Radek Videk, promotion hopes, playing at Old Trafford and more
“Playing at Old Trafford was a brilliant experience. For their supporters it must be a huge wrench if they move away”
We reached out to the One Team in Bristol fanzine and they put us in connection with former professional goalkeeper David Mogg. He started his career at the club around the time they were last in the top-flight. He moved on to play for the likes of Bath City, Cheltenham, Forest Green Rovers, and Weston Super Mere. He has gone on to become a goalkeeping coach since then and remains a popular character around the area.
Bristol City gate-crashed the playoffs last season finishing sixth ahead of more fancied sides like Norwich, Watford, and Middlesbrough. They currently lie outside those places having struggled for consistency for most of the season so far. I asked him whether there was an expectation of being involved in the promotion shake-up yet again. He disagreed: “Personally, I thought they over achieved. A top 10 finish is a more realistic target for me this season.”
It is often that relegated sides come back up straight away. This is not the case this season though. When asked if this helps make the league more exciting, he counters with “I wouldn’t say the Championship is more exciting this season, I’d say it’s unpredictable”
For younger fans who have not seen top flight football at Ashton Gate since the 1979/80, you can probably understand their desire to see that return. As a player in the reserves he can testify to the excitement at the time. “I didn’t travel away much with the first team as the reserves played in the Football Combination then. Favourite away ground was White Hart Lane.. Home games were different. Seeing all the top clubs and top players was very exciting.. Saw some great games & great victories against some of the top clubs in the country.”
We drew away at Ashton Gate but won handily in the return fixture.
Dave did manage to play at one of these famous grounds as a youth international for England and it is a memory that he looks fondly upon. “I’d missed playing at Wembley two games before so this was the next best thing.. A great atmosphere that night. We beat Scotland 1-0 and although I didn’t have a great game, I kept a clean sheet.. After the game, I met Tony Book who was then Manchester City manager & an old friend of my dad from their playing days at Bath City.. My whole family were there, which was great.”
His debut before that was slightly less glamourous. He did come up against a certain large nosed Merseyside based striker though: “My England Schoolboys debut came before the Old Trafford game against Wales at Ebbw Vale’s rugby ground.. barely a blade of grass on it & hammering down with rain.. We drew 0-0, my first clean sheet.. They had a centre forward named Ian Rush.. I wonder what happened to him!!”
The issue of our ground being demolished to be replaced by a grand new stadium is one that rankles with many supporters. Mogg feels our plight: “For their supporters it must be a huge wrench if they move away from its current site & have a whole new ground to go to.. I’m not sure how there supporters feel about that.. Would it be the same? Manchester City did it with great success but does the new ground have the same atmosphere as Maine Rd?”
Another connection between the sides is the presence of Radek Vitek between the sticks for the Robins. The young Czech confirmed himself as being the first choice goalkeeper and kept 11 clean sheets. As a former custodian in the net himself, Mogg is impressed with what he has seen so far: “Radek Vitek has done very well at Bristol City & his benefitting from his time there.. The supporters would love him to stay.. He is still young and whether he would become Manchester Utd’s regular goalkeeper in the future remains to be seen.”
Vitek is part of a squad that appears to have have been stretched with injuries in recent weeks. He believes that recruitment is necessary in order to finish higher. “We need strengthening all over, especially in forward positions. They have had limited resources amongst the playing staff. As we speak, last week 8 players left either permanently or on loan with only two coming in, so plenty of room for better players to be brought in.”
He is keen to praise one of the summer arrivals though: “Adam Randall who arrived from Plymouth Argyle has been the club’s most consistent player this season. A good signing.. Solid professional.”
Older Reds fans might remember coming up against Bristol Rovers in the second division in 74/75. It might be a surprise to see them near the bottom of League Two as it stands. Despite the city rivalry with the so-called ‘Gasheads’, Mogg does not get too much pleasure from their current position. “For me personally, although I joke about Bristol Rovers current situation, I find it very sad having watched both Bristol clubs regularly as a kid growing up and enjoying some great football at both grounds.”
He remains the record appearance maker for Bath City FC who has a strong affinity for still. Another of his clubs, Weston Super-Mere, had a decent showing in the third round of the FA Cup. (Probably showed better than us!). I asked whether he had any FA Cup memories. “Yes I had some success in the FA Cup.. All with Bath City, then a Conference, now National League Club.. 1-1 away to my old club Bristol City, 2nd Round in 1986.. Lost replay also at Ashton Gate, 3-0. away to Cardiff City, 1st Round 1992, won 3-2..lost 2nd Round at Northampton Town 3-0 in a replay after drawing 2-2 in first game.. 1993.. beat Hereford Utd live on Sky 2-1 in 2nd Round before drawing 0-0 at Stoke City in 3rd Round, losing 4-1 at home in the replay.. Joe Jordan was their manager at the time.”
Crossed fingers that City might gain promotion, I asked where is good to visit for travelling fans. He named a few spots for refreshments: “North St, 5/10 minutes from ground has various cafes & bars, The Coopers Arms & Rising Sun are 3/4 minutes from the ground & The 3 Lions is a 10 minute walk to the ground.”
I finally asked him what message he might have for the rest of the season and the supporters: “Would like to see the club continue to grow & see them eventually back with the elite, although miles away from that at present.. The old First Division days were brilliant & it would be great for current supporters, young & old to experience that again.”
Much appreciation to Dave, Mark and all those at One Team in Bristol. Best of luck for the rest of the season!
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