IN OPPOSITION TODAY - ROCESTER Rocester F.C.’s lengthy history dates back to 1876 when a number of friendly matches were played against teams from the surrounding area. As far as can be ascertained, the Ashbourne News Cup provided the club with its first ever trophy in 1913, and several more honours followed during the 1920s and 1930s in local competitions before the club disbanded in 1939 due to the outbreak of World War II. Reformed in 1946, Rocester were soon among the honours again and a move into the Stafford Amateur League in 1953 brought further success when no less than eight trophies were won in just three seasons. The club stepped up into the Staffordshire County League (North) in 1957, and remained there with varying degrees of success until the formation of the Staffordshire Senior league in 1984. The appointment of retired Black Country businessman Don Hill as Chairman led to a rapid rise, and under the guidance of former player Alan Beaman the club won its first senior honours when both the Senior League title and the Staffordshire F.A. Vase were annexed in 1986. Further success followed in 1987 when the Senior League title was retained, and only a penalty shootout defeat in the Staffordshire F.A. Vase Final prevented a repeat of the double achieved a year earlier. 1986-87 proved to be a memorable season in the F.A. Vase, which Rocester had entered for the first time. Starting in the Extra Preliminary, they reached the last 16, knocking out the holders and hot favourites Halesowen Town along the way before a club record attendance of 1,026 at Leek Town. During the summer of 1987 Rocester moved from their old home, in truth no more than a field with wooden changing rooms, to the present ground, named at the time as Riversfield. The new ground was built on the site of an ancient Roman fort, which led to the adoption of their nickname ‘The Romans’. At the same time the club joined Division One of the West Midlands (Regional) League where they remained unbeaten in their first 22 games before going on to claim the championship with some ease. They also won the League Cup and the Staffordshire F.A. Vase to complete a magnificent treble. Rocester took their place in the Premier Division and following an initial mid-table finish they made a challenge for the title in 1989-90 only to be edged into 2nd place by Hinckley Town on goaldifference. In 1994 Rocester became founder members of the Midland Football Alliance, and in 1998 claimed second place behind Bloxwich Town. However the following season promotion to the Southern League was achieved as MFA Champions. The ground, now renamed ‘Hillsfield’ in memory of Don Hill who died in 1996, had already met the required grade. The Romans reached the Staffs Senior Cup final for the first time in 2001, but struggled in the Southern vs Rocester | Tuesday 15th September 2020 | www.ashbyivanhoefc.co.uk
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