Bristol City v Reading
Matchday programme: Bristol City v Reading. With an interview from Ayman Benarous, notes from Nigel Pearson, a detailed look at The Royals, a review Women's recent run of form, as well as a dive into the history books.
Matchday programme: Bristol City v Reading. With an interview from Ayman Benarous, notes from Nigel Pearson, a detailed look at The Royals, a review Women's recent run of form, as well as a dive into the history books.
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ROB NS<br />
2021/22 OFFICIAL BRISTOL CITY DIGITAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME<br />
AYMAN<br />
BENAROUS<br />
#38<br />
v READING<br />
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
ASHTON GATE | WED FEB 9 | 7.45PM<br />
PRINCIPAL<br />
PARTNER<br />
MATCH<br />
SPONSOR
ROBINS IN<br />
FOCUS<br />
26<br />
ZAK VYNER<br />
AGE: 24<br />
POSITION: Defender<br />
SIGNED: Academy<br />
Still just 24, Zak Vyner has made 88<br />
appearances in all competitions since<br />
his <strong>City</strong> debut almost six years ago.<br />
The Robins Academy graduate played<br />
the full 90 minutes in a 2-0 away win at<br />
MK Dons back on February 20th 2016,<br />
as a brace from Jonathan Kodjia gave us<br />
all three points in the Championship that<br />
day. One of Vyner’s defensive partners<br />
that Saturday afternoon was Nathan<br />
Baker, the only remaining member from<br />
the matchday squad still at Ashton Gate.<br />
In all, Vyner played four times in the<br />
2015/16 season, before embarking on<br />
four loan spells away from the club at<br />
Accrington Stanley, Plymouth Argyle,<br />
Rotherham United and Aberdeen.<br />
It was at Plymouth Argyle where Vyner<br />
was named Young Player of the Year,<br />
despite only featuring 17 times in the<br />
second half of the 2017/18 campaign.<br />
Vyner, who has experience at centre-back,<br />
right-back and central midfield, has<br />
scored two goals for his boyhood club –<br />
both came in the 2020/21 season.
THE<br />
GAFFER<br />
A<br />
warm welcome back<br />
to Ashton Gate for<br />
our midweek fixture<br />
against <strong>Reading</strong>. We<br />
extend that welcome<br />
to Veljko Paunović,<br />
his players, staff and supporters for what is a<br />
relatively short trip to <strong>Bristol</strong>.<br />
For us, it’s our first game back in BS3 after three<br />
consecutive away games, so to play back on<br />
home soil under the lights should make for a great<br />
occasion.<br />
We can be disappointed<br />
to have not come<br />
away with more than a<br />
point from those three<br />
matches. We largely<br />
dominated against Luton<br />
Town and deserved<br />
more at Preston so it has<br />
shown there is always<br />
things to work on. That<br />
goes for both ends of<br />
the pitch, defensively<br />
and how we attack in the<br />
final third of the pitch.<br />
Again that showed on<br />
Saturday at Blackpool.<br />
There wasn’t much in the<br />
game but a quick fire double which ultimately saw<br />
us chasing a three-goal deficit was always going to<br />
make it a big ask.<br />
We were unable to manage the game, we lacked<br />
quality in the final third and, not for the first time, we<br />
conceded really poor goals. These were avoidable<br />
so it has been a case of going back to basics as we<br />
search for the solutions.<br />
WE'VE GOT<br />
TO FIND THE<br />
SOLUTION TO<br />
GET OURSELVES<br />
ON WINNING<br />
WAYS...THAT HAS<br />
BEEN ONE OF<br />
THE LESSONS<br />
FROM OUR<br />
RECENT RESULTS<br />
We've got to find the solution to get ourselves on<br />
winning ways, and that has certainly been one of<br />
the lessons from our recent results. However, I am<br />
pleased to be back at home after three away games<br />
in a row. Our reverse fixture against <strong>Reading</strong> was<br />
a poignant one as we secured our first win of the<br />
season.<br />
We took a two-goal lead that night and conceded<br />
another avoidable goal before they scored late on<br />
with the score at 3-2. That was a nervy finale but we<br />
got what we deserved in the end. The supporters<br />
went home incredibly happy that night so I plan for<br />
us to do the same tonight.<br />
Since my last programme<br />
notes, Ayman Benarous<br />
signed his new contract<br />
and I’m delighted for the<br />
lad. I think we can all<br />
agree how well he has<br />
performed for someone<br />
so new to this level. He<br />
has a lot of potential<br />
but I like the energy and<br />
commitment he brings, he<br />
knows what it means to<br />
wear the shirt and there’s<br />
a bright future ahead of<br />
him for sure.<br />
He has a good head<br />
on his shoulders so he knows there is a lot more<br />
hard work to go. Everyone in the team knows the<br />
levels of performance needed consistently to drive<br />
forward at this level and I hope to see a response on<br />
Wednesday night.<br />
Enjoy the game!<br />
Nige<br />
NIGEL<br />
PEARSON<br />
4 | THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong><br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong> | 5
HERE’S<br />
A ST AT<br />
I BET<br />
YOU<br />
DIDN’T<br />
KN W<br />
OVER HALF A MILLION<br />
SKY BET CUSTOMERS USE DEPOSIT LIMITS<br />
TO MANAGE THEIR BETTING BUDGET.<br />
THAT’S ENOUGH TO FILL:<br />
6 WEMBLEYS.<br />
201 ALLY PALLYS.<br />
OR 8 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP DAYS.<br />
(THAT’S A LOT OF TWEED)<br />
ALL GOOD BOOKMAKERS<br />
HAVE DEPOSIT LIMITS.<br />
SO WHOEVER YOU BET WITH,<br />
SET AN APPROPRIATE ONE FOR YOU<br />
AND THEN ENJOY THE SPORT.<br />
DEPOSIT LIMITS<br />
THAT’S BETTING BETTER.
