Archived News from April 2003
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PREVIEW FROM BRISTOL CITY SITE
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City Rule Out LDV Trophy Celebrations
By Rob Fernandes, http://www.bristolcitynet.co.uk , 10/4/2003 City chairman Steve Lansdown has ruled out any notion of the club parading their LDV Trophy following last weekend's memorable Millennium Stadium victory - as the club instead gear up for a renewed assault on the league beginning with this Saturday's visit of Mansfield Town. Last Sunday City secured their first silverware in 17 years against Carlisle in front of nearly 40,000 Westcountry fans, but both Lansdown and manager Danny Wilson insist that there is no time for celebration as they prepare for six crucial matches in the Second Division promotion run-in. Since the weekend some fans have called for the players home-coming at Ashton Gate this Saturday to be celebrated by a parading of their new trophy, but Chairman Lansdown warned "We don't want to do anything which might prove a distraction to the players." "The most important thing is to try to win promotion and we have six crucial league matches to go - we'll just have to lock our Millennium Stadium memories away and celebrate properly at the end of the season, hopefully when it can be a double celebration because we have won promotion too!" The club have slashed ticket prices in half for Saturday's clash with Mansfield, but City boss Wilson is also adamant that there will be no time for celebrating with the anticipated bumper home crowd, insisting "Winning a trophy was great for the supporters, but the real prize is First Division football." "That is the most important thing as far as we're concerned, the game with Carlisle is now history and it's important for everyone to get back to work - it was a fantastic weekend, but in many ways the match with Mansfield is even more vital to us because second spot is still up for grabs." "Our fate is still in our own hands and we just have to keep winning and see what happens - if Crewe or Cardiff slip up we need to ensure we're in a position where we can take advantage," added Wilson, who expects no hangover from last Sunday's memorable celebrations. However Mansfield player-manager Keith Curle will have a good idea of the celebratory atmosphere at Ashton Gate having been in the City side that last won the competition back in 1986, and ahead of his Saturday return the Stags boss admitted "I hope they are still in party mood!" Curle was among the players who last lifted a trophy for the club 17 years ago following a 3-0 win over Bolton at Wembley, but nearly two decades on the Bristol-born defender is the man in charge at relegation threatened weekend visitors Mansfield Town. The struggling side are in a desperate search for points, and Curle conceeded "As a manager you are always looking for a win, but, as far as the rest of the division goes, I would bet the large majority would have their money on Bristol City to win this one." However the former Ashton Gate defender is hopeful that his side will be more hungry for victory than his former employers after their LDV Trophy success, and the player-boss added "I don't want the lads to go out there with any fear or pressure." |
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