MATCHDAY vs CHELTENHAM TOWN . Saturday 23rd October 2021 . Sky Bet League One . KO: 3.00pm
HERE’S A ST AT I BET YOU DIDN’T KN W
OVER HALF A MILLION SKY BET CUSTOMERS USE DEPOSIT LIMITS TO MANAGE THEIR BETTING BUDGET. THAT’S ENOUGH TO FILL: 6 WEMBLEYS. 201 ALLY PALLYS. OR 8 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP DAYS. (THAT’S A LOT OF TWEED)
ALL GOOD BOOKMAKERS HAVE DEPOSIT LIMITS. SO WHOEVER YOU BET WITH, SET AN APPROPRIATE ONE FOR YOU AND THEN ENJOY THE SPORT. DEPOSIT LIMITS
THAT’S BETTING BETTER.
DONCASTER ROVERS FC MAIN CLUB SPONSOR LNER
CONTENTS
ASSOCIATE CLUB SPONSOR Stoneacre Motor Group TECHNICAL KIT SUPPLIER Elite Pro Sports Chairman: David Blunt Major shareholders: Terry Bramall, David Blunt, Gavin Baldwin Directors: Terry Bramall, David Blunt, Gavin Baldwin Chief executive: Gavin Baldwin FOOTBALL STAFF Manager: Richie Wellens Assistant manager: Noel Hunt Goalkeeping coach: Paul Gerrard Physiotherapist: Jonathan Chatfield Club doctor: Dr Tim Douglas CLUB STAFF Director of finance: Richard Poole Head of administration & football operations: Mary Lally Head groundsman: Andy Thompson Head of commercial: Jon Warburton Ticket manager: Tracy Bawden Chief operating officer: Shaun Lockwood Marketing manager: Mark Hughesman Supporter liaison officer: Dean Medcalf CLUB DONCASTER FOUNDATION Chair of trustees: Linda Tully Trustees: Gavin Baldwin, Nigel Brewster, Natalie Shaw, Allan Stewart, Rupert Suckling, John Wallbank Honorary ambassador: Stuart Highfield Chief executive officer: John Davis NCS programme manager: Tom Foy CLUB DONCASTER SPORTS COLLEGE Principal: Adi Turnpenny Deputy principals: Joe Burton, Ben Thompson PROGRAMME Contributors: Robbie Andrews, Dan Breslin, Jon Warburton, Mark Hughesman, Hayley Ford, Sophie Scargill, Gavin Hepworth, MATCHDAY John Coyle, Abi Rodwell, Clare Bailey Photography: Phil Ryan, AH Pix, Heather King, Rex Features Design: Daniel Parker Published by: ACA Creative Limited www.aca-creative.co.uk vs CHELTENHAM TOWN . Saturday 23rd October 2021 . Sky Bet League One . KO: 3.00pm
04
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
07
13 05
Richie Wellens
07
Jon Taylor
11
Player Sponsorship
13
Academy Update
14
Donny Kicks
21
Cheltenham Town
23
We've Met Before
25
On This Day
28
Fixtures & Results
30
Community News
23
30
IN CHARGE:
RICHIE WELLENS "WE HAVE A YOUNG TEAM WHO ARE LEARNING AND PROGRESSING BUT I’M SEEING IMPROVEMENTS ALL THE TIME" Good afternoon everyone, I’d like to begin by welcoming Gareth Ainsworth, and the players, staff, fans and directors of Wycombe Wanderers to the Keepmoat Stadium for this afternoon’s Sky Bet League One match. Wycombe are a very strong team in this division. They’ve shown a desire to bounce straight back up to the Championship and have been going about their business like a team who are more than capable of doing that. They have a very clear identity with Gareth and the way he wants to play football – the stability around the club and the length of time he’s been in charge means that everyone knows their roles and responsibilities. They are a wellcoached side and will provide a tough test for us this afternoon. We are focusing on ourselves. We had a good result last time out and the support from the fans that day really helped us stay in the game and get the late winner
against a very good team. We need that same atmosphere and positivity today as that translates onto the field and helps our players play their best football with freedom and creativity. We have a young team who are learning and progressing but I’m seeing improvements all the time. We’ve been training really well this week, and it’s been great to get a long time with nearly a full set of players – having Jon Taylor back in and around training has been a big boost for everyone too. I will, of course, not be in the dugout this afternoon. I think I’ve spoken about the incident enough now but I got caught up in the heat of the moment and will learn from it. While I'm unable to go pitch side, I’m confident that Hunty, Copps, and Paul Gerrard will do an excellent job in my absence this afternoon. Thanks, as always, for your support. Richie
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
05
LNER PERKS MEANS REWARDS FOR EVERY JOURNEY (Jump onboard)
Join a loyalty scheme where you get £5 free for joining + 2% back every time you travel with us. Book Direct at LNER.co.uk or on our app and travel smarter. This is our
JOHN BOSTOCK: FOOTBALL, REJECTION AND ME
WORDS: Abi Rodwell
EVERY FOOTBALLER HAS A STORY. JOHN BOSTOCK IS NO DIFFERENT. From 14-year-old 'wonderkid' with a 10-year contract offer from Barcelona, to falling out of love with the game completely, his is a story like no other. Instead of signing a potentially life-changing contract with the Spanish giants, over a decade later Bostock's footballing journey has included 14 clubs in as many years. Having become the youngestever player to play for both Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur, the London-born midfielder tells the club about being labelled the 'next big thing', handling rejection and why he was willing to leave the game behind completely.
