If i go on saturday and we lose and play like extras in Resident Evil then i accept NO blame!! 
The Memorial Stadium is the former home of Bristol Rugby Club with a capacity of 12,011. The stadium first opened in 1921 but has been the home of the Pirates only since 1996 when they relocated from ground sharing with Bath City at Twerton Park. It is an old fashioned, unusual looking ground made up of a mish-mash of stands, covered and uncovered terracing and temporary seating and sadly i cannot apply my own personal opinions of it on here as i have never been before. The club have experienced a number of setbacks regarding their proposed move to a brand new 20,000 all seater stadium at the University of West England's Frenchay campus but i believe they are in agreement with Sainsburys so that they can get the money in to finance the plans.
Away fans are housed in the uncovered terracing of the East Stand where up to 1,100 fans can be accommodated. We won't need that many but this game will certainly see the largest contingent of travelling Gulls so far this season. Anyone want to hazard a guess of how many we'll take? Some away seating is available in the South Stand which is covered. It is street parking only around the ground so again, get there early enough and you shouldn't have a problem. Those of you who have been before may wish to elaborate on here the best places to park if you would be so kind. I've got no idea!
In terms of getting there, most travelling Gulls will be coming from the south ( apart from moi ) but we all need to exit the M5 at J16 and join the A38 South signposted FILTON, CITY CENTRE. The ground is about 5 miles down this road. Getting to the Mem from Bristol city centre will require public transport if you're on foot. There are a few pubs within a 5-10 minute vicinity of the ground that allow away fans including The Queen Vic, minus Phil Mitchell and depressing cockneys, The Annexe Inn and The Sportsman, both on Seymour Road. There is NO booze available inside the ground but they do have a reputation for good catering. In fact they are one of the few clubs who serve vegetarian pies. Commendable and innovative and although many of the fans you see at games would actually think nothing of devouring a whole cow covered in gravy whilst it was stood in a field masticating resulting in vegetarian pie sales collapse, i do believe that offering alternative football catering is a niche idea and one which i am still waiting for someone to take on board and propel it into the 21st century.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Officials at Accrington, Rochdale, Fleetwood, Bradford and Morecambe have already flatly refused to consider offering vegetarian options at outlets inside their grounds as firstly, they don't know what vegetables are which is a BIG problem but more importantly, many fans of those clubs don't actualy have any teeth. Veg can be chewy so they claim fans who have denture issues will not be encouraged to try them instead opting for their favourite liquidised meat and gravy pies which they notch a hole in the end then suck the contents into their cavernous mouths.
Accrington in particular were vehemently opposed to the trial as they claimed nobody in the town could actually afford to 'eat out' anyway.
Anyway, tickets are available now in advance from our place priced at:
ADULT TERRACE £16 Over 65's including Dave SG & Bloody Students! £9 Under 16's £8
ADULT SEATING £18.50 Over 65's including Troj & GG & Argghh Students! £10.50 Under 16's £9.50
Tickets purchased on the day are £2 dearer across the board.
Rovers currently find themselves languishing near the bottom of the early league 2 table in 21st place on 11 points with a minus 7 goal difference. Torquay are in 10th place on 18 points. We have won 2 of the last 3 at their place and given the Gas are struggling a little we are in a healthy position to make it another win. At least the circus that accompanied former Gulls boss Paul Buckle's defection to Rovers last summer will not be present now and although the Pirates still have former chipnickers 'keeper Scott Bevan in their ranks, he won't be playing as he is out with a wrist injury. So it's pretty much a clean slate and i have to state on here incase any of the Gas are reading this that at no point during Buckle's tenure at your club did we want you to do badly because we 'hated' Rovers. Many of us only wanted you to lose because of Buckle and for what he did to us but that's all water under the bridge now, it's past history. In a nice way, so long as we get 6 points off you this season we couldn't care what you did. If you got promoted then i'm sure we'd be in the line to congratulate you. No hard feelings and i'm sure old friends FriendlyGas and other Rovers fans who used our forum will come on with positive things to say about us too.
