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RIP Chris Garland


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Lucky enough to have a chat with him a year or so back as bizarrely he used to get his hair cut in the barbers I use in Stonehouse.

I had a City polo shirt on and he sparked up the conversation, he played before my time unfortunately but had some great stories to tell and you could tell by the glint in his eye that City meant a lot to him.

 

R.I.P. sir.

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Devastated to hear this, as others have said he was one of my early City heroes. As I lived in Long Ashton and so did he for a while I had an additional sense of connection. 
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-legend-chris-garland-8598867?utm_campaign=breaking_daily_newsletter2&utm_medium=email&utm_source=bristol_live_newsletter

Thoughts are with his family.

RIP

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15 minutes ago, downendcity said:

As so many others of my generation have already said, my first City hero.

Remember going to an England u23 international at AG. CG was named in the match day squad but never got on the pitch. It was suggested that his being named was just a cynical ploy to boost the crowd 

Was gutted when he went to Chelsea.

Sad news indeed.

Rest In Peace Chris. 
 

I notice there’s nothing on our website but there is on Chelsea’s. 

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Although Chris's best days in a City shirt were before my time I still remember him fondly from the late 70's onwards. What has surprised me is reading Wikipedia (assuming it's correct) about his life after football - some real struggles there for sure.

Nothing but admiration and respect for the man. South Bristol through and through. 

RIP legend...

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 A boyhood hero and City legend, gone but never forgotten, him with the likes of Galley, Gow, Gibson are names still on my old metal toolbox, great days at the footie thank you Chris for the memories, a sad day, R.I.P,those were the days my friend.

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This is the worst passing of any City player for me. He was just simply my boyhood hero. There's some good stories in Geoff Merrick's book about the two of them. When I was a kid I bought countless packets of bubblegum to get the prized card below (didn't do my teeth any good though) ?

169364-10842273Fr.jpg

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21 minutes ago, downendcity said:

As so many others of my generation have already said, my first City hero.

Remember going to an England u23 international at AG. CG was named in the match day squad but never got on the pitch. It was suggested that his being named was just a cynical ploy to boost the crowd 

Was gutted when he went to Chelsea.

Sad news indeed.

Was there, still have the prog somewhere ?

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I remember in 1971 City beating Cardiff 2-0 in a usual hostile derby to go top of the table. It was the last game Chris played before his transfer to Chelsea.

His return, his goals to enable First Survival and the Ashton Gate 8 sacrifice, will never be forgotten!

RIP Mr. Chris Garland.

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I first met Chris during the early part of 1960-61 season on the supporters club away coach when I think he was around 12 years. His humour was never ending and while I just stuck with Chrissy, he nicknamed me "Moaner" on a train to Plymouth for an FA Cup third round that we won. And I don't remember him using anything else ever again.

I got married in 1969 and living in Southville sometimes bumped into him in the Hen & Chicken until he left for Chelsea. 

The next time I spoke with him was at a hotel in Hambrook on the morning of City home game with Leicester. He wasn't looking forward to it as being a lifelong City fan and didn't want to beat them. 0-0 was an ok result.

My abiding memory of him off the pitch was in a Sheffield fish and chip shop on the way home from an away game. He asked the woman serving, in his best Bristle dialect for "A nake lot" where the "T" is silent. The woman was completely puzzled until we translated it to "A hake lot". No hake on the menu so he got a cod and chips like the rest of us.

On the pitch it's the goals he scored to keep us up, the hard work every time he set foot on the pitch in a red shirt and his fantastic header from six inches against the other lot from Eastville.

RIP Chrissy and condolences to his family.

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A true south Bristol boy, brought up in the flats overlooking what became the Dolman Stand (The Nelson Mandela House flats from Del and Rodney fame) and never strayed from his roots. Played for City in three spells, earning the club a massive (for the time £100k) fee for his move to Chelsea, the second spell he came back and kept us in the top flight with his goals v Liverpool, and as a mark of the man he returned for a third time when the club was skint and on it's Knees in the old 4th division and helped us out signing on non contract terms ( ie he played for just expenses) to help the club .

One of our own. RIP Chris 

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A true local hero.

Like many on here Chris was the player that I always tried to emulate when I put my boots on for local kickabouts and, in supporting from the East End, someone who I was always in awe of as ‘one of our own’. Probably our first ‘superstar’ that actually made it on to the national stage. 

Rest easy Chris and thanks for the memories. 
 

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So sad to hear of the passing of Chris. My top city hero. I was upset when he was sold to Chelsea, but when he came back during that first season in the old First division, I and many other City fans  thought we were going to stay up. I Like many others on here remember his 2 goals against Liverpool and the atmosphere that night was the greatest I have ever experienced at the "Gate".  RIP Chris, you will never be forgotten. He truly was the first one I could call "One of our own". Please Mr Lansdown, we need  a really big effort to recognise this great servant  to the club and keep his memory alive after we have gone.  

