List of Bristol City F.C. seasons

Bristol City Football Club is an English association football club based in the city of Bristol. Founded in 1894 as Bristol South End, the team first entered the FA Cup in 1895–96, and played in the Western League in 1896–97. The club then turned professional, changed its name to Bristol City, and joined the Southern League. In 1900, City merged with another Southern League club, Bedminster, and the following season gained admission to the Football League, in which the first team have played ever since. They won the Second Division title in 1905–06, and followed up with a runners-up finish in the 1906–07 First Division, three points behind champions Newcastle United. That remains the club's best Football League placing, and two years later they set another record in the 1908–09 FA Cup. City entered the competition at the first-round stage and despite needing a replay in every round apart from the third, went on to reach the final, in which they lost 1–0 to league champions Manchester United. After five seasons in the top flight, City were relegated back to the second tier.[1][2]

For details of the current season, see 2020–21 Bristol City F.C. season.

Between the wars, they regularly moved between the second and third tiers, collecting two Third Division South titles in 1922–23 and 1926–27.[1] In the 1930s, they entered the Welsh Cup, and beat another English club, Tranmere Rovers, after a replay to win the 1934 final.[3] When competitive football resumed after the Second World War, City continued to yo-yo between the divisions until 1976, when they returned to the First Division for another four seasons.[1] Financial problems multiplied as the team suffered successive relegations, and the club was on the verge of failure when eight senior players – dubbed the Ashton Gate Eight after the name of City's stadium – agreed to cancel their lengthy contracts. Although the team were again relegated at the end of the 1981–82 season, taking them into the Fourth Division for the first time in their history as well as setting an unwanted record of three consecutive Football League relegations, the club was able to continue in business.[4]

City spent only two seasons in the fourth tier. In 1988–89 they made their second appearance in the semi-final of the League Cup – the first came in 1970–71 – and they returned to the second tier in 1990. In the next 25 years, they experienced three relegations and three promotions between second and third tiers. While in the third tier, they won the Football League Trophy – a competition for teams in the lower divisions of the Football League – three times, in 1986, 2003 and 2015, as well as reaching the final twice more.[1]

As of the end of the 2019–20 season, Bristol City have spent 2 seasons in the fourth tier of the English football league system, 45 in the third, 52 in the second and 9 in the top tier. The table details the team's achievements and the top goalscorer in senior first-team competitions from their first season in the FA Cup in 1895–96 to the end of the most recently completed season.

Key

Details of the abandoned 1939–40 Football League season are shown in italics and appropriately footnoted.

