Doncaster Rovers v Peterborough Matchday Magazine

THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY MAGAZINE / SEASON 2017/18 / ISSUE 4 / £3

TOMMY ROWE

MIDFIELD MAESTRO

DONCASTER ROVERS v PETERBOROUGH UNITED Sky Bet League One Saturday September 2, 2017 3pm kick-off

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Main club sponsor Virgin Trains Associate club sponsor Stoneacre Motor Group Technical kit supplier FBT Europe Chairman David Blunt Major shareholders Terry Bramall, David Blunt Directors Terry Bramall, David Blunt, Andy Watson, Gavin Baldwin Club director Stuart Highfield Chief executive Gavin Baldwin Commercial director Jim Lord FOOTBALL STAFF Manager Darren Ferguson Assistant manager Gavin Strachan Goalkeeping coach Paul Gerrard Fitness coach Ben Rome Physiotherapist Alex Dalton Club doctor Dr Tim Douglas CLUB STAFF Head of administration & football operations Mary Lally Head of stadium & operations Marie Hepburn Head groundsman Jim Davison Director of finance Richard Poole Head of commercial affairs Andrew Whitham Lottery manager Ken Porter Ticket manager Tracy Bawden Head of marketing & communications Shaun Lockwood Media manager Luke Thornhill Marketing manager Mark Hughesman Supporter liaison officers Craig Gleadhall Dean Medcalf, Shelia Lynch CLUB DONCASTER FOUNDATION Chair of trustees Linda Tully Trustees Gavin Baldwin, Nigel Brewster, Natalie Shaw, Allan Stewart, Rupert Suckling, John Wallbank Executive director Jim Lord Head of Foundation John Davis NCS programme manager Jan Budtz CLUB DONCASTER SPORTS COLLEGE Principal Adi Turnpenny Deputy principals Joe Burton, Ben Thompson PROGRAMME Contributors Clare Bailey, Robbie Andrews, John Coyle, Ryan Daly, Alex Gibbings, Sophie Scargill, Paul Mayfield, Nicola Moran Photography Phil Ryan, AH Pix, Stephen Connor, Heather King, Rex Features, Rob Terrace Design Sandile Somhedlwana, Hannah Moore Print Pinders of Sheffield

CONTENTS 05

DARREN FERGUSON

07

GAVIN BALDWIN

08

TOMMY ROWE

17

OPPOSITION

29

JUNIOR ROVERS

34

COMMERCIAL

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SUPPORTERS

Club Doncaster and Doncaster Rovers treats discriminatory anti-social behaviour seriously and wants to ensure the enjoyment of the match for all. If you experience anti-social behaviour close to you, please report it to the nearest steward or police officer. We also offer an anonymous ‘safe text’ service to enable supporters to report their concerns quickly and easily by text message. Please send a text with your location and the location of the offence – e.g. block, row, seat - to 07825012850 with one of the following: FOUL (language & behaviour) SMOKE (smoking in the stadium) RACISM (racist chanting & shouting) STAND (standing up) HPH (homophobic chanting) DRINK (drinking alcohol in view of the pitch) PYRO (use of or intended use of any pyrotechnic or smoke bomb) Each message costs one standard text at your local rate.

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A word from the manager

Darren Ferguson Welcome back to the Keepmoat Stadium.

I would like to welcome Grant McCann as well as the supporters, players and staff of Peterborough United - a club I know well after many good years with them.

They have started well and are playing with confidence, and I wish them well after today.

Today is an opportunity for us to show that last Saturday’s loss at AFC Wimbledon was a one-off. They deserved the victory and we struggled to get back into the game. Supporters turned up in numbers and we wish we had been able to put on a better performance for them - we were nowhere near the level we need to get to.

But the players know exactly what is expected of them, and overall we have had a positive start to the season. The result at Grimsby Town on Tuesday rounded off a good August for us: we feel performances perhaps merited a point or two more, but we can feel confident about where we are after seven competitive games. It’s still really early doors in the season, though, and we need a few more games under our belt before we really start evaluating where we are.

regularly in the first-team to come in and show me what they can do. Marko made some great saves to win the penalty shootout for the bonus point which is a real bonus, but even without that I’d have been delighted with the performance.

I know many of you will be looking forward to a trip to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup. It is a great draw for the club, but for now all our focus is on the four league games we have before then - these are all important matches for us.

I would like to extend a warm welcome back to Jordan Houghton, who joined up with us for training again on Thursday.

He made a real impact while on loan with us this season, he was a popular figure in the dressing room and I’m confident we can have a really good future with us.

Enjoy the game.

I was delighted with the players at Grimsby Town on Tuesday night. It was a chance for players who have not featured

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W AT C H A F I L M

K N I R D H AV E A

READ A BOOK S W O C T A M A E R D Y DA OUT THE WINDOW

(Maybe they’re daydreaming back at

you. Deep!)

Thoughts of the chief executive

Gavin Baldwin Welcome back to the Keepmoat Stadium for the visit of Peterborough United. I would like to welcome the owners, fans, players and staff of the Posh.

As we enter September we can look back on a very positive opening month of the season. We sit mid-table in Sky Bet League One and have progressed through two rounds of the Carabao Cup. We will look forward to a trip to the Emirates Stadium in the third round of the competition, and I hope everyone who makes the trip down to the capital has a great day out.

We have brought the general sale forward two days to September 12, after listening to feedback from supporters.

Arsenal’s cut-off point for coaches was going to be before tickets went to general sale so, after speaking to the Official Supporters Club, we brought the date forward.

We aspire to be fans-focused in everything we do, and this is just another example.

And fair play to Paul Mayfield, Len South and other Official Supporters Club volunteers who have given up their own time - including taking time off work to spend time in our Box Office taking coach bookings.

have high standards, and we head into September full of belief after a positive August concluded with us winning a dramatic penalty shootout to claim a bonus point in the Checkatrade Trophy at Blundell Park. We are confident of building on the good start over the coming months.

I continue to be blown away by the response to the DNA Card, and recently we’ve had some real success partnering with local businesses.

We have seen local companies such as Brewster Pratap and Doncaster Chamber sign up their employees as members, giving their staff access to all the benefits it entails. It is a sign of the scheme really maturing as we ensure Club Doncaster works hard to generate benefits for our football club.

Earlier this week we confirmed that our next Meet The Owners event will take place on Monday September 11.

It will be an event tinged with sadness as we approach it without Dick Watson for the first time, but I hope to see plenty of people there to question Darren, myself and the board as we continue our exciting progress.

Enjoy the game.

We still have plenty of games left before taking on the Gunners, and no one at the club is going to get ahead of ourselves.