READING<br />
CLUB FACTS<br />
GROUND<br />
SELECT CAR<br />
LEASING STADIUM<br />
AFTER THREE GAMES ON<br />
THE ROAD, CITY RETURN TO<br />
ASHTON GATE FOR AN<br />
UNDER-THE-LIGHTS CLASH<br />
WITH READING.<br />
<strong>City</strong> have only won at home<br />
against <strong>Reading</strong> on five<br />
occasions since 2000, the first<br />
of those a 4-0 rout in the Auto<br />
Windscreens Shield. Since<br />
then we’ve met at Ashton Gate<br />
13 times, all fixtures played in<br />
the second tier.<br />
V<br />
HEAD TO HEAD<br />
101<br />
MATCHES PLAYED<br />
Best victory: 7-2, October 1947<br />
Worst defeat: 2-5, November 1935<br />
Last time we met: 3-2, August 2021<br />
2021/22 IN NUMBERS<br />
W<br />
40<br />
CITY v ROYALS<br />
39.6 %<br />
WIN RATE<br />
D 20<br />
L<br />
41<br />
FORMED<br />
1871<br />
MANAGER<br />
VELJKO PAUNOVIĆ<br />
41<br />
GOALS<br />
SCORED<br />
57<br />
GOALS<br />
CONCEDED<br />
LEAGUE<br />
POSITION<br />
R3<br />
17 TH<br />
R1<br />
31<br />
GOALS<br />
SCORED<br />
49<br />
GOALS<br />
CONCEDED<br />
POSITION<br />
R3<br />
21 ST<br />
R1<br />
NICKNAME<br />
THE ROYALS<br />
HONOURS<br />
Best league finish<br />
8th in Premier League, 2007/08<br />
(under Steve Coppell, pictured)<br />
Second tier champions<br />
1993/94, 2005/06, 2011/12<br />
Third tier champions<br />
1925/26 (Division Three South),<br />
1985/86<br />
Fourth tier champions<br />
1978/79<br />
Simod Cup winners<br />
1987/88<br />
Clockwise from top: Manager Veljko Paunović; midfielder Josh Laurent;<br />
striker Femi Azeez and Nigerian Under-23 international Tom Dele-Bashiru<br />
POSSESSION<br />
44.6 %<br />
PASSING PERCENTAGE<br />
68.7 %<br />
TACKLE SUCCESS<br />
LEAGUE ONE CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
14<br />
TOP SCORER<br />
ANDI<br />
WEIMANN<br />
68.3 %<br />
AVERAGE AERIAL<br />
DUELS WON<br />
25.8<br />
YELLOW<br />
54 1<br />
CARDS<br />
6.97<br />
BEST AVERAGE<br />
RATING (OPTA)<br />
ANTOINE<br />
SEMENYO<br />
RED<br />
CARDS<br />
6<br />
MOST<br />
ASSISTS<br />
ANTOINE<br />
SEMENYO<br />
8TOP SCORER<br />
JOHN<br />
SWIFT<br />
7.21<br />
BEST AVERAGE<br />
RATING (OPTA)<br />
JOHN<br />
SWIFT<br />
YELLOW<br />
47 0<br />
CARDS<br />
POSSESSION<br />
47.3 %<br />
11<br />
MOST<br />
ASSISTS<br />
JOHN<br />
SWIFT<br />
PASSING PERCENTAGE<br />
78.8 %<br />
TACKLE SUCCESS<br />
65.2 %<br />
AVERAGE AERIAL<br />
DUELS WON<br />
17.9<br />
RED<br />
CARDS<br />
8 | THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong><br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong> | 9
READING<br />
DID YOU<br />
KNOW?<br />
In November, <strong>Reading</strong> were deducted six points<br />
by the EFL for breaching its profitability and<br />
sustainability rules, with a further six-point deduction<br />
suspended until the end of the 2022/23 season. The<br />
club was not able to appeal the verdict.<br />
KEY PLAYER<br />
10<br />
JOHN SWIFT<br />
It was a case of Swift by name, Swift<br />
by nature after the midfielder enjoyed a<br />
rapid start to the 2021/22 season.<br />
With eight goals to his name so far, seven<br />
of those came in the opening seven<br />
games of the campaign, including a hattrick<br />
in a 3-3 draw with QPR in September.<br />
The former Chelsea trainee has scored<br />
just once since, the only goal in a narrow<br />
win over Barnsley in October but leads the<br />
club’s assists tally with 11.<br />
Part of the <strong>Reading</strong> setup since his arrival<br />
in 2016, his contract is up at the end of<br />
the season. The 26-year-old has been<br />
linked with moves either to the Premier<br />
League or another Championship side.<br />
Capped by England from Under-16 to<br />
Under-21 level, the Portsmouth-born<br />
player made just one appearance at<br />
Chelsea, replacing Eden Hazard in the<br />
final game of the 2014/15 campaign, and<br />
also spent time on loan at Rotherham<br />
United, Swindon Town and Brentford<br />
during his time with the Blues.<br />
READING VISIT ASHTON GATE TONIGHT<br />
SITTING JUST TWO POINTS ABOVE<br />
SAFETY AFTER A RUN OF FIVE LEAGUE<br />
DEFEATS.<br />
The team below them in the<br />
table, Peterborough United, also<br />
have a game in hand over the<br />
Royals, who in all competitions<br />
are now nine games without a<br />
win (L7, D2).<br />
The Berkshire club – who<br />
are celebrating their 150th<br />
anniversary this season –<br />
have conceded the joint-most<br />
Championship goals alongside<br />
the Posh (55), not the kind of<br />
form required after a six-points<br />
deduction imposed by the EFL<br />
