City’s toughest player.

[Robbored]

Just saw an article on the BBC sports site highlighting the toughest player of the current PL clubs. Not surprisingly Ron ‘chopper’ Harris got the Chelsea vote and Duncan Ferguson got the vote and both Everton and Newcastle. Billy Bremner got the Leeds vote.

Obviously it’s generational but for me two players would get my City vote. The late Gerry Gow who was the toughest and hardest midfielder I ever saw in a City shirt and Shaun Taylor who although not the most gifted player he was as hard as nails. I remember him colliding at Hillsborough with an opponent at full speed and the sound of the clash could be heard all around the stadium. The opposition player was laid out flat but Taylor just leapt straight back up. I was amazed. He also played ( I use that term loosely) with 100% commitment and was fortunate not to sustain serious injury.

Clearly a huge gulf of footballing ability between Gow and Taylor but both hard bastards in their own right.

Edited April 14, 2023 by Robbored

[archie andrews]

Dave martin.... 

[Sandhurst Red]

Shaun Taylor for me all day long. I remember him v Millwall on Boxing Day in our promotion season where he was a juggernaut and went head first in for every ball, despite some questionable arms from their strikers. 

I still believe that had he not been injured (Taken out) in the Easter Monday game v Watford at home, we would have won the league under John Ward that year.

Our dip in form, and goals leaked in the last 3 games of the season were no coincidence of him being absent. Mind you, we'd sold Goater by then too - so that didn't help matters.

[beaverface]

56 minutes ago, archie andrews said:

Dave martin.... 

Hard or dirty?

[Enclosure Old Timer]

Mike Thresher.

[ralphindevon]

1 hour ago, Robbored said:

Just saw an article on the BBC sports site highlighting the toughest player of the current PL clubs. Not surprisingly Ron ‘chopper’ Harris got the Chelsea vote and Duncan Ferguson got the vote and both Everton and Newcastle. Billy Bremner got the Leeds vote.

Obviously it’s generational but for me two players would get my City vote. The late Gerry Gow who was the toughest and hardest midfielder I ever saw in a City shirt and Shaun Taylor who although not the most gifted player he was as hard as nails. I remember him colliding at Hillsborough with an opponent at full speed and the sound of the clash could be heard all around the stadium. The opposition player was laid out flat but Taylor just leapt straight back up. I was amazed. He also played ( I use that term loosely) with 100% commitment and was fortunate not to sustain serious injury.

Clearly a huge gulf of footballing ability between Gow and Taylor but both hard bastards in their own right.

Loved these two players.

I’m not sure about a ‘huge gulf’ in footballing ability though. Taylor was a brilliant defender, probably the best I’ve seen at City. Gow was a great midfielder, both hard and both excellent in their positions. 

[Eddie Hitler]

Ernie "Ginger" Peacock - my parents' day

Gerry Gow / David Rodgers - faint memories from when I was a lad

Shaun Taylor - watched many games

 

The last to me was the most surprising.  Shaun was 33 when we signed him in 1996 after five years at Exeter followed by five years at Swindon.

My view of his signing, which was fairly common at the time but also maybe coloured by too many hours spent Playing Championship Manager where 33 year old signings last one season before heading into non-league, was that we were making a mistake in signing an over the hill lower league clogger.

How wrong we all were.  Underlined by his being the heart of the 1998 promnotion team.

 

As someone said at the time - Shaun Taylor would run through a brick wall for Bristol City.

[Red-Robbo]

The obvious candidates have been mentioned and I'm not going to argue with Shaun Taylor as winner of the City leg of this particular contest. He just did not like opposition players trying to get past him.

Jordan and Hunter were of course famously robust, and though not in that league, Tommy Doc was not adverse to the more physical side of the game. Paul Hartley too.  

[sglosbcfc]

In my time -

80s - Joe Jordan

90s - Dave Martin, Shaun Taylor

00s - Tommy Doherty, Dele Adebola

10s - Aaron Wilbraham

20s - Nathan Baker

[sglosbcfc]

I should also add Andy Llewellyn. Not really a hard man as such, but he's kicked more wingers into row Z of the old Grandstand than any other full back I can remember.

[bcfc01]

Trevor Tainton - he used to put his full weight into tackles, harder tackler than Gow imo, but both could put it about if necessary.

Then of course, there was the late and great Norman Hunter..

Would love a team now with those three playing.

[Port Said Red]

I would like to add John Emmanuel, Gow's "understudy", and Mick Harford, and of course Norman Hunter.

