A group of hardcore fans of Bristol City have taken to the streets with fireworks, flares and flags.
And after the City fans marked the 19th anniversary of 'The Gap', they claimed they are already planning the 20th anniversary - by buying a hot air balloon.
The fans claimed they will be taking paying fans up in the balloon as part of the 20th anniversary commemorations of the day a thing began.
The date marked by fans of Bristol City is the last time Bristol Rovers were above the Ashton Gate team in the league.
That was way back on October 28, 2000, and Bristol City have been above Rovers in the league, every week, every season, since then.
This year the fans marked the day a little later than usual, and it involved a huge firework display from the roof of the Miners Arms pub in the Parson Street area of Bedminster, and an impromptu ‘ultras’ street display involving flares and smoke grenades.
Now, those behind the event said they were looking into the possibility of sending up a hot air balloon to troll the Rovers side of the city ahead of the 20th anniversary next year.
“It is 19 years since Bristol Rovers have been any sort of rival to their counterparts from south Bristol and the gap seems to be getting bigger every year,” said one fan, Stephen.
“On Friday there was a large party with live music and firework display. We have already been working on the ‘20 Years Above the Gas’ party for the 20th anniversary milestone.
“We have raised half the money to buy a second-hand hot air balloon, which will have the words '20 years above the gas' on it. Next summer we will be taking paying customers up in the six man basket, from where they will be able to see the magnificent Ashton Gate stadium, plus see numerous areas in which Bristol Rovers have said they are going to build their new ground,” he added.
‘Stephen’ claimed more than 280 people have already pre-booked the £75 flights.
What is the celebration about?
Bristol City and Bristol Rovers were in the same division of the Football League in the 2000-2001 season, after years of mainly shifting between the second and third tiers of the league.
But City won away at Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 and Rovers lost at home to Oldham 2-0.
Those results put City above Rovers in the league and, while no one realised it at the time, that morning would prove to be the last time Rovers fans could look at the league table and see City below them.
For City continued that season and ended mid-table in League One, while Rovers’ form dipped and they were relegated down to League Two.
Both clubs have continued their up-and-down-the-leagues history in the 20th century, but every time Rovers got promotion, they found City were the division higher, and there hasn’t been a league derby since. In fact, City and Rovers have only met each other four times since that season - .
Are the City fans being premature?
With Bristol City in the Championship, and Bristol Rovers in League One, it is obviously impossible for Rovers to climb above City in the league for at least another eight months.
But City fans planning a 20th anniversary party and dusting off those ‘Mind The Gap’ hashtags are not guaranteed that will happen.
City are currently in the play-off places for promotion to the Premier League, but that’s a tough challenge, and the Robins could well remain in the Championship next season.
Rovers, meanwhile, are motoring along fairly nicely in League One, and are currently just a point off the play-off places to gain promotion to the Championship.
If they were to reach the second tier of English football for the first time since 1993, all it would take would be to get a better result than City in that first game of the 2020-21 season, in August next year, for ‘The Gap’ to have been finally closed.
Get lots more news, opinion and transfer updates on our Bristol City FC page and add a bookmark to find it quickly next time.