back in November.<br />
Nineteen of those goals have<br />
come in the past five games,<br />
starting with a crushing 7-0<br />
loss on home soil to league<br />
leaders Fulham. Defeats<br />
to Luton Town (0-2) and<br />
Middlesbrough (1-2) followed<br />
before they were beaten 4-3 at<br />
home by Huddersfield Town,<br />
and then suffered a 4-0 reverse<br />
on the road at QPR.<br />
As well as the points deduction,<br />
manager Veljko Paunović – a<br />
former Serbian international<br />
who is currently in his first job<br />
in English football after being<br />
appointed in August 2020 – has<br />
<strong>Reading</strong> striker George Puscas is challenged by Han-Noah Massengo<br />
during the reverse fixture at the Select Car Leasing Stadium back in<br />
August. For a report and more images from the game turn to page 27.<br />
been hit by injuries. As a result,<br />
15 different players who came<br />
through the club’s youth system<br />
have played first-team football<br />
this season, amassing well<br />
over a century of appearances<br />
between them.<br />
So it would have been a boost<br />
to see last season's 22-goal<br />
striker Lucas João back in<br />
action in mid-January after hip<br />
and shoulder surgery.<br />
In the same month <strong>Reading</strong><br />
saw former captain Liam Moore<br />
leave on deadline day, securing<br />
a move on loan to Stoke <strong>City</strong>,<br />
while Tom Ince moved in the<br />
opposite direction for the<br />
remainder of this season.<br />
Arsenal goalkeeper Karl Hein<br />
has also linked up with the<br />
Royals for the same period.<br />
January also saw striker Andy<br />
Carroll conclude his short-term<br />
deal after scoring his second<br />
goal in eight games for the club<br />
in the defeat to Middlesbrough.<br />
10 | THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong><br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong> | 11
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THANK YOU TO OUR<br />
PARTNERS<br />
PRINCIPAL<br />
ELITE<br />
SUPPORTING
BRISTOL CITY<br />
WOMEN<br />
Abi Harrison celebrates her first<br />
goal against Crystal Palace with<br />
Ella Powell and Melissa Johnson<br />
Satara Murray and Ava Kuyken<br />
celebrate the 5-0 win over<br />
Lewes in the Vitality Women's<br />
FA Cup Fourth Round<br />
STORMING<br />
THE PALACE<br />
<strong>City</strong> Women got<br />
back to winning<br />
ways with a<br />
resounding<br />
4-0 win over Crystal Palace on<br />
Sunday.<br />
Two goals from Abi Harrison<br />
and a direct corner from Aimee<br />
Palmer followed a 45-second<br />
opener from Chloe Bull to give<br />
the Robins all three points at the<br />
Robins High Performance Centre<br />
and place them sixth in the FA<br />
Women's Championship.<br />
Bull opened the scoring when<br />
she found the back of the net<br />
from the edge of the box. It was<br />
a mark of intent from the Robins,<br />
as Harrison slid in to make it 2-0<br />
after just 15 minutes.<br />
<strong>City</strong> pushed on for more in the<br />
second half and it paid off in<br />
the 54th minute when Palmer’s<br />
corner caught everyone by<br />
surprise as it sailed into the<br />
goal. Harrison then grabbed her<br />
second goal of the game as the<br />
Scot fired in on her right foot.<br />
<strong>City</strong> are now looking to rekindle<br />
the kind of form they showed<br />
in the first half of the season as<br />
they travel to Durham on Sunday.<br />
Prior to their victory over Palace<br />
Lauren Smith’s side were nine<br />
unbeaten after a 1-0 away win<br />
at Blackburn Rovers on January<br />
16th. A 3-1 loss to Super League<br />
side Manchester <strong>City</strong> in the FA<br />
Continental Cup three days later,<br />
however, kick-started a run of<br />
three successive defeats<br />
A 2-0 Championship reverse at<br />
home to Charlton Athletic –<br />
played in front of a club record<br />
956 fans at the Robins High<br />
Performance Centre – was<br />
then followed by their exit in the<br />
Vitality Women’s FA Cup. After<br />
taking hosts Southampton to<br />
extra time, they saw the Saints<br />
score the deciding goal before<br />
Jesse Woolley fired over the bar<br />
from the spot five minutes from<br />
time.<br />
BUY BRISTOL CITY WOMEN TICKETS<br />
CONNECTING<br />
WITH OUR<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
Zak Vyner, Max<br />
O’Leary, Ryley<br />
Towler, Louis<br />
Britton, Ava<br />
Kuyken and Satara Murray<br />
have all surprised participants<br />
attending both youth and adult<br />