Seasons
Season League[1][8] FA Cup[9][lower-alpha 2] League Cup[1] Other[1][3][10][11][12] Top league scorer(s)[13]
Division[lower-alpha 3] P W D L GF GA Pts Pos[lower-alpha 4] Competition Result Name(s) Goals
1895–96 ————————— QR1— —— ——
1896–97 West 11611052822222nd QR1— —— Not known—
1897–98
  • South
  • West P
  • 22
  • 14
  • 13
  • 11
  • 7
  • 1
  • 2
  • 2
  • 67
  • 51
  • 33
  • 16
  • 33
  • 23
QR3— —— Not known—
1898–99
  • South
  • United
  • 24
  • 20
  • 15
  • 11
  • 3
  • 0
  • 6
  • 9
  • 55
  • 43
  • 33
  • 31
  • 33
  • 22
R1— —— Not known—
1899–1900
  • South
  • West 1
  • 28
  • 6
  • 9
  • 2
  • 7
  • 0
  • 12
  • 4
  • 43
  • 12
  • 47
  • 12
  • 25
  • 4
R2— —— Not known—
1900–01
  • South
  • West 1
  • 28
  • 16
  • 17
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 6
  • 6
  • 54
  • 25
  • 27
  • 26
  • 39
  • 16
Inter— —— Not known—
1901–02 Div 234176115235406th QR4— —— Bertie Banks9
1902–03 Div 23417895938424th R2— —— Dick Wombwell11
1903–04 Div 234186107341424th R1— —— Alf Dean14
1904–05 Div 234194116645424th R2— —— Sam Gilligan14
1905–06 Div 2 3830628328661st R1— —— William Maxwell[14]27 ♦
1906–07 Div 138208106647482nd[lower-alpha 5] R2— —— William Maxwell17
1907–08 Div 13812121458613610th R1— —— Sam Gilligan16
1908–09 Div 1381312134558388th F[lower-alpha 6] — —— Sam Gilligan9
1909–10 Div 1381281845603216th R2— —— Jack Cowell20
1910–11 Div 1 ↓381152243662719th R1— —— Ginger Owers16
1911–12 Div 2381461841603413th R1— —— Jock Butler11
1912–13 Div 2389151446723316th R1— —— Ginger Owers13
1913–14 Div 238169135250418th R1— —— Billy Brown10
1914–15 Div 2381571662563713th R1— —— Billy Brown13
1915–19 é
League and FA Cup football was suspended until after the First World War.
 & & & & & & & é & & é & é &
1919–20 Div 2421317124643438th SF— —— Tommy Howarth14
1920–21 Div 2421913104929513rd R1— ——
14
1921–22 Div 2 ↓421292137583322nd R1— —— Albert Fairclough12
1922–23 Div 3S 42241176640591st R2— —— Albert Fairclough19
1923–24 Div 2 ↓427152032652922nd R3— —— Albert Fairclough8
1924–25 Div 3S42229116041533rd R2— —— Tot Walsh20
1925–26 Div 3S42219127251514th R3— —— Tot Walsh25
1926–27 Div 3S 42278710454601st R2— —— Tot Walsh32
1927–28 Div 2421591876793912th R3— —— Albert Keating16
1928–29 Div 24213101958723620th R3— ——
13
1929–30 Div 2421392061833520th R3— —— Bertie Williams16
1930–31 Div 2421581954823816th R3— —— Sid Elliott15
1931–32 Div 2 ↓426112539782322nd R4— —— Charlie Sargeant10
1932–33 Div 3S4212131783903715th R2— Welsh CupR7 Ted Bowen28
1933–34 Div 3S4210131958853319th R3—
  • W
  • R1
 Joe Riley13
1934–35 Div 3S421591852683915th R5— Third Division South CupR2 Ted Harston15
1935–36 Div 3S4215101748594013th R1—
  • R6
  • R2
 Dick Armstrong11
1936–37 Div 3S421562158703616th R1—
  • R6
  • R1
 Jack Haycox17
1937–38 Div 3S42211386840552nd R2—
Alf Rowles18
1938–39 Div 3S421612146163448th R1— Third Division South CupQF Lew Booth15
1939–40 Div 3S3111553—[lower-alpha 8] — — —— five players[lower-alpha 9]1
1939–45 é
League and FA Cup football was suspended until after the Second World War.
 & & & & & & & é & & é & é &
1945–46 — ——————— — R4[lower-alpha 10] — —— ——
1946–47 Div 3S422011119456513rd R2— —— Don Clark[14]36 ♦
1947–48 Div 3S42187177765437th R2— —— Len Townsend[14]29 ♦
1948–49 Div 3S4211141744623616th R3— —— Len Townsend14
1949–50 Div 3S4215101760614015th R1— —— Arnold Rodgers18
1950–51 Div 3S4620111564595110th R5— —— Arnold Rodgers20
1951–52 Div 3S4615121958694215th R2— ——
12
1952–53 Div 3S46221599561595th R1— —— Arnold Rodgers26
1953–54 Div 3S46256158866563rd R3— —— John Atyeo22
1954–55 Div 3S 463010610147701st R1— —— John Atyeo28
1955–56 Div 2421971680644511th R3— —— John Atyeo30
1956–57 Div 2421691774794113th R5— —— John Atyeo23
1957–58 Div 2421392063883517th R5— —— John Atyeo23
1958–59 Div 2421771874704110th R4— —— John Atyeo26
1959–60 Div 2 ↓421152660972722nd R3— ——
16
1960–61 Div 34617101970684414th R4R3—— John Atyeo19
1961–62 Div 346238159472546th R3R1[lower-alpha 11] Welsh CupQF John Atyeo26