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
07
Bostock joined Crystal Palace - the club he and his family supported when he was five years old.
I BELIEVE IF YOU LIVE FOR PEOPLE'S ACCEPTANCE, YOU'LL DIE BY THEIR REJECTIONS AND I HAD COMPLETELY LOST MY JOY FOR THE GAME
Naturally talented, technically gifted and a 'wand' of a left foot, Bostock would often play above his age group growing up and it wasn't long before the midfielder's 'wonderkid' label started attracting interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs. "One of those clubs was Barcelona,” he says. "It's something I look back on and think 'wow', it was a huge compliment at the time but we decided that the best thing for me at that age was to continue my development in London." Ten years after attending his first game in the stands at Selhurst Park and while most of his friends we're choosing their GCSE's - he would go on to become the club's youngest-ever player - a record he still holds to this day. "When I was about 12 I thought to myself, 'why can't I be their youngest player?'I even told the club that I wanted to break that record, so that's what I set out to do." And that's exactly what he did. He may have only made a handful of firstteam appearances for Palace, but his debut as a 15-year-old lives long in the memory. "I remember my dad trying to call me at school. "When he eventually got hold of me he told me not to kick about in the playground after school but to come straight home because he had something to tell me. "I got home and he just said, 'Neil Warnock's just phoned. He wants you in the squad for tonight.' It was surreal!
08
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
"Because of my age I wasn't even allowed to change in the same dressing room as the lads, but it was an absolute honour. For the club I support as well, it meant so much. As interest from other clubs resurfaced, Bostock chose a move to north London to continue his development at Spurs, where his competitive debut came in the UEFA Cup against Dinamo Zagreb in 2008. Aged 16 years and 295 days, another record was broken as he became their youngest-ever player too. However, due to strong competition for players the teenager found himself unable to cement a place in the first-team squad and back training with his own age group. "It was really tough because I felt like I'd proved myself at that level but I learned that as a young athlete you've got to continue to prove yourself no matter what," he continues. "I was labelled 'wonderkid' at one point but I wasn't. Every position at Spurs had two or three internationals fighting for that place. "I was playing with the likes of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric a future Ballon d'Or winner. It was a squad full of world class players at the time." And so, with no further first-team opportunities coming his way, Bostock was forced to go out on loan. It was as simple as that," he admits. "I couldn't get in the first team, I was just a kid and I needed to get experience. I had to go out on loan. If I speak to any young player that goes out on loan I just tell them to go out and learn as much as they can to come back a better player." The 29-year-old speaks with a refreshing openness and honesty. Five loan spells later a distinct lack of first-
team football in north London affected his self-belief, his performances and eventually his "joy" for the game. When his contract at Spurs ended he wondered whether football was even for him. "My confidence had been hit really hard. I was playing football for people's opinions and that's when I really fell out of love with it. "I believe if you live for people's acceptance, you'll die by their rejections and I lost my joy for it. I remember praying and saying 'God, if you want me to stop football, tell me right now'. "Ever since I was young I held so tightly onto John Bostock the footballer and I needed to let that go. I was willing to let it go at that point but I believe God took me to a place where my foundation was no longer in sport, but in him and it wasn't until I started to let that go that I found real joy and contentment in the game again." And so with Bostock's change in mentality came fresh opportunity. A move to Belgium's second division was followed by spells in Turkey and France as he began to rekindle his love for football. "Going abroad for me was great, I just needed a chance. Because they were permanent moves I had no safety net to come back to, nothing to fall back on - I needed that. "I needed to play, learn the game and find my joy for it again. I was given that platform and it was like a new beginning. In my first spell abroad in Belgium I was 21 years old and that was the first time I played more than 11 times in a season. From there I really flourished." Now with 14 clubs under his belt and plenty of setbacks along the way, there's nothing the midfielder isn't prepared for in the professional game. "I think I've experienced enough in football to prepare me for everything in both life and football," he jokes. Determined to never live with regrets, Bostock - who moved back to the UK in 2019 - instead uses his experiences to help others who may be on a similar journey. "I don't ever live with regrets, but I know now that the journey I've been on will allow me to help other young players in their careers and I'm doing that. I mentor a lot of players, I'm able to input into their lives and my life experiences have been invaluable because I can relate to what they may be going through. "I may have made different decisions if I had my time again, but knowing what I know I don't regret anything." But what piece of advice would 29-year-old John Bostock give his 15-year-old self? "What a question," he says. "I'd tell teenage me two things; Firstly, I’d tell him to remember why you started to play football and enjoy it, even in the tough times. My second piece of advice would just be to have faith in your ability."
