User:BC.FC.EE

"Ernie Bristol city fans Robin"

Sometime during late 2007 amongst those clever chaps who were also responsible [tis true] for all that “Johnson said” and “Bouncing” malarkey the loose idea also of representing a section of City’s support [Eastend/3 lions lads] with their own image started to take shape. This idea would sit alongside another Eastenders aim of promoting and safeguarding our unique West Country identity and it’s supporting traditions. Rather than following bland TV led norms of support and turning away from our regional icons and heritage, the intention was from 2007to wholeheartedly celebrate our West Country by thinking local and acting yokel embracing all that was Wurzel.

The crest simply had to be abandoned. Dull, uninspiring, unimaginative, unoriginal, forever tainted by its use by egg chasers and the noxious Gas. Twas time for change, time for the return of a lovely fluffy bird!

Early versions of the seventies Robin and suspension bridge were used, but all the time there on the 3 Lions bog ceiling lurked an old bookmakers advert featuring an aggressive looking Robin, which was simply too good to be ignored. The idea of using a feisty angry looking Robin was duly plagiarised. A early design appeared on the Subcider now ziderheads Forza Eastend forum, ideas were called for, alterations made, Beano style comic red, white and black [1970’s colours - Gow & Hunter] used and the angry Robin image was adopted by Forza Eastend for season 2008- 09. This was coupled with the Wurzels and Eastend anthem I am a cider drinker with the first line lyric “When the moon shines” being adopted as an Eastenders motto.

The angry Robin was soon dubbed Ern [ Wurzels – Drink up thy cider] all in line with that Eastend ideal of “Thinking local acting yokel”. Angry Robin’s appeared on Eastend badges and stickers, Ern appeared on flags, Ernie robin tattoos now exist, the Three Lions pub adopted Enie the angry Robin as it’s emblem and sports it’s own when the moon shines mural using image with the iconic suspension bridge.

While Rooney and co bored the arse off us in June the first anonymous Ernie tag appeared at the famous Three Lions BS3. The tag soon re appeared at Bar BS3, the Try Again, Avon Packet and many other BS3 sites. It was evident that what appeared to be graffiti bombing was anything but. A methodology was being followed, think local act yokel, this boy was targeting small business’s and known City pubs, it was all concise, the things were not just being thrown up anywhere, an element of statement was being made.

These tags had tapped into a niche, Bristol loves graffiti, Bristol is linked with graffiti nation wide and further, Bristol is bloody good at it. BS3 should be the hub of Bristol City FC, why has it taken so long for anybody to come up with an idea like this to get our club to be so increasingly visible!

People obviously like the ideal of having their property being identified as part of Bristol City’s supporting community. You can’t just walk around BS3 with a bloody great ladder with gert Ernie

stencils and spray cans unless you are A/ Not scared of heights and B/ Getting help from the locals. Some of the stencilled Robins are in places, which display more than an element of difficulty to access e.g. Duck pens and roofs. Anonymous them tags are, but whoever it is they have an ear very close to the ground to get them done and they are adeptly visually increasing Bristol City FC’s community presence. These tags are not self-indulgent vandalism, it is a form of identifying what’s what. Ernie is obviously identifying “red and white” territory

On August 5th work finished on what may be a first in the UK. Sprayed on the white block wall behind scaffold was a bold, brash mural creating a massive focal point in the stand ready for the visit of Millwall. If any club in the UK has allowed their fans to attempt an artistic statement as ambitious, dynamic and as prominent within a stand, we have NOT seen it [well done BCFC]. The Eastend’s mural firmly echoing its fan led sentiment is a perfect example of what proactive fans and an open -minded club can achieve.

Ern is starting to show his potential. The intent is, to spread that earlier mentioned community presence much wider via use of Ernie the robin. Ideas being discussed include:


 * A BS3 community centred graffiti festival next year called “When the Moon Shines” where local small businesses will be invited to provide free space for Bristol City related artwork created by local artists.


 * Simply handing out free flags, posters, thousands of stickers, hundreds of window stickers featuring our “angry” emblem to local businesses to display.

Bristol City FC could do similar, the merging [?] supporters club and supporters trust could do similar, Bristol City FC is the hub of BS3, Bristol City is the hounds rear wheels, but it should also reflect this by looking and feeling like it in it’s own backyard.

Recently a bit of field research was carried out. It was glaringly obvious that from Bath Road Briz along Coronation road till the Red and White Café on Ashton road there was virtually NOTHING to identify Bristol City FC even existed. Taking away the road signs, the ONLY sign found of our clubs existence was a small crest on a door along Coronation road. Hardly meets the claims that Bristol City are the pride of the west.

Graffiti is of socio economic importance to Bristol. Hundreds of thousands of people visited Bristol for the Banksy [he’s a red] v Bristol City museum exhibition. Urban art is now acknowledged as being part of the social fabric of Stokes Croft and Bristol. Bristol is awash with artistic talent with it’s 3 Dom’s, Cheos, Inkies, Lokesy’s, Sephr’s the list feels endless. That talent could easily be tapped and directed towards creating a more vibrant and dynamic RED South Bristol.

So my fine red and white coves imagine walking or driving towards our stadium and seeing signs of the club, seeing the artwork, seeing flags, seeing the signs of red and white building up as you approach Ashton Gate. Think of the dramatic visual message being communicated towards the bloody Chelsea and Man Utd glory hunters and kids that there is life beyond the premiership.

'''The Robin is a tenacious warrior, it will fight even when outnumbered like a total bastard, this angry Robin keeps on appearing, will continue to spread and is taking hold in Bristol City fandom beyond

The Eastend, Ashton gate, Bristol city fc…'''