 There's a difference between "hard" and "strong" I think, perhaps it's the way it's used? Dele Adebola was one of the strongest men I ever saw for City, watching defenders bounce off him was great fun. 

1 minute ago, bcfc01 said:

Trevor Tainton - he used to put his full weight into tackles, harder tackler than Gow imo, but both could put it about if necessary.

Then of course, there was the late and great Norman Hunter..

Would love a team now with those three playing.

We would be down to 8 men every other week!

[beaverface]

3 minutes ago, Port Said Red said:

I would like to add John Emmanuel, Gow's "understudy", and Mick Harford, and of course Norman Hunter.

 There's a difference between "hard" and "strong" I think, perhaps it's the way it's used? Dele Adebola was one of the strongest men I ever saw for City, watching defenders bounce off him was great fun. 

We would be down to 8 men every other week!

Tony Rougier away to Barnsley. Nobody could touch him when he shielded the ball by the corner flag. After ten minutes of him doing so, the referee ended up giving a freekick to the opposition in sympathy :laugh:

[Major Isewater]

Robbie Carnage Turner, Mick Harford , Steve Galliers not players known to be soft touches. 

[RedRock]

Norman Hunter - nobody bounced off him. Solid is an understatement. 

[westonred]

I remember Vinnie Jones saying the toughest player he ever played against was a certain Steve Galliers of Bristol City

[westonred]

Half these players mentioned would be sent off every week in todays powder puff game

[Robbored]

24 minutes ago, ralphindevon said:

Loved these two players.

I’m not sure about a ‘huge gulf’ in footballing ability though. Taylor was a brilliant defender, probably the best I’ve seen at City. Gow was a great midfielder, both hard and both excellent in their positions. 

It’s all about opinions Ralph - no doubt Taylor was a solid and reliable at CB who scored some important goals for City but he was regularly exposed by quick and tricky forwards in much the same way that Flint was. His footballing ability was limited in my opinion. 

Anyone who remembers Gerry Gow will know how skilled (as well as being as hard as nails)he was. It was only Souness that kept GG out of the Scotland team.

[Sir Colby-Tit]

Matt Hewlett 

[The Coach]

1 hour ago, Robbored said:

Just saw an article on the BBC sports site highlighting the toughest player of the current PL clubs. Not surprisingly Ron ‘chopper’ Harris got the Chelsea vote and Duncan Ferguson got the vote and both Everton and Newcastle. Billy Bremner got the Leeds vote.

Obviously it’s generational but for me two players would get my City vote. The late Gerry Gow who was the toughest and hardest midfielder I ever saw in a City shirt and Shaun Taylor who although not the most gifted player he was as hard as nails. I remember him colliding at Hillsborough with an opponent at full speed and the sound of the clash could be heard all around the stadium. The opposition player was laid out flat but Taylor just leapt straight back up. I was amazed. He also played ( I use that term loosely) with 100% commitment and was fortunate not to sustain serious injury.

Clearly a huge gulf of footballing ability between Gow and Taylor but both hard bastards in their own right.

Did Whitehurst get Toon?

[Port Said Red]

3 minutes ago, Robbored said:

It’s all about opinions Ralph - no doubt Taylor was a solid and reliable at CB who scored some important goals for City but he was regularly exposed by quick and tricky forwards in much the same way that Flint was. His footballing ability was limited in my opinion. 

Anyone who remembers Gerry Gow will know how skilled (as well as being as hard as nails)he was. It was only Souness that kept GG out of the Scotland team.

That last sentence isn't true. If he was that close to the Scottish first team he would have been in the squad that went to Argentina. He was a cracking player for us, but he had a lot of competition ahead of him in the Scottish midfield. 

[glynriley]

Martin Scott never took many prisoners.

Glenn Humphries and Mark Aizlewood too.

Would like to see a team take this lot on...

A Leaning

 

G Humphries

N Hunter

S Taylor

M Scott

 

G Gow

B Hutchinson

S Galliers

D Martin

 

J Jordan

M Harford

 

Sub , Steve Johnson , Lavin , AIzlewood , Turner , Docherty

Edited April 14, 2023 by glynriley

[Oh Louie louie]

Robbie turner pure brute strength, Bobby hutch and David Martin cared for no man on the field

[Robbored]

4 minutes ago, The Coach said:

Did Whitehurst get Toon?

Duncan Ferguson got their vote. 

