Where Are They Now? Bristol City’s 1989-90 Division Three runners-up

By Neil Fissler

ROBBIE TURNER admits it still hurts losing the Third Division title to arch- rivals 27 years after the event.

The Robins had been leading the table since the second week of January and looked to be cruising to the title after beating 5-1 at home with five games to play.

Joe Jordan's side then stumbled, drawing against Leyton and Huddersfield before losing to Bolton and Rovers in a winner-takes-all clash at Twerton Park.

Even though they crushed Walsall in their final game, the damage was already done and the title was on its way across to Rovers' temporary home in Bath by two points.

The defeat at Rovers proved to be Turner's last appearance for the club and he was sold to West Country rivals Plymouth Argyle.

“It was a strange season,” he said. “We started the season strongly, even though we were beaten 6-0 at . We were going places, flying at the top of the league and we knocked Chelsea out of the FA Cup.

“Then, one Saturday we were due to play Bristol Rovers – who were struggling at the time – at Trumpton Park, as we called it, but rain was forecast.

“Guess what? Lo and behold, they flooded the pitch and the referee called the game off on the Saturday, though I think Bath played on it on the Sunday morning.”

Turner says the delay in playing the game proved to be fatal in many ways, especially for his career at Ashton Gate.

“It allowed Rovers to get themselves together, but we had seen what was coming,” he said.

“The game was rearranged for a Wednesday night and they thumped us 3-0.

“Devon White scored two goals and Ian Holloway got a penalty, yet we were the best team in the league.

“The local pundits called us the Real Madrid of the Third Division. We could play and, all round, were the best team. It is still hard to take losing the league to Rovers.

“I played for both clubs and was probably hated by Rovers fans. We were always bumping into Rovers players down town on a Saturday.

“Mark Gavin used to tell them how much he was earning and things like that. It's absolutely true.

“He would call them skint and brandish £20 notes and shove them in their faces, but it was all taken in good fun. It was hard after going to Trumpton Park like that. We didn't turn up.

“It was my last game for the club. Joe Jordan told us not to go out afterwards, but my brother and a mate came to the game and we had plans to go for something to eat. I had just signed a three-year contract, but Joe found out and I never played for Bristol City again.”

  1. Dave Smith: Winger who was forced to retire early with a knee injury. He returned to live in his native Kent, where he became a postman in Orpington.
  2. Matt Bryant: Central defender who played more than 200 times for the Robins but was forced to retire early. Lives in Hanham, where he works for social services in a respite home for children.
  3. Paul Mardon: Welsh international central defender who won promotion from Division Three with Birmingham City. He became a furniture salesman and is now the owner of PJM Furniture.
  4. Robbie Turner: Striker and brother of Torquay United goalkeeper John Turner. He was part of Wimbledon's FA Cup-winning squad. Is now running a plumbing and heating firm.
  5. Cameron Toshack: A forward, like his father, Liverpool legend John. He became a performance analyst for the FAW and is now a professional phase coach at his first club, City.
  6. Paul France: A defender who helped Burnley win a Division Four title in 1992. He was Huddersfield's community officer for 20 years and now deputy chief executive of Burnley in the Community.
  7. Ronnie McQuilter: A defender now back in Glasgow, who joined the financial services industry and works as an insurance salesman.
  8. John Pender: Republic of Ireland Under-21 central defender, who won six promotions in a long career. Now lives in Telford and worked as a sales manager in the insulation industry.
  9. David Rennie: Defender also won promotions with Birmingham and Northampton. Based in Leicester, he advises companies on health and safety as well as employment law.
  10. Ronnie Sinclair: Goalkeeper who won a Division Two title with Stoke City. He became a goalkeeper coach and has worked in Aston Villa and Stoke academies.
  11. Rob Newman: Defender who twice won promotion with Bristol City. He has managed Southend and Cambridge United and, for the last eight years, has been an international scout for Man City.
  12. Russell Bromage: Midfielder who won two promotions with . He became a window cleaner and is now manager of McWiltons in Brighton, selling pallets, crates and wooden boxes.
  13. Andy Leaning: Goalkeeper, who was Lincoln City's Player of the Year in 1995. He became a goalkeeper coach for a number of clubs, including Sheffield United and
  14. Bob : Striker who was a dustman and won two promotions with WBA. Later started his own events company and has done some freelance coaching.
  15. Glenn Humphries: England youth international defender who won two promotions at Doncaster Rovers. Now lives in his native Hull where he works as an HGV driver.
  16. Gary Shelton: Midfielder who also won a promotion with Sheffield Wednesday. He was caretaker manager of the Robins and then coached at Chester and West Brom.
  17. Mark Gavin: Winger who played more than 300 league games. He lives in Hartlepool and has been a professional gambler since giving up football.
  18. Jason Eaton: Forward who started his career at Bristol Rovers. Now club and spa director of The Cube and Cadbury House in Congresbury, near Bristol.
  19. Alan Theobald: Forward who has been the manager of Chester House, a supported independent living house in Bristol for the last 11 years.
  20. : Midfielder, became the manager who took Fleetwood Town into the Football League and has since managed Shrewsbury Town and now Tranmere Rovers.
  21. John Bailey: Defender who won the FA Cup and League title with Everton. Coached City, Everton and Sheffield United. Has worked in hospitality and as an after-dinner speaker.
  22. Andy Llewellyn: Right-back who tasted play-off final defeat for City. Spent ten years as a postman in Weston-super-Mare.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*