1962–63 Div 346161317100924514th R3R2—— Brian Clark23
1963–64 Div 3462015118464555th R4R1—— John Atyeo21
1964–65 Div 3 462411119255592nd R3R2——
23
1965–66 Div 242171786348515th R3R2—— John Atyeo19
1966–67 Div 24212141656623815th R5R2—— Roger Peters9
1967–68 Div 24213101948623619th R5R2—— John Galley26
1968–69 Div 24211161546533816th R3R3—— John Galley18
1969–70 Div 24213131654503914th R3R2—— Gerry Sharpe10
1970–71 Div 24210112146643119th R3SF—— John Galley12
1971–72 Div 2421810146149468th R3R1—— John Galley22
1972–73 Div 2421712136351465th R4R2—— Gerry Gow12
1973–74 Div 24214101847543816th QFR3Watney CupSF Keith Fear8
1974–75 Div 242218134733505th R3R3——
9
1975–76 Div 2 42191585935532nd R3R2Anglo-Scottish CupGroup Tom Ritchie18
1976–77 Div 14211131838483519th R3R2Anglo-Scottish CupGroup
7
1977–78 Div 14211131849533517th R3R3 Anglo-Scottish CupW[lower-alpha 12] Tom Ritchie11
1978–79 Div 14215101747514013th R4R2Anglo-Scottish CupQF
9
1979–80 Div 1 ↓429132037663120th R4R4—— Tom Ritchie13
1980–81 Div 2 ↓427161929513021st R5R2—— Kevin Mabbutt9
1981–82 Div 3 ↓46111322406546[lower-alpha 13]23rd R4R3—— Mick Harford11
1982–83 Div 44613171659705614th R1R2 Football League Group CupGroup Glyn Riley16
1983–84 Div 4 462410127044824th R3R1 Associate Members' CupR1 Glyn Riley16
1984–85 Div 346249137447815th R2R2 Associate Members' CupQF(S) Alan Walsh20
1985–86 Div 3461814146960689th R2R1 Associate Members' CupW[lower-alpha 14] Steve Neville20
1986–87 Div 3462114116336776th R3R2 Associate Members' CupF[lower-alpha 15] Alan Walsh16
1987–88 Div 3462112137762755th[lower-alpha 16] R2R1 Associate Members' CupR1(S) Alan Walsh12
1988–89 Div 3461891953556311th R3SF Associate Members' CupR1(S) Alan Walsh11
1989–90 Div 3 46271097640912nd R5R1 Associate Members' CupR1(S) Bob Taylor[14]27 ♦
1990–91 Div 246207196871679th R3R2 Full Members CupR1(S) Nicky Morgan13
1991–92 Div 24613151855715414th R5R2 Full Members CupR2(S) Wayne Allison10
1992–93 Div 1[lower-alpha 17] 4614141849675615th R3R2 Anglo-Italian CupInt'l Andy Cole12
1993–94 Div 14616161447506413th R5R1 Anglo-Italian CupPrelim Wayne Allison15
1994–95 Div 1 ↓4611122342634523rd R4R2—— Wayne Allison13
1995–96 Div 24615151655606013th R1R2——
10
1996–97 Div 2462110156951735th[lower-alpha 18] R3R2—— Shaun Goater23
1997–98 Div 2 462510116939852nd R2R2 Football League TrophyQF(S) Shaun Goater16
1998–99 Div 1 ↓469152257804224th R3R2—— Ade Akinbiyi19
1999–2000 Div 2461519125957649th R3R2 Football League TrophyF[lower-alpha 19] Tony Thorpe13
2000–01 Div 2461814147056689th R5R1 Football League TrophyR1(S) Tony Thorpe19
2001–02 Div 2462110156853737th R1R1 Football League TrophyF(S) Tony Thorpe17
2002–03 Div 2462411117948833rd[lower-alpha 20] R3R2 Football League TrophyW[lower-alpha 21] Scott Murray19
2003–04 Div 2462313105837823rd[lower-alpha 22] R2R3 Football League TrophyR1(S) Lee Peacock14
2004–05 League 1[lower-alpha 23] 461816127457707th R1R2 Football League TrophyQF(S) Leroy Lita24
2005–06 League 1461811176662659th R1R1 Football League TrophyR1(S) Steve Brooker16
2006–07 League 1 462510116339852nd R4R1 Football League TrophyF(S)[lower-alpha 24] Phil Jevons11
2007–08 Champ462014125453744th[lower-alpha 25] R3R2—— Darren Byfield8
2008–09 Champ4615161554546110th R3R2—— Nicky Maynard11
2009–10 Champ4615181356656310th R3R2—— Nicky Maynard[14]20 ♦
2010–11 Champ461792062656015th R3R1—— Brett Pitman13
2011–12 Champ4612132144684920th R3R1—— Nicky Maynard8
2012–13 Champ ↓461182759844124th R3R1—— Steve Davies13
2013–14 League 14613191470675812th R3R3 Football League TrophyR2(S) Sam Baldock24 ♦
2014–15 League 1 46291259638991st R4R1 Football League TrophyW[lower-alpha 26] Aaron Wilbraham18
2015–16 Champ4613132054715218th R3R1—— Jonathan Kodjia19
2016–17 Champ461592260665417th R4R4—— Tammy Abraham23
2017–18 Champ4617161367586711th R3SF—— Bobby Reid19
2018–19 Champ461913145953708th R5R1—— Famara Diédhiou13
2019–20 Champ4617121760656312th R3R1—— Famara Diédhiou12