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
09
ONE HUNDRED P A R T N E R S CLUB
DIAMOND
PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
MAIN BRANCH
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
MATT SMITH
PONTUS DAHLBERG
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
MAIN BRANCH
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
TIBERIUS BATCHELOR & ROSSINGTON HALL
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
20
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
25
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
31
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
JOE DODOO
IN MEMORY OF CHOCCO
24
DENNIS & DAVE HARVEY
MARK & SIAN LISTER
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
RODRIGO VILCA
AVAILABLE
14
RETFORD BRANCH
AJ GREAVES
AVAILABLE
30
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
CHARLIE SEAMAN
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
19 TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
27 TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
OMAR BOGLE
RO-SHAUN WILLIAMS TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
ED WILLIAMS
AVAILABLE
BEN BLYTHE
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
CAMERON JOHN
AVAILABLE
29
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
RICHIE WELLENS
AVAILABLE
BEN SCHOFIELD
23
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
32
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
28
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
18
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
LIRAK HASANI
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
KEITH McGLONE
22 TIBERIUS BATCHELOR & ROSSINGTON HALL
AVAILABLE
07
AVAILABLE
12
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
11
17
AVAILABLE
DAN GARDNER
TIAGO CUKUR
AVAILABLE
BRANDEN HORTON
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
DENNIS & DAVE HARVEY
BEN BOTTOMLEY
AVAILABLE
21
BARRY JOHNSON
CARA & JACK LISTER
06
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
ETHAN GALBRAITH
AVAILABLE
RED VIKING RAIL
AVAILABLE
LIAM RAVENHILL
AVAILABLE
JAKE & ZACK SKINN
JORDY HIWULA
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
10
IDEAL ELECTRICITY
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
KEITH McGLONE
05
AVAILABLE
JON TAYLOR
TOMMY ROWE
AVAILABLE
AIDAN BARLOW
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
16 TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
AVAILABLE
09
15
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
MAIN BRANCH
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
MONEYFIELDS FOOTBALL CLUB
RETFORD BRANCH
HSR LAW
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
LAUREN & HOLLY BYTHWAY
04
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
RETFORD BRANCH
JOHN BOSTOCK
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
08
REECE KERRIDGE-McCOLL
AVAILABLE
FEJIRI OKENABIRHIE
AVAILABLE
02
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
AVAILABLE
JOSEPH OLOWU
TOM ANDERSON
KYLE KNOYLE
LOUIS JONES
AVAILABLE
BEN CLOSE
TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN
01
STADIUM STARS
AVAILABLE RITA JILL & PAUL
AVAILABLE AVAILABLE
TO SPONSOR YOUR FAVOURITE ROVERS PLAYER, CALL US ON 01302 764665
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
11
E R E H T IS R E T T E AB O T Y A W R U O Y BUY ? R A C NEXT O O Z A C YEAH!
Buy or finance a car online and we’ll deliver it to your door with a 7-Day Money Back Guarantee.
ACADEMY UPDATE YOUNG ROVERS' U18S SIDE CRUISED TO VICTORY OVER OLDHAM ATHLETIC IN THE EFL YOUTH CUP. The U18s went ahead just before half-time after a magnificent strike from Tavonga Kuleya.
McSheffrey said: “Overall I am pleased with the performance as we played some good stuff.
Manager Gary McSheffrey made changes to his side early in the second period, Rovers dipped momentarily as they settled into which allowed Oldham back into the game equalising against the run of play around the hour mark.
“A lot of what we worked on in training came into fruition during the game.
Rovers eventually got back the momentum and a Jack Goodman masterclass in the final six minutes of the game saw him bag a brace. That took his goal tally up to six goals in eight competitive games for the Academy. Despite the impressive performance and result, the U18s exited the competition having lost their earlier two group stage games against Bolton Wanderers and Mansfield Town.
“After not winning for a while, it felt extra special to win. Especially when this is probably the youngest side we have ever fielded in an U18s game with an U15 (Sam Brown) and U16 (Will Green) player featuring and only two second year scholars starting. “We need to back the win up with some consistency, which is something we have struggled with this season.” The U18s were in action earlier this morning to local rivals Rotherham United. You can find out how they got on by following DRFC_Academy on Twitter.
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
13
Hello everyone Welcome to our game against Cheltenham Town and thank you for coming today. Did you see my new retro shirt last week? I have included some photos and thanks to everyone who stopped to have a photo with me. I even got a photo with boxer Terri Harper. Enjoy the game! Donny Dog
Donny’s Score prediction
1 0
+ x
-
SQUAD NUMBER MATHS Donny is has been set some homework by Richie Wellens, can you help him out with some squad number maths?
+
=
-
=
+
=
ANSWERS (PLEASE DON’t CHEAT!!!) 1. 9+ 10 + 29 = 48 2) 2 x 24 - 16 = 32 3) 14 - 6 + 17 = 25
Jon TAYLOR
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW...
JORDY HIWULA
1. What is Jordy’s full name? YOUR ANSWER
2. Where was Jordy born? YOUR ANSWER
3. Jordy has played for two other Yorkshire club’s can you name them? YOUR ANSWER
4. How tall is Jordy in centimetres? YOUR ANSWER
5. How old is Jordy? YOUR ANSWER
6. What squad number is Jordy? YOUR ANSWER
7. With which Premier League club did Jordy start his career? YOUR ANSWER ANSWERS (DON’T CHEAT) 1) Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila; 2) Manchester; 3) Huddersfield Town and Bradford City; 4) 178 cms; 5) 27 6) 17; 7) Manchester City
TODAY’S MASCOTS
George Dooley
Izobel Dooley
Age: 11 Hobbies: Football, Xbox and boxing Favourite Player: Jon Taylor
Age: 8 Hobbies: Football, dancing and swimming Favourite PlayeR: Jon Taylor
A very happy birthday to our Donny Dog Club Members Colby Beckett-Atkins Myles Dryden Ruby Winterman
Emma Clark Ethan Smillie
Happy 18th Birthday Abigael Stewart Love from all the family
Izobel Dooley Noah Swindell
IN OPPOSITION:
CHELTENHAM TOWN MEET THE BOSS:
MICHAEL DUFF
In a playing career spanning from 1995 to 2016, in which he made more than 700 appearances, Duff played as a defender for Carterton Town, Cheltenham Town, Cirencester Town (on loan) and Burnley. At international level, Duff earned 24 caps for Northern Ireland. On 10 September 2018, Duff was appointed to his first managerial appointment at his former club Cheltenham Town in League Two. He was awarded the League Two Manager of the Month award for September 2019 and February 2020. On 1 November 2019, Duff signed a contract extension which will keep him at Cheltenham Town until June 2023. Duff led Cheltenham Town to their first ever automatic promotion from League Two last season with his side’s superb finish to the campaign meaning they were crowned champions. In the same season they also had a memorable FA Cup Campaign reaching the fourth Round, they took the lead against Manchester City, however the Premier League Champions scored 3 goals in the last 10 minutes to prevent a major upset. This season, Duff will be hoping for consolidation in League One and after an encouraging start it seems more than possible.