sessions run by the Robins<br />
Foundation this season.<br />
The players enjoyed a kickabout<br />
with participants and took part<br />
in photos with fans. They were<br />
events which showed the club’s<br />
community connection and as<br />
always, we would like to thank<br />
the Professional Footballers<br />
Association for their continued<br />
support and for working so<br />
closely with the Foundation.<br />
The PFA is the union for all<br />
current and former footballers<br />
and scholars in the Premier<br />
League, the FA Women’s Super<br />
League, and the English Football<br />
League. They are committed<br />
to empowering footballers to<br />
recognise their value as people,<br />
not just players.<br />
Throughout 2021 the<br />
Foundation organised several<br />
player appearances to allow<br />
participants that they work within<br />
the community to meet their<br />
football heroes. From Zoom<br />
calls with students to attending<br />
a number of different sessions,<br />
both male and female players<br />
have continued to engage with<br />
the Foundation and make sure<br />
they have a constant presence in<br />
their community.<br />
16 | THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong><br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong> | 17
PLAYER<br />
INTERVIEW<br />
Words James Crawley<br />
THE SUN MAY HAVE<br />
BEEN SETTING IN<br />
THE SKY OVER<br />
BRISTOL’S DOWNS,<br />
BUT FOR BOYHOOD<br />
CITY FAN AYMAN<br />
BENAROUS, IT’S<br />
SHINING BRIGHTLY<br />
ON HIS FUTURE…<br />
AYMAN<br />
FOR ALL<br />
SEASONS<br />
20 | THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong><br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong> | 21
THERE WAS ALWAYS<br />
THAT DREAM THAT<br />
WHEN YOU'RE<br />
PLAYING FOOTBALL<br />
ON THOSE COLD<br />
DAYS, YOU WILL<br />
PLAY FOR BRISTOL<br />
CITY.<br />
PLAYER PROFILE<br />
SQUAD NUMBER<br />
38<br />
DOB: July 27th 2003<br />
Birthplace: <strong>Bristol</strong><br />
Position: Midfielder<br />
Joined: 2009, Academy<br />
Ayman<br />
put pen<br />
to paper<br />
on a new<br />
contract last week, pledging<br />
his future with the Robins<br />
until 2025.<br />
It was an easy decision to<br />
make for the youngster who<br />
returned to the Downs for<br />
his new deal announcement.<br />
It’s a poignant setting for the<br />
18-year-old, who used to play<br />
football up there as a child.<br />
He went on to be scouted by<br />
<strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong> and he joined the<br />
club’s Academy as a sevenyear-old.<br />
“Coming up as a <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />
boy, it’s something I had<br />
always dreamt of,” Ayman<br />
said, reflecting on his rise<br />
to becoming a professional<br />
footballer.<br />
“I spent quite a bit of my<br />
childhood playing up on<br />
the Downs, from the age of<br />
about six I'd come and use<br />
the pitches and it was a good<br />
experience.<br />
“We used the pitches<br />
on a Sunday before the<br />
three o’clock games. We’d<br />
get here about half past<br />
one with the goals set up<br />
and nip in there quickly<br />
to use them for about an<br />
hour.”<br />
Like many youngsters,<br />
Ayman wanted to play<br />
football whenever he could,<br />
perhaps more so with<br />
football running in his family.<br />
He said: “My dad is a<br />
passionate football fan and<br />
my brother played to a good<br />
level.<br />
"There was always that<br />
dream that when you’re<br />
playing football on those<br />
cold days, that one day<br />
you will play in the Premier<br />
League and I hope I can do<br />
that with <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong> in the<br />
future."<br />
Ayman came off the<br />
bench to make his debut<br />
in October’s 2-1 win over<br />
Barnsley, before earning<br />
his first start in the next<br />
CAREER HIGHS<br />
FEBRUARY 2021<br />
Signs his first professional contract<br />
OCTOBER 2021<br />
Makes his <strong>City</strong> debut versus Barnsley<br />
NOVEMBER 2021<br />
Earns his first 90 minutes against<br />
Stoke <strong>City</strong><br />
FEBRUARY 2022<br />
Agrees a new<br />
contract with<br />
his boyhood club<br />
14<br />
game against Blackburn<br />
Rovers. He’s gone to make<br />
eight appearances this<br />
season, but it’s only just the<br />
beginning.<br />
Ayman continued: “It’s been<br />
a long journey but I’m glad<br />
where I’ve come from and<br />
where I’m going, hopefully.<br />
I’ve worked hard, I’m now<br />
seeing the rewards but there<br />
is still a long way to go until<br />
