Number 5 – Ivor Guy.
Ivor certainly was ‘The Guy’ for Bristol City, an automatic choice on the team sheet for over ten seasons during which he played in nearly 450 first team matches.
Ivor was born in Bristol on 27th. February 1926 and was spotted by City while playing for local side Hambrook Villa in 1944. City soon had the powerful full back signed up and Ivor made his first team debut in a 1-1 draw at Swansea on 14th. October 1944, retaining his first team spot throughout the remainder of that campaign and for virtually the next ten seasons.Ivor missed only one match during the 1954-55 Division Three (South) Championship season and his part in the success was noted by the great John Atyeo who said that Ivor’s powerful and accurate distribution unsettled many an opposing defence. In fact such was the power of Ivor’s kicking that, at Ninian Park in 1946/47, he scored a goal from an amazing 70 yards, David Beckham eat your heart out!
At the peak of his career, Ivor was the subject of a bid from mighty Newcastle United, but the City board declined the offer and so Ivor remained at Ashton Gate until 1958 when, at the age of 32, he went off to Twerton Park and Bath City. His career in the Roman City was brief, however, and Ivor retired from the game to set up a grocery business in Lodge Causeway, Fishponds- deep in Rovers’ territory, where he enjoyed the banter with his ‘true blue’ customers. A gentleman in all senses of the word, Ivor was still running his business when, after a short illness, he died in Frenchay Hospital on 2nd. September 1986.