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
21
ONES TO WATCH SCOTT FLINDERS
Rotherham born, the 35-year-old has plenty of experience making more than 550 career appearances, the bulk of these coming for Hartlepool United between 2009 and 2015, he also managed to weigh in with a goal for them in the 2010/11 against Bournemouth. Flinders signed for Cheltenham in 2017/18 and has been pretty much ever present since, providing a safe pair of hands.
ALFIE MAY
Well known to Rovers fans, Alfie will be sure to get a warm welcome back at the Keepmoat Stadium this afternoon. He always gives 100% and is a constant menace for opposing defenders. He became an instant hit at Cheltenham where he scored 6 goals in his first 14 games for them in 2019/20 and has continued to do well since.
WILL BOYLE
Joined the club in January 2017 from Huddersfield Town and is an established member of the squad at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium. In his time with Huddersfield the Garforth born centre back spent time on loan at Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town and York City. He also had a spell on loan with Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock. He’s one of the longest serving players with the Robins, and despite his defensive duties he weighs in with his fair share of goals from attacking set pieces.
SHARED 5-A-SIDE DANNY ANDREW DRFC 2017-19 61 APPS 5 GOALS CTFC 1991-92 64 APPS 4 GOALS
NEIL GRAYSON DRFC 1989-91 34 APPS 7 GOALS CTFC 1998-2002 162 APPS 48 GOALS
MATTY BLAIR DRFC 2016-20 162 APPS 10 GOALS CTFC 2020 - present 66 APPS 3 GOALS
ANDY WILLIAMS DRFC 2015-18 106 APPS 29 GOALS CTFC 2020 – present 58 APPS 10 GOALS
LIAM SERCOMBE
The highly rated midfielder made the switch to Gloucestershire having come to the end of a three-year spell at Bristol Rovers. He started his career with hometown side Exeter City and helped the Grecians claim back-to-back promotions from the National League to League One. Aftermore than 240 league appearances for the Grecians, he made the switch to Oxford United in May 2015, going onto appear twice for Oxford at Wembley in EFL Trophy finals. In May 2017 he joined Bristol Rovers for a six-figure undisclosed fee and has gained a reputation for his goal scoring abilities from a midfield area.
22
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
ALFIE MAY DRFC 2016-19 117 APPS 23 GOALS CTFC 2019 - present 82 APPS 23 GOALS
WE'VE MET BEFORE CHELTENHAM TOWN COMP CONF CONF FL FL FL FL FL FL FACP FACP FL FL
DATE 24/10/1998 09/01/1999 13/12/2003 13/03/2004 14/10/2006 17/03/2007 29/09/2007 03/05/2008 13/01/2009 20/01/2009 20/08/2016 11/03/2017
VENUE A H A H A H H A A H A H
RESULT L 1-2 D 2-2 W 3-1 D 1-1 W 2-0 L 0-2 W 2-0 L 1-2 D 0-0 W 3-0 W 1-0 W 2-0
WORDS: John Coyle SCORERS Hume Goodwin, Duerden McIndoe (pen), Morley, Melligan Brown Guy, Forte Guy, Mills Green Stock (2), Hird Marquis Butler, Marquis
Cheltenham Town was formed in 1887 and joined the Southern League in 1935, spending fifty years in that competition. Between 1985 and 1992 they were members of what became the Football Conference. Having been promoted again to the Conference in 1997, they won the FA Trophy in 1998 and a year later were promoted to the Football League as Conference champions. 1998-99 was Rovers’ first season (of five) in the Conference and the teams first met at Cheltenham’s Whaddon Road on 24th October 1998. The home side opened the scoring via John Brough after six minutes, but after 28 minutes Mark Hume scrambled in the equaliser. Two minutes later Michael Duff, now Cheltenham’s manager, headed in a corner to make it 2-1. Cheltenham could have gone further ahead when Scott Maxfield was adjudged to have handled in the area. He received a red card but Rovers keeper Andy Woods saved the spot kick. Rovers ten men battled tirelessly during the second half, but Cheltenham hung on to win 2-1.
CHELTENHAM TOWN HAM TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB | ISSUE 03 | £3.00 THE OFFICIAL 2016/17 MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF CHELTEN
vs.
