Foto Friday: Stadium fire

Every now and then, as I search for Foto Friday candidates, I get a rare treat. This is one of those. Make sure to read the excerpt of the photographers description, then click the picture for the rest.

Photographer: Floyd Nello

Excerpt of photographer’s description:

I was a kid living on nearby Fishponds Road at the time, and on the following Sunday morning (August 17th) was outside playing with some friends when I could smell burning and can remember thinking that it was odd for someone to be having a bonfire on a Sunday morning. Shortly afterwards, news broke of a fire at Eastville Stadium. My Father and I went straight down there to find the South Stand had been gutted by fire and he took a few photos, including this one taken from the Tote End…

The fire was the beginning of the end for Rovers at Eastville, and although they signed a new five year lease with Bristol Stadium Company in 1982, they left the ground in June 1986 to ground-share with non-league Bath City. Rovers could no longer afford the spiralling rent at Eastville and the move to Bath basically saved the club.