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.