Chris Garland

'I started supporting city in 1967, a small lad, football crazy, overwhelmed by the atmosphere and on a journey with highs and lows, but making true lifelong friends and unforgettable memories. Great night games and crazy away days in every League.

The world and football changes, but you can’t take away the real spirit of any club 

THE FANS!´ 

First Game - 1967 start of the season

Best game - West Brom away 1976 

Best memory - the excitement of getting off a bus or train at any away game!

Worst memories - missing out on promotion in the play off against Hull. Plus Fences! And when stadiums were made all seater and sterile.

Best City player (too many!), from the 70’s - Gerry Gow

My Favourites

Away ground - One time White Hart Lane (tradition ground and surroundings) 

 City song! - John Galley Superstar how many goals have you scored so far? Is it 2, is it 4, is it 6? No it’s many more

Opponents - Swindon home and away, always lively.  CTID

The founding member of Events Company Sounds Commercial and the holiday letting company Accommodationlagos.com.

Chris has been in and around Ashton Gate since his father first took him in the early 60’s. Chris was the voice of Radio Robin in the 1970’s and has leant his skills as an event organiser to launch the Bristol City Supporters Trust, the Spirit of 76 dinner in 2011, Gerry Gow's testimonial year and his game against Man City in 2012. Chris also helped to arrange the Brian Tinnion and Louis Carey testimonial years and recently produced the Ashton Gate eight dinner celebration in 2022.  

Chris is also a seasoned 'ground hopper' and in 2009 completed watching a game at all 92 league grounds and following on from that has now also completed watching a match at all of the 72 national league teams. 

A proud Bristol City fan, Chris is delighted to be starting the Art4fans project in South Bristol. 

   John has over 40 years experience in finance, helping professionals plan their financial affairs. However, this is surpassed by 50 years supporting his football team, Bristol City.

John, at the age of 9, was taken to his first game at Ashton Gate in 1973, standing on the East End and his love affair with the Club began.

Living in Devon as a child it was difficult to attend many games, although the years that followed in the old first division, John was hooked. 

John explains that getting regular updates on the latest scores was difficult and normally necessitated waiting for the evening news or telephoning the local newspapers sports desk. How times have changed!

In 2001, John had the opportunity to move to Bristol with his job. His wife, Alison, feels he only accepted the job because he could be close to Ashton Gate. How true she was!

Since then, John has been a season ticket holder at Ashton Gate as his love for the club continues!

He is delighted to be involved with the wonderful Art4fans project, helping to remember players that have contributed so much to our great Club.

  I am told that I first watched a City game as a 3 month old, sitting on my Mum’s lap in the directors box at Ashton Gate in 1956. I was afforded this privilege because my Dad was on the pitch wearing red and white with a number 9 on his back! 

As I grew older I began to understand that my Dad was a City hero but to me he was just Dad. But I didn’t need Superman or Joe 90 because my Dad was my hero and he lived in my house. I really was a lucky boy. Only 3 people have ever scored more City goals than Jimmy Rogers. He's my Dad!

Richard Rogers

  Neil is a writer who lives in Bristol. He saw his first Bristol City game in 1970, the FA youth cup semi-final between Bristol City and Tottenham Hotspur (the nucleus of the Bristol City team that night later went on to achieve promotion to the topflight in the 1975/76 season and his heroes were made for life). Neil is passionate about Football, Music and Art. He has been a collector of Vinyl records for more than fifty years. To date he has written eleven books including  autobiographies of Bristol Rovers star Paul Randall, Bristol City legend Geoff Merrick  plus acclaimed biographies of legends such as Bristol City’s Gerry Gow and Wales maverick of the fifties Trevor Ford. In September 2021, Neil formed the Former Players Association at Ashton Gate with a view to reconnecting Bristol City football club with the legends that shaped and formed the history of the club plus looking after the welfare of these great players. A partner in ART4FANS, Neil is passionate about bringing icons to the streets of the United Kingdom through street art.  

Kevin has a keen interest in art and, although he has lived in the US following his retirement from football, Bristol City has always held a special place in his heart. Kevin signed for City as a young player having turned down an offer from Manchester United weeks before. He went on to make 129 appearances for the club between 1977 and 1981, scoring 29 goals! He first came to national attention on 21st October 1978 when he scored 3 goals for Bristol City in a 3-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. He remains one of only a handful of opposing players to have scored a hat-trick at the home of Manchester United. Following his transfer to Crystal Palace in 1981, he became their top scorer in his first season scoring eight goals and saving them from a second relegation. Since retiring from the game, he has emigrated to the US but has kept in touch with his former team mates. Kevin is a keen supporter of our Art4fans project and we are delighted to have him on board with us.

I have supported City since I moved to Bristol as a child. I remember many a happy day stood in the Williams with my school mates, and a few bad ones. My passion for the Reds has also rubbed off on my 3 girls, and being season card holders, regularly attend match days. So when Adrian and Art4Fans approached me with regards to helping out with the Scaffolding, I was more than happy to oblige. Brendon and myself are Directors of Northville Scaffolding. We are Smas certified and this year secured our Audited Membership through the Scaffold Association. COYRs

Dan Barnes

Artist Spike Clark is a Bristol based artist originally from Cardiff. He is renowned across Europe for his huge artworks often covering buildings of up to 15 stories high! He initially trained as a graphic designer before rekindling his passion as a full time street artist. Specialising in Aerosol Art he has been involved in awareness campaigns, charities and corporate artworks in the UK and globally. Spike lives in Bristol and has been fully supportive of the Art4fans project. We are delighted to have him as a member of our team.