kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,278 
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Post by kingswood Polak on Mar 11, 2016 10:48:47 GMT
Hi fellow Pirates & 82 lurkers,
I am not one to normally start a thread but I wanted to find out if anyone else feels the same as I do about the moniker we use.
Personally, I try not to use the term gashead for two reasons. One, it was meant to be a derogatory slang term for us that we inverted to our own use and as much as I like the fact that we managed to turn it around, I just don't like to use that term.
Two, I always loved our nickname. Just listen to it, the Pirates, as a kid that conjured up alsorts of adventure and it was yet another thing that made me choose Rovers over the 82. I have always thought we have never made any real efforts to get the full benefit of the unique nickname. I think it does attract youngsters too. I remember the large amount of us, at Kingswood grammar ( later Kingsfield) were very proud of. Ask a young kid to choose between a pirate and a Robin and you'll see the result. It's the small detail that matters
Look at the nickname of our rivals, the poxy Robins. At last count I found 4 other teams that have the same nickname.
The Pirates is unique and whenever I travelled to away games and especially in London, we had so many want to buy our skull and crossbones back window coach flag. I think it's something that our merchandising people really need to latch onto and to use more often.
I fear that our unique nickname will be consigned to history if we quit using it.
What say you my shipmates ?
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Post by laughinggas on Mar 11, 2016 10:57:16 GMT
Interesting thoughts. Gas reminds me of old days and Eastville and onwards but think with a move to a new stadium The Pirates should be heavily used as we start a new era.
Also we have the young pirates so emphasise this as we look to encourage new support.
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Post by a more piratey game on Mar 11, 2016 11:26:25 GMT
I say both. Like I feel both British and English, and like both football and rugby, and I don't feel a tension between the two in any of these cases
A worthy debate nonetheless, I think
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Post by a more piratey game on Mar 11, 2016 11:27:25 GMT
PS I like the phrase 'We are the Gas'. Which we are. Its very distinctive
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Post by tanksfull on Mar 11, 2016 11:45:04 GMT
I believe Gas/Gashead developed in the late 80's. I certainly don't recall it before then.
Gas/Gashead refers to the Fans and Pirates refers to the Team, although they are used for both.
Why not have two names to associate with Rovers? If a young person likes to be associated with Pirates that's fine by me. Should they prefer Gas that's great as well; although I would associate Gas with slightly older fans.
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Post by imanobody on Mar 11, 2016 11:54:26 GMT
Both are great names, but I feel we don't promote the GAS tag enough image wise. Say incorporate it in the badge somehow??
Also the pirate needs updating as it reminds me of Larry Grayson in Pantomime.
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Rod1883
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 136
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Post by Rod1883 on Mar 11, 2016 11:57:42 GMT
We should embrace and make the most of both.
I tend to use Gas when supporting the team - shouting "come on Gas" is a bit more grown up than "come on Pirates"!
I like the pirate theme on tee shirts, badges etc. too
Certainly the piratical theme really makes us unique and is a great marketing opportunity, and as others have said is a great way to capture the imagination of children - our future fans.
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Post by gashead1979 on Mar 11, 2016 12:13:12 GMT
I think you will find more neutrals around the country (and dare I say world - Hello OTIB ) recognise the gasheads tag rather than the pirates.
No reason why we cant continue to be under both umbrella's. I kind of think of them as informal and formal nicknames.
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Post by bttrsblue on Mar 11, 2016 12:47:42 GMT
Where did the nickname Pirates come from? Obviously our maritime history, but at what stage did someone think we needed a nickname? I guess that goes for all football teams, was there a moment in time where everyone got together and organised nicknames? Some like Robin for the 82 seem a bit generic and s**te.
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GasMacc1
Les Bradd
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Post by GasMacc1 on Mar 11, 2016 13:29:47 GMT
Where did the nickname Pirates come from? Obviously our maritime history, but at what stage did someone think we needed a nickname? I guess that goes for all football teams, was there a moment in time where everyone got together and organised nicknames? Some like Robin for the 82 seem a bit generic and s***e. I stumbled on this article; make of it what you will! Gas and Pirates
"oral traditions, as told by our old time fans, of which, the eldest of these men had fought during the 1914-18 Great War (which started only 31 years after the birth of our club) and by logic alone means, that most of those war vets would have been born in the late 1800s, less than 20 years after our clubs foundation. All these old time traditions had overwhelmingly supported the view that our pirate title had been picked up at a very, very early moment in our clubs history, 'perhaps' indicated in the clubs, 1884 name change to Eastville Rovers". "...a 1921 Spurs programme, which totally recognizes the Rovers as being the Pirates". |
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jqgas
Joined: September 2014
Posts: 79
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Post by jqgas on Mar 11, 2016 13:42:26 GMT
To me the Gas/Gashead thing came to prominence when we moved to Twerton - a way of clinging on to an established identity from the past at a time when our identity and future prospects were unclear to say the least. I think the poster is probably right - if a new ground materialises and the club enters a new phase, then Pirates should be the main moniker since it offers more traction in terms of generating good publicity and selling the football club to newer audiences.
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Post by CountyGroundHotel on Mar 11, 2016 13:42:36 GMT
I'd suggest the club should take forward the Pirates nickname & commercialise it as much as possible. Whilst the Gas / Gashead should remain the colloquial domain of the fans. Think from the clubs point of view & from a commercial point of view they can only take forward one nickname.
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Post by pirate49 on Mar 11, 2016 14:58:17 GMT
Pirates for me. It's our traditional moniker and it links us to the city (small 'c'!)
in a way that the other lot, with 'Robins', cannot hope to do.The 'Robins' could be
Swindon, Cheltenham..................
