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Bristol City are an English professional football club and currently participate in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football ladder.
Bristol City were founded in 1894 as Bristol South End, but became their current name three years later after turning professional. They have played their home games at Ashton Gate since 1904. In 1934, they won the Welsh Cup, even though they are not a Welsh side.
They had their most success before the First World War; winning the Second Division in 1905/06, then runners-up in the First Division the following season.
They lost to Manchester United in the 1909 FA Cup final, they only time they have reached that stage of the competition.
Bristol City have spent most of their history in the lower reaches of the Football League, and have won the third tier of English football four times and the Football League Trophy on a record-breaking three occasions.
The club is currently managed by Nigel Pearson, who previously was a successful manager of Leicester City FC prior to their Premier League title victory against the odds.
Bristol City FC early history
Bristol City FC were founded in 1894, but the club was initially known as Bristol South End. Three years later, City adopted their current name when they turned professional and were admitted into the Southern League.
Bristol City finished as runners-up in three of their first four seasons in the Southern League, and in 1900, they merged with Bedminster F.C, who were their local rivals. In 1901, Bristol City joined the Football League, becoming the third club south of Birmingham to do so.
After winning the Second Division Championship in a season which saw them become the first club to pick up 30 wins in a 38-game season, Bristol City had their debut season in the First Division in 1906/07 and finished as runners-up.
Bristol City beat Derby County in the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1909, setting up a final against Manchester United, which they lost 1-0. To date, this remains the only occasion on which Bristol City have competed in the final of England's most prestigious cup competition.
After five seasons in the top flight, Bristol City were relegated at the end of the 1910/11 season. It would take them 65 years to get back into the top tier of English football.
Bristol City spent ten years in the Second Division and made the semi-finals of the 1919/20 FA Cup. In 1922, they were relegated once again. They spent several decades bouncing between the lower divisions.
In 1934, Bristol City won the Welsh Cup, beating Tranmere Rovers in the final of the tournament.
Bristol City revival, ruin and re-emergence
Alan Dicks was appointed as Bristol City's manager in 1967 and the former Chelsea wing half went on to transform the fortunes of the club for the better during a highly successful 13-year spell in charge.
In 1976, Bristol City won promotion to the top flight, thus ending a spell of 65 years outside of the top tier of English football.
In 1977/78, Bristol City won the Anglo-Scottish Cup, beating Hibernian in the semi-finals before a 3-2 aggregate victory in the final over a St. Mirren side managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, who would go on to become Manchester United's most successful manager ever.
However, Bristol City fell deep into debt, which caught up with them in the early 1980s. The club suffered three relegations and had to work their way up the ranks once again.
Bristol City have never again graced the top flight of English football, but they have been able to re-establish themselves as a stable club and produce some great players.
Arguably the greatest of all was Andy Cole, who starred as a striker for Bristol City FC in the early 1990s before going on to achieve tremendous success in the Premier League, particularly with Manchester United.
"It was massive. Personally, without this, I don't think I would have achieved what I did in my career. For me to come to Bristol City at that time was a massive part of my career. I am forever indebted to them, for spending that kind of money on a kid who had basically played half a game. £500,000 was a lot of money back then," said Cole of his time at Bristol City.
Bristol City back in the Championship
Under the guidance of Steve Cotterill, Bristol City won promotion back to the Championship at the end of the 2014/15 season lifting the League One title for the fourth time at this level.
City struggled during their first season back and Cotterill was sacked in January 2016, former player Lee Johnson took the reins and steered the club away twelve points clear of the relegation zone to finish the season in 18th.
The following season Johnson took Bristol City to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, where they lost to eventual champions Manchester City 5-3 on aggregate, while they finished 11th in the league.
In the 2018/19 season Bristol City finished in 8th, their best league finish since 2007/08, but just four points outside the play-offs.
Johnson signed a new deal ahead of the Covid-19 delayed 2019/20 season, but was sacked in early July after a run of four consecutive defeats. His assistant Dean Holden took charge and led the club to a 12th-placed finish.
But Holden lasted less than a year as he was sacked in February 2021 after a run of six successive defeats in all competitions and with the club stuck at 13th in the table.
The experienced warhorse Nigel Pearson was called upon to take the managerial hot seat, and he just about managed to keep Bristol City away from relegation, as they finished the season in 19th, eight points clear of the drop.
Under Pearson, they have shown slight improvement, finishing 17th in the 2021/22 campaign and 14th in 2022/23.
Bristol City rivalries
Bristol City have a fierce rivalry with near neighbours Bristol Rovers. Cardiff City are also among Bristol City's rivals.
Bristol City fanbase
Bristol City's Ashton Gate has a capacity of 27,000. Bristol City have a sizeable fanbase and they are widely regarded as one of the biggest clubs not to have played in the Premier League.
Bristol City finances
Stephen Lansdown is the current owner of Bristol City. He is heavily invested in Bristol's sporting scene. He is also the majority shareholder of Bristol Bears and Bristol Flyers.
