Bristol City League Performances

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]

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 2022–23 season, Bristol City have spent 2 seasons in the fourth tier of the English football league system, 45 in the third, 55 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][9] FA Cup[10][b] League Cup[1][11] Other[1][3][12][13][14] Top league scorer(s)[15]
Division[c] Pld W D L GF GA Pts Pos[d] Competition Result Player(s) Goals
1895–96 — — — — — — — — — QR1 — — — — —
1896–97 West 1 16 11 0 5 28 22 22 2nd 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 2 34 17 6 11 52 35 40 6th QR4 — — — Bertie Banks 9
1902–03 Div 2 34 17 8 9 59 38 42 4th R2 — — — Dick Wombwell 11
1903–04 Div 2 34 18 6 10 73 41 42 4th R1 — — — Alf Dean 14
1904–05 Div 2 34 19 4 11 66 45 42 4th R2 — — — Sam Gilligan 14
1905–06 Div 2 ↑ 38 30 6 2 83 28 66 1st R1 — — — William Maxwell[16] 27 ♦
1906–07 Div 1 38 20 8 10 66 47 48 2nd[e] R2 — — — William Maxwell 17
1907–08 Div 1 38 12 12 14 58 61 36 10th R1 — — — Sam Gilligan 16
1908–09 Div 1 38 13 12 13 45 58 38 8th F[f] — — — Sam Gilligan 9
1909–10 Div 1 38 12 8 18 45 60 32 16th R2 — — — Jack Cowell 20
1910–11 Div 1 ↓ 38 11 5 22 43 66 27 19th R1 — — — Ginger Owers 16
1911–12 Div 2 38 14 6 18 41 60 34 13th R1 — — — Jock Butler 11
1912–13 Div 2 38 9 15 14 46 72 33 16th R1 — — — Ginger Owers 13
1913–14 Div 2 38 16 9 13 52 50 41 8th R1 — — — Billy Brown 10
1914–15 Div 2 38 15 7 16 62 56 37 13th R1 — — — Billy Brown 13
1915–19 é
League and FA Cup football was suspended until after the First World War.
 & & & & & & & é & & é & é &
1919–20 Div 2 42 13 17 12 46 43 43 8th SF — — — Tommy Howarth 14
1920–21 Div 2 42 19 13 10 49 29 51 3rd R1 — — —
14
1921–22 Div 2 ↓ 42 12 9 21 37 58 33 22nd R1 — — — Albert Fairclough 12
1922–23 Div 3S ↑ 42 24 11 7 66 40 59 1st R2 — — — Albert Fairclough 19
1923–24 Div 2 ↓ 42 7 15 20 32 65 29 22nd R3 — — — Albert Fairclough 8
1924–25 Div 3S 42 22 9 11 60 41 53 3rd R2 — — — Tot Walsh 20
1925–26 Div 3S 42 21 9 12 72 51 51 4th R3 — — — Tot Walsh 25
1926–27 Div 3S ↑ 42 27 8 7 104 54 60 1st R2 — — — Tot Walsh 32
1927–28 Div 2 42 15 9 18 76 79 39 12th R3 — — — Albert Keating 16
1928–29 Div 2 42 13 10 19 58 72 36 20th R3 — — —
13
1929–30 Div 2 42 13 9 20 61 83 35 20th R3 — — — Bertie Williams 16
1930–31 Div 2 42 15 8 19 54 82 38 16th R3 — — — Sid Elliott 15
1931–32 Div 2 ↓ 42 6 11 25 39 78 23 22nd R4 — — — Charlie Sargeant 10
1932–33 Div 3S 42 12 13 17 83 90 37 15th R2 — Welsh Cup R7 Ted Bowen 28
1933–34 Div 3S 42 10 13 19 58 85 33 19th R3 —
  • W
  • R1
 Joe Riley 13
1934–35 Div 3S 42 15 9 18 52 68 39 15th R5 — Third Division South Cup R2 Ted Harston 15
1935–36 Div 3S 42 15 10 17 48 59 40 13th R1 —
  • R6
  • R2
 Dick Armstrong 11
1936–37 Div 3S 42 15 6 21 58 70 36 16th R1 —
  • R6
  • R1
 Jack Haycox 17
1937–38 Div 3S 42 21 13 8 68 40 55 2nd R2 —
Alf Rowles 18
1938–39 Div 3S 42 16 12 14 61 63 44 8th R1 — Third Division South Cup QF Lew Booth 15
1939–40 Div 3S 3 1 1 1 5 5 3 —[h] — — — — five players[i] 1
1939–45 é
League and FA Cup football was suspended until after the Second World War.
