Gary James
Well-Known Member
Ash - thanks for coming on. It's something we all appreciate and my thoughts are with you and your family. This has obviously been a very tough few months.
The tribute from Noel says it all really. It's up to his usual standard and clearly comes from the heart. I don't think any of us can really add too much.
A lot has been mentioned about Steve's site and because of this I guess it would be appropriate if I took a few minutes now to mention how significant this is. Several years ago (probably 2002) Steve contacted me about a site he was creating to show City's lineups etc. At that time there was nothing available at all on the internet like that. There were books (Ray Goble & Andy Ward's Complete Record for example) but nothing freely available to anyone, anywhere.
Steve took the stats he could find in books and the ones he had collected himself over the years and set out on his mission. He talked with me, Andrew Waldon, Dennis Chapman and other statisticians about his aim. At the time I remember thinking that this would be brilliant but I also thought that he was taking on too much. All of City's records were either in books or handwritten ledgers (Dennis Chapman's were the best I'd come across at the time). So even if no other research had to be carried out, simply typing up the details of 5000 plus games would be a bit of nightmare. Of course, a lot of extra research was needed, so imagine the work put in.
From that time on Steve (and Ashley) worked hard on getting it all together and it launched in 2003 (the day of Foe's death, I think). I was impressed immediately.
Not only was the site brilliant in terms of how it provided line-ups etc., but it was also free of charge and available to anyone. Some similar football statistician sites charged.
Steve did what he did for the love of City and, knowing how long it takes to research and update statistics etc., I know that this took many, many. many hours of Steve's time.
Thanks Steve for all your efforts. If there's a Blue Heaven I'm sure you'll be there now debating that so called 'abandoned' Preston cup tie of 25th Jan 1902 with John Maddocks & Dennis Chapman. RIP.
The tribute from Noel says it all really. It's up to his usual standard and clearly comes from the heart. I don't think any of us can really add too much.
A lot has been mentioned about Steve's site and because of this I guess it would be appropriate if I took a few minutes now to mention how significant this is. Several years ago (probably 2002) Steve contacted me about a site he was creating to show City's lineups etc. At that time there was nothing available at all on the internet like that. There were books (Ray Goble & Andy Ward's Complete Record for example) but nothing freely available to anyone, anywhere.
Steve took the stats he could find in books and the ones he had collected himself over the years and set out on his mission. He talked with me, Andrew Waldon, Dennis Chapman and other statisticians about his aim. At the time I remember thinking that this would be brilliant but I also thought that he was taking on too much. All of City's records were either in books or handwritten ledgers (Dennis Chapman's were the best I'd come across at the time). So even if no other research had to be carried out, simply typing up the details of 5000 plus games would be a bit of nightmare. Of course, a lot of extra research was needed, so imagine the work put in.
From that time on Steve (and Ashley) worked hard on getting it all together and it launched in 2003 (the day of Foe's death, I think). I was impressed immediately.
Not only was the site brilliant in terms of how it provided line-ups etc., but it was also free of charge and available to anyone. Some similar football statistician sites charged.
Steve did what he did for the love of City and, knowing how long it takes to research and update statistics etc., I know that this took many, many. many hours of Steve's time.
Thanks Steve for all your efforts. If there's a Blue Heaven I'm sure you'll be there now debating that so called 'abandoned' Preston cup tie of 25th Jan 1902 with John Maddocks & Dennis Chapman. RIP.