TIGERS RISE ABOVE THE FLOOD

 

"Ever forward" says Gloucester City AFC's badge of honour. The badge speaks for itself, with a strong reference to the City's maritime activity. I fancied Gloucester City as my subject today, because the club returns to its own ground, Meadow Park, (now New Meadow Park), having been "playing away" for its home games since the July 22nd 2007 floods when the River Severn and Gloucester Docks caused the local water table to rise above the club's goalposts; the whole stadium became unusable, not helped by contamination and since then the club has had issues with flood damage insurance, planning, raising the pitch 4' and bringing the stadium back into safe use. Due to previous flooding incidents, the club had been unable to obtain insurance so was now faced with a large clean-up bill. The club started a fund to pay for this appealing to fans for donations. Meadow Park had been in ruin, but the Tigers have earned their stripes..

The club has been ground sharing for all that time at local clubs such as Nailsworth, Cirencester Town, Forest Green Rovers, Cheltenham Town, and Evesham. Inevitably, issues with financing are foremost, as is a "case of identity". It has been a 13 and a half years' wait to return home, only to be irritated when there was light at the end of the tunnel, by COVID-19! Fittingly, on July 24th they played Bath City in a pre-season friendly and drew 3-3. Their first National League North game was at Southport, a 2-2 draw and their most recent game was at home to York City (another floodable city) winning 4-0.

Founded in March 1883, just as Gloucester FC, the club adopted the appendage "City" in 1902. The club was then briefly known as Gloucester YMCA in the period 1910-25. You will know that there is considerable competition for support in the city from Rugby, so the club does well to maintain its place.

P.s. Prorsum Semper means "always/ever forward".

After 13 years in exile, City returned to Gloucester in time for the 2020–21 season.  Unfortunately, due to the COVID the restart of the season was thrown into doubt. Due to the National League obtaining 'Elite' status in order to complete the playoffs for the season previous, there was now an issue, as was the case with all 'Elite' sport, that spectators were not allowed to attend matches and clubs needed this revenue stream in order to survive. After a financial package was agreed with the government, the season was able to start.

The first competitive game at New Meadow Park was on 6 October 2020 as City hosted Kettering Town, behind closed doors, in a league game with City running away 3-1 winners and the honour of first competitive goal at the new stadium going to Alex Whittle. The return of league football was welcomed both at the stadium and in the city, where business was boosted.

City flew out of the blocks at the start of the 2020–21 season recording 7 wins and 2 draws in their opening 9 league matches. 

The National League campaign ground to a halt in February 2021, with City sitting top of the league. Following a vote amongst clubs, it was announced that step two of non-League football will cease with immediate effect after a vote of 24–19 in favour of ending the current campaign as the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic continue to take their toll at the levels of the football pyramid below the EFL.

The club has roamed around the South-west since 1883:

1883–1895	Buddings Field near the city centre
1895–1896	Avenue Road Ground
1896–1897	Co-operative Field
1897–1898	Buddings Field (2nd)
1898–1902	Avenue Road Ground (2nd)
1902–1913	Buddings Field (3rd)
1913–1925	Llanthony Ground
1925–1926	Avenue Road Ground (3rd)
1926–1927	Buddings Field (4th)
1927–1933	Sutgrove Park
1933–1936	Bon Marche Ground
1936–1964	The Ground at Longlevens
1964–1986	Horton Road Stadium
1986–2007	Meadow Park, Hempsted
2007–2008	The New Lawn,Nailsworth Forest GR
2008–2010	The Corinium, Cirencester
2010–2017	Whaddow Road Cheltenham
2017–2020	Jubilee Stadium, Evesham
2020–present	New Meadow Park, Gloucester

This season's club squad includes 11 English, an Australian, an Italian, a Frenchman, 2 Welsh, 2 from Eire, 1 from Northerm Ireland.