 & & & & & & & é & & é & é &
1945–46 — — — — — — — — — R4[j] — — — — —
1946–47 Div 3S 42 20 11 11 94 56 51 3rd R2 — — — Don Clark[16] 36 ♦
1947–48 Div 3S 42 18 7 17 77 65 43 7th R2 — — — Len Townsend[16] 29 ♦
1948–49 Div 3S 42 11 14 17 44 62 36 16th R3 — — — Len Townsend 14
1949–50 Div 3S 42 15 10 17 60 61 40 15th R1 — — — Arnold Rodgers 18
1950–51 Div 3S 46 20 11 15 64 59 51 10th R5 — — — Arnold Rodgers 20
1951–52 Div 3S 46 15 12 19 58 69 42 15th R2 — — —
12
1952–53 Div 3S 46 22 15 9 95 61 59 5th R1 — — — Arnold Rodgers 26
1953–54 Div 3S 46 25 6 15 88 66 56 3rd R3 — — — John Atyeo 22
1954–55 Div 3S ↑ 46 30 10 6 101 47 70 1st R1 — — — John Atyeo 28
1955–56 Div 2 42 19 7 16 80 64 45 11th R3 — — — John Atyeo 30
1956–57 Div 2 42 16 9 17 74 79 41 13th R5 — — — John Atyeo 23
1957–58 Div 2 42 13 9 20 63 88 35 17th R5 — — — John Atyeo 23
1958–59 Div 2 42 17 7 18 74 70 41 10th R4 — — — John Atyeo 26
1959–60 Div 2 ↓ 42 11 5 26 60 97 27 22nd R3 — — —
16
1960–61 Div 3 46 17 10 19 70 68 44 14th R4 R3 — — John Atyeo 19
1961–62 Div 3 46 23 8 15 94 72 54 6th R3 R1[k] Welsh Cup QF John Atyeo 26
1962–63 Div 3 46 16 13 17 100 92 45 14th R3 R2 — — Brian Clark 23
1963–64 Div 3 46 20 15 11 84 64 55 5th R4 R1 — — John Atyeo 21
1964–65 Div 3 ↑ 46 24 11 11 92 55 59 2nd R3 R2 — —
23
1965–66 Div 2 42 17 17 8 63 48 51 5th R3 R2 — — John Atyeo 19
1966–67 Div 2 42 12 14 16 56 62 38 15th R5 R2 — — Roger Peters 9
1967–68 Div 2 42 13 10 19 48 62 36 19th R5 R2 — — John Galley 26
1968–69 Div 2 42 11 16 15 46 53 38 16th R3 R3 — — John Galley 18
1969–70 Div 2 42 13 13 16 54 50 39 14th R3 R2 — — Gerry Sharpe 10
1970–71 Div 2 42 10 11 21 46 64 31 19th R3 SF — — John Galley 12
1971–72 Div 2 42 18 10 14 61 49 46 8th R3 R1 — — John Galley 22
1972–73 Div 2 42 17 12 13 63 51 46 5th R4 R2 — — Gerry Gow 12
1973–74 Div 2 42 14 10 18 47 54 38 16th QF R3 Watney Cup SF Keith Fear 8
1974–75 Div 2 42 21 8 13 47 33 50 5th R3 R3 — —
9
1975–76 Div 2 ↑ 42 19 15 8 59 35 53 2nd R3 R2 Anglo-Scottish Cup Group Tom Ritchie 18
1976–77 Div 1 42 11 13 18 38 48 35 19th R3 R2 Anglo-Scottish Cup Group
7
1977–78 Div 1 42 11 13 18 49 53 35 17th R3 R3 Anglo-Scottish Cup W[l] Tom Ritchie 11
1978–79 Div 1 42 15 10 17 47 51 40 13th R4 R2 Anglo-Scottish Cup QF
9
1979–80 Div 1 ↓ 42 9 13 20 37 66 31 20th R4 R4 — — Tom Ritchie 13
1980–81 Div 2 ↓ 42 7 16 19 29 51 30 21st R5 R2 — — Kevin Mabbutt 9
1981–82 Div 3 ↓ 46 11 13 22 40 65 46[m] 23rd R4 R3 — — Mick Harford 11
1982–83 Div 4 46 13 17 16 59 70 56 14th R1 R2 Football League Group Cup Group Glyn Riley 16
1983–84 Div 4 ↑ 46 24 10 12 70 44 82 4th R3 R1 Associate Members' Cup R1 Glyn Riley 16
1984–85 Div 3 46 24 9 13 74 47 81 5th R2 R2 Associate Members' Cup QF(S) Alan Walsh 20
1985–86 Div 3 46 18 14 14 69 60 68 9th R2 R1 Associate Members' Cup W[n] Steve Neville 20
1986–87 Div 3 46 21 14 11 63 36 77 6th R3 R2 Associate Members' Cup F[o] Alan Walsh 16
1987–88 Div 3 46 21 12 13 77 62 75 5th[p] R2 R1 Associate Members' Cup R1(S) Alan Walsh 12
1988–89 Div 3 46 18 9 19 53 55 63 11th R3 SF Associate Members' Cup R1(S) Alan Walsh 11
1989–90 Div 3 ↑ 46 27 10 9 76 40 91 2nd R5 R1 Associate Members' Cup R1(S) Bob Taylor[16] 27 ♦
1990–91 Div 2 46 20 7 19 68 71 67 9th R3 R2 Full Members Cup R1(S) Nicky Morgan 13
1991–92 Div 2 46 13 15 18 55 71 54 14th R5 R2 Full Members Cup R2(S) Wayne Allison 10
1992–93 Div 1[q] 46 14 14 18 49 67 56 15th R3 R2 Anglo-Italian Cup Int'l Andy Cole 12
1993–94 Div 1 46 16 16 14 47 50 64 13th R5 R1 Anglo-Italian Cup Prelim Wayne Allison 15
1994–95 Div 1 ↓ 46 11 12 23 42 63 45 23rd R4 R2 — — Wayne Allison 13
