popular STAND fanzine issue 97

popular STAND fanzine issue 97

Are you hanging up your stocking on the wall? Course you’re not. It’s 2018. And we all live in rented accommodation as we can’t afford to buy houses, so if we did hang a stocking on the wall we’d only be lumbered with a ‘stocking damage fee’ from our letting agent. Still, it is nearly Christmas, and have we got the perfect present for you? No, no we haven’t. That was intended to be rhetorical to be honest. But we have got a new issue of popular STAND fanzine on sale, so at least that’s something.

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popular STAND gives away £2,000 to Doncaster charities

popular STAND gives away £2,000 to Doncaster charities

We won an award last week. A proper big hefty one too. As shiny as it is weighty and given to us at a posh do with a table plan and cameras and people you’ve heard of. It’s the second time popular STAND fanzine has been the FSF’s Fanzine of the Year. And you might think that being given that trophy, and having the effort we’ve put in to this ‘zine recognised would be the highlight of our year. And you’d be right, it was. For a week. Continue reading “popular STAND gives away £2,000 to Doncaster charities”

Charlton Athletic 0-2 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report

Charlton Athletic 0-2 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report

I was having a pre-match pint when I read James Coppinger wasn’t in the squad. I contemplated staying put and ordering another. A text from a friend conveyed similar thoughts; ‘When I heard Coppinger wasn’t playing I almost went home’. Continue reading “Charlton Athletic 0-2 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report”

Charlton Athletic 2-0 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report

Charlton Athletic 2-0 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report

‘We’re great to watch this season,’ we assured our non-Rovers supporting companion in the pub pre-match. Three hours later the poor sod must’ve been wondering what possible horrors we had inflicted on us last season for this to be considered great watching. Continue reading “Charlton Athletic 2-0 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report”

Editorial: On being thankful for being far removed from FIFA

Editorial: On being thankful for being far removed from FIFA

I’m writing this editorial on the day of FIFA’s annual The Best Football Awards. Ordinarily I’d be oblivious to this; not today. But that’s only because they happen to be taking place at my workplace. Right now, as I look out of the office window, tuxedoed men I don’t recognise are being ushered towards a row of photographers, a line of glamorous young women in shiny frocks are being used as window dressing on a staircase, blokes in hi-vis vests are keeping tourists behind distant barriers and an invisible man on a microphone is encouraging anyone who can hear him to ‘get ready to make some noise for Joachim Low’. Continue reading “Editorial: On being thankful for being far removed from FIFA”

Doncaster Rovers 0-4 Fleetwood Town: 250 word match report

Doncaster Rovers 0-4 Fleetwood Town: 250 word match report

There are two kinds of people in this world. There are those who seemingly revel in misfortune, and will seize on this defeat to doom-monger, and lament players and a manager and tactics that have thus far delivered an excellent two months of football. And there are those who will see it for what it was; an absolute freak of a result. Continue reading “Doncaster Rovers 0-4 Fleetwood Town: 250 word match report”

popular STAND fanzine issue 96

popular STAND fanzine issue 96

Remember the last time we put an issue of popular STAND fanzine on sale back at the start of the season? If you missed issue 95, it was essentially forty pages of people being decidedly unenthusiastic about the football ahead, trying to justify their attendance, and generally fearing the worst. What a bloody difference two months can make. Continue reading “popular STAND fanzine issue 96”

Absent Belles

Absent Belles

Things were very different three months ago; heatwaves only lasted a day or two, England were set to disappoint at the World Cup, and Doncaster Rovers Belles were celebrating. On 13 May, I was one of a number of Doncastrians standing a hefty goal-kick away from the Thames, applauding Doncaster Rovers Belles as they took the field to face Millwall as FA Women’s Super League 2 champions. Neil Redfearn’s side had lost just once, rattled in three goals a game, and would ultimately finish the season 10 points clear of their nearest challenger. As deserving a title as you could imagine.

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