DONCASTER ROVERS Sky Bet League Two Saturday 20th August 2016 Kick-Off: 3.00pm LCI Rail Stadium
The return game was on 9th January 1999 at Belle Vue and two goals from Dale Watkins put Cheltenham 2-0 up at the break. Rovers fought back in the second half and goals from Shaun Goodwin and Ian Duerden secured a 2-2 draw. The teams did not meet again until December 2003 which was Rovers first season back in the Football League. The match was at Whaddon Road and Michael McIndoe opened the scoring with
a penalty before former Rover Mark Yates made it 1-1 after 19 minutes. Dave Morley headed Rovers back into the lead on 24 minutes and they went further ahead six minutes into the second half through J. J. Melligan to ensure Rovers won 3-1. The teams met again at Belle Vue on 13th March 2004 and Chris Brown snatched a last-minute equaliser for Rovers after Martin Devaney had put Cheltenham ahead. Rovers were promoted to League One at the end of the season and Cheltenham joined them two years later. The most dramatic match between the teams came at Whaddon Road on 3rd May 2008. Cheltenham needed to win to give themselves a chance of staying in League One while Rovers knew a win would seal automatic promotion to the Championship. Steven Gillespie put Cheltenham ahead after 24 minutes and they held the lead until fourteen minutes from time when Paul Green levelled. Rovers’ attacks were thwarted by the brilliance of Cheltenham goalkeeper Shane Higgs. With five minutes to go, Paul Connor netted the winner for the home side, who retained their League One status. Rovers went into the play-offs where they won promotion to the Championship by beating Leeds United at Wembley. Since that season, the teams have met four times, Rovers winning three with the other game drawn. A fourth win from five will do very nicely this afternoon.
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
23
ON THIS DAY 23RD OCTOBER
WORDS: John Coyle
EDDIE GORMLEY was born on this day in 1968 in Dublin. In 1987 Tottenham Hotspur signed him from Bray Wanderers on a three-year contract. He didn’t make the first team at Tottenham and Rovers snapped him up on a free transfer in July 1990. He made his debut on 25th August 1990 in a 3-2 win at Carlisle United. He went on to make 46 appearances in a team that led Division Four on several occasions in that season but faltered after selling two key players as a result of financial difficulties.
Stewart Gray
Over the next two seasons Eddie proved himself as a dependable midfielder with an eye for goal. He was Rovers Player of the Year in both 1991-92 and 1992-93, but after the latter season he decided to return to Ireland, where he joined Drogheda United before moving on to St Patrick’s Athletic. His Rovers record was 135 games and seventeen goals. Two players who featured for Rovers in the 1990s were born on the same day, 23rd October 1974. LEE THEW was born in Sunderland and spent time in Rovers’ Youth system before making his senior debut in November 1993. He had two seasons for Rovers, making 37 appearances and scoring four goals before moving to Scarborough. On 12th August 1995 IAN CLARK made his debut for Rovers in a 1-0 home win over Scarborough.
Matty Caudwell
Born in Stockton-on-Tees, the winger joined Rovers after a successful trial. He went on to make 54 appearances for Rovers, scoring four goals. In October 1997 he joined Hartlepool United, where he played alongside James Coppinger and made over 150 appearances. However, perhaps his best season came when he moved to Darlington in 2001 and scored 13 goals, by far his highest haul. After leaving Darlington in 2005 he played for Scarborough and Harrogate Town. On this day in 2010 Rovers’ Championship clash with Sheffield United at the Keepmoat Stadium was shown live on BBC One. Billy Sharp was on top form against his boyhood club, setting up James Coppinger to score the opener on 33 minutes. Nine minutes later a shot by James Hayter was parried by United’s goalkeeper and Sharp made it 2-0. He celebrated by lifting his shirt to show a t-shirt bearing the words “Fat Lad from Sheffield,” a joke he had shared with Rovers manager Sean O’Driscoll. Rovers won 2-0.
Mike Elwiss
Two years later Rovers faced League One leaders Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park. Billy Paynter put Rovers ahead after 48 minutes, but Jake Cassidy equalised three minutes from full-time. In stoppage time, Iain Hume swooped to score the winner for Rovers against his former club. So, the points went back to Yorkshire and helped Rovers to win the League One title six months later.
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
25
Giving Football Back to Small Business At eBay, we know small business and football clubs used to be like chips and gravy, two peas in a pod – a match made in community heaven. Ironmongers, ship workers, spring makers and cobblers, all formed clubs which decades later are still prospering. But nowadays, you’d think it was all eyewatering transfers, Super Leagues and mega sponsors, detached from the humble origins of our historic clubs.