Darren Ferguson and his coaching staff

07

8

#10

TOMMY ROWE When Tommy Rowe steps out on to the field to face his old club Peterborough this afternoon, both sets of fans will recognise a player who wears his heart on his sleeve and has quality in abundance.

Tommy’s promotion from Sky Bet League Two with Rovers last season added to the one he earned back in the 2010/11 season as Posh made it into the second tier.

as a player and I wouldn’t be the player I am today without the ups and downs at Peterborough.

“The expectation level there is massive, both inside and outside of the club they always expect big things no matter what league they are in.

“It made a lot of people take note, players were getting the plaudits and I think that is the main reason why the It was during his time at club made so much money London Road where Rowe on a lot of transfers.” gained a reputation as “I’ve got really fond one of the most highly memories. I wouldn’t Rowe draws similarities rated players outside be the player I am today between both sets of of the Premier League, without the ups and squads he has been something which he will downs at Peterborough” involved with, in always be grateful for. particular the style of play implemented by “I’ve got really fond Darren Ferguson. memories from my time there, it was five years of development for me from a young “There were a lot of similarities in the boy and leaving as captain,” he says. way we played last season, there were games when we could score a lot of “We had some great times, they were testing from the start which improved me goals,” he says.

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“The philosophy has always been to be solid at the back and keep clean sheets, if we can do that then we know we’ll score goals at the other end.

“The things that get drilled into the new crop of players when they sign, I’ve envisioned those things all the way through my career with the manager and I know exactly what to do on the field.

“There are always new things that he tries to implement so I’m still new to quite a few things that we’re doing which is good as it allows me personally to adapt.”

The midfielder is pleased with the progress Rovers have made since he joined the club, having just started his second full season at the Keepmoat Stadium.

“There has been a lot of progression over the past year since I signed permanently, we knew a good season in League Two would set the club up for a bright future,” he says.

“It’s often the case that teams get relegated and it makes them stronger once they get promoted again, it’s given us a chance to change the way the club is run.

“The move to come here was all about buying into what the club is trying to do.

“I had a lot of compassion to those I worked with during my time on loan and I really wanted to work with those people again. I knew that the coaching staff had a

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winning mentality, as did I, and it worked out well in the end that we had such a good season last year.”

The 28-year-old, who scored 13 goals in Sky Bet League Two last season, believes he can still improve within a Rovers side which is full of experienced players.

“For me I want to produce performances every week that can help the team, if I can meet my targets individually then I know I’m doing my job,” says Rowe.

“The one thing that we have in abundance is team spirit, it was key for us last season and we want that to be the case again when we need to pull together this season.

“We’ve not got the biggest of squads so knowing that we have good players coming back from injury means that everyone is on their toes in training.”

Rowe was joined in the summer by another former Peterborough player in the shape of Danny Andrew, someone he believes has had a good impact in his first few appearances for the club.

“It’s still very early days this season but the boys that have just come in have been great, I knew Danny from Peterborough and he’s a really good player,” he says.

“The players that came in last year had a huge effect, both in their individual performances and the way we clicked as a team as well. We know that League One is a lot tougher than the last time we

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS were in it, we’ll have to concentrate more and we’ve seen in the first few games that we have to focus.”

When assessing Sky Bet League One as a whole, Rowe reckons Rovers have a point to prove from the last time they were in this division.

To continue the interview with the midfielder we asked him a few quickfire questions about more quirky topics.

OR

“The main thing for us is not setting too many benchmarks but just improving game by game, as that’s what got us promoted last season,” he adds.

“We want to finish as high as possible, but we will only succeed in doing that if we take it game by game and continue to work hard in training.

OR

“It’s early doors. I think we can be positive about how we have approached games so far, it is a step up or us being in the division above what we played in last season.

“We’ve had a few injuries and in a strange sort of way that can help the squad become closer, we know that the team we have can grow and improve week by week.

“There was a lot of talk last year that the way we played would be suited to League One, and now being here there is a reality that we have to go and show it.

“I don’t set myself personal goals other than trying to improve constantly, so if I can manage to match my goals tally from last season then I’ll feel I have contributed to the team.”

OR

OR

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NEWS Rodney Kongolo is keen to make an impact during his loan spell at Doncaster Rovers.

The Manchester City midfielder played the final half hour at AFC Wimbledon last Saturday having started in both the club’s Carabao Cup wins.

“Everybody has been great since I came in, the manager is a very good coach and he wants to help me improve and he has worked with me a lot already,” he said.

“It’s very different to what I’m used to, the levels are much higher, and you have to perform well in this league compared to the under 23s, but this is a good level of football and it’s one that I like, I’m really enjoying my football.

“I just want to improve myself and help the team out, the team plays just the way I like and it suits me very well, and there is a lot of quality in this side and

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this will only help me to improve too.”

Saturday’s loss at AFC Wimbledon was frustrating, but Kongolo expects a reaction from his teammates.

“It’s never nice to lose and the way that they played made it very difficult for us to play, the weather conditions didn’t help us too, that made it very hard for us,” Kongolo said.

“The pitch was very dry and sticky, the ball just didn’t drop for us and that didn’t help, but we’ve got to keep going and this is only the first game we’ve lost all season so we have to make things right in the next game.”

Jordan Houghton is raring to go after completing a loan return to Doncaster Rovers.

The 21-year-old midfielder made 36 appearances for Rovers in the 2016/17 promotion-winning campaign, before returning to parent club Chelsea for treatment on a knee injury.

He will now come back to the Keepmoat Stadium on loan until January 3 2018.

He said: “I’m really excited to be back. It has been a long road to recovery, but I have come through it now and feel strong.

“I’ve played a few times for Chelsea’s U23

side and feel very good, I can’t wait to get going.”

Houghton was a regular at Rovers’ games even after his loan, and said the welcome he received from supporters played a big part in him agreeing to return.

He added: “There were other clubs interested, but I felt it was right for everyone really to come back here after so much success last season.

“I really enjoyed it last season. A lot of fans on social media and at games have been good to me after I suffered the injury, and I felt I wanted to come back and be part of it again.”

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TRIBUTE : BILL GREEN Former Rovers player Bill Green passed away suddenly last week.

A native of Newcastle – upon – Tyne, Bills’ first club was Hartlepool.

Joining them in 1969, he soon made an impression at the Victoria Ground, and was made first-team captain at the age of 20. After four years at that club – more than 130 league appearances included – he was transferred to Carlisle United for £15,000 in 1973, and it was while at Brunton Park that he enjoyed maybe the highlights of his playing career. His first season at the club resulted in United gaining promotion to the old First Division with Bill at the heart of the Cumbrians’ defence. His sterling displays at centre-half naturally drew the attentions of the bigger clubs, and, at one stage, United were offered £150,000 for him by West Ham, but declined the offer.