Notes
  1. This United League was established in 1896, to be played as a supplementary competition to fill vacant dates in the season without the trouble and expense of arranging friendly matches. Its inaugural season involved eight teams from an area stretching from London to Leicestershire.[5] Bristol City finished fifth in the 11-team league in the 1898–99 season,[6] but the directors reported that "some of the United League matches failed to prove sufficiently attractive to make them a success financially",[7] so they did not participate again.[1]
  2. Beginning with the 1925–26 season, the FA Cup was structured so that the third round proper contained 64 teams. Prior to that date, the structure had varied, so rounds are not directly comparable to the round of the same name after 1925. For example, in 1895–96, when Bristol South End first entered the competition, there were only three rounds proper before the semifinal, as compared with the current six.[9]
  3. Divisions are sorted according to their level within the English football league system at the time.
  4. In seasons when the club played in more than one league, the column is sorted on the Southern League position.
  5. Runners-up in the First Division straight after promotion as Second Division champions. Remains their highest league finish.[1]
  6. After needing a replay in every round but the third, Bristol City reached the 1909 FA Cup Final, in which they lost 1–0 to Manchester United.[1]
  7. Lost 6–2 on aggregate to Reading.[10]
  8. The 1939–40 Football League season was abandoned with three matches played when the Second World War began.[1]
  9. Dick Armstrong, Clarrie Bourton, Frank Curran, Frank Gallacher and John Turner each scored once before the 1939–40 season was abandoned.
  10. Although the Football League did not resume until the 1946–47 season, the FA Cup was contested in 1945–46. From the first round proper to the sixth round (quarter-final), results were determined on aggregate score over two legs.[9][1]
  11. The Football League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.[15]
  12. Beat St Mirren 3–2 on aggregate in the final.[1]
  13. The 1981–82 season saw the introduction of three points for a win instead of two.[15]
  14. Beat Bolton Wanderers 3–0 to win the Associate Members' Cup for the first time.[1]
  15. Lost to Mansfield Town on penalties in the final.[16]
  16. After beating Sheffield United 2–1 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final,[1] Bristol City drew 3–3 on aggregate with Walsall in the final, which meant a replay was required. The teams held a penalty shoot-out to decide which club would host the match; Bristol City lost the shoot-out and went on to lose the replay 4–0.[17]
  17. The newly formed FA Premier League split from the Football League, and the remaining divisions of the Football League were renumbered upwards.[15]
  18. Lost 4–2 on aggregate to Brentford in the play-off semi-final.[18]
  19. Lost 2–1 to Stoke City in the final.[19]
  20. Lost 1–0 on aggregate to Cardiff City in the play-off semi-final.[20]
  21. Beat Carlisle United 2–0 in the final.[21]
  22. After beating Hartlepool United 3–2 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final,[22] lost 1–0 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the final.[23]
  23. From the 2004–05 season, the Football League divisions were rebranded: Division One was renamed the Football League Championship, and Divisions Two and Three became Football League One and Football League Two respectively.[24]
  24. Lost 1–0 on aggregate to city rivals Bristol Rovers in the southern area final.[25]
  25. After beating Crystal Palace 4–2 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final,[26] lost 1–0 to Hull City in the final.[27]
  26. Beat Walsall 2–0 in the final to become the first team to win the trophy for a third time.[28]

