I’m not a photographer. I don’t even own a camera. So this is neither a portfolio nor an exhibition. But I do like photos, so when attending matches last season I made an effort to take at least one, using just the camera on my phone and the instagram app. These are they; a collection of images representing all the football I saw between July 2012 and May 2013. Only one game is missing – Doncaster Rovers’ 2-1 win at Crewe in April – as I had my phone stolen on the morning of the game, but the rest are all present and documented below, some it has to be said, much better than others.
Back at the season’s start I was living in Scarborough and, truth be told, not all that bothered by Doncaster Rovers. The ‘experiment’ involving Willie McKay and all that surrounded it during 2011-12 had deposited a bitter taste in my mouth that had not yet left, and so for much of the first half of the season I watched my football elswhere; with much of it involving Rossington Main for whom I have spent the season as Programme Editor.
On New Year’s Day I relocated to London, and as Bryan Flynn arrived and the Supporters Trust began making noises that chimed more closely with my own ethos I began to warm to Rovers once again. This rekindled love as it were was aided further when in January I stood in as ‘summariser’ for the club’s live match Player coverage, and subsequently became the club’s main commentator. Rovers became my team once again and so come the dramatic final half a minute at Brentford I was not only there, but attempting to relay events back to Rovers fans around the globe too. In a season I’ve gone from feeling nothing toward my team, to being unable to breathe owing to the emotions they have inflicted upon me in one frankly ridiculous climax; I feel that journey is reflected in these images.
1. July | Pre-season views from the Allotment End Stand at Oxford Street
Rossington Main 3-0 Winterton Rangers
Pre-season friendly, Oxford Street
2. July | Ayr go ahead in the IFA Cup Final at the annual supporters’ team tournament in Leeds
KaisAYR 1-0 Kidderminster Supporters Trust
IFA Cup Final, Boddington Hall
3. August | Ten minutes until the 2012-13 season kicks off
Selby Town 1-0 Rossington Main
Northern Counties East League Division 1, Rigid Group Stadium
4a. August | The magic of the FA Cup lures another one
Bridlington Town 1-2 Whitley Bay
FA Cup; Extra-Preliminary Round, Queensgate
4b. August | The Bridlington faithful
Bridlington Town 1-2 Whitley Bay
FA Cup; Extra-Preliminary Round, Queensgate
5. August | Getting set to sell the first fanzine of the season
Doncaster Rovers 0-1 Crawley Town
Football League One, Keepmoat Stadium
6. August | Watching Another 2nd half kick off at the Turnbull Ground
Whitby Town 1-3 Blyth Spartans
Northern Premier League Premier Division, Turnbull Ground
7. September | Shoes (and flip-flops) off for Wales
Wales 0-2 Belgium
FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifier, Cardiff City Stadium
8. September | Token appearance of my dad, watching on as Assistant Manager of Rossington Main
Rossington Main 0-5 Teversal
Northern Counties East League Division 1, Oxford Street
9. September | Sunset on the Belles’ Second Super League Season
Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-1 Bristol Academy
FA Women’s Super League, Keepmoat Stadium
10. September | Being one of only two Wales fans in Jablonec
Wales U21 0-5 Czech Republic U21
UEFA Under 21 International Qualifier, Chance Arena
11. September | Wales fans encourage their team onto the field in Novi Sad
Serbia 6-1 Wales
FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifier, Karađorđe Stadium
12. September | The fantastic wooden stand at Chlumec
FK Chlumec 2-0 Úpice
Czech Regional Leagues (6th tier), Na Hatich
13. September | Finding the love in Hradec Králové
FC Hradec Králové 2-0 Zbrojovka Brno
Gambrinus Liga, Všesportovní Stadion
14. October | Rovers not exactly packing the box for a late free-kick
Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Shrewsbury Town
Football League One, Keepmoat Stadium
15. October | Spending Non-League Day in Leeds
Yorkshire Amateur 2-3 Rossington Main
Northern Counties East League Division 1, Bracken Edge
16. October | Watching from the clubhouse at the World’s oldest football ground
Hallam 2-1 Rossington Main
Northern Counties East League Division 1, Sandygate
17. November | Clear skies and stands for the FA Cup
Doncaster Rovers 3-1 Bradford Park Avenue
