City and Millen giving full support to Cousins

Bristol City boss Keith Millen is urging fans to turn out in force to support marathon man Rob Cousins.

Millen will send a strong City team to Paulton Rovers’ Winterfield Road ground on Tuesday night to play in a testimonial for veteran midfielder Cousins, who last season played in his 1,000th senior match.

Cousins, from Knowle, who is 40 this season, began his career as a trainee at Ashton Gate, making one first-team appearance.

He then embarked on a non-league career with Bath City, Forest Green Rovers, Yeovil Town, Mangotsfield and Paulton, and is still going strong at Yate Town in his 22nd season.

Millen said: “It is a good occasion and we are happy to support someone who has played so long and done so well.

“It is a great achievement to have played 1,000 games at any level of football and we will be sending a strong team down there.

“We have got several players coming back from injury – Danny Haynes, Louis Carey, Christian Ribeiro all might play. We will let the players have the weekend break and then assess things on Monday before we decide who we take.

“We will certainly take a strong team with a few youngsters who I am sure the fans will like to see too.”

Millen had a testimonial himself after ten years with Brentford when Tottenham Hotspur came to Griffin Park in 1993.

“There isn’t much loyalty in football now and you see less and less testimonials, so what Rob has done is a brilliant achievement,” added the City boss.

The Paulton Rovers side is expected to include many of the Paulton players who performed alongside Cousins, but also former colleagues from his other clubs.

Cousins has no plans to retire just yet. He said: “I’ve still got the desire and hunger and feel I can play at a certain level. I had the opportunity at Yate to play and help out with coaching and I’m more than happy to do it.

“I just enjoy every game. It’s my 22nd season at this level, I just enjoy playing football and the dressing room banter, the training and, at the moment, I’ve still got hunger to keep playing.

“ I hate losing or not playing. My legs are still going, so long may it continue.”

Kick-off at Paulton is at 7.30pm and admission will be £5 for adults and £2.50 for OAPs or under-16s.

A souvenir programme will be on sale and there will be a post-match auction.