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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
David Byrom

Geoff Twentyman reveals the white lie that Bobby Gould told him when signing for Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers legend Geoff Twentyman is this week's guest on Subs Bench.

The 60-year-old moved to the Gas in 1986 and has been synonymous with Bristol ever since.

He made over 250 appearances for Rovers in seven years at the club and is now the voice of sport on BBC Radio Bristol.

In this interview, Twentyman talks about his father, who uncovered the likes of Ian Rush and Phil Neal for Liverpool, and being signed by the Anfield club after impressing as a youth player for Southport.

Twentyman also reflects on his move to Rovers, who were managed by Bobby Gould at the time, after Gould received a tip-off from the player's former manager Brian Kidd on holiday.

Yet Gould failed to tell Twentyman about the fact Rovers were playing at Bath City's Twerton Park at the time.

"Bobby Gould didn't tell me," Twentyman said. "We agreed a two-year contract over the phone.

"I thought it was going to be Eastville, where I'd always enjoyed playing against Rovers for Preston.

"There was a typical Scouser at my local pub on Merseyside who was a football anorak and knew everything going on in the game.

"I said I was playing for Bristol Rovers next season and he said he'd read they were going to play at a new ground.

"I didn't know anything about that, so I rang Bob and said it wasn't a game changer but where were we playing next year.

"He said Twerton Park but not to worry because it's one of the best non-league grounds in the country.

"I thought that meant it was a new build and would be great - when I saw it, it wasn't, but it was the start of something for me that was a wonderful time in life and my football career.

"In the end I left my career there with Rovers in good shape in what would be the Championship, incredible."

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