The Exiled Robin

Darren Byfield’s much-travelled boots were only at Ashton Gate for one season and he played just 33 games.   However he came close to being immortalised as a City legend of the ilk of Paul Cheesley and Tom Ritchie, top-scoring (albeit with only eight goals) as a part of City’s most successful team in 40 years, a team that came within a whisker of reaching the Premier League in 2008. On Sunday, Steve Cotterill takes control of Bristol City for the first time as they travel to Byfield’s Tamworth for the second round F.A.Cup tie – being shown live on ITV – with the whole country hoping for an upset. Ahead of that tie, Stu Radnedge interviewed the ex-City striker who revealed plenty about Sunday’s opponents and his eventful season in BS3, especially what it was like working under Gary Johnson. Byfield joined City in August 2007 for an undisclosed fee at a time when the club had just gained promotion to the Championship and reveals that the great atmosphere at the club play...

When the Top 25 players in the Championship were  named a year ago  on The Seventy Two, it was a one time view of players at the time.  Nearly half of the list are now at Premier League clubs which indicates some level of accuracy in the view.  This week's review finishes here with a look at the final five names on the original list - with perhaps the biggest star wrapping things up. Leeds United have had some very good players over the past two or three years - and most of them now play for Norwich City.  It has been a curious sideshow to the Ken Bates era but one which the Canaries have benefited greatly from, particularly with this player's signing.  I enlisted the help of  Little Norwich  to give me a view on the latest player to meander down the well-trodden path. Robert Snodgrass:   Top 25 review from 2011 Club in Dec 2011:  Leeds United  Club now:  Norwich City Progress made?  Moved to the Premier Lea...