1995–96 Div 2 46 15 15 16 55 60 60 13th R1 R2 — —
10
1996–97 Div 2 46 21 10 15 69 51 73 5th[r] R3 R2 — — Shaun Goater 23
1997–98 Div 2 ↑ 46 25 10 11 69 39 85 2nd R2 R2 Football League Trophy QF(S) Shaun Goater 16
1998–99 Div 1 ↓ 46 9 15 22 57 80 42 24th R3 R2 — — Ade Akinbiyi 19
1999–2000 Div 2 46 15 19 12 59 57 64 9th R3 R2 Football League Trophy F[s] Tony Thorpe 13
2000–01 Div 2 46 18 14 14 70 56 68 9th R5 R1 Football League Trophy R1(S) Tony Thorpe 19
2001–02 Div 2 46 21 10 15 68 53 73 7th R1 R1 Football League Trophy F(S) Tony Thorpe 17
2002–03 Div 2 46 24 11 11 79 48 83 3rd[t] R3 R2 Football League Trophy W[u] Scott Murray 19
2003–04 Div 2 46 23 13 10 58 37 82 3rd[v] R2 R3 Football League Trophy R1(S) Lee Peacock 14
2004–05 League 1[w] 46 18 16 12 74 57 70 7th R1 R2 Football League Trophy QF(S) Leroy Lita 24
2005–06 League 1 46 18 11 17 66 62 65 9th R1 R1 Football League Trophy R1(S) Steve Brooker 16
2006–07 League 1 ↑ 46 25 10 11 63 39 85 2nd R4 R1 Football League Trophy F(S)[x] Phil Jevons 11
2007–08 Champ 46 20 14 12 54 53 74 4th[y] R3 R2 — — Darren Byfield 8
2008–09 Champ 46 15 16 15 54 54 61 10th R3 R2 — — Nicky Maynard 11
2009–10 Champ 46 15 18 13 56 65 63 10th R3 R2 — — Nicky Maynard[16] 20 ♦
2010–11 Champ 46 17 9 20 62 65 60 15th R3 R1 — — Brett Pitman 13
2011–12 Champ 46 12 13 21 44 68 49 20th R3 R1 — — Nicky Maynard 8
2012–13 Champ ↓ 46 11 8 27 59 84 41 24th R3 R1 — — Steve Davies 13
2013–14 League 1 46 13 19 14 70 67 58 12th R3 R3 Football League Trophy R2(S) Sam Baldock 24 ♦
2014–15 League 1 ↑ 46 29 12 5 96 38 99 1st R4 R1 Football League Trophy W[z] Aaron Wilbraham 18
2015–16 Champ 46 13 13 20 54 71 52 18th R3 R1 — — Jonathan Kodjia 19
2016–17 Champ 46 15 9 22 60 66 54 17th R4 R4 — — Tammy Abraham 23
2017–18 Champ 46 17 16 13 67 58 67 11th R3 SF — — Bobby Reid 19
2018–19 Champ 46 19 13 14 59 53 70 8th R5 R1 — — Famara Diédhiou 13
2019–20 Champ 46 17 12 17 60 65 63 12th R3 R1 — — Famara Diédhiou 12
2020–21 Champ 46 15 6 25 46 68 51 19th R5 R3 — — Nahki Wells 10
2021–22 Champ 46 15 10 21 62 77 55 17th R3 R1 — — Andreas Weimann 22
2022–23 Champ 46 15 14 17 55 56 59 14th R5 R3 — — Nahki Wells 11

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.[10]
  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.[12]
  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.[10][1]
  11. ^ The Football League Cup competition started in the 1960–61 season.[17]
  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.[17]
  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.[18]
  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.[19]
  17. ^ The newly formed FA Premier League split from the Football League, and the remaining divisions of the Football League were renumbered upwards.[17]
  18. ^ Lost 4–2 on aggregate to Brentford in the play-off semi-final.[20]
  19. ^ Lost 2–1 to Stoke City in the final.[21]
  20. ^ Lost 1–0 on aggregate to Cardiff City in the play-off semi-final.[22]
  21. ^ Beat Carlisle United 2–0 in the final.[23]
  22. ^ After beating Hartlepool United 3–2 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final,[24] lost 1–0 to Brighton & Hove Albion in the final.[25]
  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.[26]
  24. ^ Lost 1–0 on aggregate to city rivals Bristol Rovers in the southern area final.[27]
  25. ^ After beating Crystal Palace 4–2 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final,[28] lost 1–0 to Hull City in the final.[29]