The following season saw Carlisle in the First Division for the first time, and, following an opening day victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where Bill scored the opening goal in a 2-0 shock win for the visitors, the Cumbrians were atop the league table for the only time in their history. Bill did not miss a game all season, but, while Carlisle were relegated at the end of the season, their moment in the limelight had been assured.

West Ham continued to monitor Bill;s progress from afar, and, after and although he moved to the Boleyn Ground in July, 1976 after almost 120 league appearances for Carlisle, it was for a

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fee appreciatively lower than that which had been offered earlier. He made his league debut for the Hammers early that same season. He went on to total 35league appearances over two seasons before being released

by West Ham when they were relegated in 1978, scoring in his last league game, against Liverpool, his only league goal for the club.

Bill spent the 1978/79 season at Peterborough (30 league appearances), before joining Chesterfield in June 1979 for a fee of £40,000. He soon became something of a hero at Saltergate, perhaps the highlight being the capture of the 1980/81 Anglo Scottish Cup, when he skippered the side to victory over Notts County, having defeated Glasgow Rangers earlier in the competition. His four seasons with the Spireites 160 league appearances, and it was perhaps a surprise when Billy Bremner signed the 32-year-old defender for Rovers in June 1983. Bill was limited to just 11 league appearances in what turned out to be his last season, although he did manage to score his only league goal for the Rovers in a 1-4 defeat at Torquay in October, 1983. His last appearance in a Rovers shirt came at home to Peterborough in March, 1984.

A knee injury ended his career, but he was never likely to be lost from the game he loved. He served a number of clubs in many roles, most recently at Premier League side Southampton.

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HEAD TO HEAD

COMPLETE RESULT TABLE COMPETITON FOOTBALL LEAGUE

FA CUP

LEAGUE CUP

EFL Trophy GRAND TOTAL

P W D L F A H 18 7 3 8 24 33 A 18 6 4 8 21 34 N 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 36 13 7 16 45 67 H 0 0 0 0 0 0 A 1 0 0 1 2 5 N 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 1 0 0 1 2 5 H 1 0 1 0 0 0 A 1 0 0 1 0 1 N 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 2 0 1 1 0 1 H 0 0 0 0 0 0 A 0 0 0 0 0 0 N 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 0 0 0

39 13 8 18 47 73 17

AWAY TEAM PETERBOROUGH UNITED

TOP STOPPER Signed on loan from Reading this summer, goalkeeper Jonathan Bond will be keen to cement his place as a No.1.

The former Watford man signed for the Royals in 2015 on a three-year deal, after spending much of his time at Vicarage Road either on the bench or out on loan, with spells at Brackley Town, Forest Green Rovers, Dagenham & Redbridge and Bury between 2011 & 2012.

He spent the first part of last season with Gillingham, making seven appearances for the Kent club.

He is a man with international experience too, starting out with the Welsh U17 and U19, even being called up by senior team, but without making an appearance, before switching allegiance to England.

1

JONATHAN BOND

MIDFIELD MAESTRO Midfield star Marcus Maddison is just one of a long list of players that Darren Ferguson has plucked from non-league and has since become a star at their league club.

Signed by Ferguson from Gateshead in 2014, Maddison quickly made an impact at London Road, scoring eight goals in 30 games in all competitions, as well as earning October 2014’s Football League Young Player of the Month award.

A former Newcastle youth player, Maddison had spent the season before with Gateshead, scoring 13 league goals in 34 games from midfield.

He is well-known for his spectacular strikes from distance, from both dead ball situations or in open play, and he has been a key player for the Posh.

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11

MARCUS MADDISON

DEFENSIVE ROCK Captain Jack Baldwin has been at London Road since 2014, joining the club following spells with non-league Faversham Town and Hartlepool.

Capable of playing at the heart of defence and in midfield, Baldwin put his sports therapy studies on hold in 2011, instead signing a professional contract with Hartlepool. He was a virtual ever-present in the Pools’ team, and was not afraid to pop with a goal or two as well, quickly attracting interest from teams from higher leagues.

JACK BALDWIN

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He joined Posh on deadline day in January 2014, and quickly established himself in the first team, helping United to a play-off place. A serious knee injury meant he missed a large part of the following season, but he worked his way back into the side.

DEADLY STRIKER An impressive 42 goals in 43 games for Dover Athletic last season was enough to earn hotshot Ricky Miller a move to London Road this summer.

RICKY MILLER

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The 28-year-old Peterborough-born striker has spent much of his career in non-league. Aside from last season with Dover, one of Miller’s more fruitful spells was with Boston United back in 2014, scoring 28 goals in 46 games, being named Conference North Player of the Year that season. This earned him a move to League Two club, Luton Town, but after struggling to establish himself in the side, he joined Dover, initially on loan, before joining permanently in 2015.

The next two years saw him score 60 league goals in just 86 appearances, including 40 last season.

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JOINT FIVE-A-SIDE GOALKEEPER Paul CRICHTON After starting his career with Nottingham Forest, it was not until numerous loan spells later that Critchton had his first real run in professional football when he joined Peterborough in 1998. He made 47 appearances during his time at London Road as he secured a regular spot in

DEFENDERS Danny ANDREW The left-sided player started his career with Peterborough. He made just a handful of appearances for Posh and had loan spells with Tamworth, Kidderminster Harriers and Cheltenham Town before securing a permanent move to the Robins. Andrew played 54 games across four seasons at Whaddon Road, which again included spending time out on loan on a number of occasions. The 26-year-old dropped down to non-league with Gloucester City before signing for Macclesfield in 2013.

He then spent three seasons at Fleetwood before joining Grimsby after their promotion back to the EFL. An impressive season with the Mariners, where he swept the board at their Player of the Season Awards, led to him signing for Doncaster, where he linked up again with Darren Ferguson – the man who gave him his debut in professional football.

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the starting XI. His consistent displays attracted the attention of Rovers, who secured his services after three seasons with Peterborough. Critchton made a big impression at Belle Vue and played 77 times for Rovers during his time with the club. He went on to play more than 100 times for GrimsbyTown after leaving South Yorkshire, before spells with West Bromwich Albion and Burnley.

Craig ALCOCK The versatile defender started his career with Yeovil Town, making his professional debut for the Glovers in 2005. He made more than 100 appearances over seven seasons at Huish Park, before Darren Ferguson made the move to take him to Peterborough for a fee of ÂŁ100,000. He went on to become a first team regular at London Road, performing consistently in both the Sky Bet Championship and Sky Bet League One. He then made the move to South Yorkshire to sign for Sheffield United in 2014, but made played just 27 games for the club before being reunited with Ferguson at Doncaster late in 2015. The move was initially on loan, before impressing and making the move permanent.

