![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_TCBR101225LumberBRIJPG.jpg\")
Paul Lumber(Image: Paul Lumber)<\/p>\nCity fan Paul Lumber was a published author of books about the days of football casuals in the 1980sPaul Lumber(Image: Paul Lumber)<\/p>\n
Tributes have been paid to one of Bristol City\u2019s most well-known fans, who has died after a tragic accident near his home when he fell from a ladder while hanging up Union Jack flags on lampposts in South Bristol.<\/p>\n
Paul Lumber was one of the leading figures in the notorious CSF – City Service Firm – in the \u2018casuals\u2019 scene of the 1980s, and more recently was the author of two books<\/a> about the kind of exploits that led him to be a well-known character among football fans across the country.<\/p>\n Friends described Paul as a \u2018one-off\u2019 and said his loss was being \u2018felt across South Bristol\u2019. Paul suffered multiple injuries, including serious head injuries when he fell from a height while putting up flags near his home in South Bristol back on November 23.<\/p>\n He was rushed to hospital but never woke up from an induced coma, and passed away late last week.<\/p>\n Back in October, Paul had begun an online fundraising campaign to raise money for more flags, and was one of many people in South Bristol who spent their spare time tying both Union and St George flags to lampposts around Bedminster<\/a>, Bedminster Down, Knowle<\/a>, Hartcliffe<\/a>, Hengrove<\/a> and Whitchurch.<\/p>\n His online fundraiser, which began in late October, had raised more than \u00a31,000 from scores of people pledging their support for his \u2018Raise the Colours\u2019 campaign, before tragedy struck on November 23.<\/p>\n While he was in hospital, close friends set up a second online fundraiser for Paul,<\/a> a 60-year-old painter and decorator by trade, and his family, which has so far raised more than \u00a35,000 to support them at this challenging time, and is still receiving donations<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was widely regarded as one of the area\u2019s most colourful and recognisable characters,\u201d said a close friend. \u201cA painter and decorator by trade, Mr. Lumber was a lifelong Bristol City and England supporter who followed both club and country with unwavering devotion.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a prominent figure in the football casual scene during the 1980s, later documenting its history in two books about the movements and activities of the City Service Firm, the group associated with Bristol City.<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Lumber had recently married Michele, his partner of 23 years. Friends described him as a man whose world revolved around those he loved,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cHis family and friends were at the centre of everything he did,\u201d another friend said. \u201cAnyone who knew him will remember the pride, love and warmth with which he spoke about them all. He was a working-class hero,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n \u201cA passionate defender of working-class rights, Mr. Lumber was also known for his strong political activism and vocal criticism of the current government,\u201d he said. \u201cHis loss has been felt deeply across South Bristol, where he will be remembered with great affection and sorely missed by many,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n The landlord of the Three Lions pub in Bedminster, Sean Donnelly, said he grew up with Paul, and was devastated by his death.<\/p>\n \u201cAll his stories situations were unique and unbelievable, and if in a trench in a situation, you wanted Paul shoulder to shoulder with you – that was Paul,\u201d Sean said.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Bristol City fandom has a darker side and I wanted to tell that story says former hooligan<\/a>READ MORE: Bristol City’s CSF ‘condemn and will not tolerate racism’ in landmark statement<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBut of all his achievements, marrying Michele was his biggest achievement – it was a wonderful day celebrating with the good, the bad, the ugly, but most importantly the best people,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Paul\u2019s first book \u2018It All Kicked Off In Bristol\u2019<\/a> featured a cover photo of Paul taken in the doorway of the Three Lions, and detailed the kind of exploits that saw him receive a lifetime ban from Bristol City home matches.<\/p>\n![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Paul_Lumber_it_all_kicked_off_in_Bristol.jpg\")
Paul Lumber has written It All Kicked Off in Bristol(Image: Fort Publishing 2017)<\/p>\n![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Paul_Lumber_3.jpg\")
Paul Lumber has written a book on the CSF(Image: Fort Publishing 2017)<\/p>\n
![\"It](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Bristol-cover-jpg-2-1.jpg\")
It All Kicked Off in Bristol(Image: Fort Publishing 2017)<\/p>\n