Category: football writing

football writing

On Passion in Football

by glen wilson2 Comments on On Passion in Football
On Passion in Football

With the former German international Thomas Hitzlsperger, and then Gainsborough Trinity’s Liam Davies, bravely taking the decision to publicly state their homosexuality last week there was much subsequent mumbling about how the macho, laddish world of football would handle the news. The fear was that most footballers and football fans simply wouldn’t be able to handle the concept of there being someone in their midst who wouldn’t sit in the corner of the changing rooms flicking through a copy of Nuts magazine pointing at the pages grunting “Bang that… and that”. Continue reading “On Passion in Football” →

fan issues, football writing

Not Going Away; On The Cost of Watching Football

by glen wilson1 Comment on Not Going Away; On The Cost of Watching Football

Football Supporters - Cost of Watching Football - popular STAND

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” →

football writing

Rovers’ 2013-14 Fixtures Released

by glen wilson1 Comment on Rovers’ 2013-14 Fixtures Released

doncaster belle vue fixturesThe 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” →

football writing

Talking a Good Game; On Becoming a Football Commentator

by glen wilsonLeave a Comment on Talking a Good Game; On Becoming a Football Commentator

Press Box at Crawley Town v Doncaster RoversA couple of years ago, in London for the weekend, I was invited to a house party somewhere in the middle of the city where I knew no-one bar the guy I had tagged along with. Between the lift and the door to the flat I asked who’s house party it was I was about to attend and what they did. “They’re in a sketch troupe,” was my mate’s answer, said as if that were a normal sentence that someone might say. “Oh right,” I replied, before pressing on, “but what do they do for a living?” “That,” he replied, “they’re in a sketch troupe,” and in we went. Continue reading “Talking a Good Game; On Becoming a Football Commentator” →

football writing

What if Paul Heffernan had just booted it into Asda car-park?

by glen wilsonLeave a Comment on What if Paul Heffernan had just booted it into Asda car-park?
What if Paul Heffernan had just booted it into Asda car-park?

In December 2005, Rovers came within a minute of knocking Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal side out of the League Cup, and reaching their first ever major trophy semi-final. In issue 52 of popular STAND fanzine, produced in April 2011, editor Glen Wilson looked back on that game and wondered… what if? Continue reading “What if Paul Heffernan had just booted it into Asda car-park?” →

football writing

Voice of the Pop Side: The Sheffield County Cup

by John CoyleLeave a Comment on Voice of the Pop Side: The Sheffield County Cup
Voice of the Pop Side: The Sheffield County Cup

As it’s getting close to Christmas we thought we’d offer you a treat by sharing one of the recent articles from our print fanzine online. In Issue 61 the Godfather of Doncaster Rovers fanzine writing and respected Voice of the Pop Side John Coyle turned his attention to the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup, and Rovers’ involvement in the now defunct competition. Continue reading “Voice of the Pop Side: The Sheffield County Cup” →

football writing

Great Things Gary Johnson Has Done

by glen wilsonLeave a Comment on Great Things Gary Johnson Has Done
Great Things Gary Johnson Has Done

Earlier this week we were admonished on twitter by fanzine reader and Yeovil fan Seb White who was none too impressed with a reference in Issue 60 to the “hot air boasts” of Glovers manager Gary Johnson. There is, we replied, much more where that comes from; most notably a whole double page feature penned by our now editor of popular STAND from back in February 2004. So here is that very article, which initially appeared in issue 25 of the fanzine, where Glen Wilson celebrates Great Things Gary Johnson Has Done. Continue reading “Great Things Gary Johnson Has Done” →

football writing, non-league football

A Doncastrian Non-League Day

by glen wilsonLeave a Comment on A Doncastrian Non-League Day
A Doncastrian Non-League Day

This Saturday sees the third annual ‘Non-League Day’. The brainchild of QPR fan James Doe, Non-League Day was initially launched to encourage fans of Championship and Premier League to use the international break in their own club’s fixtures to get along and support their local grassroots sides instead. The initiative has proved a huge success, and though Rovers may no longer be in the top two tiers of the game, popular STAND is still happy to endorse the day, and encourage any of you not making the trip to Hartlepool to get your football kicks with a local non-league side instead. Continue reading “A Doncastrian Non-League Day” →

football writing

What Next? A Fluffy Muff and a Matching Hat?

by Alan Patching1 Comment on What Next? A Fluffy Muff and a Matching Hat?
What Next? A Fluffy Muff and a Matching Hat?

I cannot be the only Rovers fan dismayed to see Adriano Rigoglioso wearing gloves against Brentford recently. God knows it’s bad enough living with the fact that Carl Alford was allowed to wear the sacred jersey but I never thought I’d see the day a Rovers player would wear gloves.
Continue reading “What Next? A Fluffy Muff and a Matching Hat?” →