Alcock is now into his second full season with Rovers having gained promotion back to Sky Bet League One.

MIDFIELDER Tommy ROWE Rowe started his career with Stockport County, making a real name for himself at Edgeley Park. He made 72 appearances for County before the club’s financial difficulties led to Peterborough United

snapping him up in 2009 following their promotion to the Sky Bet Championship.

Rowe went on to flourish in the higher divisions and across six seasons at London Road, scored 23 goals in 175 games as he helped the club become an established League One team following relegation. He was handed the captaincy before being released in 2014. He then joined Wolves before a move to Rovers in the summer of 2016.

STRIKER Emile SINCLAIR Started his career with his hometown club Nottingham Forest before loan spells with Brentford, Mansfield Town and Macclesfield earned him a permanent move to the latter in 2009. He made 78 appearances during his time at Moss Rose before Darren Ferguson signed him at Peterborough. Sinclair scored a double on his full debut for the club against Hull City, and went on to score 13 goals in 47 games at London Road. Loan moves to Barnsley and Doncaster followed, the one with Rovers coming in the Sky Bet League One title winning season of 2012/13.

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MY WEEK: HEAD GROUNDSMAN The Keepmoat Stadium is home to Rovers, as well as the Belles and the Dons rugby league side. James Davison talks us through his week MONDAY If we had a Dons game on the Sunday we’d remove the goal posts then set about cleaning the pitch up.

We use 21in rotary mowers, which are just like a garden mower, but put a nice finish on the pitch and pick up the little bits up that can become detrimental in the season.

We may use a recovery spray, which just reinvigorates the pitch after being played on. My lads will also get on with divoting - a thankless task, but a really important one.

TUESDAY With a fixture at the weekend we may rest the pitch, depending on how much damage was done the previous weekend.

Sometimes we may need to divot again.

We get other bits and pieces done aroudn the stadium - we’ve had a massive job cleaning the concrete and Tarmac around the stadium bowl since the start of pre-season.

WEDNESDAY We are now turning our attention to the weekend’s game. We slowly but surely start taking the cut down to the required length for the weekend.

We might take it down in 2mm increments. We have equipment which tell us exactly how long it is - it could have

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put five or six mm on since the last game which we take off slowly but surely. We cut twice a day from now until the match.

THURSDAY The pitch is nearly down to where it should be, the lads will start stringing out when they cut.

The pitch is cut twice again. We pride ourselves on the pitch looking smart. We might put a nice pattern on depending on the fixture and the time we have to prepare it.

We have to think about advertising boards, as well as any repairs which need making to the goals.

We don’t have the warm-up goals in the same place for consecutive weeks, we alternate so it wears the pitch out slowly but surely rather than all in one place.

We have a pre-match meeting which takes an hour at least, telling other departments within the club exactly what we intend to do with the pitch. I need to know if there are any changes required to the advertising boards.

FRIDAY The day before the match is another long walk for the lads.

The grass grows that quick, and it is testamant to my team that they will walk the miles needed to present the pitch in

the style required for matchday. We are making sure all the damage to the pitch has been repaired.

MATCHDAY 7.30am: We start arriving early, though as we get into autumn we will start losing the light so we may have to push this back a bit later. The lads might have to brush the pitch and it is double cut again.

12noon: We have to get some water on the pitch before anyone arrives, which is something we have to do with a Desso pitch.

2pm: Darren Ferguson likes a lot of water on the pitch which leads to some mishaps when people get caught up in it - we don’t do it on purpose, but if he asks me to put water on I only have a short window to get it on in certain areas.

If you see wet dancers or the flagbearers then there’s not much we can do about it.

3.45pm: We have a small window between the end of the first half and the start of the second to do some divoting and get some water on the pitch.

5pm: After the game the lads mow the pitch, pick all the bits up. We use a recovery spray to help the pitch and give us a headstart for the following week.

6pm: We’ll still be knocking about the stadium at this point finishing off little jobs, and preparing for the Dons or Belles if they have a home game the following day.

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YOUTH TEAM FIXTURES YOUTH ALLIANCE LEAGUE Sat Aug 5 Grimsby Town Sat Aug 12 Bradford City Sat Aug 26 Bury (YL Cup) Sat Sep 2 Sat Sep 9 Sat Sep 16 Sat Sep 23 Sat Sep 30

Scunthorpe United Mansfield Town Cup group match 2 Oldham Athletic Chesterfield

Sat Oct 7 Sat Oct 14 Sat Oct 28

Cup group match 3 Hartlepool United Notts County

Sat Nov 4 Sat Nov 11 Sat Nov 18

Cup group match 4 Rotherham United Lincoln City

CENTRAL LEAGUE Tues Sept 5 Bradford City 2pm Tues Sept 19 Rotherham 2pm Wed Oct 4 Port Vale 2pm Tues Oct 10 Walsall (CL Cup) 2pm Tues Nov 7 Hartlepool 2pm Tues Nov 14 Port Vale (CL Cup) 1pm Tues Dec 12 Walsall 2pm Tues Jan 9 Morecambe 1pm Tues Jan 16 Bradford City 2pm Tues Jan 23 Port Vale 1pm Tues Jan 30 Mansfield Town 1pm Tues Feb 6 Rotherham 2pm Tues Feb 27 York City 1pm Tues Mar 20 Grimsby Town 2pm Tues Mar 27 Walsall 1pm Tues April 10 Morecambe 1pm

Sat Dec 2 Sat Dec 9 Sat Dec 16

Burton Albion Cup area quarter- finals York City

Bold denotes home fixture All Youth Allaince fixtures are 11am kick-off unless stated

Sat Jan 6 Sat Jan 13 Sat Jan 20 Sat Jan 27

Mansfield Town Cup area semi-finals Scunthorpe United Chesterfield

Sat Feb 3 Sat Feb 10 Sat Feb 24

Cup area final Oldham Athletic Notts County

Sat Mar 3 Sat Mar 17 Sat Mar 24

Hartlepool United Lincoln City Rotherham United

Sat Apr 7 Sat Apr 14 Sat Apr 21 Sat Apr 28

York City Burton Albion Grimsby Town Bradford City

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L 0-3 L1-2 L 0-4

Words from the Academy manager

KIERAN SCARFF Our Academy staff have been busy over the past few months putting together our Academy Audit Submission. This has been a huge piece of work.

