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” →

popular STAND fanzine

popular STAND fanzine issue 68

by popular STAND fanzineLeave a Comment on popular STAND fanzine issue 68
popular STAND fanzine issue 68

Issue 68 of popular STAND will be on sale ahead of Rovers’ home game with Wigan Athletic on Saturday 18th January. This is the fourth edition of the 2013-14 season and it is, as ever and always, still £1. And you’re getting even more for your money this issue as we’ve gone up to 40 pages. Yep, you heard me right missus, 40 pages; and only three mistakes within them too. The fanzine will be on sale at the South and West sides of the stadium from 1:30pm until kick-off. Any remaining copies will be available at Car-park Gate 2 after the game. Continue reading “popular STAND fanzine issue 68” →

Rovers managers

Doncaster Rovers Managers | David Menzies

by John CoyleLeave a Comment on Doncaster Rovers Managers | David Menzies
Doncaster Rovers Managers | David Menzies

Continuing his look at Doncaster Rovers managers, which was first published in the match programme over a decade ago, long-serving popular STAND contributor John Coyle, follows up his piece on Dick Ray with the man who took his place in the Rovers’ hot seat; David Menzies.
Continue reading “Doncaster Rovers Managers | David Menzies” →

Rovers managers

Doncaster Rovers Managers | Dick Ray

by John CoyleLeave a Comment on Doncaster Rovers Managers | Dick Ray
Doncaster Rovers Managers | Dick Ray

Back in 1998, during Rovers’ first season in non-league the matchday programme was put together by a group of very committed supporters, and an excellent job they did of it too. Among these men was long-serving popular STAND contributor John Coyle, with one of his contributions a series looking at the men who had managed the club from its return to the Football League in 1923 to the then present day. John has very kindly let us reproduce this series here on the popular STAND website, which we will do so chronologically over the coming weeks, leading us to begin with Dick Ray. Continue reading “Doncaster Rovers Managers | Dick Ray” →

match previews, rivalries

Why Doncaster Rovers Want to Beat Leeds United

by glen wilsonLeave a Comment on Why Doncaster Rovers Want to Beat Leeds United
Why Doncaster Rovers Want to Beat Leeds United

 

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

by glen wilsonLeave a Comment on Where Are They Now? Doncaster Rovers’ Conference Opponents
Where Are They Now? Doncaster Rovers’ Conference Opponents

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

by glen wilson4 Comments on The Likes of Doncaster – Episode Two; This Time It’s Personal
The Likes of Doncaster – Episode Two; This Time It’s Personal

 

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

by glen wilson17 Comments on Do Not Go Gentle; On John Ryan Stepping Down
Do Not Go Gentle; On John Ryan Stepping Down

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” →