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Very sad to hear this news. I still have childhood memories of him , then watching him on TV for Chelsea, and quite clear memories of his 2nd spell here where he scored important goals and was so wholehearted. 
I met him a few times and he was a nice, easy going guy. 
Now free from illness but his legend lives on. 

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Even after Chris Garland made his City debut in the 60s, although dressed in smart clobber, he still found time to chat and muck around with us scruffy urchins, whilst his lovely girlfriend looked on and waited patiently.

That simply wouldn't happen nowadays. 

My mates and I still treasure those little memorable moments. We will be forever grateful 

Chris was a truly talented and exciting player. I remember him as being modest, softly-spoken and friendly. I don't suppose he ever changed.

The best tribute I can pay Chris Garland is to say that, in some ways, he was Atyeo-esque. A legend, a hero and, let us never forget, a saviour.

RIP Chris Garland and thank you for everything.

 

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My boyhood hero. The only person I have ever got an autograph from. 
I remember, some time in the late  ‘80’s, being in the White Heart at Congresbury. The place was packed and rocking. Chris came in with a lady and tripped over a mat. The place went silent, and then erupted in one of the biggest cheers I have ever heard. I was sat at the bar all evening and I know he had to pay for nothing that night. 

 

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Sad sad news. An absolute City legend. Probably one of the few of ours who was well known far and wide even without the Chelsea connection. Can’t believe it’s not featuring heavily on BBC website. RIP big man. May you hover in heaven like you did in the penalty area. 

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4 hours ago, RedEd73 said:

Sleep well Chris, and thanks for everything you did and the sacrifices you made for City.

Flashback for the Fans link attached for those in a nostalgic mood.

 

Condolences to his family and friends.
RIP to my first footballing star.
And thanks to RedEd73 for posting this, hadn't seen it before and whilst not the greatest quality, very interesting.
How many Chealsea players today will be working as a greengrocer when they retire?

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Spotted playing football in Greville Smyth Park to watching his debut in 1966 under Alan Dicks then returning to play in a city shirt again to save us from relegation from the old first division Chris had city blood running through his veins a truly gifted player and a fantastic bloke RIP Chris you will not be forgotten by me or our club condolences to your family.

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6 hours ago, zippycar said:

Condolences to his family and friends.
RIP to my first footballing star.
And thanks to RedEd73 for posting this, hadn't seen it before and whilst not the greatest quality, very interesting.
How many Chealsea players today will be working as a greengrocer when they retire?

great memories and a truly great player

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That 90th minute winner v Liverpool in 1977 that gave us a chance of staying up! The official attendance was about 38000, I think, but people were 4 deep on the Dolman steps. He was a good, genuine bloke who lived a good, latterly brave life. Rest in peace Chris and thanks for the memories.

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So sad to hear this new’s .I’ll always remember Chris as a very Quick, skilful & brave player , he was brilliant in the Garland / Galley partnership throughout the late 60’s & early seventies. Had the the pleasure of meeting my all time city favourite , when the city player’s visited my local community centre, due to the club lottery , that raised good revenue at the time . I found as expected that Chris was very friendly and easy to talk too. RIP Chris 

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Can’t believe it. Another one of my boyhood heroes gone.
Great professional, loved City, always gave 100%. I sincerely hope the club does something to acknowledge CG. That 76 season was the best season for watching City. The Liverpool home game will live long in the memory of those who were there.
RIP Chris Garland. A true gentleman.

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RIP Chris.

I certainly remember Chris playing for us post 82, and he still looked the part then. To do that after what had happened was classy.

Thanks everyone for posting your memories, and showing so much love and respect for a legend.

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Saddened to hear of his passing, but perhaps some sort of relief after the later years with his health. Condolencies to all the family and friends.

I had the pleasure of meeting Chris when I was a scrawny, spotty-faced kid trying to break into local football as he often helped out in the club's training sessions. Older types may remember exercises where a player would be on piggy-back, then have to get off, through their legs forwards, then backwards, then round them, then back onto their backs again. Chris picked me (perhaps being the lightest) and I realised how solidly-built he was, although he was not so obvious on the park. Strong and balanced.

Also remember him trying a diving header one City game but cracked into the post and spent the following week with his head in a support collar. Got some stick for that one.

But it's difficult to compare him to most modern players and times. His commitment and love for his home club never faded, and that will be his lasting memory even among all the goals and glamour. Could you imagine a young player of today doing so many (unpaid) things for the club. His sort were few and far between in the day, never mind today.

RIP Chris and thank you.

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