CHEERING and clapping echoed around Ashton Gate as Bristol City secured their place in the Championship with a win over Barnsley.
Fans invaded the pitch when the final whistle was blown on a 2-0 victory for the Robins, which saved them from relegation to League One.
The result meant the supporters and players didn't have to worry about results elsewhere involving Coventry and Portsmouth – the win meant City were safe and relieved fans left the ground with smiles on their faces after their team did a lap of honour in front of the stands.
Bob Parsons, 64, of Wick St Lawrence, near Weston-super-Mare, even reckoned a touch of spiritual intervention helped as he had taken the village vicar, Anne Farmer, 51, along to cheer on City. She said: "I haven't been to a live football match for years so I really enjoyed it."
Mr Parsons said: "I've been coming here since I was seven years old. I don't think City played well but they got the result they needed."
John Haynes, 81, of Barton Hill, said: "This is my 69th season and I've never been confident about the result before a game but for the last four months the players have put themselves out."
Jerry Osgood, 44, a Portishead business consultant, watched while his son Luke, 13, was a ball boy. He said: "A very nervous performance by City – they didn't threaten at all. But when the results from the other games came through, we all started to relax."
Mike Bamford, 73, of Weston- super-Mare; Heather Smithers, 70, of Withywood; Jean Reeves, 69, of Bedminster Down, and her son, Paul, 32, of Stoke Gifford, also had plenty to celebrate. Confidence in their club was repaid and they already have their season tickets for next year.
Mr Bamford said: "I thought they would do it."
Friends Mason Wilcox, 15, of Brislington, and Jordan Munn, 16, Luke Meacham, 15, and Ellison Shipp, 15, all of Knowle, said they had been "confident" City would get the right result.
Stuart Rogers, 47, chairman of the Bristol City supporters' trust, said: "It was great support and the fans have been very good through this and stayed with the team. They have been really positive.
"There was a little edginess as we had to win, and thankfully that first goal settled everyone down. At the end it was great.
"Everyone was asked not to pour on to the pitch as soon as the final whistle went but they couldn't help themselves.
"You would have thought they had been promoted."
No comments:
Post a Comment