That’s why eBay are proud to support 300,000 small businesses who help power EFL clubs nationwide. We’ll be donating our advertising space to a lot of these businesses – on match day hoardings, around grounds and beyond – throughout the coming season, to ensure they can continue to thrive in our local communities. So, join us in giving your support to Small Business Power, because today, they need us more than ever.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
ON THIS DAY 23RD OCTOBER
WORDS: John Coyle
ROVERS RESULTS ON THIS DAY: LEVEL SEASON
OPPONENT
H/A
1948/49
Darlington
A
15,326 W 5 1 Reeve (3), Todd, Antonio
Fr
1956/57
Carlisle Utd
A
4,014 W 3 0 R.Walker (2), McMorran
4
1962/63
Rochdale
A
3,534 L 1 3 Booth
3
1970/71
Walsall
H
4,762 L 1 2 Evans o.g. 3,301 L 0 2
3N
To view the programme from a recent fixture with Cheltenham, please click the image if viewing digitally:
ATT RESULT GOALSCORERS
4
1973/74
Barnsley
A
4
1979/80
York City
A
4,707 W 3 1 Lister (2), Lewis
3
1982/83
Bradford City
A
5,526 L 0 1
3
1984/85
Cambridge Utd
H
3,873 W 3 2 I.Snodin (2, 1Pen), Buckley
4
1990/91
Cardiff City
A
3,891 W 2 0 Gormley (Pen), Grayson 2,614 W 2 1 Morrow, Brady (Pen)
4
1992/93
Hereford Utd
H
4
1993/94
Shrewsbury Town
A
2,675 W 1 0 Jones
3
2004/05
Chesterfield
A
6,219 D 0 0
JPT2
2007/08
Oldham Ath
H
4,608 W 3 0 Price, Green, Woods
2
2010/11
Sheffield Utd
H
8,985 W 2 0 Coppinger, Sharp
3
2012/13
Tranmere Rovers
A
7,386 W 2 1 Paynter, Hulme
3
2018/19
Sunderland
H
11,881 L 0 1
DONCASTER ROVERS vs SUNDERLAND TUESDAY 23RD OCTOBER 2018 7.45PM | ISSUE 10 | £3 SKY BET LEAGUE ONE
19 L CLUB 2018/ ERS FOOTBAL NCASTER ROV GAZINE OF DO MATCHDAY MA THE OFFICIAL PROGRAMME SPONSOR
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
27
FIXTURES & RESULTS DATE
OPPOSITION
COMP
RES/KO
ATT
AWAY POS
2021/22
STARTING XI
AUGUST Sat 7
AFC Wimbledon
H
EFL1
L
1-2
6,419
612
20
Dahlberg
Knoyle
Anderson
R Williams
Rowe
Close
Tue 10
Walsall
A
CC1
D
0-0*
2,384
310
-
Dahlberg
Knoyle
Anderson
R Williams
John
Close
Sat 14
Sheffield Wednesday
A
EFL1
L
0-2
24,738
1,980
23
Dahlberg
Knoyle
Anderson
R Williams
Rowe
Close
Tue 17
Accrington Stanley
A
EFL1
L
0-1
2,223
463
23
Dahlberg
Knoyle
Anderson
R Williams
Rowe
Close
Sat 21
Portsmouth
H
EFL1
D
0-0
6,660
1,292
23
Dahlberg
Knoyle
Anderson
R Williams
John
Close
Tue 24
Stoke City
A
CC2
L
0-2
6,193
541
-
Jones
Knoyle
John
Blythe
Horton
Close
Sat 28
Rotherham United
A
EFL1
L
0-2
9,748
1,716
24
Dahlberg
Knoyle
John
R Williams
Horton
Close
SEPTEMBER Tue 7
Rotherham United
H
PJTG
L
0-6
1,765
tbc
-
Jones
Seaman
Rowe
R Williams
Horton
Close
Sat 11
Wigan Athletic
A
EFL1
L
1-2
8,975
568
24
Dahlberg
Knoyle
Olowu
R Williams
Rowe
Close
Sat 18
Morecambe
H
EFL1
W
1-0
5,651
410
24
Dahlberg
Knoyle
Anderson
R Williams
Rowe
Close
Tue 21
Manchester City U21s
H
PJTG
W
2-1
1,802
102
-
Jones
Seaman
Olowu
R Williams
Horton
Bostock
Sat 25
Plymouth Argyle
A
EFL1
L
1-2
11,003
261
24
Dahlberg
Knoyle
Anderson
R Williams
Rowe
Close
Tue 28
Ipswich Town
A
EFL1
L
0-6
18,111
165
24
Dahlberg
Knoyle
Anderson
R Williams
Rowe
Close
OCTOBER Sat 2
Milton Keynes Dons
H
EFL1
W
2-1
5,927
400
24
Dahlberg
Knoyle
Anderson
R Williams
Rowe
Close
Sat 16
Wycombe Wanderers
H
EFL1
L
0-2
6,134
464
24
Dahlberg
Knoyle
Anderson
R Williams
Rowe
Close
Tue 19
Gillingham
A
EFL1
L
0-1
tbc
tbc
24
Dahlberg
Knoyle
Anderson
R Williams
Rowe
Close
Sat 23
Cheltenham Town
H
EFL1
15:00
Tue 26
Cambridge United
H
EFL1
19:45
Sat 30
Charlton Athletic
A
EFL1
15:00 19:45
NOVEMBER Tue 2
Crewe Alexandra
A
EFL1
w/e 5
Scunthorpe United
A
FAC1
TBC
Tue 9
Scunthorpe United
A
PJTG