References
  1. "Bristol South End" and "Bristol City". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  2. "Potted History". Bristol City F.C. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. For Welsh Cup: "Welsh Cup 1877 – to date". Welsh Football Data Archive. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  4. Bristow, Ned (3 February 2016). "Bristol City: The Post reflect on the 34th anniversary of the famous Ashton Gate Eight". Bristol Post. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  5. "A new football league". Lincoln, Rutland & Stamford Mercury. Stamford. 17 April 1896. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "The United League". Hampshire Advertiser. Southampton. 3 May 1899. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Bristol City F.C. A deficit on last season". Bristol Mercury. 13 July 1899. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. For Western League: "Western League 1892–1914". NonLeague Matters. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  9. "Past Results". The Football Association (The FA). Retrieved 25 September 2020. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
  10. For Third Division South Cup: "Football League Division Three South Cup Summary – Contents". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  11. For Watney Cup: "The Watney Cup". Footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  12. For Full Members Cup: "Football League Full Members Cup". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  13. For Football League seasons up to 1995–96: "Clubs: Bristol City: Season players". English National Football Archive. Retrieved 25 September 2020. Access season required via dropdown menu.
    For seasons from 1996–97 onwards: "Bristol City: player appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 September 2020. Access season required via dropdown menu.
  14. Ross, James M. (25 June 2015). "English League Leading Goalscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  15. "History Of The Football League". The Football League. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013.
  16. "Why May 24 1987 is a day Stags fans will never forget". Nottingham Post. 3 May 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  17. Foster, Richard (2015). The Agony & The Ecstasy: A Comprehensive History of the Football League Play-Offs. Huddersfield: Ockley Books. ISBN 978-1-783018-45-1.
  18. Moore, Glenn (14 May 1997). "Football:Bent rouses Brentford into attack formation". The Independent. London. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  19. "Wembley glory for Stoke City". BBC Sport. 29 June 2000. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  20. "Cardiff deny Robins". BBC Sport. 13 May 2003. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  21. "Bristol City sink Carlisle". BBC Sport. 6 April 2003. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  22. "Bristol City 2–1 Hartlepool". BBC Sport. 19 May 2004. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  23. "Bristol City 0–1 Brighton". BBC Sport. 30 May 2004. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  24. "League gets revamp". BBC Sport. 10 June 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  25. "Bristol Rovers 1–0 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  26. Harlow, Phil (13 May 2008). "Bristol C 2–1 C Palace (agg 4–2)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  27. McNulty, Phil (24 May 2008). "Bristol City 0–1 Hull". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  28. Chapman, Caroline (22 March 2015). "Bristol City 2–0 Walsall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.