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Gloucester City A.F.C.

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Gloucester City AFC are a semi-professional football club currently playing in the Southern League. Their current manager (appointed Jan 2006) is Tim Harris, who is an ex-goalkeeper and assistant manager at the club. They play their home matches at their home stadium Meadow Park.

Contents

History

The club was formed in March 1883, but the first recorded match came on 2nd January 1886 against Eastville (Bristol Rovers) which ended in a 0-1 defeat for Gloucester, and was refereed by Gloucestershire's own cricketing legend W.G. Grace. The club became founder members of the Gloucester and District League.

After the end of the First World War in 1918 most of the players who had been with City joined Gloucester YMCA. By 1925 they had assumed the name of Gloucester City and become founder members of the Northern Senior League. In 1934-35, after winning both the Cup and League, City turned professional, joined the Birmingham Combination, and moved to a new stadium in Longlevens. They won the Tillotson Cup for being the best club in the Combination, and then had former Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Reg Weaver blow away all records with his 78 goals in the 1937-38 season. Moving on, in 1939 the club played Southern League football for very the first time, albeit in a restricted wartime competition as they took part in the west section.

After the war City rejoined the Southern League and have been members ever since (a record bettered only by Chelmsford City). The competition was fierce and it was no surprise that it took until the 1955-56 season for Gloucester to taste success with their legendary 5-1 League Cup victory over Yeovil Town after losing the first leg 1-4. For three consecutive seasons, 1948-51, the club reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, each time losing to League opponents: Mansfield Town (1-4 away), Norwich City (2-3 home) and Bristol City (0-4 away). The attendance record was set at Longlevens in 1952 when Stan Myers scored both goals to beat a full-strength Tottenham Hotspur side 2-1 in front of 10,500 spectators.

In 1964 the club moved grounds again, from Longlevens to the massive Horton Road stadium, closer to the centre of Gloucester

Although Gloucester were promoted to the Southern League Premier Division in the 1968-69 season, it was generally a barren spell in the club's history.

In the 1981-82 season a sixth place finish was enough to clinch a place in the reformed Premier Division. They were also runners-up in the League Cup, going down 1-2 to Wealdstone, who included future England captain Stuart Pearce in their ranks.

Despite Kim Casey scoring forty goals, the club were relegated back to the Midland division in 1984-85.

In 1986 Gloucester City moved grounds again, this time to the Hempstead area and Meadow Park. The Horton Road ground became a housing estate which now boasts the names of City legends: [Stan] Myers Road, [Dicky] Etheridge Place and [Ron] Coltman Close amongst others.

In 1988 Chairman Geoff Hester wanted to appoint a new manager and after an exhaustive search found his man: former Aston Villa and Wales player Brian Godfrey. The new manager went about trying to assemble a squad capable of fighting their way out of the Midland Division. Lance Morrison, Steve Talboys, Wayne Noble, John Shaw, Nigel Green and Brian Hughes were among those who walked to the Championship, but the most important signing came just before Christmas when Chris Townsend joined from Cheltenham Town. "Towner" went on to score thirty goals to leave his mark on the club. It was a very competitive league, and although a look at the final table would suggest that City strolled to the title, it was actually the penultimate game of the season at King's Lynn that saw them crowned Champions.

The next big achievement of the Godfrey years was the famous FA Cup run to Cardiff. Mangotsfield United (4-0), Barry Town (2-2,2-0), Folkestone (1-0) and Dorchester Town (1-0) all came and went before City suffered heartbreak in the replay after being 2-0 up at Ninian Park with just five minutes to go.

Then, in the winter of 1990, Gloucester saw its' worst snow in many years and when the thaw came the River Severn overwhelmed all the local flood plains. The knock-on effect of the Sudmeadow flood saw incredible scenes at Meadow Park as the pitch was submerged under four feet of water, and the whole ground was out of commission for over a month. The first game back at Meadow Park, however, saw City defeat Gosport Borough 9-0 with "Towner" getting five.

The 1990-91 season was one of the most exciting ever seen at Gloucester. It all started when Geoff Hester stepped down as Chairman and was replaced by Les Alderman, a Bath based businessman. Godfrey had held on to most of his squad from the previous season, and had been able to add several quality players to it. Jeff Sherwood (£15,000 from Yeovil Town), Lee Rogers, Derek Dawkins, Keith Knight (£7,000 from Reading), Jason Eaton (£10,000 from Bristol City), and Steve Fergusson and Brendan Hackett (£25,000 from Worcester City) were just some of the signings that bolstered the squad. Due to the previous season's Cup exploits City had been made exempt until the fourth qualifying round where they faced Farnborough Town away and lost heavily 1-4. Little did they know then what an important part Farnborough would play in the season as we fast-forward to the last match away at Bromsgrove Rovers...

