I’ve done several of these reports before and struck lucky with great games, high scores and talking points, but today my luck ran out. The immaculately observed Remembrance Day silence ultimately proved prophetic for pathetic Rovers.
Continue reading “Doncaster Rovers 0-1 King’s Lynn Town: 250 word match report”
The departure of Richie Wellens during the week before this FA Cup second round tie meant Gary McSheffrey, Rovers Under-18 coach, was in charge of his first senior match. The signs, though, were positive early on at a rain-lashed Keepmoat Stadium.
Continue reading “Doncaster Rovers 2-3 Mansfield Town: 250 word match report”
Slow, lethargic, in much need of an upgrade; I was in Scunthorpe to check out the new Pacer experience at Appleby Frodingham Railway.
Continue reading “Scunthorpe United 0-1 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report”
Going to watch football in 2020-21 wasn’t easy. Professional football was a lockout. And as local and national lockdowns came and went, so too did differing restrictions on was accessible. Even when I found games I could attend, navigating my way into them wasn’t always easy.
Continue reading “How I watched football: 2020-21”
Had this match been played out exclusively in the parts of the pitch that weren’t penalty area Rovers could be hugely satisfied, having moved the ball with a confidence that belied the divisional gap. But football doesn’t work that way and in the two 18-yard-boxes the clinical difference told; despite winning a dozen corners Rovers failed to test Wayne Hennessey, Palace were ruthless. Continue reading “Doncaster Rovers 0-2 Crystal Palace: 250 word match report”
Yes, that’s right this fanzine has a podcast. Still. After an extended period on gardening leave podular STAND has finally been risen from its slumber by FA Cup Fever. Not only has Doncaster Rovers’ best FA Cup run in over 60 years brought excitement to the town, it’s also managed to bring three of our regular contributors around a microphone for an hour. Continue reading “podular STAND podcast: the FA Cup fever episode”
Bosnia Herzegovina, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, USA, Deepdale. What connects these places? Well, the last one probably gave it away, but these are the dozen locations you would’ve needed to be in order to watch Rovers FA Cup match at Preston, live. Bumped 23 hours because supposedly the people of Skopje couldn’t get through a Burek brunch without Andy Butler heading everything in the background. Well, they’re only human. Continue reading “How do we solve a problem like the FA Cup?”
This was a cup tie, a dictionary definition of barnstormer. What felt like the whole of Oldham crammed in the Keepmoat Stadium North Stand; the wider vista bereft of red seats. The tie no-one wanted had gripped two towns and from the first whistle to the last there was a noise in your ears that didn’t relent.
Continue reading “Doncaster Rovers 2-1 Oldham Athletic: 700 word match report”
High among your fellow townsfolk, all in song; arms aloft, fists clenched, scarves twirling in the floodlight air, whilst down below your team – every one of them beaming – celebrate humbling loftier opposition. How could anyone ever suggest there’s no magic left in the FA Cup? Continue reading “Preston North End 1-3 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report”
I was having a pre-match pint when I read James Coppinger wasn’t in the squad. I contemplated staying put and ordering another. A text from a friend conveyed similar thoughts; ‘When I heard Coppinger wasn’t playing I almost went home’. Continue reading “Charlton Athletic 0-2 Doncaster Rovers: 250 word match report”
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