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,278
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Post by kingswood Polak on Mar 11, 2016 15:10:47 GMT
Where did the nickname Pirates come from? Obviously our maritime history, but at what stage did someone think we needed a nickname? I guess that goes for all football teams, was there a moment in time where everyone got together and organised nicknames? Some like Robin for the 82 seem a bit generic and s***e. The funniest thing I have seen, from that lot, is the futile attempt to make the Robin look somehow aggressive. The various images they have tried and the bloody thing looks more like a Crow lol. I know it may seem a daft point but I don't think I have heard anyone refer to us as the Pirates in a very long time. I like the fact that we have inverted this gashead term to our advantage and it's not something I get agitated or animated about but I honestly think there is a lot more to be made from the use of the Pirates nickname and certainly in the merchandising department. I also agree that our pirate badge really does need updating as it seems pretty camp right now and is bordering on a dandy rather than a true pirate. It's funny really but the only time I refer to myself as a gashead is when I talk to red friends. I guess I still have the child still very much alive in me as I still love the proper nickname and use it when talking to people who don't really follow football. On Facebook, it has surprised me that many of the people I am friends with and who don't really have an interest in football, refer to us as gas though so it really has been taken onboard by a lot of people |
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nerdgas
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 145
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Post by nerdgas on Mar 11, 2016 15:22:30 GMT
Prefer gashead myself.
Pirates is also good as the official club nickname but I'd hate us to lose the gashead tag.
Plus if we overused the pirate tag we'd sound like something out of the MLS....
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Post by clockendgas on Mar 11, 2016 15:30:59 GMT
I feel we should push the pirate image on the cloths front etc, but i am and always will be a gashead. Other fans and sky btsport know us as the gas and thats fine by me, like you say, only one gas, loads of robins, nothing unique there. And as we used to sing to the teds you"ll never get rid of the gas.
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,278
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Post by kingswood Polak on Mar 11, 2016 15:38:03 GMT
Where did the nickname Pirates come from? Obviously our maritime history, but at what stage did someone think we needed a nickname? I guess that goes for all football teams, was there a moment in time where everyone got together and organised nicknames? Some like Robin for the 82 seem a bit generic and s***e. I stumbled on this article; make of it what you will! Gas and Pirates
"oral traditions, as told by our old time fans, of which, the eldest of these men had fought during the 1914-18 Great War (which started only 31 years after the birth of our club) and by logic alone means, that most of those war vets would have been born in the late 1800s, less than 20 years after our clubs foundation. All these old time traditions had overwhelmingly supported the view that our pirate title had been picked up at a very, very early moment in our clubs history, 'perhaps' indicated in the clubs, 1884 name change to Eastville Rovers". "...a 1921 Spurs programme, which totally recognizes the Rovers as being the Pirates". That is a fantastic read and I cannot add another word to it. I would urge everyone to read it and let it sink in. If I had any doubts at all then this has smashed them to bits. Thank you very much for posting that as I had never seen it. I am all for using the Pirates to its fullest extent and for the history and nature that the pirate nickname inspires. What a great read and written by someone who obviously has a deep passion for the club. I had no idea about Scott Davidson throwing a wobbly either. |
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,278
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Post by kingswood Polak on Mar 11, 2016 15:43:02 GMT
Prefer gashead myself. Pirates is also good as the official club nickname but I'd hate us to lose the gashead tag. Plus if we overused the pirate tag we'd sound like something out of the MLS.... I would imagine there are many clubs who would love to have the Pirates moniker. We have never ever taken full advantage of it. You mention the MLS but you also have the Amwrican football and the raisers use the skull & crossbone/crossed swords but many non raiders fans buy the merchandise because of the image. I believe we really could be onto a big thing were we to use it and market it well. I love the idea of having the Jolly Roger flag hoisted at our ground. |
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2016 15:57:50 GMT
Surely the whole meaning of a nickname is that it is what other people call someone ? this 'official nickname' thing is like someone choosing their own nickname...hard luck they would still get called 'four eyes' or 'big ears'.
The pirate 'nickname' is an odd one,I have never heard it used and I cant imagine anyone saying "are you going to see the pirates on Saturday ", I also cant remember one song or chant that includes the word pirate.
As for gashead I don't suppose that many people now realise what it meant back in the 70s,but surely it could only be used by people who had actually smelt the gas ?,I did smell it but I don't ever call myself a gashead.
We always used to say Rovers and I still do,does there need to be a nickname?,as for the present badge I have never and would never buy or wear anything that had that badge on it,I prefer the old crest.
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Post by clockendgas on Mar 11, 2016 16:03:53 GMT
Surely the whole meaning of a nickname is that it is what other people call someone ? this 'official nickname' thing is like someone choosing their own nickname...hard luck they would still get called 'four eyes' or 'big ears'. The pirate 'nickname' is an odd one,I have never heard it used and I cant imagine anyone saying "are you going to see the pirates on Saturday ", I also cant remember one song or chant that includes the word pirate. As for gashead I don't suppose that many people now realise what it meant back in the 70s,but surely it could only be used by people who had actually smelt the gas ?,I did smell it but I don't ever call myself a gashead. We always used to say Rovers and I still do,does there need to be a nickname?,as for the present badge I have never and would never buy or wear anything that had that badge on it,I prefer the old crest. Yes im with you on that one, hate the panto pirate, old bristol crest was class, i still have a mug in the cupboard with it on, would be good to revert back to it. |
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