FA Cup 1st Round, Keepmoat Stadium
18. November | Warming up without a football
Rustons United 2-1 AFC West End
Lincoln Sunday Football League Division 4, Ruston Marconi Sports Ground
19. November | Trying not to lift a free-kick into the Autumn trees
Rossington Main 0-3 Bottesford Town
Northern Counties East League Division 1, Oxford Street
20. November | Derby Day Donny Dog
Doncaster Rovers 4-0 Scunthorpe United
Football League One, Keepmoat Stadium
21. December | Unprecedented scenes in Harrogate as the home side go ahead
Harrogate Town 1-1 Hastings United
FA Cup 2nd Round, Wetherby Road
22. December | Christmas in the Clubhouse at Oxford Street
Rossington Main 3-3 Pontefract Collieries
Northern Counties East League Division 1, Oxford Street
23. December | Angels fans celebrate their second goal
Tonbridge Angels 2-1 Dover Athletic
Conference South, Longmead Stadium
24. January | Brian Flynn gives his first post-match interview
Stevenage 1-2 Doncaster Rovers
Football League One, Broadhall Way
25. January | Fanzine selling in the snow
Doncaster Rovers 3-0 Leyton Orient
Football League One, Keepmoat Stadium
26. February | Doing Dulwich
Dulwich Hamlet 3-0 Merstham
Isthmian League Division 1 South, Champion Hill
27. February | Press-room Hospitality
Crawley Town 1-1 Doncaster Rovers
Football League One, Broadfield Stadium
28. March | Pre-match fayre
AFC Bournemouth 1-2 Doncaster Rovers
Football League One, Dean Court
29. March | Getting set for a far-post corner
Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Portsmouth
Football League One, Keepmoat Stadium
30. March | Post-match debrief for the defeated Belles
Doncaster Rovers Belles 0-2 Bristol Academy
FA Women’s Cup 5th Round, Keepmoat Stadium
31. March | A very snowy Hampden Park
Scotland 1-2 Wales
FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifier, Hampden Park
32. March | Souvenir hunters at Ibrox
Rangers 0-0 Stirling Albion
Scottish Football League Division 3, Ibrox Stadium
33. March | Entering Firhill
Partick Thistle 6-1 Livingston
Scottish Football League Division 1, Firhill Stadium
34. April | The Ricoh, still home to Coventry… just
Coventry City 1-0 Doncaster Rovers
Football League One, Ricoh Arena
35. April | Half-time instructions
Donny R’sonists 3-2 Tranmere Rearguard FC
IFA Supporters’ Football League, Ian Wilson Community Sports Village
36. April | No Public Access for Bryan Flynn’s post-match interview
Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Tranmere Rovers
Football League One, Keepmoat Stadium
37. April | David Cotterill sets a first half free-kick
Doncaster Rovers 0-1 Notts County
Football League One, Keepmoat Stadium
38. April | The 2013 FAWSL gets underway
Doncaster Rovers Belles 0-4 Chelsea Ladies
FA Women’s Super League, Keepmoat Stadium
39. April | Rovers arrive for the final day showdown
Brentford 0-1 Doncaster Rovers
Football League One, Griffin Park
40. May | Substitution for Burnham
London APSA 3-0 Burnham Ramblers
Essex Senior League Premier Division, Terence McMillan Stadium
41. May | Free entry with a bell at the Belles
Doncaster Rovers Belles 1-3 Everton Ladies
Continental Cup Group Stage, Keepmoat Stadium
42. May | Bored Ball Girl
Olympique Lyonnais 0-1 VfL Wolfsburg
UEFA Women’s Champions League Final, Stamford Bridge
popular STAND fanzine 
Nice photos. Are these taken with a DSLR? How did you get the tilt/shift effect?
Thanks… all your questions are answered in the opening paragraph Pete
A fine array of snaps. Congratulations. Brian Flynn is head an shoulders about the rest for me (something he’s unlikely to achieve in life)
I like the fuzzy ones. Good story dude.
These are great photos: really evocative. I’m looking forward to next year’s lot already.
You spelled “Merstham” wrong, btw…
Hi , thought the photos were great , very atmospheric.
Am I right in thinking that your dad is Ian Wilson Pe Teacher at Rosso Comp , if so say hello to him from me (Paul Wilkinson) a pupil of his in the late 70’s .
Thanks Paul, and you are right… I’ll pass on your regards
Love the photos. Really excellent stuff.
Glen, I never made the link that your Dad was Ian Wilson either. He was at Rosso Comp when I was there too. Send him my regards and ask him if he is still in touch with Dave “Albert” Hall. Mr Hall was the one that got me into playing Rugby. He played most weekends and regularly rocked up on a monday morning with a black eye.
Some brilliant photos , the rovers photos would look great as canvas art prints :-)