On the previous Tuesday Gloucester had needed to beat VS Rugby at home to go top of the pile, but could only manage a 2-2 draw, so it was all on the last day of the season at the Victoria Ground. Farnborough headed up to Atherstone needing to win, and went 0-1 down in the first half to the delight of the thousand or so travelling City fans. Just when the City game looked as though it might end in stalemate, substitute John Freegard got his head to Jeff Sherwood's long free kick and minutes later had won. In the meantime Farnborough had scored, but it wasn't enough. City fans were on the pitch celebrating the Championship and promotion to the Conference, but all they had heard were premature radio reports from Atherstone: Farnborough had actually scored a winner three minutes before the end of the game and they were promoted instead of Gloucester.

Into the 1991-92 season, one that promised to start where the previous one had left off, and the bombshell hit City that Les Alderman had left the club. The squad was ripped apart: Fergusson and Hackett went to Telford United for derisory sums; Lee Rogers and Jeff Sherwood went unpaid, took the club to the FA, and forced a transfer embargo. Then Brian Godfrey was sacked, and replaced by his assistant Steve Millard. Ollie only lasted three months in what was a disastrous spell that saw him hardly keep the same starting eleven and basically have to start from scratch after Geoff Hancocks and Brian Hughes left the club in support of Godfrey. In February Brian was re-appointed to the hot seat and started to turn things around again; however, everyone knew that the title challenging days of Alderman were a long way off. The club survived the next few seasons under the guidance of Chairman George Irvine, but even the Roaduser boss knew that the Tigers couldn't continue this way. The club had crippling debts and were about to fold when former Moreton Town owner Keith Gardner stepped in.

With Gardner came razzmatazz as he did wonders for Gloucester City with his magical PR machine! Gardner sacked Godfrey again and appointed former Cheltenham Town and Trowbridge Town boss John Murphy as the club entered possibly the most exciting period in their history. Keith did more than his fair share of work in putting Gloucester City on the map, some would say he did too much! He made a deal with Carlsberg Tetley that enabled the City to buy the old Fieldings club and football pitches. To be fair he turned the whole 'Meadow Park' area into a footballing center, and he had a great idea to develop the ground into an all-seater stadium and add a leisure centre, ice rink and all weather pitch. His ambitions were matched on the field too, after seeing the club get by with local players, talent was brought in from further afield and the Tigers became a force to be reckoned with. Dave Porter only played a handful of games but will be remembered for the part he played in the 1-0 victory over rivals Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road in 1994. However it soon became apparent that Murphy didn't have what it took to turn a good side into Champions and was sacked in March 1996. Former West Ham United and Bristol City striker Leroy Rosenior took over and had to virtually rebuild the team from scratch after most of the players walked out in the wake of Murphy's dismissal.

Dale Watkins was signed from Rushden and Diamonds for the 1996-7 season, with Adie Mings from Bath City and record signing David Holmes being persuaded back after the Murphy furore. This formed one of the most potent front lines in non-league football and it was no surprise to see the Tigers beat all comers. Despite having to play manager Leroy Rosenior in goal against Kingstonian in their first game in the FA Trophy, City managed to reach the semi final before being beaten by Dagenham and Redbridge. The cup run proved to be a thorn in the side for City as they had to play three games a week to claw back games in hand and eventually lost out to Cheltenham in the race for second spot (after Champions Gresley Rovers had been denied promotion due to the state of their ground).

Since then City have struggled to keep their heads above water and the clubs weekly playing budget was slashed. Considering that the club had seen just four different managers in the 1990's (Brian Godfrey, Steve Millard, John Murphy and Leroy Rosenior), the turn of the century saw another three come and go. First Brian Hughes tried his luck in a move that was very popular among the majority of the supporters. He didn't last as the playing budget was cut and this proved to be the catalyst that saw the club relegated. Then Tommy Callinan took over in a player/manager role, and left at the end of the 2000/01 season. The third to try his hand was Chris Burns, who remained manager until January 2006. He was tempted back to Meadow Park from Forest Green and brought with him a largely untried bunch of young players to fit in with the very limited wage structure. It took the side a while to find its feet, and they had some real setbacks too (namely the 1-7 home defeat at the hands of Bedworth United), but gradually began to look the part.

