List of Bristol City F.C. seasons

Last updated

Bristol City League Performances BristolCityFC League Performance.svg
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]

Contents

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 2023–24 season, Bristol City have spent 2 seasons in the fourth tier of the English football league system, 45 in the third, 56 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

SeasonLeague [1] [8] [9] FA Cup [10] [lower-alpha 2] League Cup [1] [11] Other [1] [3] [12] [13] [14] Top league scorer(s) [15]
Division [lower-alpha 3] PldWDLGFGAPtsPos [lower-alpha 4] CompetitionResultPlayer(s)Goals
1895–96 QR1
1896–97 West 1161105282222 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 23417611523540 6th QR4 Bertie Banks 9
1902–03 Div 2341789593842 4th R2 Dick Wombwell 11
1903–04 Div 23418610734142 4th R1 Alf Dean 14
1904–05 Div 23419411664542 4th R2 Sam Gilligan 14
1905–06 Div 2 383062832866 1st R1 William Maxwell [16] 27 ♦
1906–07 Div 13820810664748 2nd [lower-alpha 5] R2 William Maxwell 17
1907–08 Div 138121214586136 10th R1 Sam Gilligan 16
1908–09 Div 138131213455838 8th F [lower-alpha 6] Sam Gilligan 9
1909–10 Div 13812818456032 16th R2 Jack Cowell 20
1910–11 Div 1 3811522436627 19th R1 Ginger Owers 16
1911–12 Div 23814618416034 13th R1 Jock Butler 11
1912–13 Div 23891514467233 16th R1 Ginger Owers 13
1913–14 Div 23816913525041 8th R1 Billy Brown 10
1914–15 Div 23815716625637 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 242131712464343 8th SF Tommy Howarth 14
1920–21 Div 242191310492951 3rd R1 14
1921–22 Div 2 4212921375833 22nd R1 Albert Fairclough 12
1922–23 Div 3S 4224117664059 1st R2 Albert Fairclough 19
1923–24 Div 2 4271520326529 22nd R3 Albert Fairclough 8
1924–25 Div 3S4222911604153 3rd R2 Tot Walsh 20
1925–26 Div 3S4221912725151 4th R3 Tot Walsh 25
1926–27 Div 3S 4227871045460 1st R2 Tot Walsh 32
1927–28 Div 24215918767939 12th R3 Albert Keating 16
1928–29 Div 242131019587236 20th R3 13
1929–30 Div 24213920618335 20th R3 Bertie Williams 16
1930–31 Div 24215819548238 16th R3 Sid Elliott 15
1931–32 Div 2 4261125397823 22nd R4 Charlie Sargeant 10
1932–33 Div 3S42121317839037 15th R2 Welsh Cup R7 Ted Bowen 28
1933–34 Div 3S42101319588533 19th R3
  • W
  • R1
Joe Riley 13
1934–35 Div 3S4215918526839 15th R5 Third Division South Cup R2 Ted Harston 15
1935–36 Div 3S42151017485940 13th R1
  • R6
  • R2
Dick Armstrong 11
1936–37 Div 3S4215621587036 16th R1
  • R6
  • R1
Jack Haycox 17
1937–38 Div 3S4221138684055 2nd R2 Alf Rowles 18
1938–39 Div 3S42161214616344 8th R1 Third Division South Cup QF Lew Booth 15
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 3S42201111945651 3rd R2 Don Clark [16] 36 ♦
1947–48 Div 3S4218717776543 7th R2 Len Townsend [16] 29 ♦
1948–49 Div 3S42111417446236 16th R3 Len Townsend 14
1949–50 Div 3S42151017606140 15th R1 Arnold Rodgers 18
1950–51 Div 3S46201115645951 10th R5 Arnold Rodgers 20
1951–52 Div 3S46151219586942 15th R2 12
1952–53 Div 3S4622159956159 5th R1 Arnold Rodgers 26
1953–54 Div 3S4625615886656 3rd R3 John Atyeo 22
1954–55 Div 3S 46301061014770 1st R1 John Atyeo 28
1955–56 Div 24219716806445 11th R3 John Atyeo 30
1956–57 Div 24216917747941 13th R5 John Atyeo 23
1957–58 Div 24213920638835 17th R5 John Atyeo 23
1958–59 Div 24217718747041 10th R4 John Atyeo 26
1959–60 Div 2 4211526609727 22nd R3 16
1960–61 Div 346171019706844 14th R4 R3 John Atyeo 19
1961–62 Div 34623815947254 6th R3 R1 [lower-alpha 11] Welsh Cup QF John Atyeo 26
1962–63 Div 3461613171009245 14th R3 R2 Brian Clark 23
1963–64 Div 346201511846455 5th R4 R1 John Atyeo 21
1964–65 Div 3 46241111925559 2nd R3 R2 23
1965–66 Div 24217178634851 5th R3 R2 John Atyeo 19
1966–67 Div 242121416566238 15th R5 R2 Roger Peters 9
1967–68 Div 242131019486236 19th R5 R2 John Galley 26
1968–69 Div 242111615465338 16th R3 R3 John Galley 18
1969–70 Div 242131316545039 14th R3 R2 Gerry Sharpe 10
