glen wilson

Why Doncaster Rovers Want to Beat Leeds United

December 14, 2013May 8, 2020by glen wilsonLeave a Comment

Doncaster Rovers versus Leeds United is not a proper derby game. You won’t read many previews today which downplay this fixture, especially in their opening sentence, there are papers to be sold after all. But this point I feel needs to be articulated, particularly given an increasing number of our supporters who seem to regard a side 40 miles away, which we’ve faced just twenty-three times previously, as some kind of auld enemy. One play-off final does not a rivalry make. Don’t people realise that true rivalries take decades of ingrained irrational hatred?

Continue reading “Why Doncaster Rovers Want to Beat Leeds United” →

history

Where Are They Now? Doncaster Rovers’ Conference Opponents

November 22, 2013May 8, 2020by glen wilsonLeave a Comment

Amongst all the off-field wrangling and boardroom posturing it may have actually escaped your notice that Rovers have a match tonight. And not just any match either as we host our bogey team Yeovil Town in front of Sky’s many cameras allowing viewers across the nation to watch us to capitulate to a solitary strike late in the first half. This isn’t the first time Rovers have hosted The Glovers live on television though; ten years ago a Conference match between the two teams met at Belle Vue was also broadcast live by Murdoch’s satellite conglomerate. Continue reading “Where Are They Now? Doncaster Rovers’ Conference Opponents” →

The Likes Of Doncaster

The Likes of Doncaster – Episode Two; This Time It’s Personal

November 15, 2013May 9, 2020by glen wilson4 Comments

Three months we’ve been back in the Championship, three months in which we have achieved very credible results against much better financed sides, teams such as Blackburn, Wigan and Leicester. We are the top team in our county – a fact helped by the woefulness of our rivals in the Steel City admittedly – and we are currently have four players away on international duty; two of whom will be lining up against World Champions Spain. Yet despite all this, despite all the good, to most we are still just ‘The Likes of Doncaster’, Continue reading “The Likes of Doncaster – Episode Two; This Time It’s Personal” →

Rovers boardroom

Do Not Go Gentle; On John Ryan Stepping Down

November 11, 2013May 9, 2020by glen wilson17 Comments

I was on commentary duty at Oakwell on Saturday afternoon. Roughly three minutes before kick-off, as I was running through the usual preamble, I looked to my left to see Chris jabbing at his laptop screen, pointing out a tweet from the local press stating that John Ryan had resigned as chairman. My reactionary feeling, right then and there, which I had to reign in as I tried to fathom a way to convey this news whilst talking on an official club channel, was anger. Continue reading “Do Not Go Gentle; On John Ryan Stepping Down” →

fan issues, football writing

Not Going Away; On The Cost of Watching Football

October 29, 2013May 8, 2020by glen wilson1 Comment

At the start of Doncaster Rovers’ fixture at Hillsborough earlier this month the Radio Sheffield commentary team voiced their surprise that the entirety of the upper tier of the Leppings Lane End was not completely awash with red and white hoops. Mickey Walker couldn’t believe that the away end was not packed out for a derby game. However, Walker’s opinion, and that of the match commentator, had been voiced with no knowledge of the prices Rovers supporters had been asked to pay. £29 or £30 for adults and £18 for juniors is quite frankly a ludicrous price to be asked to pay for a lower second tier fixture between two teams from the second poorest county in the UK. And, it was a price which rightly many Rovers fans refused to pay. Continue reading “Not Going Away; On The Cost of Watching Football” →

Doncaster Rovers Belles

On Why You Should Sound The Belles One Last Time

September 28, 2013May 8, 2020by glen wilsonLeave a Comment

This Sunday should have been host to the biggest game in Doncaster Belles’ illustrious history. Final game of the season, with a win needed for survival in the top flight. The Belles have never been relegated, and they would have been playing to preserve that proud record, rallying the support of the town behind them in the process. This could have been a huge weekend for women’s football in Doncaster, driving publicity, interest and pride. Should. Would. Could. But won’t. Continue reading “On Why You Should Sound The Belles One Last Time” →

The Likes Of Doncaster

Re-Introducing The Likes of Doncaster

July 17, 2013May 9, 2020by glen wilson2 Comments

When teams get promoted they often see a change in playing personnel, occasionally a change of manager, and probably a change in supporter expectations too. At Doncaster Rovers we crank things up another notch; when Rovers are promoted the team also undertakes a change in name. Continue reading “Re-Introducing The Likes of Doncaster” →

Doncaster Rovers Belles

Silenced Belles; On the FA’s Rejection of the Doncaster Belles’ Appeal

June 29, 2013May 8, 2020by glen wilson10 Comments

Eight years ago I was elected as a Student Union officer. A month into my role the University reneged on an agreement to allow our Freshers Fair to be held in the Sports Hall – the only suitable venue – as they wanted to expand their enrolment process. I did my research, I sourced the numbers and equipment involved in each event, I scoured plans and timetables for the entire university, and I went to a meeting with a pro-vice chancellor ready to put across a very valid alternate option that satisfied both parties. Said Pro-Vice Chancellor, presumably having not expected a new officer to be so prepared and logical – let alone the Sports Officer – lost patience and became more and more exasperated before eventually yelling “You’re missing the point, this is already happening”. Continue reading “Silenced Belles; On the FA’s Rejection of the Doncaster Belles’ Appeal” →

Doncaster Rovers Belles

D-Day at the FA; On the Doncaster Belles’ Appeal

June 25, 2013May 8, 2020by glen wilson3 Comments

Hopefully this will be the last piece I write about the Doncaster Belles which doesn’t have a football match as its focus. With a bit of luck it will also be the last time I have the cause to write the word ‘relegation’ in inverted commas too. Today, following an adjournment a fortnight ago, the Belles will have their appeal heard by the FA, it is D-Day, the ‘D’ being for decency, as this will be the last chance to resolve this issue within the confines of football governance. Continue reading “D-Day at the FA; On the Doncaster Belles’ Appeal” →

football writing

Rovers’ 2013-14 Fixtures Released

June 19, 2013May 8, 2020by glen wilson1 Comment

The 2013-14 Football League fixtures are announced in the next few hours, always a fascinating day, not simply to see how the season will take shape, but also marvel at how much news agencies and official club websites can pad out what is in effect the publication of a list into a ‘news’ story. But as 24 hour rolling television news has shown us, its not necessarily about being right, just making sure you’re first with the breaking story. So to that end, we’ve got in quick, and the fanzine is delighted to bring you our own breaking news before it happens with our do-it-yourself fixture announcement news piece. Here you go… Continue reading “Rovers’ 2013-14 Fixtures Released” →