As the management bandwagon rolled on, just before Christmas 2000 Meadow Park was struck another hammer blow when the River Severn burst it's banks for the second time in a decade. This time the flood water did more damage than before because it reached just under seven feet high, and also managed to get inside the changing rooms ruining whatever stood in its way. The club was unable to hold matches at the ground for more than six weeks as the environmental health inspector ruled that due to the filthy content of the water, Meadow Park wasn't fit for public population. The lack of revenue for the club almost saw it go under and it meant that due to non-payment of players several walked out on the club. This was added to a contract dispute with ex-squad-members Niblett and Wigg, and meant that the club couldn't offer contracts to players.

However, in November 2001 ex-director Colin Gardner returned to the club to take over the Chairmanship. Working hand in hand with the Supporters Club, together they settled with Wigg and Niblett and lifted the contract restraints imposed by the FA. On the pitch things were looking up with new manager Chris Burns moulding his former City youth team into a force to be reckoned with. A mid table finish surprised many, especially those that had suggested that City would finish in the bottom two.

If ever the feeling that the club was bouncing back, then the 2002/03 season proved it. Off the field, a deal was struck between the club and Eamonn McGurk, where the latter bought the ground and took on the majority of the clubs debts. Financially, the club actually made a trading profit for the first time and were within reach of wiping out all of the historical debts. To add to the upturn, on the field Burns' young team upset a lot of the more fancied challengers, brought on some of the younger players and reached the quarter finals of the FA Trophy. The run included memorable victories away at league leaders Merthyr Tydfil, then two fantastic wins at Conference sides Woking and Southport. Sadly, Aylesbury United of the Ryman League proved to be too big of a challenge and City bowed out. In the league, a fifth placed finish was a remarkable achievement and a great stepping stone to launch a challenge for the future.

The 2003-04 season saw further progress with the Tigers finishing second in the Western Division and gaining promotion to the Premier Division. At the end of the season, Colin Gardner stepped down as the highly respected Chairman, and Ken Turner took over in an acting capacity. Ken continued until he was forced to step down from the club in July 2005 for personal reasons. Chris Burns resigned as manager on 2nd Jan 2006, Neil Mustoe took over as caretaker-manager, but the permanent appointment of Tim Harris from Merthyr Tydfil was made (see link below).

http://www.gloucestercityafc.com/news/index.php?showtopic=100

Source: various "away" match day programmes.

Club Records

Source: [Football Club History Database]

Honours

League Positions

Season League P W D L F A Pts Pos
2004-05 SL Prem 42 12 17 13 63 61 53 15/22
2003-04 SL West 40 24 7 9 77 46 79 2/21
2002-03 SL West 42 22 9 11 87 58 75 5/22
2001-02 SL West 40 14 10 16 48 63 52 14/21
2000-01 SL West 42 12 11 19 76 84 47 12/22
1999/00 SL Prem 42 8 14 20 40 82 38 20/22
1998/99 SL Prem 42 18 11 13 57 52 65 6/22
1997/98 SL Prem 42 16 11 16 57 57 59 11/22
1996/97 SL Prem 42 21 10 11 81 56 73 3/22
1995/96 SL Prem 42 21 8 13 65 47 71 4/22
1994/95 SL Prem 42 22 8 12 76 48 74 4/22
1993/94 SL Prem 42 17 6 19 55 60 57 10/22
1992/93 SL Prem 40 14 11 15 66 68 53 13/21
1991/92 SL Prem 42 15 9 18 67 70 54 12/22
1990/91 SL Prem 42 23 14 5 86 49 83 2/22
1989/90 SL Prem 42 17 11 14 80 68 62 9/22
1988/89 SL Midland 42 28 8 6 95 37 92 1/22
1987/88 SL Midland 42 18 14 10 86 62 68 7/22
1986/87 SL Midland 38 19 5 14 77 59 62 7/20
1985/86 SL Midland 40 15 12 13 61 57 57 9/21
1984/85 SL Prem 38 10 6 22 49 74 36 18/20
1983/84 SL Prem 38 13 15 10 55 50 54 9/20
1982/83 SL Prem 38 13 12 13 61 57 51 11/20
1981/82 SL Midland 42 21 9 12 64 48 51 5/22
1980/81 SL Midland 42 19 6 17 82 72 44 13/22
1979/80 SL Midland 42 10 14 18 55 68 32 18/22
1978/79 SL 1 North 38 18 8 12 76 59 44 7/20
1977/78 SL 1 North 38 14 8 16 68 75 36 13/20
1976/77 SL 1 North 38 18 4 16 70 81 40 10/20
1975/76 SL 1 North 42 13 9 20 49 78 35 17/22
1974/75 SL 1 North 42 13 8 21 55 75 34 17/22
1973/74 SL 1 North 42 10 6 26 52 81 26 20/22
1972/73 SL 1 North 42 18 7 17 55 64 43 9/22
1971/72 SL 1 North 34 8 8 18 46 61 24 14/18
1970/71 SL Premier 42 6 10 26 34 81 22 22/22
1969/70 SL Premier 42 12 9 21 53 73 33 19/22
1968/69 SL 1 42 25 9 8 100 54 59 3/22

Current playing squad

Matt Bath

Signed from County League side Whitminster where he had played for five years, he has easily made the step up in grade and is considered one of the best keepers in the division. He was voted Gloucester City's player of the season in 2001-02 despite only having spent five months at the club.

