Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson has paid tribute to the Ashton Gate Eight by recognising the sacrifices they have made to keep the football club alive.
Today marks the 40th anniversary of when Geoff Merrick, Trevor Tainton, Jimmy Mann, Dave Rodgers, Geoff Sweeney, Julian Marshall, Peter Aitken and Chris Garland tore up their contracts with the club moments away from ceasing to exist.
It was a period of turmoil for the eight players who felt they were made to blame for the club's dire financial position.
That included death threats, shock and anger on many of the player's parts that ultimately boiled down to a story of deep loyalty to the supporters who followed the club through the highs of the top division to the lows of the third tier in just three years.
Sharing his thoughts on their act, Pearson said: "We need to have a realistic perspective on it and that is the eight individuals did a very selfless thing, they had to endure criticism, threats, being treated badly by the club and 40 years further on it's good to be able to celebrate it and the club exists because of their actions.
"But having read some personal accounts, we have to remind ourselves that back in the 80s, it was a very different climate and a different perception.
"Players these days have a lot of greater protection in terms of the PFA, and from what I gather they didn't get any protection and certainly how the news was delivered to them was pretty shabby.
"We are here because the club didn't go into liquidation because of what the eight players decided. Some of them are locals and are still in the area now, still supporting Bristol City.
"I can imagine back in those days players didn't earn the types of wages that they do now and to make that sort of a decision to tear up your contracts and leave yourself in a financially vulnerable position is a big thing to do.
"It's important that we do recognise that. It's important that the celebration is done in a way that brings to light just what it meant for those people.
"I think we should both as a football club and as a community, recognise the sacrifices that they made for this club so it can remain solvent."
Bristol City will celebrate the anniversary of the Ashton Gate Eight with a weekend of appreciation including a pitch parade at the home game against Middlesbrough on February 19.
There will also be a round of applause in the eighth minute of the game, as well as a tribute on the big screen.
SIGN UP: For our daily Robins newsletter, bringing you the latest from Ashton Gate