Rovers opened their campaign with a 2-0 home reverse to Oxford United which was preceded by an early League Cup exit at the hands of Ipswich Town at Portman Road. They then drew at home to Barnet before going to Wycombe and believing they would be emerging from Adams Park with the points after 65 minutes. Sadly in the 66th minute the match was declared abandoned by the match officials with Rovers 3-1 to the good. A heavy rain storm was blamed. Their form seemed to dip alarmingly after this unfortunate postponement including a 3-0 defeat at the Mem by west country rivals Yeovil Town in the JPT and a 4-0 loss away at league leaders Gillingham.
A creditable but surprise 2-1 away win at Exshi*ter was earned at the back end of September and also a 3-1 home win against AC Northampton was recorded. All in all they have only lost 1 in 6 which means we have to respect them of course but i feel they can be low on confidence at times and a little brittle so if we can grab a lead or even peg them back if we go 1 down then i think we can win the game. Last time out they drew 1-1 at the Pirelli Stadium, Burton with Torquay old boy Billy 'Tubby' Kee levelling for the Brewers after 50 minutes.
As i mentioned earlier, the only survivor at Brizzle with ex-Torquay links is Scotty Bevan. He made the switch from Plainmoor on a free and became one of Buckles first signings. I nearly wet myself when i read this quote from Brizzle Chairman Nick Higgs about it, "This is the first step towards creating a solid defensive unit for next season". How f*cking wrong can you be?!! :na: Craig Stanley finds himself in the cack alongside former Gulls legend Branston at struggling Aldershot after his move from the Mem. He made 34 appearances for the Pirates scoring once. Zebs left to join Cheltneham Town in the summer on a 2 year deal, he found the onion bag 5 times for Rovers. I must also mention Muzzy Carayol who is now plying his trade for Middlesbrough after leaving Rovers for an undisclosed fee on a 2 year deal. At least Boro have more ambition than Lincoln.
Injury wise they have a few casualties including Bevan. Striker Matt Harrold is out for the season with a serious knee injury. A feckin year! Unless he has to have his kneecap removed then get the bloody pansy back on the pitch!!!
Captain Matt Gill is out for 6 weeks also with a knee problem. They have some very useful and capable players at their disposal still including former Hibs striker Derek Riordan. He signed on a short term deal until Christmas and then he's off to Lapland to spend the winter making toys for deserving little kids with the rest of the elves. Oi Derek! My daughter wants a Hello Kitty Vanity Desk complete with play hairdryer!! o:)
Tom Eaves is a 20 year old who signed on a 3 month loan deal from Bolton, he has one goal. Also signed up on a one month loan deal is Phillipines 'keeper Neil Etheridge from Fulham. Scottish defender Garry Kenneth signed on a 3 year deal after spending a large part of his career north of the border with Dundee United. Rovers look a stronger unit when he plays, good player. They also have former Motherwell striker David Clarkson who links up with former Well boss and now Pirates manager Mark McGhee ( oh i so wish his first name was Assy!
). He is their top scorer this season on 3, says it all really. Another Scot, Adam Virgo is an established regular and they also have Wayne Brown the former Fulham midfielder and Joe Anyinsah up front.Random fact about Anyinsah: He made his professional football debut for Bristol CITY against TORQUAY in 2004! Also, crab sticks don't actually contain ANY crab so now manufacturers have been legally obliged to label them crab 'flavoured' sticks. Another one of those same time tomorrow.
Award for the best name player goes to former Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder FABIAN BROGHAMMER! A German recommended by current Wolfsburg boss Felix Magath! Insane. BROGHAMMER! Sounds like good name for my band! Either that or a brand of cheese, oh sorry, that's Leerdammer!