Gloucester City appearances (to end 2004-05)

Season Appearances Subs Goals
2001-02 24 0 0
2002-03 56 0 0
2003-04 51 0 0
2004-05 45 0 0
Total 176 0 0

Chris Thompson

Product of the Gloucester City youth team who went on to join Northampton Town. After being released by them at the end of the 2000/01 season Chris Burns, his former youth team manager, convinced him to re-sign for Gloucester. Hardworking and skillful midfielder who can also play in defence.

Gloucester City appearances (to end 2004-05)

Season Appearances Subs Goals
2000-01 6 0 0
2002-03 49 2 10
2003-04 48 2 1
2004-05 46 0 0
Total 149 4 11

Previous clubs: Gloucester City and Northampton Town.

Richard Mansell

Left wing-back. Signed June 2005 having been released by Luton Town. Noted for his workrate and accurate crossing, Richard joined Luton from school, in the steps of his older brother Lee who was a first team regular for the Hatters before transferring to Oxford United. Born Gloucester. Age 19.

City debut: home vs King's Lynn in the Southern League Premier match on 13th August 2005 (lost 2-1).

Gloucester City appearances (to 24th Jan 2005)

Season Appearances Subs Goals
2004-05 28 7 1
Total 28 7 1

Previous clubs: Luton Town.

Lyndon Tomkins

Centre Half. Born Gloucester, 13th January 1979. His early career was plagued by cruciate ligament damage. Returned to City in September 2004 from Hellenic Premier outfit Bishop's Cleeve after an absence of a year. Now appears fully recovered and forging a reputation as a physical and awkward central defender.

City Debut: home vs Solihull Borough in the Southern League Premier Division, 25th September 2004 (lost 1-0).

Gloucester City appearances (to 26th January 2006)

Season Appearances Subs Goals
2002-03 0 0 0
2003-04 0 0 0
2004-05 20 1 2
2005-06 19 0 0
Total 39 1 2

Previous clubs: Gloucester City, Witney Town, Trowbridge Town F.C., Cinderford Town, Gloucester City, Bishop's Cleeve (loan 03/4), Cinderford Town, Mitcheldean, Cirencester Town, Bishops Cleeve, Gloucester City, Bishops Cleeve (loan 04/5)

Source: www.t-ender.co.uk

Marvin Thompson

Signed July 2004 having been released by Cheltenham Town, following a successful earlier loan spell. Born Gloucester.

City Debut: home vs Mangotsfield United in the Southern League Western Division match on 26th December 2003 as substitute (drew 2-2).

Gloucester City appearances (to end 2004-05)

Season Appearances Subs Goals
2003-04 6 3 1
2004-05 39 7 1
Total 45 10 2

Previous clubs: Cheltenham Town.

Mark Pritchett

Tom Webb

Midfielder. Has established himself at the heart of the team over the past three seasons, and rejected several approaches from other sides including Stafford Rangers F.C. to stay with the club that brought him up through the youth team. Very hardworking player with limitless stamina.

Gloucester City appearances (to end 2004-05)

Season Appearances Subs Goals
2000-01 2 2 0
2001-02 27 10 0
2002-03 37 17 5
2003-04 35 8 2
2004-05 45 1 2
Total 146 38 9

Previous clubs: Luton Town.

Darryl Addis

Forward. Born Coleford. A long time transfer target for ex-Gloucester City manager Chris Burns who finally persuaded Daryl to Meadow Park in October 2004. A highly talented young forward able to create chances from nothing.

City Debut: away vs Dunstable Town, Southern League Premier Division. 23rd October 2004. Won 2-0.

Gloucester City appearances (to end 2004-05)

Season Appearances Subs Goals
2004-05 32 2 7
Total 32 2 7

Previous clubs: Cinderford Town, Westfields, Cinderford Town.

Lee Randall

Returned for a second spell at Meadow Park in the summer of 2005 and signed forms for the club after impressing with his determination to regain full fitness and make a return to semi-pro football.