The work has entailed putting together a comprehensive Academy Performance Plan which essentially says how we work to meet the requirements of the Premier League and the EFL. I am very pleased to say that this piece of work has now been submitted and I would like to thank all the members of staff across the academy and whole club who have provided great support to ensure the work was comprehensively completed. As staff, our job is to make sure we continue to work in the way we say we do ahead of the formal audit process later in the season.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Paul Driver to the club. Paul has been youth team manager at Luton Town for a number of seasons and has overseen

numerous players who have gone onto receive professional contracts. Paul will work with our youth team manager Paul Stancliffe to support the development of our youth team players.

This appointment allows John Schofield to have greater flexibility to develop and monitor the development squad programme that provides an additional and vital step between youth team and first team football.

Our players have got coaches with great experience and enthusiasm, giving them a great opportunity to continue their development.

Good luck to the gaffer, the staff and players ahead of today’s game.

During midweek a young team including six under 16s beat Wigan 1-0. This performance was highlighted by the positive impact of a number of the younger players and is something that the youth team staff are looking to see more of. Youth team manager Paul Stancliffe said “The performance was very encouraging with a number of very positive performances coming from our under 16 players and under 17 players returning from injury.”

The Under 18s lost the first group match of the Youth Alliance Cup, losing 4-0 away to Bury. In what has become a familiar story this season, the youngsters saw themselves in the game for long periods but four examples of poor defending saw them heavily punished. The final two goals were in the last 10 minutes of the game. Academy manager Kieran Scarff said: “The players are learning some harsh lessons in respect of concentration, a simple desire to defend set pieces and the need to improve their tactical understanding. There was nothing in the game for long spells but the harsh lesson is that by giving up chances we are making it difficult to get a positive result.”

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TEN YEARS AGO: DONCASTER ROVERS IN SEASON 2007-08. Part 3 On Saturday September 1 2007 Rovers travelled to the Liberty Stadium in search of their first win of the League campaign.

They would face another of the preseason favourites in Swansea City.

James Coppinger was absent with an ankle injury, but that was offset to a degree by the return of Brian Stock (pictured) making his first appearance of the season.

Rovers gave a first outing to their new blue-and-white hooped change shirts. The first half was evenly contested but Rovers fell behind just before the interval when Neil Sullivan could only parry Robinson’s low drive into the path of Jason Scotland, who scored.

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Sullivan redeemed himself early in the second half with a good save from Ferre Bodde, and the Swansea man was to be involved in the game’s turning point in the 62nd minute.

Bodde appeared to aim a headbutt at Stock during an altercation and was sent off.

Six minutes later Rovers made the extra man count, James Hayter pulling the ball back to Richie Wellens who scored with a fierce shot from the edge of the area.

With six minutes left Rovers secured an important win when Wellens latched onto a clearance and scored with a 25yard drive.

Rovers had their first league win of the season and moved to 13th in the table.

The following Tuesday saw Rovers start their defence of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy

with a home tie against League Two side Bradford City.

Manager Sean O’Driscoll took the opportunity to make changes, but Rovers still enjoyed a commanding first half.

Mark McCammon headed in James O’Connor’s cross after 16 minutes and Lewis Guy made it 2-0 from Paul Heffernan’s pass.

Heffernan then set up McCammon for his second and Rovers’ third before the interval.

O’Driscoll used the second half to make further changes with goalkeeper Ben Smith, defender Sam Hird and forward Bruce Dyer all coming off the bench for their first outings of the season.

It made no difference to the outcome: Martin Woods made it 4-0 with a 20-yard shot and after Nix pulled a goal back Rovers secured a fifth when Thomas Harban sliced Guy’s centre into his own net. Rovers would host Oldham Athletic in the next round.

The next League game was on the Friday evening at Northampton Town and 853 Rovers fans travelled in hope of a third successive win.

J. J. Price had taken part in a practice match but was not yet quite ready for a return to action.

Coppinger was still out and Graeme Lee was training but had not yet been cleared to start heading the ball.

O’Driscoll sent out the same XI that had won at Swansea for the match at Sixfields.

Rovers dominated the first half and were only prevented from taking the lead by the excellence of home goalkeeper Mark Bunn, who made excellent saves from Mark Wilson and McCammon.

Their failure to score came back to bite them early in the second half when Jones’s pass found Ryan Gilligan who chipped over Sullivan from the edge of the box to put Town in front.

Rovers poured forward in search of an equaliser but found Bunn in unbeatable form.

He saved from McCammon and O’Connor, then produced a brilliant point-blank effort to stop Hayter’s close-range shot.

With 19 minutes left Town’s Andy Kirk scrambled in a second from close range and this seemed to deflate Rovers, who ended up losing a game they had largely dominated 2-0.

This defeat left them 17th in League One and seemingly a long way from the optimism of a few weeks earlier.

John Coyle

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PROUD SUPPLIER OF DONCASTER ROVERS FC 2017/18 KIT

AWAY SHIRTS AVAILABLE IN THE CLUB SHOP, WHY NOT SHOW YOUR TEAM SPIRIT AND FLY THE ROVERS AWAY COLOURS AT THE UPCOMING MATCH AGAINST THE ARSENAL! SHOP OPEN 10AM - 4:25PM MONDAY - SATURDAY MATCH DAYS 10AM UNTIL KICK OFF AND 20 MINUTES AFTER THE MATCH. GET IN TOUCH VIA 28

01302764667 WWW.CLUBDONCASTERSHOP.COM

Hello everyone, Welcome to our game against the Posh and thank you all for travelling today. I will let you all into a secret I am very good friends with Peter Burrow and I am really hoping he will be here with us today.

I am over the moon to have drawn Arsenal away in the Carabao Cup. I have only seen the Emirates on TV and met my friend Gunnersaurus a couple of years ago when the ladies played here. It would be great if we could all go, long way and late night for most of us though!

Donny DOg

Peter Burrow!

Playing with my friend Lennon in my Kennel!

Keeping fit!

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30

31

Today’s Mascots

JAyden Race

Age: 8 Hobbies: Football Favourite Player: Copps, Marquis and May

Tyler Jones

Age: 13 Favourite Player: James Coppinger

Happy Birthday Matthew Baldwin Alec Beddows Joe Belshaw Harvey Bissell Lewis Blackburn Sophie Bleakley Adam Clark Joshua Cockett Mercedes Cousins Kian Cowlishaw Daniel Creaser Kian Critchley George Davies Toby Dryden Oliver Fardell George Fisher Scott Halbert Thomas Harrington Libby Hickman Toby Hopson Lloyd Horridge

Leo Kearns Daisy Lambert Thomas LancBaxter Gracie Leach Becky McGlone James McNally Jersey May Morton Finley Oades Ellie Payne Max Peart Oliver Quinn Luke Rayner Liam Richardson George Smith Oliver Storey Jacob Swales Charlie Tierney Jamie Tomlinson Archie Walshaw Blake Wilson

Lost your friends or family? If you become separated just find your nearest steward – they are the people wearing the bright orange jacket – and they will help you find them!

