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Bristol City FC was formed in 1897, when Bristol South End FC turned professional, and changed it’s name.  In 1901, the club joined the League, in the Second Division.  In 1906, they finished first, and were promoted to the First Division.  The following season (1906-’07), Bristol City finished in 2nd place.  Two seasons later, they had a great Cup run, which culminated in their appearance in the 1909 FA Cup Final, versus Manchester United, at the old Crystal Palace.  They lost 0-1.  Two years later (1911), the club was relegated.

Since then Bristol City have been essentially a medium-sized 2nd/ 3rd Level club.  After 65 seasons, they finally won promtion back to the top flight, in 1976.   But their second spell in the First Division lasted only 4 seasons.  Following this relegation, in 1980, the club went into free-fall.  They became the first English club to suffer three straight relegations.  Right before their third relegation, in the spring of 1982, the club went out of business, declaring bankruptcy.  A new company, BCFC (1982) Ltd. was formed.  But the survival of the club was assured only when eight high-paid senior members of the squad accepted redundancy,  in the form of a half-payment on their contracts. These players were known as the ‘Ashton Gate Eight’.  By 1990, the club was back in the second level, but stayed there only 5 seasons.  17 seasons in the third tier followed (1995 to 2006). 

In September 2005, Gary Johnson was hired as manager of Bristol City.  He had just led nearby Yeovil Town to 2 promotions in 3 seasons (5th Level to 3rd Level).  After a rocky start, City found it’s form, and finished a respectable 9th.  The following season (2006-’07), the club started poorly again, but by November they were in the top 6.  A good Cup run saw them beat Coventry City in the 3rd round, and take Middlesbrough to penalties, in the 4th Round.  Promotion to the 2nd Level was secured on the final game of the season, as Bristol City finished in second place in League One. 

At the start of the 2007-’08 season,  no one expected Bristol City to do much more than avoid the drop,  but Johnson’s squad,  bolstered by several new signings, has surprised everyone.   The club has been in the playoff places pretty much the whole season.   They survived the inevitable dip in form, in November,  and have racked up some impressive wins since,  including an away win at Watford.   The scoring leaders are two Milwall transplants,  Darren Byfield (8 league goals),  and Marvin Elliot (5 league goals).   The squad is led by captain Louis Carey, and right back Bradley Orr.   Orr was chosen in the Setanta Sports all-league 11, at the start of January.

Saturday, Bristol City defeated Sheffield Wednesday 2-1, with goals by Dele Adebola and Bradley Orr.  Bristol City are currently in 3rd place in the League Championship, 1 point behind leaders Watford.

**{See this recent article, from the Telegraph UK website.}

Thanks to (historicalkits[dot]co[dot]uk)- the 5 older kits on the bottom of the chart are copyright Historical Football Kits, and reproduced by permission.  Thanks to the Colours of football website (colours-of-football[dot]com) for the newer kits.  Thanks to the stadium guide website (stadiumguide[dot]co[dot]uk);   (tims92[dot]co[dot]uk);   (freewebs[dot]com).

Ipswich Town FC was formed in 1888, with the merger of Ipswich Association FC (established 1978), and Ipswich Rugby Club.  The club remained steadfastly amatuer for it’s first four decades, only turning pro in 1936.  In 1938, the club was elected to the League, joining the Southern League (which is today the equivalent of the 3rd level). 

Ipswich Town were first promoted to the Second Division in 1954, but went right back down the next spring.  In August, 1955, Alf Ramsay took over the club as manager; the team improved to 3rd place, and the following season (1956-’57) the club returned to the second tier.  Four years later, in 1961, Ipswich Town were promoted to the First Division for the first time.  The following season, they stunned English football by winning the 1962 National Title.  They are the second-to-last club to have won the Title the first year after promotion (Nottingham Forest did it last, in 1977-’78).  The fluke-like nature of this championship can be emphasized by the club’s 17th place finish the following season (1962-’63).  That same spring, Alf Ramsay left Ipswich to take over the management of the English National team.  The following year (1964) Ipswich Town were relegated.

Four seasons later (1968), Ipswich Town were promoted back to the First Division under Bill McGarry.  He left to manage Wolverhampton the following  year, and was replaced by Bobby Robson.  Robson would manage Ipswich Town from 1969 to 1982, leading the club to an FA Cup victory, in 1978, and a UEFA Cup, in 1981. 

The club would remain in the top flight for 18 seasons, finishing in 2nd place twice (1980, and ’81), 3rd place three times, and 4th place twice.   Robson’s Ipswich teams played a fluid, attacking style of football, led by prolific striker Paul Mariner (22 goals in ’77-’78), all-time fan favorite John Wark (a tough, attacking midfielder, who had 3 spells at the club; see this), and Dutch midfielder Arnold Muhren {see this}.  This squad was bolstered in the back by captain Mick Mills (most Ipswich Town appearances, with 591), England international Terry Butcher, and Scottish international George Burley.

 **{See these highlights of Ipswich Town’s 1981 UEFA Cup victory.}

**{See this Ipswich Town tribute.}

Ipswich Town regularly drew in the mid 20,000′s in attendance through the mid 1970′s, peaking at a 26,672 average gate, in 1976-’77.   But by 1997, the club was only drawing around 12,000.  Crowds came back, and have recently peaked at 25,651, in 2004-’05 (when the club finished 3rd in the second level).

Following Robson’s departure in 1982, Ipswich Town slid gradually down the table, and were relegated to the second level, in 1986.  Since then, the club has had two short spells in the top flight, the last from 2000 to 2002, when George Burley was manager.  

Under current manager Jim Magilton, Ipswich Town still plays the attractive passing game that Robson developed.  Their top scorers this season are Spaniard Pablo Counago (back for his second spell with the club), and former Irish under-21 forward Jonathan Walters, with 10 league goals each.  Irish international Alan Lee has 9. 

This season, the Tractor boys are still unbeaten at home,  in the league.   The club jumped up 4 places to 6th, on Saturday, beating Sheffield Wednesday 1-2.  It was their first away win of the season, and has put them in the playoff places.  Goals were scored by Alan Quinn (against his former club), and Alan Lee, in the 71st minute.   Click here, for report on the game.

Thanks to Historical Football Kits (historicalkits[dot]co[dot]uk): the 6 older kits on the bottom, left are copyright Historical Kits , and are reproduced by permission.  Thanks to the Colours Of Football website (colours-of-football[dot]com).   Thanks to the Pride of Anglia website (tmwmtt[dot]com).  Thanks to (viewimages[dot]com).   Thanks to BBC.   Thanks to Tim’s 92 site.