I’m a successful <strong>City</strong> player.<br />
“It’s been good progression<br />
through the Academy but I<br />
thank the manager (Nigel<br />
Pearson) for putting his<br />
trust in me and the other<br />
young players as well.<br />
Hopefully we can pick up<br />
results on the pitch and<br />
even better climb the table,”<br />
he said.<br />
Speaking in the aftermath of<br />
that 2-1 win over Barnsley,<br />
Ayman was quoted as<br />
saying “hopefully there’s<br />
more to come” and after<br />
showcasing what he’s about<br />
so far, we’ve no doubt there<br />
certainly will be.<br />
Above, top<br />
Making his<br />
first-team debut<br />
during the 2-1<br />
home win over<br />
Barnsley<br />
Above, left<br />
A young Ayman<br />
pictured during<br />
his early years<br />
with the club's<br />
Academy<br />
Below left<br />
Signing his new<br />
professional<br />
contract which<br />
sees him<br />
pledge his<br />
future at BS3<br />
until 2025<br />
Below right<br />
The 'Westbury<br />
Park Wizard'<br />
pictured during<br />
his days as<br />
a ballboy<br />
and with the<br />
Academy; with<br />
proud dad<br />
Karim whilst<br />
on duty with<br />
England Under-<br />
17s for whom<br />
he has been<br />
capped twice<br />
APPEARANCES<br />
8<br />
MINUTES<br />
463<br />
DEBUT<br />
NOVEMBER<br />
14TH 2012<br />
V SLOVAKIA<br />
SEASON STATS<br />
STARTS<br />
6<br />
PASS<br />
SUCCESS<br />
RATE<br />
INTERNATIONAL CAREER<br />
CAPS<br />
31<br />
GOALS ASSISTS<br />
2<br />
1<br />
HIGHEST<br />
OPTA RATING<br />
7.0<br />
V HUDDERSFIELD<br />
62.2 %<br />
22 | THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong><br />
THE ROB NS Cardiff <strong>City</strong> | 23
supporting grassroots<br />
and grass roots<br />
We support the women on the field<br />
and the soil under it.<br />
Proud sponsor of <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong> W.F.C.
ADVERTORIAL<br />
MATCH<br />
REVIEW<br />
IS THERE<br />
A BETTER<br />
WAY TO<br />
BUY YOUR<br />
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CAZOO<br />
YEAH!<br />
ROYALS<br />
RUMBLED<br />
Azeez 19, Moore 81<br />
Weimann 5,52, Martin 14<br />
Tuesday, August 17th 2021<br />
Select Car Leasing Stadium<br />
2<br />
3<br />
Top: The Robins celebrate Andi Weimann's second, and<br />
<strong>City</strong>'s third, goal of the game (pictured above) as they<br />
seal their first league win since March 2021.<br />
The reverse league fixture between tonight's two<br />
sides saw <strong>City</strong>’s first win of the season, in part<br />
thanks to a brace from our Andreas Weimann.<br />
The forward headed <strong>City</strong> in front as quickly as the<br />
fifth minute before Chris Martin doubled the visitors’<br />
advantage after a quarter of an hour of play.<br />
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<strong>Reading</strong> halved the scores before the interval, but<br />
<strong>City</strong>’s cushion was restored when Weimann played<br />
a one-two with Alex Scott before keeping his cool to<br />
make it 3-1.<br />
Liam Moore would score with a low drive late on but<br />
the Robins withstood the late home side pressure<br />
to secure the win in front of a sold-out away end.<br />
9.1<br />
BEST PLAYER RATING<br />
CHRIS MARTIN<br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong> | 27
894189418941894<br />
CITY<br />
ARCHIVES<br />
894189418941894<br />
894 HALL 1894 OF 1894 FAME 1894<br />
PAUL GAINEY PROFILES FLYING SCOTSMAN SCOTT MURRAY<br />
894189418941894<br />
There are some<br />
wonder he is so well regarded.<br />
players who,<br />
While with Scottish amateur side<br />
for whatever<br />
Fraserburgh, he scored in a trial<br />
894reason,<br />
1894 1894<br />
game for Liverpool 1894<br />
in 1994 but<br />
establish a rapport between<br />
their manager Graeme Souness<br />
themselves and the crowd.<br />
was sacked when they were<br />
dumped out of the FA Cup at<br />
894<br />
In 2004 I watched the 1894<br />
return 1894<br />
Anfield…by <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong>. 1894<br />
Murray<br />
of Scott Murray from a shortlived<br />
spell at <strong>Reading</strong>, as he<br />
he failed to establish himself,<br />
joined Aston Villa instead, where<br />
warmed up along the touchline<br />
leading to his first move to BS3<br />
894189418941894<br />
and then trotted on as a late<br />
in December 1997.<br />
substitute. You knew he had it. Murray jumped at the opportunity<br />
You also knew that what <strong>City</strong> felt when still playing for non-league In 2002/03 the Scot was top<br />