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Donny’s Score Prediction

2-0

Erik’s Score Prediction

3-1

Want to get involved? Book onto our next course fitrovers@clubdoncasterfoundation.co.uk 01302 764663 // 07841000548

OFFICIAL PARTNERS OF DONCASTER ROVERS Platinum+ Partners

Platinum Partners

partners Gold Partners

Silver Partners

HSR Law Solicitors

Eric Twigg Foods

The Horse Bit Shop

John Mee Construction

8Point8

Bronze Partners Moirae Creative Agency Signum Facilities Management CopyPrint Bawtry Home Cinema

Doncaster Cables Fast Fit Car + Commercial Andrew Isaacs Solicitors Atherton Godfrey Solicitors

John Hill Associate Keid Consulting YESSS Electrical Bidfood CAST

Dickies Workwear Frenchgate Fleet Direct Taskmaster Jenkinson Electrical

COMMERCIAL There has been a real buzz around the club this after the draw for the third round of the Carabo Cup. We could not have got a better draw.

Arsenal will be a massive game and one that we are all very much looking forward to.

Concentrating more on matters at hand, today’s fixture against Darren Ferguson’s old team will be a tough one.

Rovers may have been beaten at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, but we have had a great start to the season and the lads are determined to put things right.

Peterborough will face an in form side and a real goal machine in the form of pocket rocket Alfie May! Let’s all get behind the team and hope to caim our first three points at home this season!

This is the first opportunity to welcome new shirt sponsors Virgin Trains as

Legends’ Club members chose Alfie May as their Man of the Match against Blackpool He is pictured with Phoebe from The Horse Bit Shop.

our official match sponsors. There is a significant link between the two clubs as both Doncaster and Peterborough are stops on the East Coast Main Line.

We welcome their party today who will enjoy a VIP stadium tour, fine dining and Man of the Match presentations.

Our matchball sponsors are Pinders.

Established in 1938, Pinders have extensive experience in servicing the needs of creative and marketing people by providing a comprehensive range of high end print, copying and scanning services, indoor and outdoor exhibition services and display graphics, as well as an in-house signage department providing signage solutions indoor and outdoor.

To find out more about how Doncaster Rovers could benefit your business, or to speak to us about hospitality packages, please call the team on 01302 764665 or email commercial@clubdoncaster.co.uk.

Our match sponsors Daniel Calow and friends picked Danny Andrew as their Man of the Match against Blackpool.

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PLAYER SPONSORS

IAN LAWLOR

CRAIG ALCOCK

GOALKEEPER

DANNY ANDREW

DEFENDER

Sponsored by

DEFENDER

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

PETER AND NICK VUCKOVIC

Home

Home

In Memory of Tim Holl

01

Away

02

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

Home

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Away

Away

05

DEFENDER

Sponsored by Home

DRFC Supporters Club - Main Branch

06

NIALL MASON

RODNEY KONGOLO

Away

DRFC Supporters Club - North Branch

JOHN MARQUIS

MIDFIELDER

MIDFIELDER

Away ANDREW BUTLER

Sewa Singh

April Thomas

07

03

Away

DEFENDER

MIDFIELDER

04

Retford Supporters Club

MATHIEU BAUDRY

LUKE MCCULLOUGH

The Farrell Family

Home

South Kirkby Post Office

STRIKER

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

Home

Home

Home

Away

08

Away

The Farrell Family

Michael King

09

ANDY WILLIAMS

TOMMY ROWE

BEN WHITEMAN

STRIKER

MIDFIELDER

MIDFIELDER

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

Away

Sponsored by

TIBERIUS BATCHELOR AND

ROSSINGTON HALL Home

Home

Retford Supporters Club

10

Away

South Kirkby Post Office

11

GOALKEEPER

DEFENDER

Sponsored by

Home

DRFC Supporters Club - Main Branch

Dr Erskine

Irene Holt

Away

14

Steven Bell True Potential Wealth Management

Away

JOE WRIGHT

Home

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13

12

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

2

Away

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LIAM MANDEVILLE STRIKER

MARKO MAROSI

Away

DRFC Supporters Club - Main Branch

15

Away

MATTY BLAIR

ALFIE MAY

MIDFIELDER

17

DEFENDER

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

Sponsored by

Home

Home

Home

In Memory of Jill McGarry from Paul and Dan

Away

Richard Royston

19

WILL LONGBOTTOM

Donny Gnome On Tour - Paul Mayfield

Away

ALEX KIWOMYA MIDFIELDER

Sponsored by

Johnson Environmental Consultants

Sponsored by THE WHEATSHEAF CIRENCESTER

Home Away

20

MIDFIELDER

Sponsored by

In Memory of Carl AKA Choco

Away

ALFIE BEESTIN

STRIKER

21

TYLER GARRATT

STRIKER

Home

Home

22

HARRY MIDDLETON

Donny Gnome On Tour - Paul Mayfield

Away

23

MITCHEL LUND

MIDFIELDER

South Kirby Post Office

JAMES COPPINGER

DEFENDER

Sponsored by

Away

MIDFIELDER

Sponsored by

Sponsored by Daniel Calow

Home

24

Away

25

ISSAM BEN KHEMIS MIDFIELDER

Away

Max Pearson

26

REECE FIELDING

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Goodnight Sleeptight Beds

TYLER WALKER

DEFENDER

MIDFIELDER

Sponsored by

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Keith McGlone

27

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Away

LOUIS JONES GOALKEEPER

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Pegler Yorkshire

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Away

DARREN FERGUSON MANAGER

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DONNY DOG MASCOT

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Away

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STADIUM STARS DAY NURSERY

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33

Away

3

NEWS

Doncaster recruitment firm Brewster Pratap have become the first local company to sign up all their staff to the new DNA Card.

The exciting new DNA Card from Club Doncaster offers a wide range of local and national deals, which Brewster Pratap employees can now benefit from.

Nigel Brewster, a partner in Brewster Pratap, said: “When we found out about the range of benefits it was instantly appealing. As a business we are recognised as trying to invest in our employees and were awarded the Investors in People gold award.

“Because we want to attract the best staff, the DNA Card was the next step for us. There are real benefits to our employees. Not all of our staff are based in Doncaster but because a lot of

38

the offers are with national companies it is of real benefit to our employees across the company.”

