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?” →

playing away

The Long Weekend; five matches, five days, four countries

by glen wilson4 Comments on The Long Weekend; five matches, five days, four countries
The Long Weekend; five matches, five days, four countries

Doable. That’s Ralph’s verdict. It’s always Ralph’s verdict. And, as ever, that’s enough for you to agree to go along for the improbable; the unrecommended but ultimately possible. Wales Under 21s play in the Czech Republic’s northern tip on Monday evening. Within 24 hours of that final whistle the senior team kick-off 600 miles away in Serbia. Attending both is, apparently, doable. So you question not how, you simply book flights. And then, feeling confident, you chuck in three more games across Friday and Saturday, because if you’re going to commit to doing silly challenges like these things you should commit fully. Cardiff. Doncaster, twice. Jablonec. Novi Sad. Five matches. Five days. Four countries. Doable. Continue reading “The Long Weekend; five matches, five days, four countries” →

football and race, football writing

“Yes, I have got coloured blood – it’s red”

by Alan Patching6 Comments on “Yes, I have got coloured blood – it’s red”
“Yes, I have got coloured blood – it’s red”

In the latest issue of the print fanzine we were delighted to include a fascinating article by Jack the Miner on the late great Charlie Williams. So great was it that we felt it deserved a much wider audience than our issue 59 circulation, and so we’re delighted to reproduce it here on the website for the enjoyment of all. Continue reading ““Yes, I have got coloured blood – it’s red”” →

Rovers players

Jamie Coppinger’s Team-Mates – All 137 Of Them

by glen wilson2 Comments on Jamie Coppinger’s Team-Mates – All 137 Of Them
Jamie Coppinger’s Team-Mates – All 137 Of Them

 

It’s quite easy, particularly in the hyperbolic world of modern football, to oversell something, to exaggerate it’s standing or importance. However, even with that in mind, it is no exaggeration to call Jamie Coppinger’s departure from Doncaster on Friday night (hopefully temporarily we must add), the end of an era. Coppinger has been with Rovers since 2004, when they were beginning life in the third tier off the back of consecutive promotions, and has been central to everything the club has achieved since. Continue reading “Jamie Coppinger’s Team-Mates – All 137 Of Them” →