  26. ^ Beat Walsall 2–0 in the final to become the first team to win the trophy for a third time.[30]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Bristol South End" and "Bristol City". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Potted History". Bristol City F.C. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b For Welsh Cup: "Welsh Cup 1877 – to date". Welsh Football Data Archive. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  4. ^ Pye, Steven (8 April 2020). "That 1980s sports blog: When eight footballers tore up their contracts to save Bristol City". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  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. ^ "Bristol City league performance history". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  9. ^ For Western League: "Western League 1892–1914". NonLeague Matters. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  10. ^ a b c "Past Results". The Football Association (The FA). Retrieved 7 July 2022. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
  11. ^ "Bristol City football club complete match record". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  12. ^ a b For Third Division South Cup: "Football League Division Three South Cup Summary – Contents". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  13. ^ For Watney Cup: "The Watney Cup". Footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  14. ^ For Full Members Cup: "Football League Full Members Cup". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  15. ^ 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 7 July 2022. Access season required via dropdown menu.
  16. ^ a b c d e Ross, James M. (25 June 2015). "English League Leading Goalscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  17. ^ a b c "History Of The Football League". The Football League. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013.
  18. ^ "32 years ago: Knife-edge drama at the Twin Towers". Mansfield Town F.C. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  19. ^ Briggs, Daniel (14 May 2016). "Walsall's play-off history". Walsall F.C. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  20. ^ Moore, Glenn (14 May 1997). "Football:Bent rouses Brentford into attack formation". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Wembley glory for Stoke City". BBC Sport. 29 June 2000. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  22. ^ "Cardiff deny Robins". BBC Sport. 13 May 2003. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  23. ^ "Bristol City sink Carlisle". BBC Sport. 6 April 2003. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  24. ^ "Bristol City 2–1 Hartlepool". BBC Sport. 19 May 2004. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  25. ^ "Bristol City 0–1 Brighton". BBC Sport. 30 May 2004. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  26. ^ "League gets revamp". BBC Sport. 10 June 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  27. ^ "Bristol Rovers 1–0 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  28. ^ Harlow, Phil (13 May 2008). "Bristol C 2–1 C Palace (agg 4–2)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  29. ^ McNulty, Phil (24 May 2008). "Bristol City 0–1 Hull". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  30. ^ Chapman, Caroline (22 March 2015). "Bristol City 2–0 Walsall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2016.

External links

Bristol City Football Club
Bristol City F.C. seasons
Lists of English men's football seasons by club
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