[Oh Louie louie]

Not a wind up but with lee Johnsons Martial arts skills on paper it would be him?

[Red-Robbo]

6 minutes ago, Robbored said:

Duncan Ferguson got their vote. 

 

Half of his battles were off the pitch....

[Son of Fred]

53 minutes ago, Enclosure Old Timer said:

Mike Thresher.

Some of his challenges can only be described as agricultural....

[Northern Red]

Billy Mercer was rumoured to have put Steve Jones on his arse during a particularly rowdy Christmas party.

[Red-Robbo]

1 minute ago, Son of Fred said:

Some of his challenges can only be described as agricultural....

 

He was a machine.

[Midred]

Just now, Son of Fred said:

Some of his challenges can only be described as agricultural....

And for Sheffield united - Norwood and McBurnie who get away with it most weeks!

[SBB]

From around his time, Martin Kuhl by an absolute mile. 

[Red hot poker]

Top hard men got to be Norman Hunter  & Gerry Gow   Though Forbes philipson Masters & Gerry Harrison weren’t shrinking violets 

[Oh Louie louie]

Keith Millen was always a nasty piece of work at Brentford, he liked dishing it out when we came up against him

[shelts]

Some real good shouts so far . Humphries. Galliers . Turner .  Martin. AIzlewood. When I first started watching City in the early 80s you could put a few tackles in and often you’d see a reducer tackle !

[RoystonFoote'snephew]

Although I never saw him play Ernie 'Ginger' Peacock was the hardest player most of my uncles generation could remember.

Having said that though I recall a programme back in the 70s or 80s where players were asked for the hardest man they ever faced. While Harris, Bremner, Hunter and Souness all got several mentions Mike Summerbee said Mike Thresher. In one of his first games as a young winger for Swindon he came across City's Thresher and said in the first 5 minutes he'd been put in the stand 3 times. 

In my day while the usual suspects, including Gerry Gow, have been mentioned I'd like to add Gordon 'Crunch' Low to the list. 

[handsofclay]

54 minutes ago, westonred said:

Half these players mentioned would be sent off every week in todays powder puff game

No they wouldn't because every other week they'd be serving a suspension so wouldn't be able to be sent off that week.

[Sandhurst Red]

24 minutes ago, SBB said:

From around his time, Martin Kuhl by an absolute mile. 

He used to go to the same Gym as me in a place called Yateley, which is on the Hampshire/Berkshire border - I think he stayed local, following his time at Aldershot. May still be here.

Anyhow, he was an absolute UNIT - very imposing in the gym, legs like tree trunks, Tattoo's all over the legs and arms and came across as someone you would not want to mess with.

Very personable and had a few chats with him about football, but he's certainly bulked up, post football and as you say - was tough back as a player. 

[Bristol Oil Services]

Mick Harford, any one said Mick Harford yet? Mick Harford, for me. 

[fisherrich]

Norman (bites yer legs) Hunter - brutal but skilful with it. Hell of a player for City.

Glenn (psycho) Humphries and Shaun Taylor - absolute beasts of players. 

Steve Galliers - underrated player IMO. Note Vinnie Jones comments.

 

Edited April 14, 2023 by fisherrich

[cidercity1987]

It would have to be Hartley in my time. Surprised he hasn't been mentioned yet

[Bristol Oil Services]

1 hour ago, beaverface said:

Hard or dirty?

This is a very good point. I think Norman Hunter was more dirty than hard. Dirty and a bit sly. Check out his ding-doing with Franny Lee, Norm would've been (literally) on the ropes in that one, had their been ropes.

[TV Tom]

The two toughest were in the same team, Gow & Hunter.

[Super]

Mad Dog Lavin

[downendcity]

Gerry Gow is the first player to spring to mind.However, Kellard and Rooks were pretty tough players from the time just before Gow.

Joe Jordan has a well earned reputation for being a hard player, but were I a defender I would rather face Jordan than  Mick Harford !

[TV Tom]

7 minutes ago, Bristol Oil Services said:

This is a very good point. I think Norman Hunter was more dirty than hard. Dirty and a bit sly. Check out his ding-doing with Franny Lee, Norm would've been (literally) on the ropes in that one, had their been ropes.

It looked a total mis-match but Lee was like a raging bull

[Clutton Caveman]

2 hours ago, Robbored said:

Just saw an article on the BBC sports site highlighting the toughest player of the current PL clubs. Not surprisingly Ron ‘chopper’ Harris got the Chelsea vote and Duncan Ferguson got the vote and both Everton and Newcastle. Billy Bremner got the Leeds vote.

