the red and white later in his career - and also had the good grace to be on the losing side when playing against us for Cardiff. That's the spirit! 

[Oh Louie louie]

Nicky johns gave out the trophys at the federation of boys clubs one year.

That six a side court at murford, that separated the men from the boys.

[alexukhc]

Louis Carey anyone?

Dwayne Plummer?

[maxjak]

4 hours ago, Red-Robbo said:

Surely, if we allow time-travelling, you'd have Fatty Wedlock? Best centre half in England in his day. 

 

He was and is.

Thanks

[Davefevs]

2 hours ago, Oh Louie louie said:

His brother was called dave, dave!

I know he played for local pub teams too, hence rovers signing him.

Nice kid tbf.

I think he got ill after he retired?

Yes, that’s right, cancer or leukaemia iirc.  Recovered though didn’t he?

[ollywhyte]

James Hill on that list has just signed for Bournemouth from Fleetwood today for a record fee. Described as an England wonder kid, 19 YO.

Matt Hills son!

Edited January 6, 2022 by ollywhyte

[alexukhc]

13 minutes ago, ollywhyte said:

James Hill on that list has just signed for Bournemouth from Fleetwood today for a record fee. Described as an England wonder kid, 19 YO.

Matt Hills son!

Looks as if it maybe Lloyd Kelly’s ready made replacement, someone we should’ve looked at for Lloyd’s replacement 

[Oh Louie louie]

I think he recovered dave, not heard of him in years tbh.

I can recall being at a do at redwood lodge, and jason eaton, was working there mid 90s.

I played it cool at first, 4 pints in i was giving it whats it like to live the dream.

Go on talk me through your goal again, only asked him about 7 times.

Another nice kid,

[Oh Louie louie]

Can recall nigel hawkins having a blinder of a game  and scoring the winner. i think.

He made blackpools worst ever 11.

BIt harsh, i thought,

[GrahamC]

Not sure he’s been mentioned yet but Paul Mardon also had a tidy career.

Best known with us of course for the goal at Forest but he went on to play a lot of games for both West Brom & Birmingham.

Think he was a South Bristol lad, I am sure others will know.

[Red-Robbo]

There's a partial list on Wikipedia, which would certainly yield a half-decent XI.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Footballers_from_Bristol

[Davefevs]

3 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Not sure he’s been mentioned yet but Paul Mardon also had a tidy career.

Best known with us of course for the goal at Forest but he went on to play a lot of games for both West Brom & Birmingham.

Think he was a South Bristol lad, I am sure others will know.

Merrywood school….my year / age group, played against him loads of times.  Striker turned CB!

[Bristol Oil Services]

1 hour ago, GrahamC said:

Not sure he’s been mentioned yet but Paul Mardon also had a tidy career.

Best known with us of course for the goal at Forest but he went on to play a lot of games for both West Brom & Birmingham.

Think he was a South Bristol lad, I am sure others will know.

What we need now is a Bristol South of the River X1 v North of the River X1. And let's not get in a tangle about which river, there's only one river in Bristol. For me.

[leader]

Andy king