19:00
Sat 13
Fleetwood Town
H
EFL1
15:00
Sat 20
Lincoln City
H
EFL1
15:00
Tue 23
Bolton Wanderers
A
EFL1
20:00
Sat 27
Burton Albion
A
EFL1
15:00
DECEMBER Tue 7
Oxford United
H
EFL1
19:45
Sat 11
Shrewsbury Town
H
EFL1
15:00
Sat 18
Lincoln City
A
EFL1
15:00
Sun 26
Sunderland
H
EFL1
15:00
Wed 29
Cambridge United
A
EFL1
19:45
JANUARY 2022 Sat 1
Morecambe
A
EFL1
15:00
Sat 8
Rotherham United
H
EFL1
15:00
Sat 15
Wigan Athletic
H
EFL1
15:00
Sat 22
Milton Keynes Dons
A
EFL1
15:00
Sat 29
Plymouth Argyle
H
EFL1
15:00
FEBRUARY Sat 5
Sunderland
A
EFL1
15:00
Tue 8
Ipswich Town
H
EFL1
19:45
Sat 12
Portsmouth
A
EFL1
15:00
Sat 19
Sheffield Wednesday
H
EFL1
15:00
Tue 22
Accrington Stanley
H
EFL1
19:45
Sat 26
AFC Wimbledon
A
EFL1
15:00
MARCH Sat 5
Cheltenham Town
A
EFL1
15:00
Sat 12
Gillingham
H
EFL1
15:00
Sat 19
Fleetwood Town
A
EFL1
15:00
Sat 26
Charlton Athletic
H
EFL1
15:00
APRIL Sat 2
Wycombe Wanderers
A
EFL1
15:00
Sat 9
Crewe Alexandra
H
EFL1
15:00
Fri 15
Bolton Wanderers
H
EFL1
15:00
Mon 18
Shrewsbury Town
A
EFL1
15:00
Sat 23
Burton Albion
H
EFL1
15:00
Sat 30
Oxford United
A
EFL1
15:00
*won 4-3 on penalties
28
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
USED SUBS Gardner
Smith
Seaman
Barlow
Cukur
Bostock, Bogle, John
P
GD
PTS
Gardner
Bostock
E Williams
Barlow
Bogle
Horton, Greaves , Cukur
1 Plymouth
14
13
29
Gardner
Bostock
Galbraith
Barlow
Cukur
Bogle, E Williams, Horton
2 Sunderland
12
12
28
Gardner
Bostock
Galbraith
Barlow
Cukur
John, Bogle, Horton
3 Wycombe
13
8
27
Galbraith
Bostock
Seaman
Rowe
Cukur
Horton, Smith, Gardner
4 Wigan
12
13
25
Smith
Greaves
Gardner
Barlow
E Williams
Seaman, Rowe, Harrison
5 Rotherham
13
10
24
Smith
Bostock
Galbraith
Rowe
Seaman
Cukur, Barlow
6 MK Dons
13
6
22
7 Burton
14
-1
22
8 Oxford Utd
13
5
21
9 Sheff Wed
13
2
20
10 Accrington
13
-6
19
Smith
Bostock
Dodoo
Vilca
Hiwula
Knoyle, Gardner, Greaves
Smith
Galbraith
Dodoo
Seaman
Hiwula
Vilca, Gardner, Bostock
Smith
Galbraith
Dodoo
Vilca
Hiwula
Cukur, Seaman
Gardner
Barlow
Dodoo2
Cukur
Hiwula
Vilca , Galbraith, Rowe
Smith
Galbraith
Dodoo
Cukur
Hiwula
Vilca, Barlow
11 Bolton
14
-3
18
Smith
Gardner
Dodoo
Cukur
Hiwula
Vilca, Olowu, Barlow
12 Cheltenham
13
-6
18
13 Ipswich
13
6
17
Bostock
Galbraith
Dodoo
Vilca
Hiwula
Barlow, Smith, Cukur
14 Wimbledon
13
-1
17
Bostock
Vilca
Dodoo
Cukur
Hiwula
Galbraith, Smith, Taylor
15 Lincoln City
13
-1
15
Bostock
Galbraith
Dodoo
Cukur
Hiwula
Smith, Olowu, Barlow
16 Cambridge
12
-2
15
17 Portsmouth
13
-3
15
18 Morecambe
13
-1
14
19 Gillingham
14
-6
14
20 Fleetwood
12
1
13
21 Shrewsbury
14
-10
11
22 Charlton
13
-8
9
23 Crewe
13
-13
8
24 Doncaster
12
-15
7
ROVERS ROLL-CALL 21/22
DRFC
A
G
A
G
01 Jones
3
0
20
0
02 Knoyle
14(1)
0
15
0
04 Anderson
11
0
139
8
05 Olowu
2(2)
0
4
0
06 Williams, R
15
0
15
0
07 Bogle
1(3)
0
21
2
08 Close
15
0
15
0
09 Okenabirhie
0
0
52
16
10 Rowe
13(2)
3
159
34
11 Taylor
(1)
0
65
10
12 Dahlberg
13
0
13
0
14 Smith
8(4)
0
12
0
15 Bostock
10(2)
0
30
0
16 Barlow
6(5)
0
11
0
17 Hiwula
9
1
9
1
18 Williams, E
2(1)
0
20
0
19 Seaman
6(2)
1
8
1
20 Dodoo
9
2
9
2
21 Cukur
9(4)
1
13
1
22 Galbraith
9(2)
0
11
0
23 Gardner
7(3)
0
10
0
24 John
4(2)
0
65
5
25 Vilca
4(4)
0
8
0
27 Greaves
1(2)
0
15
0
28 Horton
4(4)
0
21
0
29 Hasani
0
0
5
0
30 Blythe
1
0
2
0
31 Ravenhill
0
0
2
0
32 Bottomley
0
0
0
0
33 Harrison
(1)
0
1
0
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
29
Images: Heather King
COMMUNITY NEWS
EFL KIDS CUP A SUCCESS! THE CLUB DONCASTER FOUNDATION HOSTED THE EFL KIDS CUP TOURNAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019 WITH MORE THAN 20 SCHOOLS TAKING PART ACROSS THE DAY.