Obviously it’s generational but for me two players would get my City vote. The late Gerry Gow who was the toughest and hardest midfielder I ever saw in a City shirt and Shaun Taylor who although not the most gifted player he was as hard as nails. I remember him colliding at Hillsborough with an opponent at full speed and the sound of the clash could be heard all around the stadium. The opposition player was laid out flat but Taylor just leapt straight back up. I was amazed. He also played ( I use that term loosely) with 100% commitment and was fortunate not to sustain serious injury.

Clearly a huge gulf of footballing ability between Gow and Taylor but both hard bastards in their own right.

John Quigley and Bobby Kellard (who once punched a young Gerry Gow for being lippy)

[DaveF]

Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy Doherty.

[sglosbcfc]

28 minutes ago, Bristol Oil Services said:

Mick Harford, any one said Mick Harford yet? Mick Harford, for me. 

Among old pros who played in the 80s and 90s, Mick Harford and Duncan Ferguson are always talked about as the hardest/guys nobody messed with.

The likes of Vinnie Jones and John Fashanu admitted that Harford was by far the hardest of the Wimbledon 'Crazy gang' and Ferguson's stories are legendary. Ferguson started young as well, as a 17 year old at Dundee United he was confronted in a pub by two Dundee fans. He proceeded to knock both of them out, before finishing his pint and moving on. A guy you'd be very careful not to spill the pint of if you were in his local boozer!

[CodeRed]

Got to be Gerry Gow.

  Alan Dicks told of an incident in the famous cup win at Leeds when he heard Don Revie on the bench shouting " the number 6 the number 6!" to Billy Bremner to order Bremner to "do" Gerry, a few minutes later AD said Bremner went in for a 50/50 with Gerry with his foot high and studs showing...........only to find out that Gerry had his foot even higher and caught Bremner first and put him on his arse, Johnny Giles rushed over to remonstrate and Gow went face to face with him too.

Reputation counted for nothing.

[PHILINFRANCE]

1 hour ago, RoystonFoote'snephew said:

In my day while the usual suspects, including Gerry Gow, have been mentioned I'd like to add Gordon 'Crunch' Low to the list. 

His right sided teammate Gordon Parr was also able to look after himself.

[archie andrews]

2 hours ago, beaverface said:

Hard or dirty?

Both.... 

[archie andrews]

44 minutes ago, sglosbcfc said:

Among old pros who played in the 80s and 90s, Mick Harford and Duncan Ferguson are always talked about as the hardest/guys nobody messed with.

The likes of Vinnie Jones and John Fashanu admitted that Harford was by far the hardest of the Wimbledon 'Crazy gang' and Ferguson's stories are legendary. Ferguson started young as well, as a 17 year old at Dundee United he was confronted in a pub by two Dundee fans. He proceeded to knock both of them out, before finishing his pint and moving on. A guy you'd be very careful not to spill the pint of if you were in his local boozer!

Done the same to 2 burglars he caught in his house... 

[PHILINFRANCE]

47 minutes ago, Clutton Caveman said:

John Quigley and Bobby Kellard (who once punched a young Gerry Gow for being lippy)

I played in the same team as John Quigley for a while, after he had retired from professional football I should add, and, whilst he was still hard on the pitch, he was quite hard and generally unpleasant off the pitch.

Bobby Kellard, in contrast, was a delight to talk to; very friendly and more than happy to reminisce about his football career, both with City and elsewhere - believe it or not, given his perceived persona as a footballer, he ended up in the antiques business.

[archie andrews]

2 hours ago, sglosbcfc said:

I should also add Andy Llewellyn. Not really a hard man as such, but he's kicked more wingers into row Z of the old Grandstand than any other full back I can remember.

Couldnt get near dave smith v gillingham though.... 

[ralphindevon]

2 hours ago, Robbored said:

It’s all about opinions Ralph - no doubt Taylor was a solid and reliable at CB who scored some important goals for City but he was regularly exposed by quick and tricky forwards in much the same way that Flint was. His footballing ability was limited in my opinion. 

Anyone who remembers Gerry Gow will know how skilled (as well as being as hard as nails)he was. It was only Souness that kept GG out of the Scotland team.

I certainly wouldn’t argue that Gow was the better footballer but Taylor was an incredible defender, very rarely gave the ball away and for me was the most we’ve ever missed a player when he was injured for a good chunk of our first season back in the championship.