He made a debut at away vs. Gresley Rovers, 25th August, 2001, Southern League Western Division. Lost 2-0.

Gloucester City appearances (to end 2004-05)

Season Appearances Subs Goals
2001-02 1 0 0
2004-05 11 10 1
Total 12 10 1

Previous Teams: Glasgow Celtic, Oldham Athletic, Slough Town, Chesham United, Harrow Borough, Windsor & Eton, Brockworth Albion, Gloucester City, Brockworth Albion, Gloucester City

Honours: Northern Professional Reserve Championship.

Eddie Rimmer

Made his debut for the first team in the County Cup in September 2004 having impressed in the youth set-up.

Debut: v Chetenham Town at Meadow Park for GSCC 1st Round. 21st September 2004, Lost 2-0, (as sub)

Gloucester City appearances

Season Appearances Subs Goals
2004-05 4 0 1
2005-06 6 1 0
Total 10 1 1

Previous Teams: Gloucester City

Luke Corbett

Signed by Chris Burns in October 2005 following his release from Mangotsfield United. Born Worcester, 10th August 1984.

Scored after just fifty seconds of his debut away against Mangotsfield United on 25th Oct 2005, and went on to get a second.

Began as a youth player at Crewe Alexandra. Luke was a prolific scorer in the youth and reserve teams in his time at Cheltenham Town from 1st July 2003 to 1st July 2005, but only managed one first team League appearance at home against York City on 1st November 2003. Scored seven goals in a reserve game against Swansea City.

Gloucester City appearances and goals (correct to 9th Jan 2006)

Previous clubs: Crewe Alexandra, Cheltenham Town, Cirencester Town F.C. (loan), Hednesford Town F.C. (loan), Chelmsford City F.C.(loan), Weston Super Mare F.C. (loan), Bath City F.C. (loan) and Mangotsfield United F.C..

Adie Harris

Born in Hereford. He plays left back in the defence at Meadow Park and is 40 years old. Joined City for a surprising third spell in July 2002 from local side Cinderford Town F.C.. His first spell with the club was in 1987. He was brought to the club by Brian Godfrey and was an important player in the 1988/1989 Southern League Midland Division winning season.

Became joint Caretaker-Manager of Gloucester City with Neil Mustoe on 5th January 2006 following the resignation of Chris Burns, until the appointment of Tim Harris from Merthyr Tydfil F.C. on 11th Jan 2006.

Gloucester City appearances (to end 2004-05)

Previous clubs include Dales United F.C., Llandrindod Wells F.C,Aberystwyth Town, Cinderford Town, Trowbridge Town F.C. and Pegasus Juniors F.C. (loan).

Honours: Southern League Midland Championship 1988/9, Southern League Southern Div. Runner-up 1990/1, Gloucester City Supporters Player of the Year 2002/3, Southern League Western Div Runner-up 2003/4

Dave Wilkinson

Began career in City youth team, but then went to County League side Brockworth. Re-signed for City in July 2001 as one of five players picked up by Chris Burns from Brockworth. Born Gloucester.

Hardworking player who scraps for every ball.

City Debut: home vs Redditch United in the Southern League Western Division match on 18th August 2001 (won 2-1).

Gloucester City appearances (to end 2004-05)

Previous clubs: Gloucester City, Brockworth.

Dave Evans

Signed Southern League forms for City in September 2004 when it seemed injury to first team keeper Matt Bath may lead to a surprise debut for Evans.

Debut: vs Paulton Rovers at Meadow Park Southern League Cup 3rd Round. 18th January 2005 , Lost 1-0, (as sub).

Appearances:

2004-05: 1

2005-06: 1

Total: 2

Previous Teams: Gloucester City

Neil Mustoe

See separate Neil Mustoe article.

Sources

  1. http://www.soccerbase.com
  2. [Unofficial Gloucester City website]

The T-End

Gloucester City have some of the most vocal fans in the whole of the Southern Premier League. At their home Meadow Park a majority of these fans will stand in the T-End. The origins of this name are disputed but the most widely believed is that it is the 'Top End' therefore shortened to the T-End. The T-End is a terraced bank behind the goal with a roof (which was built in 1995) which amplifies the sound of the T-End around Meadow Park. Members of the crowd who stand in the T-End are known as T-Enders. Many of the T-Enders see this as our equivalent of Liverpool F.C's 'Kop' and Manchester United's Stretford End. The stand is home to a plethora of musical instruments including horns, drums and occasionally a Trumpet. Also the T-End is home a many different City related flags from all over the globe including England, France and a USA Flags and many others. The stand is officially known as the Keyway stand, but it retains the name T-End to the Gloucester City Fans.

External links


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