| Davenport's Diary |
taken from the Gloucester City v's Team Bath matchday programme - Tuesday August 19th 2003 |
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| August 1978 |
| City kicked off the new season at Horton Road under the management of Bob Murcell, and with some optimism boasting a squad that included Dougie Foxwell, John Evans, Steve Scarrott, and highly rated young keeper Iain Main. |
| The opening game of the season was a Southern League Cup tie against a Cheltenham side full of City connections, with John Murphy, Dave Dangerfield, Terry Patterson and Dave Lewis lining up for our buddies across the Shitehawke Valley. Despite 3 players turning up late, and a Dave Lewis penalty giving the Bobbins a 1-0 interval lead, City finally woke up to win through with a 88th minute winner from Perry following a Steve Scarrott equaliser. |
| The opening game of the football season saw league champions Nottingham Forest thrash FA Cup winners Ipswich 5-0 in the Charity Shield |
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| August 1988 |
| City started the season with bad news, as Simon Tyler’s back problem put him in traction, and out for the whole season. Greg Steele joined him in hospital with a depressed fracture of the cheekbone during a pre-season friendly with Yate. To add to City’s woes Chris Hyde was struggling with an ankle injury that was eventually to require surgery. |
| City close season signings included Wayne Noble from Yeovil, Shaun Penny from Forest Green Rovers, Brian Hughes from Cheltenham for £4,000, John Shaw from Exeter and Ian Hedges from Bristol Manor Farm. |
| There was plenty for City fans to look forward to in pre-season as First Division sides Coventry City and Norwich and Hove Bromwich Albion both brought full squads to Meadow Park. Although City lost 2-0 and 3-1 respectively there were plenty of highlights, in particular David Speedie having a go at some of the City supporters who accused him of being a ‘ginger whinger’. City’s game was mentioned in a national tabloids following the announcement that Norwich’s new signing Malcolm Allen would be making his debut at Meadow Park. |
| At the Cheltenham Festival a ninth wicket stand of 111 by Terry Alderman and Kevin Curran almost pulled off a dramatic victory for Gloucestershire against Surrey in the County Championship. It was also announced that Gloucester boxer Johnny Melfah would meet Herrol ‘Bomber’ Graham later in the Autumn. |
| As the national press eulogised about the Duchess of York and Prince Andrew’s new-born (Davenport sits back in his chair smugly admiring his use of the English language, before loudly breaking wind). The Citizen front pages lead with a story about a custody battle over a dog. |
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| August 1993 |
| City begin their Premier Division challenge having signed Paul Olner and Mark Buckland. In the biggest move of the summer Adrian Tandy joined his father Bernard as physio at City, signing from Forest Green Rovers. City’s signing of Paul Bloomfield caused tensions with Cheltenham. The Bobbins still owed City £3,000 from the purchase of Jason Eaton and it had been agreed to waive the debt in return for Bloomfield. After some heated words in the local press the deal finally went through. |
| Andy Hoskins lined up for newly promoted Tuffley Rovers in the Hellenic Premier and hit a hat-trick in an 8-0 opening day victory. Ex Notts County manager Jimmy Sirrell, who accidentally watched the game, was so impressed with the front man’s performance that he reckoned he would be an England regular by the time he was 25. OK, I made that last sentence up. |
| Elsewhere City past and present came together as Shortwood Manager Steve Doughty signed Jeff Meacham to play alongside Lee Jeffries in defence, with a certain Gary Marshall in possession of the right back slot. |
| The front pages of the Citizen screamed ‘Phelps hits World Title Target!’ No, the popular Tiger Roar webitor, and general all round good guy, had not beaten the world pie eating record (although Roy Castle later told me that there were only a few crusts in it). I refer of course to Richard Phelps, who won the world Pentathlon title in Germany. |
| The opening day of the season sees Arsenal crash to a shock 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Coventry, thanks to a Mickey Quinn hat-trick. |
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taken from the Gloucester City v's Atherstone United matchday programme - Saturday August 23rd 2003 |
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| The story so far. Toe nail clippings, dribble, evil step-aunt, old Gloucester City press cuttings. I almost weed myself in excitement. |
| So, over the coming season I intend to take you back down memory boulevard, and share with you my memories of 1978, 1988 and 1993 without having to listen to dozens of Z list celebrities wax peripheral about their space hopper, Prince Chas’s wedding, and Blake’s Seven. |
| 1978 |
| City’s visit to Bromsgrove was overshadowed by a car crash on the M5, when two cars carrying City players were involved in a shunt. Luckily the players were shaken but not stirred and arrived at the ground to take their places in the starting line up. And they played with leather balls with shards of glass in those days. Not like today where they turn up in flash cars and get paid more in a week than we earned in a season. They don’t know they’re born today, don’t you know. |
| On the pitch City continued their encouraging start to the season with a 3-2 victory, courtesy of goals by Dougie Foxwell, Gary Mockridge and Chris Gardiner. |
| CITY: Ian Main, Steve Scarrott, Perrott, Gary Mockridge, Dick Pepworth, B Perry, Gary Bell, Chris Gardiner, Doug Foxwell, John Evans, John Turner, John Eves. |
| Closer to home I was grounded for a week after smacking Steve Taylor in the face with a scalelectrix car. |
| 1988 |
| City kicked off the new season with a 2-0 victory at home to Ashtree Highfield, with a side that included current favourite Adie Harris on the bench. John Shaw, not for the first time in a City shirt, played a blinder. Despite a penalty miss from Steve Talboys, City wrapped up victory through strikes from Lance Morrison and Shaun Penny. |
| This victory was soon followed up with an impressive 3-1 victory away to Sutton Town, one of the favourites for promotion in the Beazer Homes Midland Division. Once again goals came from Lance Morrison and Shaun Penny, with the latter netting a brace. |
| Brockworth teenager Chris Burns made his debut for Vauxhall Conference Cheltenham Town, after joining as a trialist. Burnsy came on as a half time substitute for Chris Townsend as the red and whites went down 4-0 to Maidstone. Interviewed after the game the City legend told reporters that he’d rather being playing for the yellows and that his favourite food was liver and onions. |
| Elsewhere in sport, Jack Russell and David Lawrence both made their debuts for England against Sri Lanka at Lords. Our little dog friend made 94 to hit back at critics who criticised his willow ability. |
| 1993 |
| City announce that children under 15 can watch City free all season. I immediately don my old school uniform but have some problems when trying to order a pint at the bar, and am followed home by a very strange man. |
| City open the season with a disappointing 2-1 defeat away to a Corby side who scored twice in a minute during the first half through former Nottingham Forest bit part Calvin Plummer. A spectacular 25 yard free kick from Mark Buckland gave the yellows some 2nd half hope, which proved unfounded. |
| CITY: Steve Crompton, Paul Bloomfield, Murray Fishlock, Mark Buckland, Gary Kemp, Richard Criddle, Tommy Callinan, Brian Hughes, Karl Bayliss, Tony Cook, Stephen Crouch, (Mark Boyland, Martin Johnson) |
| A brace each for Tony Cook and Karl Bayliss restored some cheer as City started their Meadow Park campaign with a 4-2 victory over Burton Albion, Tommy Callinan taking the man of the match plaudits. This was followed up with a 3-1 home victory against a fancied Solihull side that included former City front man Kim Casey. City’s deadly duo of Tony Cook carried on where they had left off against Burton, between them netting all 3 goals for City. |
| Off the pitch City announced the release of Ray Baverstock, Steve Abbley and Tim Banks. |
| Wibble. |