894<br />
for him was reciprocated. 1894<br />
Bath <strong>City</strong>, as well as 1894<br />
coaching scorer at the club 1894<br />
with 26<br />
<strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong>'s Under-14s.<br />
goals. This led to a successful<br />
In all fleet-footed winger Murray<br />
£650,000 bid from <strong>Reading</strong><br />
made 426 appearances for <strong>City</strong> That record alone would<br />
but the draw of Ashton Gate<br />
894<br />
across two spells, scoring 1894<br />
91 guarantee Murray an 1894<br />
enduring became too much 1894<br />
and a season<br />
goals and in 2012 returned to place in the hearts of supporters. later he was brought home<br />
Ashton Gate for a third time – as Add a bubbly personality, with by manager Danny Wilson.<br />
their new kit manager. It's a move a genuine relish for mixing with Continuing where he left off,<br />
894<br />
seldom made in football<br />
1894<br />
but<br />
1894 1894<br />
fans of all ages and it is no Murray spent a further five<br />
seasons as a player at <strong>City</strong>.<br />
89418941894<br />
Scott also boasts<br />
1894<br />
one of the<br />
most iconic goal celebrations<br />
by a <strong>City</strong> player, racing down<br />
the touchline, hand cupped<br />
89418941894<br />
behind his left ear, 1894<br />
at Cardiff<br />
<strong>City</strong>'s Ninian Park after scoring<br />
Murray's iconic<br />
one of two goals in a 3-1 away<br />
celebration at<br />
Cardiff. Above, win in December 2001. Rarely<br />
89418941894<br />
has the exhilaration 1894<br />
with <strong>City</strong> supporter<br />
of scoring<br />
Oskar Pycroft. against arch-rivals been better<br />
demonstrated.<br />
894189418941894<br />
28 | T HE ROB NS Cardiff <strong>City</strong><br />
1894<br />
1894<br />
1894<br />
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1894<br />
1894<br />
1894<br />
MIKE ADAMS CONTINUES<br />
HIS LOOK BACK AT<br />
TERRY COOPER'S SPELL IN<br />
CHARGE OF THE ROBINS<br />
TERRY'S WEMBLEY<br />
WONDERS<br />
1894<br />
1894<br />
1894<br />
1894<br />
1894<br />
1894<br />
<strong>City</strong>’s first appearance at Wembley saw<br />
the biggest mass exodus from <strong>Bristol</strong><br />
for many a year. As well as special<br />
trains, there was a procession of 250<br />
coaches and countless private vehicles forming a<br />
red-festooned convoy on the M4 – scarves flying,<br />
horns blaring, bodies waving.<br />
Coming just four seasons after relegation to the Fourth<br />
Division, reaching the Freight Rover Trophy final was<br />
tangible proof of <strong>City</strong>’s progress under Terry Cooper,<br />
whose personality shone through on the day.<br />
He handed his assistant since 1982, Clive Middlemass,<br />
the honour of leading the team out onto the hallowed<br />
turf. Wanderers made the better start and had some<br />
good chances. Keith Waugh had to save from George<br />
Oghani and Tony Caldwell hit the bar. But after 20<br />
minutes the tide began to turn; Rob Newman headed<br />
wide left, Glyn Riley shot wide right and keeper Simon<br />
189<br />
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189<br />
Farnworth had to hold Howard Pritchard’s header. Two<br />
minutes before the break Keith Curle’s floating cross was<br />
fumbled by Farnworth under skipper Bobby Hutchinson’s<br />
challenge and the ball fell for Riley to side-foot home.<br />
After the break <strong>City</strong> were pumped up but it took until<br />
the 73rd minute to grab the all-important second goal.<br />
Farnworth parried a Steve Neville shot but Howard<br />
Pritchard was well placed to fire the loose ball into<br />
the net. Thirty thousand fans in red were rocking and<br />
roaring <strong>City</strong> on. Neville was again the instigator as he<br />
provided the perfect cross for Riley to head powerfully<br />
past Farnworth for the coup de grâce.<br />
Interviewed after the match with the trophy in his arms,<br />
Cooper admitted he had been emotional throughout<br />
the game saying: “I can’t believe it…I’ve played for<br />
England…I can’t talk to you mate” as he turned away<br />
from the astounded interviewer. No one could doubt<br />
Cooper’s dedication to the cause.<br />
THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong> | 29
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8941894189418941894189418941894<br />
894 CITY 1894 IN CARTOONS 1894 1894 1894 YOU 1894 CAN 1894 1894<br />
with club historian David Woods<br />
8941894189418941894<br />
QUOTE 1894 ME 1894 1894<br />
This evening the work of Bob Bennett<br />