DNA Card deals include 25 per cent off any advance bookings with Virgin Train East Coast and discounts off major brands such as Costa, Starbucks, iTunes, Amazon and several leading supermarket chains.

Club Doncaster chief executive Gavin Baldwin said: “I’m delighted Brewster Pratap have signed up staff members to the DNA Card, and I’m sure their employees will get some real benefits from using it.

“We’ve been delighted with the response to the DNA Card so far, and after already signing up thousands of individual cardholders it is great to see companies investing to bring these offers to their employees.”

DNACARD

Club Doncaster

STACKED WITH HUNDREDS OF LOCAL AND NATIONAL DISCOUNTS INCLUDING SAVE UPTO 53% ON ADMISSION

SAVE 10%

SAVE UP TO 10% AT THE OFFICIAL APPLE STORY

SAVE 13%

25% OFF IN THE CROWN HOTEL RESTAURANT

SAVE 10%

SAVE 10% IN CLUB DONCASTER SHOP

FREE FIRSTDAY TRAVEL PASS

SAVE 9% WITH A GIFT CARD

SAVE 10% ON STANDARD BED & BREAKFAST

25% OFF ADVANCED FARES

To register your card and to view your discounts please visit mydnabenefits.co.uk All discount sare subject to change and terms and conditions

LOTTERY RESULTS – W/B Aug 28 (WK36) All Rovers Alliance members are automatically entered into the weekly lottery, this week the following members have won prizes through their Rovers Alliance numbers.

Winning Number – 7666 M Cowie wins £500 Next week’s top prize £500

Two £50 Winners 9319 J Kirsopp Lincolnshire Rovers Alliance Lottery winners 7983 S Tilman Kirk Sandall 9319 John Kirsopp £50 Cheque Four £25 winners Winner 2756 M Andrews Balby 9374 Lucy Batchelor £25 Cheque 9374 L Batchelor Edenthorpe Winner 1001 I Samways Cantley 9649 Gavin Baldwin £25 Cheque 9649 G Baldwin Doncaster Winner 9075 Aden Armstrong Canal Sponsored prize winners Tavern Meal Voucher 9075 A Armstrong Canal Tavern 9399 Dorothy Gray Eagle & voucher Child Voucher 7434 D Maxey Cheswold meal voucher 1642 L Keiller two match tickets The Rovers Alliance costs just £2.25 per 1079 P Mayfield Corner Pin voucher week and comes packed with numerous 3360 B Hickson Hatfields meal benefits, not only do members get entry voucher into the weekly lottery draw but they 4249 L Farrow Trades & Labour are also entered into the annual Super Club Meal Voucher Jackpot Draw (with a guaranteed prize of 9399 D Gray Eagle & Child meal £10,000) and numerous draws for money voucher can’t buy prizes. Other fantastic benefits 0574 G Brocklesby Ship Inn voucher include 5% discount on season tickets and 1173 K Naylor Med @ The Market 10% off all corporate hospitality packages. meal voucher 1358 S Rickwood Angel Inn voucher For more information about the benefits 5730 R Nichols Grove Inn voucher of joining Rovers Alliance, please e-mail 6823 P Williams Coleman’s Pizzeria reception@clubdoncaster.co.uk. & Steak House meal voucher 5449 M Coggan Woodfield Farm Several other Rovers fans were also meal voucher winners this week through their £1 lottery 6981 M Stokes Blacksmith’s Arm membership, the full list of winners is as meal voucher follows: 2853 S Waddington Vintage Bar meal voucher

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Win tickets

The EFL logo is the UK registered trade mark of The Football League Limited trading as the EFL/ English Football League. Also contains EFL copyright material. All rights reserved. The Carabao name and logo are registered trade marks of Carabao Tawandang Co Ltd. All rights reserved.

SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

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YOUR SATURDAY MORNING, SORTED

JEFF’S, RUINED

DOWNLOAD THE APP • PREDICT 6 CORRECT SCORES • PLAY FOR FREE 18+ only. T&Cs apply. Visit super6.skysports.com for more information.

SUPPORTERS Official Supporters Club A good afternoon, and a big welcome to the Keepmoat Stadium for our League One encounter with Darren Ferguson’s former club Peterborough United.

We hope their fans have had a great journey up the A1 or on the train, and besides the result they enjoy the “Keepmoat experience”.

What a great victory it was over Hull City in the Carabao Cup, and what a draw in the next round – those who got up at 4.30am to see the draw must have felt it was worth their while.

To visit the Emirates Stadium will be a massive thing for all the Rovers fans travelling. I expect to take in excess of 3,500 on the coaches, details of which are on the club’s official website and l ocal media.

Leverton Road, Retford DN22 6QF, on Thursday September 14 at 7.30pm, all fans are welcome and there will be a buffet. Gavin Baldwin, Darren Ferguson, Andy Butler and Matty Blair have all said they will be coming along.

The Retford Branch are also doing a boat trip down the River Don on Sunday September 10, leaving Sprotborough at 2.30. The cost is £10 per person inc pie and peas, children are welcome to come along, for what should be a great day.

Call Paul on 07961727769 for details and bookings.

The next away game is at Northampton on Saturday September 9, followed by Rochdale on Tuesday September 12, bus fares and times are listed in the programme for the season, you can join the Supporters Club on the away coaches and automatically get your reduced travel on the day.

The Supporters Club will be selling coach tickets during the day at the Keepmoat Stadium, but for this fixture we are not able to take phone bookings – you could always send a cheque if you do not live within driving distance and we can forward your coach tickets on.

We will hopefully be selling coach tickets before and after today’s game, and most times before the match at Arsenal. We expect to be stood outside the Belle Vue Bar. Watch this space or call me on 07961727769.

Our North branch also run coaches to most away games from Carcroft, Adwick, and points along the A19 , a good active branch, it makes it much easier to travel if you live that way call 07780316923 for more information.

The Retford Branch are holding their AGM at Retford United’s Cannon Park on

Rovers till we die Paul Mayfield

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Don’t forget we do run a Bus to all home games from Retford to the Keepmoat Stadium , stopping at Harworth, Rossington and along the main route down Bawtry road so put your hand up to stop us fares are very reasonable too.

Viking Supporters Co-Operative Football is the national game, and football supporters are the lifeblood of the game.

While many privately owned football clubs are well run, ours included, there are numerous examples over the years where this model of ownership has failed the supporters of that club, and has led to a number of clubs becoming either partly or fully owned by those supporters.

Recently the Minister Of Sport set up the Expert Working Group with the intention of looking at ways to improve engagement and dialogue between clubs and fans, and therefore to improve transparency and trust.

discuss a very broad range of topics. It is early days for this new Board, but so far the signs are very encouraging in that nothing has been held back and the trust between club and supporters is evident.

