In issue 104 of popular STAND, published to coincide with James Coppinger’s final game for Doncaster Rovers, editor Glen Wilson tried to comprehend life without the talismanic midfielder.
Continue reading “Turn On, Tune In, Copps Out”
Three relegations, two promotions, a best ever FA Cup run, ‘the experiment’, an epic play-off semi-final and that final minute at Griffin Park. It’s fair to say it’s not been a quiet decade for Doncaster Rovers. But who were the club’s stand put players through all that unrest and achievement? Continue reading “podular STAND podcast: the team of the decade episode”
In mid April with Doncaster Rovers still in pursuit of a place in the League One play-offs, popular STAND fanzine editor Glen Wilson sat down with the man who has come to define Doncaster Rovers; James Coppinger.
Before I crack on with what passes for a column in these parts, here are some words cribbed from Rovers fans on the internet. “This running round like a headless chicken just doesn’t cut it. I’ll drive him to his next club”… “He must’ve become a professional footballer through the Make-A-Wish foundation”… “Take any money offered and run, get someone who wants to play for the Rovers”. Continue reading “Marquis the sad? On a mystifying precedent”
In the last year or so, I have ceased to be a man of ritual. Saturday afternoons are not always the time of the match. Not for me. But that doesn’t mean I’ve taken leave. I may be on a train or at a desk, in a pub or perhaps a gallery, but no matter what the main distraction, come 2pm my hand inevitably fumbles for my phone. Who’s starting? But I’ve realised lately I don’t fully ingest what I find – meaning minutes later I have to look once again to check the full line-up. That’s because in truth I’m only scanning the starting XI for one name; that of James Coppinger. Continue reading “A tribute to James Coppinger: on 600 Doncaster Rovers appearances”
No transfer rumours for us. No detailed analysis of walk-in-the-park pre-season friendlies. Instead we decided to spend the summer getting our teeth into something more meaty. So, in episode nine of the podular STAND podcast we try and pin down The Definitive Doncaster Rovers XI of the 21st Century. Not the Best XI to have represented Rovers since the year 2000, but the players who most encapsulate what Rovers are about, and have been about in those seventeen years. Continue reading “podular STAND podcast: the team of the century episode”
Records, they say, are made to be broken: I write this on a weekend when Wayne Rooney has equalled Sir Bobby Charlton’s goal tally for Manchester United. Rooney will soon break that record, I’m sure, but in these days of sporting specialisation no-one will match one particular record with a strong Doncaster Rovers connection. I refer to the events of Monday 15 September 1975, when one man became the only one to play in a County Championship cricket match and a Football League fixture on the same day. Continue reading “Chris Balderstone, the last great footballing cricketer”
Some thoughts and words on what James Coppinger means to me, on the day he becomes Doncaster Rovers all-time record appearance holder. Continue reading “On watching James Coppinger”
They say you should never meet your heroes, but in March this year, editor Glen Wilson was able to do just that for issue 69 of popular STAND, and was far from disappointed. Barry Miller was Rovers’ club captain whilst the side was exiled in non-league just over a decade ago. Still living in Doncaster, he is now back with Rovers once again as the club chaplain, and remains one of the nicest men you will ever meet. Continue reading “The Big Interview: Barry Miller”
Another day, another piece of gold plucked from the pages of popular STAND as we continue our showcase of some of the best content from the fanzine last season. John Coyle has been writing for popular STAND since the very first issue back in 1998; a true font of Rovers knowledge, a gentleman, and, lucky for us (and you), a very engaging writer as well. In issue 68 he looked back at the career at Rovers’ forgotten international, the great Charlie Richards. Continue reading “Charles Richards – The Forgotten International”
popular STAND fanzine 