There are two teams in Bristol, yeah?

[JTG]

Reading? Fuck me, that's hardly a local rivalry. They're not even in the West. They're South-Central muthafukkas. I speak as a Basingstoke native btw.

How about Wrexham?

that's as maybe but everytime they're in the same division as us or c*ty there's some degree of bad feeling between the teams.

besides it's closer than Gargoyles are and you don't dismiss a rivalry with them

 

[stavros]

One question that's always got me thinking is which League club (top 4 divisions) is the biggest outpost, in terms of how far you have to go to get to another League club? Is it Yeovil? Carlisle? Norwich? Swansea?

An acconpanying question is which club has the highest population who have it as their nearest, and hence local, club? I don't know if anyone's ever done a definitive study. Reading? Newcastle? Leeds?

 

[JTG]

well Gargoyles are now some 80 miles or so from the nearest League team since Exeter and Torquay got relegated so it must be them. Not sure whether the nearest League club to them would be Yeovil or Bournemouth though.

 

[Phenotypic Dai]

One question that's always got me thinking is which League club (top 4 divisions) is the biggest outpost, in terms of how far you have to go to get to another League club? Is it Yeovil? Carlisle? Norwich? Swansea?

Plymouth, surely.

It's in the middle of bloody nowhere.

 

[3_D]

Loads more to say, especially once 3D turns up to take issue with everything I've said

As if

Much of what you say is true, except I've never seen any evidence to back up your theory that Rovers are more popular than City. We've always had higher crowds than Rovers. Are you suggesting that Sags are more apathetic than Shitheads? Surely not?? Both clubs have taken 40,000 to finals in recent years, which merely confirms the potential of the area if either were to get any genuine success.

If either club were ever to make it to the premier league, it would simply mean that those of us that have been attending regularly for 30-odd years and like to sing our hearts out with our like-minded compatriates, will be forced to sit alongside unfamiliar folks asking questions like "what's the name of Bristol's goalie" and "where's the restaurant?".

Which would be nice

 

[pastieburt]

Plymouth, surely.

It's in the middle of bloody nowhere.

plymouth is near southampton and portsmouth.

 

[JTG]

As if

Much of what you say is true, except I've never seen any evidence to back up your theory that Rovers are more popular than City. We've always had higher crowds than Rovers. Are you suggesting that Sags are more apathetic than Shitheads? Surely not?? Both clubs have taken 40,000 to finals in recent years, which merely confirms the potential of the area if either were to get any genuine success.

I'm not sure I actually believe that sometimes, it's just that we seem to have an awfully large number of 'fans' that never bother. I work in an office full of Gasheads whose attendance ranges from semi-regular to once in a blue moon and we struggle to find any of your lot at all tbh. It's a little confusing tbh.

I come across a high number of people who say things like 'I don't really support either but I prefer Rovers over c*ty' as well.

 

[JTG]

plymouth is near southampton and portsmouth.

no it isn't

 

[Phenotypic Dai]

plymouth is near southampton and portsmouth.

According to the AA route planner, Plymouth is 171 miles from Portsmouth.

 

[pastieburt]

According to the AA route planner, Plymouth is 171 miles from Portsmouth.

well it's near southampton then.

 

[Phenotypic Dai]

well it's near southampton then.

Portsmouth, yes.

 

[JTG]

well it's near southampton then.

no it isn't

 

[pastieburt]

no it isn't

isn't it?

 

[Phenotypic Dai]

isn't it?

A mere 150 miles.

 

[3_D]

I've been pretty overwhelmed with the amount of goodwill I've personally encountered towards City this season, both from neutrals in Bristol and from opposition supporters on my travels, namely chatting with rival fans in pre-match pubs at Preston, West Brom, Coventry and Palace.

As for Plymouth, it may have been a big 'local derby' day out for the cornish boys at our place yesterday, but Loftus Road is closer to Bristol than Home Park is. Yep, our West London derby with QPR is always a big occasion.

 

[pastieburt]

A mere 150 miles.

Well its near somewhere.

 

[Phenotypic Dai]

Well its near somewhere.

No it isn't.

According to route planner, Plymouth is a 3 hour drive from anywhere.

 

[JTG]

I've been pretty overwhelmed with the amount of goodwill I've personally encountered towards City this season, both from neutrals in Bristol and from opposition supporters on my travels, namely chatting with rival fans in pre-match pubs at Preston, West Brom, Coventry and Palace.

As for Plymouth, it may have been a big 'local derby' day out for the cornish boys at our place yesterday, but Loftus Road is closer to Bristol than Home Park is. Yep, our West London derby with QPR is always a big occasion.

Yeah, I always used to say, in the days that we played both, that Brentford was more of a local derby than Plymouth.

I do think there's some disdain felt by supporters of both Bristol sides towards them but it's definitely stronger on their part than it is ours.

 

[pastieburt]

No it isn't.

According to route planner, Plymouth is a 3 hour drive from anywhere.

it's in the middle of nowhere then.

 

[Phenotypic Dai]

it's in the middle of nowhere then.

Yep, along with Hereford.

The "Nowhere" Derby, that one would be.

Takes forever to get to Hereford.

 

[pastieburt]

herefords near wales.

 

[Phenotypic Dai]

herefords near wales.

Hereford is reached via a single tracked muddy footpath.

It's not a trip for the geographically challenged, Pastie.

 

[pastieburt]

Hereford is reached via a single tracked muddy footpath.

i didn't know that, i've never been to hereford. thanks for that you learn something everyday.

 

[Phenotypic Dai]

i've never been to hereford.

Be thankful for small mercies.

 

[3_D]

Apropos of the opening post, I understand the Cheltenham Town fans gave a rousing rendition of the popular anthem "There's Only One Team In Bristol" when Stevie Brooker scored the winning goal against Bristol Rovers yesterday. Much to the 'disappointment' of the away fans.

BLESS EM

 

[Geri]

And another thing - the staff at Ashton Gate are so thick they don't even know the difference between a Cornish pasty and a cheese pasty.

 

[pastieburt]

And another thing - the staff at Ashton Gate are so thick they don't even know the difference between a Cornish pasty and a cheese pasty.

That's a sackable offence.

 

[stavros]

Brighton must be quite a long way from anyone. I would have thought either Crystal Palace or Southampton are their nearest League neighbours.

Also, in a thread about West Country non-top flight clubs, is it daft to suggest Tranmere or Blackpool?

 

[JTG]

Brighton must be quite a long way from anyone. I would have thought either Crystal Palace or Southampton are their nearest League neighbours.

Also, in a thread about West Country non-top flight clubs, is it daft to suggest Tranmere or Blackpool?

Brighton's nearest neighbours are Palace and Portsmouth but they're really not all that far away.

Swansea are 30 miles from Cardiff, Norwich 40 miles from Ipswich and Carlisle something similar from Newcastle. Plymouth are definitely the most isolated League club by a long way, at least until Torquay or Exeter reclaim their League place.

 

[stavros]

Aberystwyth might make it into the League one day, or Saint Helier.