Bristol City Football Club Bedminster/Southville community event

Bristol City Football Club is holding a drop-in event at the Southville Centre tomorrow Friday 20 January 2012 for local people to pop in and chat to representatives from the football club and the club's Community Trust about any aspect of the club's involvement with the local community.

Through its Community Trust, the club already works directly with schools in Ashton Gate, Ashton Vale, Ashton Park, Hotwells, Luckwell, Parson Street and Southville. 

It is also embarking on a theatre project with local theatre company Show of Strength.

History

The club is proud of its history in the area, which stretches back for more than a hundred years.

In the past, Ashton Gate has hosted thousands of local children to re-create a living flag to celebrate Empire Day in 1912. 

In common with much of the area, it was damaged during the blitz, when the old grandstand was destroyed by German bombs in 1941. 

The ground was half submerged by the floods of 1968.

And hundreds of thousands of local people across many generations have followed the ups and downs of the football club.

Local community links

David Lloyd, the club's Community Liaison, is keen to hear local residents' views as the club looks to build on its existing links with the local community.

He said: "In the future we plan to significantly extend our outreach programme and work hand in hand with the local community, both at Ashton Gate and at our new stadium in Ashton Vale. 

"I'd really like to hear the views of local residents as we look to shape our relationship.

"Plans for the new stadium and the proposed sale of Ashton Gate to Sainsbury's have led to some strongly expressed feelings on both sides in recent years, and we're keen to move on from that and find ways in which we can all work together for the mutual benefit of everyone in the area.

"I'd love to hear more from the local community on how we can achieve this. What can we do to help you? I look forward to seeing you on Friday evening."

The Bristol City drop-in event runs from 5pm to 8pm and is open to people living in or around the Bedminster area.