Last time out v Burton Albion:
1. Neil Etheridge (gk) ( on loan from Fulham )
2. Garry Kenneth
3. Tom Parkes
4. Fabian Broghammer
5. Jim Paterson
6. Oliver Norburn
7. Matthew Lund ( on loan from Stoke City )
8. David Clarkson
9. Eliot Richard
10. Joe Anyinsah
11. Tom Eaves ( on loan from Bolton Wanderers )
SUBS: Sam Walker (gk) ( on loan from Chelsea ), Michael Smith UNUSED, Wayne Brown ( on for Broghammer on 69 mins ), Adam Virgo ( on for Anyinsah on 76 mins ), Lee Brown ( on for Paterson on 58 mins ), Ellis Harrison UNUSED, Ross Staley UNUSED but has an immense surname. Anyone remember Layne Staley former lead singer of Alice In Chains? F*ckin legend, until he overdosed and couldn't write anymore songs.
Last time we met at the Mem it was a memorable day for the Gulls in attendance not only for the 2-1 win courtesy of a rare Atieno goal and a Rene How penno but for the opportunity to rub Paul Buckles nose in it. There were 8,427 there that day. The reverse fixture saw us claw back a 2 goal deficit at Plainmoor to get a draw. Howe equalising in the last minute after Manse had got us back in it.
Finally a quick word on Horfield and Bristol, if you aren't already asleep then please feel free to read on. Horfield is the area that the Memorial Stadium is situated and in Anglo-Saxon it means 'filthy open land'. Very appropriate. Don't tell TESCO though otherwise they'll clean it up and open a feckin supermarket on it! It's most famous resident is Hollywood actor Cary Grant, for the younger ones among us - don't worry about it - he's dead.
Bristol is great for shopping so i'm told and has a three tiered complex called Cabot Circus, pack the missus off whilst you go to the game. God i'm so archaic! Also tell her to get the dinner on as soon as you get home whilst you put your feet up and catch up on the results.
JOKE LADIES!
Other worthy places to visit are the Zoo ( although i have strong opinions on the validity and ethics of keeping wild animals in captivity but that's another issue, hey maybe i can rant about it on the popside thread? NOOOOOOOOOOOO I hear you shout! Miserable twats! ), the Clifton Suspension Bridge built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1831 but only completed after his death in 1864. I think the motto there is, 'Don't bother attempting to build a bridge as it'll bloody kill you!'. There is also an aquarium which i slightly more agree with and there is also Cheddar Gorge nearby. Thankyou and Goodnight!!
I am probably going to go to this one ( quiet please Scott ) and it will be a new ground for me to visit and one of the rare away days where i have further to drive than most of you lot. I am expecting to be in rude health, full voice and in Bristol for 12 ish. It's just the usual case of getting someone to look after the little one, i say someone, the someone i have in mind is called DVD Player. Stupid name for a childminder. ( Don't call Supernanny or social services, of course i wouldn't leave my child alone with just a DVD Player for company, i need that player to watch a film in the car should i get to Bristol early! ) Besides, i'd actually trust the DVD more to look after my kid than some childminders. Jesus! Anyway, COME ON YOU YELLOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope to see all you guys in there.
My head says we are going to play sterile, negative, unproductive football on our travels once again which culminates in me getting home, giving Billy Bodin an earful and then giving Howe man of the match and further commenting that the rest can go and whistle for their wages this week. My heart though, my heart is actually screwed and it needs medication to keep it pumping. My heart says it will be a high scoring game full of comedy defending and gaffes but without Danny Baker and i'm going for a 3-2 win for us coming from behind. Howe to score first.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE Martin, please treat us to a thoroughly exciting performance. I'll buy you a pint!
Apologies i couldn't really do a very good ANDY'S TOWN OF THE DAY as i've NEVER set foot in Bristol in my life so couldn't possibly comment personally on what it's like. We've got York soon though!
PLUS, i don't know who the officials are yet, when i find them out on the fl website i'll add them on, anyone but Darren Drysdale, Danny McDermid, Darren Deadman pissin hell! Avoid refs with D's! They're awful.