in the <strong>Bristol</strong> Evening Post is<br />
ON THAT<br />
featured appertaining to the start<br />
894of <strong>City</strong>’s 1894<br />
FA Cup run in 1962/63 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894<br />
which took us through to the Third Round and two<br />
meetings, interrupted by a seven week hiatus caused<br />
STEVE SMITH CONTINUES HIS LOOK<br />
by the ‘big freeze’, with First Division Aston Villa.<br />
8941894189418941894<br />
BACK AT AN INTERVIEW<br />
1894<br />
WITH THE<br />
1894 1894<br />
LATE CITY LEGEND JOHN ATYEO WHO<br />
WAS BORN 90 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK<br />
894 4 18942<br />
1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894<br />
In the Charles Buchan’s 3-3. There would be one more as a part-time professional and<br />
Atyeo 34, 62<br />
Russell 13<br />
Soccer Gift Book 1954/55, first-team outing for young continue to live at home and carry<br />
Etheridge 65 (pen)<br />
Rodgers 87<br />
Derrick 73<br />
23-year-old <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong> John, against Arsenal, before on my job at Westbury. That made<br />
of his goals, and thereafter it is easy for <strong>City</strong>.<br />
forward John Atyeo<br />
he pondered about life as a the decision for me. I could not<br />
894<br />
Saturday, November 3rd 1894<br />
1962 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894 1894<br />
recalled his debut for Portsmouth professional footballer.<br />
afford to let such a chance to slip<br />
FA Cup First Round<br />
<strong>City</strong>: Cook; Briggs, Thresher; Etheridge, Connor,<br />
and signing for the Robins.<br />
me by. My employer, as I have<br />
Casey; Peters, Clark, Atyeo, R Williams, Derrick.<br />
“Many people cannot understand said, is an old footballer himself.<br />
Ex-<strong>City</strong> skipper Jack White returned to Ashton Gate Wellington: Brown; Whitehouse, Rodgers; Timmins,<br />
8941894189418941894<br />
“I agreed to sign for Portsmouth<br />
1894<br />
why I decided to throw<br />
1894<br />
in my lot He has always been<br />
1894<br />
most cooperative<br />
in helping me to fit in<br />
as boss of Wellington (now known as Telford United), Dunn, Davies; M Jones, Cocker, Deakin, Russell,<br />
as an amateur, and within a with <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong>, a Third Division<br />
but is unable to inspire a shock victory, despite his Laverty.<br />
week of signing my name on the club, instead of staying with football with my work, and I am<br />
side taking a surprise lead with the goal of the game. Referee: Ken Aston (Ilford)<br />
bottom of the form, found myself Portsmouth – on top of the world greatly indebted to him for the<br />
Gary Brown’s mishandling presents Atyeo with both<br />
89418941894<br />
Attendance: 9,379 (£1,620.7s.6d)<br />
1894 1894<br />
in Portsmouth’s reserve 1894<br />
team to after twice winning the 1894<br />
League interest he has taken 1894<br />
in me and<br />
play Southampton reserves at the Championship (1948/49 and my two careers.”<br />
Dell. And what a baptism of fire it 1949/50) and promising a much<br />
was! I played alongside that grand more ‘glamorous’ future.<br />
Big John ends on an optimistic<br />
894 2 18941<br />
1894 1894 1894<br />
pair, Duggie Reid and Cliff 1894<br />
Parker. 1894<br />
note: “At Ashton Gate 1894<br />
we have<br />
Clark 7, 32<br />
Peters 60 (og)<br />
They helped me all they could, “When I left Trowbridge School, I a loyal following of fans who<br />
Saturday, November 24th 1962<br />
but I was never in the game. The entered a firm of builders to learn deserve a better class of football.<br />
FA Cup Second Round<br />
Saints really ran us off our feet quantity surveying, and received It is my aim to bring that better<br />
8941894189418941894189418941894<br />
and won 5-0.”<br />
great help, not only in my job with football to them. To my mind that<br />
Against one of the best amateur sides, occupying<br />
the firm but also in my footballing is not a lack of ambition, that is<br />
top spot in the Isthmian League, <strong>City</strong>’s first-half<br />
This was in December 1949 life, from the managing director, loyalty. All we need, I believe, to<br />
894<br />
display is crisp and 1894<br />
penetrative. Unfortunately, 1894 1894 1894<br />
when John was a few months 1894<br />
Mr Jack Holdaway, who 1894<br />
himself achieve our aim, is 1894<br />
a smile from<br />
it is different after the break, as the Dons make<br />
away from turning 18 and it played football for Westbury. Lady Luck.”<br />