The cup was split into two mini tournaments with a morning and afternoon session. Two winners were crowned with an overall final due to be played at the Keepmoat Stadium in December. A spectacular overhead kick secured Travis St Lawrence’s place in the final, but they fell short against a clinical St Peter’s. Shaw Wood were 1-0 victors over Airmyn in the final of the afternoon tournament and will now meet St Peter’s in the grand final which will be played ahead of a Doncaster Rovers league match in December. Sport development officer Kelly JacksonPowell said: “This is the first time we’ve been able to host a tournament like this since the pandemic started and it’s been brilliant to see so many schools getting involved. “Some of the teams travelled from Goole,
30
doncasterroversfc.co.uk
Selby and Retford which just shows how popular these kinds of events are for primary schools. “All of the teams showed fantastic sportsmanship and the standard of football was really good too. Congratulations go to champions Shaw Wood and St Peter's and we look forward to seeing them in the final at the Keepmoat Stadium in December.” Rovers defender Kyle Knoyle went along to the tournament after training to meet some of the teams involved. He added: “It’s great to see these young players getting the chance to come back and play football again after a long break because of COVID. “I’ve just been told that the finalists will be playing in the Keepmoat Stadium so that will be brilliant for them.”
Football is a game of many opinions, but there is one that we must all share. There is no place for discrimination in our game. If you do not agree, then you are not welcome. If you see or hear discrimination in this stadium, please report it to the nearest steward or via the Kick it Out App. Because we are all #TogetherAgainstDiscrimination Download the Kick it Out app for free from your app store.
EFL.com
DONCASTER ROVERS
CHELTENHAM TOWN
1 Louis JONES
1 Owen EVANS
2 Kyle KNOYLE
2 Seàn LONG
4 Tom ANDERSON
3 Chris HUSSEY
5 Joseph OLOWU
4 Mattie POLLOCK
6 Roshaun WILLIAMS
5 Charlie RAGLAN
7 Omar BOGLE
6 Lewis FREESTONE
8 Ben CLOSE
7 Conor THOMAS
9 Fejiri OKENABIRHIE
8 Liam SERCOMBE
10 Tommy ROWE
9 Kyle VASSELL
11 Jon TAYLOR
10 Alfie MAY
12 Pontus DAHLBERG
11 Ellis CHAPMAN
14 Matt SMITH
14 Andy WILLIAMS
15 John BOSTOCK
15 Will BOYLE
16 Aidan BARLOW
16 Callum WRIGHT
17 Jordy HIWULA
17 Matty BLAIR
18 Ed WILLIAMS
18 Taylor PERRY
19 Charlie SEAMAN
19 George LLOYD
20 Joe DODOO
20 Scott FLINDERS
21 Tiago CUKUR
21 Kyle JOSEPH
22 Ethan GALBRAITH
22 Max HARRIS
23 Dan GARDNER
23 Elliot BONDS
24 Cameron JOHN
24 Grant HORTON
25 Rodrigo VILCA
25 Callum EBANKS
27 AJ GREAVES
26 Dylan BARKERS
28 Brandon HORTON
27 Christian NORTON
29 Lirak HASANI
28 Dan CROWLEY
OFFICIALS REFEREE: Neil Hair ASSISTANTS: Daniel Woodward Alan Clayton FOURTH OFFICIAL: Conor Brown
NEXT HERE
CAMBRIDGE UNITED
Tuesday 26th October KO: 7.45pm Sky Bet League One
30 Ben BLYTHE 31 Liam RAVENHILL 32 Ben BOTTOMLEY
Club Doncaster and Doncaster Rovers treats discriminatory anti-social behaviour seriously and wants to ensure the enjoyment of the match for all. If you experience anti-social behaviour close to you, please report it to the nearest steward or police officer. We also offer and anonymous ‘safe text’ service to enable supporters to report their concerns quickly and easily by text message. Please send a text with your location and the location of the offence – e.g. block, row, seat - to 07825012850 with one of the following: • • • • •
FOUL (language & behaviour) SMOKE (smoking in the stadium) RACISM (racist chanting & shouting) STAND (standing up) HPH (homophobic chanting)
• DRINK (drinking alcohol in view of the pitch) • PYRO (use of or intended use of any pyrotechnic or smoke bomb) Each message costs one standard text at your local rate. IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE TO ENTER THE PITCH OR PERIMETER TRACK. ANYONE DOING SO WILL FACE ARREST AND A BAN FROM WATCHING FOOTBALL ANTI DISCRIMINATION POLICY Doncaster Rovers Football Club is determined to treat with equal consideration all supporters, regardless of gender, race or ethnic origin, religious belief, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other unjustifiable reason. The club, in association with its governing bodies (the FA
and the EFL) and all footballing authorities, is determined to eradicate racism in football by ensuring that no barriers exist to anyone playing/ enjoying the national game, whatever their ethnic background. To this end, Doncaster Rovers Football Club will not tolerate any form of racism amongst spectators. Anyone found to be culpable of displaying any form of racist behaviour will be removed from the stadium immediately. RESPECT THE LAW Supporters are reminded that the Keepmoat Stadium is a strictly no smoking venue. It is an offence to purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol for anybody under the age of 18. Anybody caught doing so will face ejection from the stadium and prosecution. Anybody who appears to be under the age of 21 will be asked for ID. We appreciate supporters’ co-operation.