Who do we want to come down and up?

[Gassy]

It's just lacking in all of the things that make an away day good.. Soulless stadium, awful location, nothing to do nearby, poor atmosphere. The only plus is how easy it is to reach from Bristol.

Maybe by Championship standards... but any semi-new all seater stadium is a day out for us

 

[Sheffsteel]

I’d say Reading are a bigger club than Bradford to be honest.

Bradford City are traditionally a smallish club BUT do have big potential. Thought Sheff United were bad but Bradford City must be up there as the most under achieving big city club in Europe.

Reading are similiar to Wigan, traditionally even smaller than Bradford but neither have the same fan base and potential as Bradford City.

Although I do admit that Wigan Athletic have had a fantastic recent history, anyone under 16 probably thinks Wigan is a decent sized club.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Thought Sheff United were bad but Bradford City must be up there as the most under achieving big city club in Europe.

I'd agree with this tbh, most clubs build their fan bases over time through success in staying in higher divisions and challenging at the top. Our average league position over our history is 11th in League 1, yet any bit of success and we can draw in crowds that probably only the top 20 could achieve.

If Leeds or Wednesday's average league position was League 1 and they'd spent 30 or 40 years in the bottom league would their fan bases be half the size they are?

If we could sustain football in the top 2 leagues for 25-30 years, our followings both home and away would be a decent size. Doesn't help that we are one of the poorest cities in the country either.

 

[Gassy]

I'd be tempted to say it's us, but we're a 2 team city.

Bath is pretty poor too. Biggest city to never have a FL team I believe

 

[WilsdenBantam]

I'd be tempted to say it's us, but we're a 2 team city.

Bath is pretty poor too. Biggest city to never have a FL team I believe

I'd say both Bristol clubs have under achieved in my life time anyway for the size of the city, but as you say there are 2 clubs and our population is still quite a bit more (if Wikipedia is right). That can't be true about Bath though surely? It's only got a population of 83,000, not much more than Keighley, a town in Bradford.

 

[bantamigo]

The amount of Bulls fans who despise football, I would probably class us as a two club town. Also Park Avenue fans and their subsequent offspring who went off and supported other clubs when they went bust.

 

[Gassy]

I'd say both Bristol clubs have under achieved in my life time anyway for the size of the city, but as you say there are 2 clubs and our population is still quite a bit more (if Wikipedia is right). That can't be true about Bath though surely? It's only got a population of 83,000, not much more than Keighley, a town in Bradford.

Bristol itself is a weird one because it's now a county and a city, so the number differs depending what you google - but with the surrounding towns goes to around 1 million. (Wiki backs me up here - as a City Bristol is 450,000. Urban Population of 600,000. Surrounding areas of 1m). Bristol officially the largest city in England to not host a prem team. Seeming as it won't be us, long may that continue

Bath I always remember this being a fact on a fifa game - I guess because it's a City, rather than a town. But again where my Mum lives isn't included in Bath's population, but is considered as Bath.

 

[SMH]

The most underachieving big city club in the country is Newcastle IMO. Over 50k a week and no major trophy since the 50s. The Bristol clubs aren’t far behind considering their catchment area. Plymouth also huge underachievers and poorly supported at home considering how big an area they have all to themselves to draw fans from.

 

[Hooped Wizard]

Yeah should bare in mind that a lot of younger people will think Wigan are currently a big time down on their luck

 

[Sheffsteel]

The most underachieving big city club in the country is Newcastle IMO. Over 50k a week and no major trophy since the 50s. The Bristol clubs aren’t far behind considering their catchment area. Plymouth also huge underachievers and poorly supported at home considering how big an area they have all to themselves to draw fans from.

Sheffield United average nearly 27,000 this season but haven’t won a trophy since the 1925.

Newcastle have been in a few cup finals and even in Europe several seasons.
Whereas Sheffield United last cup final was 1936 and never been in Europe.

However SU have been in loads of FA cup semi finals, league cup semi finals and play-off finals but lost everyone since the 2nd world war. I’ve personally attended 10 of these big games at Old Wembley, new Wembley, Millenium stadium and Old Trafford and Anfield and we’ve lost 10 out of the 10 matches I’ve attended but even those I didn’t attend we still lost.

I have family in Plymouth, so know it well and it’s not a football area. They like their rugby union down there. Although I must say Argyle always seem to have impressive away numbers.

Agree about Bristol underachieving, both clubs have done very little their whole histories. Bristol City have only spent 9 seasons in the top flight, with only one season in 1907 when they were significant by finishing 2nd in the top flight. Whereas Rovers have never been in the top flight.

 

[GEORGE]

Sheffield United average nearly 27,000 this season but haven’t won a trophy since the 1925.

Newcastle have been in a few cup finals and even in Europe several seasons.
Whereas Sheffield United last cup final was 1936 and never been in Europe.

However SU have been in loads of FA cup semi finals, league cup semi finals and play-off finals but lost everyone since the 2nd world war. I’ve personally attended 10 of these big games at Old Wembley, new Wembley, Millenium stadium and Old Trafford and Anfield and we’ve lost 10 out of the 10 matches I’ve attended but even those I didn’t attend we still lost.

I have family in Plymouth, so know it well and it’s not a football area. They like their rugby union down there. Although I must say Argyle always seem to have impressive away numbers.

Agree about Bristol underachieving, both clubs have done very little their whole histories. Bristol City have only spent 9 seasons in the top flight, with only one season in 1907 when they were significant by finishing 2nd in the top flight. Whereas Rovers have never been in the top flight.

We won the "Watney cup " though.

 

[Camborne Gills]

From L2 Exeter and Notts County (assuming Luton and Accrington are nailed on)
The Championship is all but done