1970–71 Div 242101121466431 19th R3 SF John Galley 12
1971–72 Div 242181014614946 8th R3 R1 John Galley 22
1972–73 Div 242171213635146 5th R4 R2 Gerry Gow 12
1973–74 Div 242141018475438 16th QF R3 Watney Cup SF Keith Fear 8
1974–75 Div 24221813473350 5th R3 R3 9
1975–76 Div 2 4219158593553 2nd R3 R2 Anglo-Scottish Cup Group Tom Ritchie 18
1976–77 Div 142111318384835 19th R3 R2 Anglo-Scottish Cup Group7
1977–78 Div 142111318495335 17th R3 R3 Anglo-Scottish Cup W [lower-alpha 12] Tom Ritchie 11
1978–79 Div 142151017475140 13th R4 R2 Anglo-Scottish Cup QF9
1979–80 Div 1 4291320376631 20th R4 R4 Tom Ritchie 13
1980–81 Div 2 4271619295130 21st R5 R2 Kevin Mabbutt 9
1981–82 Div 3 46111322406546 [lower-alpha 13] 23rd R4 R3 Mick Harford 11
1982–83 Div 446131716597056 14th R1 R2 Football League Group Cup Group Glyn Riley 16
1983–84 Div 4 46241012704482 4th R3 R1 Associate Members' Cup R1 Glyn Riley 16
1984–85 Div 34624913744781 5th R2 R2 Associate Members' Cup QF(S) Alan Walsh 20
1985–86 Div 346181414696068 9th R2 R1 Associate Members' Cup W [lower-alpha 14] Steve Neville 20
1986–87 Div 346211411633677 6th R3 R2 Associate Members' Cup F [lower-alpha 15] Alan Walsh 16
1987–88 Div 346211213776275 5th [lower-alpha 16] R2 R1 Associate Members' Cup R1(S) Alan Walsh 12
1988–89 Div 34618919535563 11th R3 SF Associate Members' Cup R1(S) Alan Walsh 11
1989–90 Div 3 4627109764091 2nd R5 R1 Associate Members' Cup R1(S) Bob Taylor [16] 27 ♦
1990–91 Div 24620719687167 9th R3 R2 Full Members Cup R1(S) Nicky Morgan 13
1991–92 Div 246131518557154 14th R5 R2 Full Members Cup R2(S) Wayne Allison 10
1992–93 Div 1 [lower-alpha 17] 46141418496756 15th R3 R2 Anglo-Italian Cup Int'l Andy Cole 12
1993–94 Div 146161614475064 13th R5 R1 Anglo-Italian Cup Prelim Wayne Allison 15
1994–95 Div 146111223426345 23rd R4 R2 Wayne Allison 13
1995–96 Div 246151516556060 13th R1 R2 10
1996–97 Div 246211015695173 5th [lower-alpha 18] R3 R2 Shaun Goater 23
1997–98 Div 246251011693985 2nd R2 R2 Football League Trophy QF(S) Shaun Goater 16
1998–99 Div 14691522578042 24th R3 R2 Ade Akinbiyi 19
1999–2000 Div 246151912595764 9th R3 R2 Football League Trophy F [lower-alpha 19] Tony Thorpe 13
2000–01 Div 246181414705668 9th R5 R1 Football League Trophy R1(S) Tony Thorpe 19
2001–02 Div 246211015685373 7th R1 R1 Football League Trophy F(S) Tony Thorpe 17
2002–03 Div 246241111794883 3rd [lower-alpha 20] R3 R2 Football League Trophy W [lower-alpha 21] Scott Murray 19
2003–04 Div 246231310583782 3rd [lower-alpha 22] R2 R3 Football League Trophy R1(S) Lee Peacock 14
2004–05 League 1 [lower-alpha 23] 46181612745770 7th R1 R2 Football League Trophy QF(S) Leroy Lita 24
2005–06 League 146181117666265 9th R1 R1 Football League Trophy R1(S) Steve Brooker 16
2006–07 League 146251011633985 2nd R4 R1 Football League Trophy F(S) [lower-alpha 24] Phil Jevons 11
2007–08 Champ46201412545374 4th [lower-alpha 25] R3 R2 Darren Byfield 8
2008–09 Champ46151615545461 10th R3 R2 Nicky Maynard 11
2009–10 Champ46151813566563 10th R3 R2 Nicky Maynard [16] 20 ♦
2010–11 Champ4617920626560 15th R3 R1 Brett Pitman 13
2011–12 Champ46121321446849 20th R3 R1 Nicky Maynard 8
2012–13 Champ4611827598441 24th R3 R1 Steve Davies 13
2013–14 League 146131914706758 12th R3 R3 Football League Trophy R2(S) Sam Baldock 24 ♦
2014–15 League 14629125963899 1st R4 R1 Football League Trophy W [lower-alpha 26] Aaron Wilbraham 18
2015–16 Champ46131320547152 18th R3 R1 Jonathan Kodjia 19
2016–17 Champ4615922606654 17th R4 R4 Tammy Abraham 23
2017–18 Champ46171613675867 11th R3 SF Bobby Reid 19
2018–19 Champ46191314595370 8th R5 R1 Famara Diédhiou 13
2019–20 Champ46171217606563 12th R3 R1 Famara Diédhiou 12
2020–21 Champ4615625466851 19th R5 R3 Nahki Wells 10
2021–22 Champ46151021627755 17th R3 R1 Andreas Weimann 22
2022–23 Champ46151417555659 14th R5 R3 Nahki Wells 11
2023–24 Champ46171118535162 11th R4 R2 Tommy Conway 10