a spirited comeback, aided and abetted by an<br />
would be another year before<br />
amazing own-goal by Peters – his best-ever strike Wimbledon: McAlpine; Rudge, Coote; Hamm,<br />
he made his Football League “I was still working for the firm, At the end of the 1954/55<br />
894<br />
– as he attempts to 1894<br />
put the ball out for a corner. 1894<br />
Law, McArdrey; Brown, Martin, Reynolds, 1894<br />
Moore, 1894<br />
debut for Pompey when 1894<br />
he faced and continuing my studies 1894<br />
as a campaign her smile 1894<br />
was a<br />
N Williams.<br />
Charlton Athletic at Fratton Park surveyor, when the time to turn broad grin as the Robins were<br />
<strong>City</strong>: Cook; Briggs, Thresher; Etheridge, Connor, Referee: Jim Finney (Hereford)<br />
on November 11th 1950 in a professional came. <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>City</strong> crowned Division Three (South)<br />
Low; Peters, Clark, Bush, R Williams, Derrick. Attendance: 13,778 (£2,454.6s.6d)<br />
top-flight match that finished offered me the chance to sign champions.<br />
8941894189418941894189418941894<br />
32 | T HE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong> THE ROB NS <strong>Reading</strong> | 33
Football is a game of many opinions, but<br />
there is one that we must all share. There is<br />
no place for discrimination in our game. If<br />
you do not agree, then you are not welcome.<br />
If you see or hear discrimination in this<br />
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Because we are all<br />
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EFL.com
TONIGHT'S<br />
SQUADS<br />
Wednesday February 9th, 7.45pm kick-off | Ashton Gate | Sky Bet Championship<br />
BRISTOL CITY<br />
v<br />
READING<br />
TONIGHT'S<br />
FIXTURES<br />
Blackburn v N Forest<br />
Bournemouth v Birmingham<br />
<strong>City</strong> v <strong>Reading</strong><br />
Cardiff v Peterborough<br />
Preston v Huddersfield<br />
QPR v Middlesbrough<br />
Sheff Utd v West Brom<br />
Played yesterday<br />
Coventry v Blackpool<br />
Derby v Hull<br />
Fulham v Millwall<br />
Luton v Barnsley<br />
Stoke v Swansea<br />
MANAGER<br />
Nigel PEARSON<br />
1 Dan BENTLEY<br />
2 Danny SIMPSON<br />
3 Jay DAS I LVA<br />
5 Rob ATKINSON<br />
6 Matty JAMES<br />
8 Joe WILLIAMS<br />
9 Chris MARTIN<br />
10 Andy KING<br />
11 Callum O’DOWDA<br />
12 Max O'LEARY<br />
14 Andreas WEIMANN<br />
16 Cameron PRING<br />
17 Nathan BAKER<br />
18 Antoine SEMENYO<br />
19 George TANNER<br />
21 Nahki WELLS<br />
22 Tomas KALAS<br />
26 Zak VYNER<br />
33 Sam BELL<br />
34 Ryley TOWLER<br />
36 Alex SCOTT<br />
HOME<br />
KIT<br />
37 Tommy CONWAY<br />
38 Ayman BENAROUS<br />
42 Han-Noah MASSENGO<br />
45 Kasey PALMER<br />
MANAGER<br />
Veljko PAUNOVIĆ<br />
3 Tom HOLMES<br />
4 Michael MORRISON<br />
5 Tom McINTYRE<br />
7 Alen HALILOVIC<br />
8 Andy RINOMHOTA<br />
9 Tom INCE<br />
10 John SWIFT<br />
11 Yakou MÉÏTÉ<br />
14 Ovie EJARIA<br />
15 Danny DRINKWATER<br />
16 Dejan TETEK<br />
17 Andy YIADOM<br />
18 Lucas JOAO<br />
19 Tom DELE-BASHIRU<br />
20 Felipe ARARUNA<br />
21 Baba RAHMAN<br />
22 Luke SOUTHWOOD<br />
23 Junior HOILETT<br />
24 Scott DANN<br />
26 Karl HEIN<br />
HOME<br />
KIT<br />
28 Josh LAURENT<br />
32 Mamadi CAMARÁ<br />
39 Jahmari CLARKE<br />
48 Tyrell ASHCROFT<br />
49 Kelvin ABREFA<br />
LEAGUE<br />
TABL E<br />
Not including yesterday's<br />
matches<br />
P GD Pts<br />
Fulham 28 48 58<br />
Blackburn 30 14 53<br />
Bournemouth 28 20 52<br />
QPR 28 13 51<br />
Huddersfield 30 6 48<br />
West Brom 29 10 45<br />
Middlesbro 28 6 45<br />
N Forest 29 8 43<br />
Luton 28 7 42<br />
Sheff Utd 27 4 42<br />
Preston 30 -1 41<br />
Coventry 27 4 40<br />
Blackpool 29 -2 40<br />
Stoke 28 3 39<br />
Millwall 28 0 37<br />
Swansea 28 -6 35<br />
CITY 30 -15 34<br />
Birmingham 30 -13 33<br />
Hull 29 -7 32<br />
Cardiff 28 -17 29<br />
<strong>Reading</strong>* 28 -22 22<br />
Peterboro 27 -32 20<br />
Derby** 29 -2 15<br />
Barnsley 28 -26 14<br />
*deducted six points<br />
**deducted 21 points<br />
MATCH OFFICIALS<br />
N EXT AT<br />
ASHTON<br />
G ATE<br />
Match<br />
Referee<br />
Oliver<br />
LANGFORD<br />
Assistant<br />
Referee<br />
Paul<br />
HODSKINSON<br />
Assistant<br />
Referee<br />
Andrew<br />
FOX<br />
Goalkeeper Defender Midfielder Forward<br />
Fourth<br />
Official<br />
Andy<br />
WOOLMER<br />
MIDDLESBROUGH<br />
Ashton Gate<br />
Saturday February 19th,<br />
3pm kick-off<br />
Sky Bet Championship<br />
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PLEASE REPORT IT TO OUR TEXT LINE 07770 736 047