He had 3 consecutive player of the year awards at Swindon, including a promotion to the top flight and a season in the top flight, followed by at least 2 maybe 3 for us.

I will accept there was a gap in their footballing ability but saying there was a huge gulf feels a tad hard on Taylor. 

[BanburyRed]

1 hour ago, fisherrich said:

Norman (bites yer legs) Hunter - brutal but skilful with it. Hell of a player for City.

Glenn (psycho) Humphries and Shaun Taylor - absolute beasts of players. 

Steve Galliers - underrated player IMO. Note Vinnie Jones comments.

 

@fisherrich, stole my thunder! Good old Norm, Psycho, Stevie Galliers, hard as nails all 3 of them!  Gets my vote!

[Sir Geoff]

Gerry Gow, all day with a mention for Steve Galliers.

[SDBS36]

Gerry Gow, Norman Hunter, Shaun Taylor

[Sir Leigh of Somerset]

Alec 'no prisoners' Briggs (left back).

[sglosbcfc]

2 hours ago, archie andrews said:

Couldnt get near dave smith v gillingham though.... 

He got close to Gerry Francis when he played for the Gas, he nearly cut him in two 

[cidered abroad]

6 hours ago, archie andrews said:

Dave martin.... 

A head case!

[cidered abroad]

4 hours ago, Red hot poker said:

Top hard men got to be Norman Hunter  & Gerry Gow   Though Forbes philipson Masters & Gerry Harrison weren’t shrinking violets 

As I'm so old, I will add to those two by nominating Ernest "Ginger" Peacock. 

A Bristolian and even harder than nails as a defender or midfield! What a midfield three in a modern 4-3-3.

[cidered abroad]

4 hours ago, RoystonFoote'snephew said:

Although I never saw him play Ernie 'Ginger' Peacock was the hardest player most of my uncles generation could remember.

Having said that though I recall a programme back in the 70s or 80s where players were asked for the hardest man they ever faced. While Harris, Bremner, Hunter and Souness all got several mentions Mike Summerbee said Mike Thresher. In one of his first games as a young winger for Swindon he came across City's Thresher and said in the first 5 minutes he'd been put in the stand 3 times. 

In my day while the usual suspects, including Gerry Gow, have been mentioned I'd like to add Gordon 'Crunch' Low to the list. 

Oh yes,yes,yes for both the Threshing machine and Denis Law's best man at his wedding.

[cidered abroad]

1 hour ago, Sir Leigh of Somerset said:

Alec 'no prisoners' Briggs (left back).

I think he is the only right footed left back that I've seen at City. Maybe one or two for a game or two, but Alex did it for five years after Thresher retired from kicking Mike Somerville and Stan Matthews.

Brilliant and nostalgic thread.

Edited April 14, 2023 by cidered abroad

[Ska Junkie]

Wilbs is a good shout but I would have to say Mick Harford.

All the 76 side could have a row to be fair, even Clive Whitehead.

[Davefevs]

Interesting the regular mention of Galliers in these types of thread.  I wasn’t a regular attendee in his era, but the games I did see, I never saw what many of you did.  I knew his reputation from Wimbledon, just never saw it play out on the park.  Didn’t think he was very good either.

[Gimme Shelton]

I'm not saying he's a dirty or hard man type but you don't play that many games as a teenager in the championship without being as tough as old boots,Alex Scott is his name.

[sglosbcfc]

33 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Interesting the regular mention of Galliers in these types of thread.  I wasn’t a regular attendee in his era, but the games I did see, I never saw what many of you did.  I knew his reputation from Wimbledon, just never saw it play out on the park.  Didn’t think he was very good either.

I watched Galliers regularly and I can confirm that he was a very good player (for third tier) and he was a hard man. He was small in stature but flew into tackles. He could also play a bit. You must bear in mind we are talking third tier and not top tier like Gerry Gow was able to do.

[Leveller]

Terry Cooper?

Plenty of mentions for Hunter and Jordan, but    Cooper could handle himself too. There were  no softies in Revie’s Leeds. All hated at Leeds but strangely all became heroes at AG!

[22A]

Gerry Gow. Before him Bob Kellard. Further back; Mike Thresher.

Reading the history book; In 1899 we had Hammer Clements in defence. Presumably that was his nickname. In the 1930's Cyril Bridge and Peter Cainey even looked like they belonged in prison. From the early 60's John Kurila is described as a "crunching wing half".