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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristol City F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Bristol City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Bristol, England. The team compete in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walsall F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Walsall F.C. is a professional association football club based in the town of Walsall, West Midlands, England. The team competes in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system.

The English Football League play-offs are a series of play-off matches contested by four association football teams finishing immediately below the automatic promotion places in the second, third and fourth tiers of the English football league system, namely the EFL Championship, EFL League One and EFL League Two. As of 2022, the play-offs comprise two semi-finals, each conducted as a two-legged tie with games played at each side's home ground. The aggregate winners of the semi-finals progress to the final which is contested at Wembley Stadium, where the victorious side is promoted to the league above, and the runners-up remain in the same division. In the event of drawn ties or finals, extra time followed by a penalty shoot-out are employed as necessary.

The EFL League One play-offs are a series of play-off matches contested by the association football teams finishing from third to sixth in the EFL League One table and are part of the English Football League play-offs. As of 2022, the play-offs comprise two semi-finals, where the team finishing third plays the team finishing sixth, and the team finishing fourth plays the team finishing fifth, each conducted as a two-legged tie. The winners of the semi-finals progress to the final which is contested at Wembley Stadium.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Bristol South End" and "Bristol City". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  2. "Potted History". Bristol City F.C. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 "Past Results". The Football Association (The FA). Retrieved 23 May 2024. Individual seasons accessed via dropdown menu.
  11. "Bristol City football club complete match record". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  12. 1 2 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. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. 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 23 May 2024. Access season required via dropdown menu.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 Ross, James M. (25 June 2015). "English League Leading Goalscorers". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  17. 1 2 3 "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.