Dedicated to the memory of Jeff
This site is a tribute to Jeff. He is much loved and will always be remembered.
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So sad to hear of passing of Terry Cooper this week Dad, I know he`ll be in good company.
I still proudly remember you meeting me off the plane with Rick Moulton, following a holiday in Ibiza in 86.
We`d lost 2-0 at Hereford on the night we flew out and didn`t think much of our chances of getting to Wembley for the first time in our history and I rang home for the score the night we played the return leg.
You were out and Debbie answered the phone and I had to get her to pick up the Evening Post, turn to the back pages in order to get the result.
She read out: Bristol City 3 Hereford 2. So that was that. We were out.
Until you picked us up from the airport and said I`ve booked your "Wembley tickets".
I still couldn`t work out what you were rambling on about because we`d only won 3-2 but lost 3-4 on aggregate.
Never trust a woman when it comes to football!
We`d won 3-0 after extra time on the night and Debbie was referring to the 3-2 aggregate win but the word "aggregate" just wasn`t in her vocabulary!
So on we went to Wembley to play Bolton in the final and we got there seconds before kick off due to the usual crapfest on the North Circular and having to abandon somebody`s Jag at Ealing Broadway in order to get the tube.
With Asa Hartford and Phil Neal in the Bolton line up we were second favourites but duly played them off the park and went 3-0 up with about half an hour to play.
That`s when you turned to me and said "That`s it son, that`s the result, Cooper was given a £50 free bet and has done City to win 3-0| He won`t want any more goals"
You then pulled out a scrunched up betting slip and smugly said to me "He`s not the only one on it either!"
Cracking day out Dad!
Topped by Preston legend Tom Finney presenting us with the trophy!
Just a shame we missed the build up and missed George Best playing for Bristol City at Wembley in the pre-match entertainment!
Say hello to Gerry Gow and Norman Hunter for me and thank Terry Cooper for the day out, the promotion in 84 and for rebuilding the club from the the debacle of the Eight men who had a dream - to save our football team, who are the Ashton Gate Eight and whom we forever remain indebted.
I`ll mention this message to Howard Pritchard next time I see him.
He scored the opener that day in the Wembley sun and I worked with him at the BRI after he`d retired from football and I always told him that he demonstrated as much pace around the BRI postroom, when sorting the mail, that it was no wonder he only got one cap for Wales!
davemcurwen
7th August 2021
So sorry mate you were a great friend and one day we will do it all again untill that day comes thanks for the memories, your friend Alan
Alan
31st July 2021
On behalf of my Mum, Debbie and Me, I would like to thank everybody that took the time to attend my Dad`s funeral, those who were able to watch on line and those who are yet to do so.
Thank you all for the beautiful triffids and the Donations both on this site and at the funeral itself which will hopefully go some way to eradicating the sick plague that is Parkinson`s Disease.
I remember telling my Dad that I`d watched a Billy Conolly programme that had screened when he was in hospital and Conolly thought it was bizarre that diseases were named after the people who discovered them and how he was doing his utmost to track down the elusive Parkinson in order to give it back!
My Dad broke out in a wry smile and said "He`s not wrong there!"
It was a pleasant funeral as funeral`s go and I`d also like to thank Dave Williams who read out the eulogy and tributes on behalf of my Mum and Debbie. Your contribution made the whole affair so seamless and I`m sure Jeff would have appreciated it.
My thanks also extend to Ashton Vale Bowling Club who catered for the wake afterwards at very short notice and indeed opened up especially on the day.
The bar service and the buffet were commendable and my cousin Chris has emailed me privately to laud the efforts of the club and thank them for a "Super Spread".
Accordingly, I have advised Chris that "Super Spread" is an unfortunate turn of phrase in the middle of a global pandemic and have been able to persuade him not to use it on Tripadvisor!
It was nice to catch up with so many of you all that I hadn`t seen in too many years and to meet new faces I hadn`t previously met before.
My apologies to those of you that I didn`t get to speak to on the day but I thank you all now for contributing to such a lovely atmosphere on the day.
davemcurwen
30th July 2021