As the meetings progress we hope to be able to announce the progress that has been made.

Suffice to say that DRFC have not only met the new requirements but have exceeded them in both frequency and content, and that is something we can once again be proud of.

IRWT Martin O’Hara

The detailed recommendations from the EWG led to the government instructing the Football League and the Premier League to enter into structured dialogue with those supporters, and especially with the supporters trust at that club.

The EFL issued a new league rule informing clubs of the minimum requirement for meeting with supporters and the kind of topics that should be included. That new rule came into force for the 2016/17 season.

As you may be aware the club hold two Meet The Owners events each year which meet the criteria set down by the EFL. On top of that the club have initiated a Supporters Board which meets on a monthly basis during the season to

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AWAY TRAVEL

Rovers travel to Sixfields to face Northampton Town in Sky Bet League One on Saturday September 9.

Rovers then travel across the Pennines to face Rochdale at the Crown Oil Arena on Tuesday September 12.

Ground: Sixfields Stadium Capacity: 7,798 (all seated) Phone: 01604 683700 Postcode: NN5 5QA

Ground: Crown Oil Arena Capacity: 10, 249 Phone: 0844 826 1907 Postcode: OL11 5DR

Travelling by car: Leave the M1 at Junction 16 to Northampton (West), onto the A4500. At the roundabout, take the first exit on to A4500 Weedon Road, then at the next two roundabouts, take the third exit onto the A5076 Ring Road, before taking the first exit at the next roundabout. Take a slight left towards Walter Tull Way, and the ground is on the right.

Travelling by car: Take the exit at Junction 20 from the M62, joining the A627(M) towards Rochdale. At the roundabout, take the third exit, carrying on the A627(M), before exiting on to A664 Edinburgh Way towards the A58. Continue on to B6452 Roch Valley Way, before turning right on to Pearl Street, where the ground is on the left.

Travelling by train: The closest train station to Sixfields Stadium is Northampton station. This is located a mile and a half away from the ground, and there is a bus service from the station to the ground from the Rail Station approach road.

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Travelling by train: Rochdale station is just under two miles from the Crown Oil Arena, and so it is advised to get a taxi or bus to avoid a long walk. Alternatively, the tram and bus could be a better option to get to the Crown Oil Arena.

From Manchester Piccadilly, take Line C towards Bury, changing to a bus at Bury Interchange at Stand E, taking a bus to Mons Avenue, which is located less than a quarter of a mile from the ground.

OPPONENT 4.35PM

HAW 4.45PM

BAWTRY 4.45PM

ROSS 4.50PM

MILL/C 5.00PM

DRI 5.05PM

WATER/D 5.15PM

KEEP

8.45AM

8.45AM

8.50AM

9.00AM 9.05AM

9.15AM

£15.00 £22.00

Wigan Athletic

Oxford United

Bristol Rovers

21/11/17

09/12/17

23/12/17

4.30PM

3.35PM 3.45PM

8.15AM

28/04/18

MK Dons

£23.00

Gillingham

9.05AM 9.15 AM

14/04/18

8.50AM 9.00 AM

8.40 AM 8.50 AM 8.55AM

9.00 AM

1.00PM

6.00PM

Home Bus Sat

Home Bus Night

6.20PM

1.20PM -

6.30PM

1.30PM

6.35PM

1.35PM

-

-

-

-

Oldham Athletic 11.15 AM 11.20AM 11.30AM 11.30AM 11.35AM 11.45AM 11.50AM

6.45PM

1.45PM

NOON

10.00 AM 10.05 AM 10.15 AM 10.15 AM 10.20 AM 10.30 AM 10.35AM 10.45 AM

8.15 AM 8.25 AM 8.35 AM 8.35 AM

£15.00

£15.00

£22.00

9.45 AM 9:50 AM 10.00AM 10.00 AM 10.05 AM 10.15 AM 10.25AM 10.30 AM £15.00

8.30 AM 8.35 AM 8.45 AM 8.45 AM

07/04/18

£18.00

£26.00

Blackpool

4.15 PM

30/03/18

4.05PM

7.50 AM 8.00 AM 8.05AM

3.45 PM 3.50PM 4.00PM

Southend United

3.30PM 3.35 PM 3.45 PM

7.30 AM 7.35 AM 7.45 AM 7.45 AM

9.45 AM 9.50 AM 10.10 AM 10.10AM 10.15AM 10.20 AM 10.25AM 10.30 AM £16.00

12.50PM 13.00 PM £11.00

£15.00

Rotherham United 12.15 PM 12.25PM 12.35PM 12.35 PM 12.40 PM 12.45PM 12.50PM 13.00 PM £11.00

Walsall

13/02/18

£16.00 £20.00

9.15 AM £23.00

9.45 AM

3.50PM 4.00 PM 9.35AM

10/03/18

Portsmouth

03/02/18

£15.00

24/02/18

Scunthorpe Utd

Shrewsbury Town

06/01/18

20/01/18

£13.00

9.50 AM 10.00 AM 10.05AM 10.15AM £16.00

9.05 AM 9.15 AM 9.15 AM 9.20 AM 9.30 AM

3.20 PM 3.30 PM 3.30 PM

NOON

£29.00

9.15 AM £22.00

11.20AM 11.30AM

9.05AM

8.30 AM 8.35 AM 8.45 AM 8.45 AM 8.50 AM 9.00 AM 9.05AM

9.00AM

3.15PM

9.30 AM 9.35 AM 9.45 AM 9.45 AM

10.45 AM 11.05AM 11.00AM 11.00AM 11.10AM 11.15AM

8.30 AM 8.35 AM 8.45 AM 8.45 AM 8.50 AM 9.00 AM

11.15 AM 11.30 AM 11.20 AM 11.30 AM 11.35 AM 1 1.45 AM 11.50AM

7.15 AM

4.35PM 4.45 PM

12.15 PM 12.25PM 12.35PM 12.35 PM 12.40 PM 12.45PM

Fleetwood Town

18/11/17

4.20PM

10.45 AM 10.50AM 11.00AM 11.00AM 11.10AM 11.15AM 11.20AM 11.30AM

Bury

28/10/17

4.15 PM

6.30AM 6.40 AM 6.45 AM 6.45 AM 6.55 AM 7.00 AM 7.05AM

4.00PM 4.05 PM 4.15 PM

01/01/18 Peterborough Utd

Bradford City

Charlton Athletic

30/09/17

14/10/17

Rochdale

Plymouth Argyle

12/09/17

23/09/17

£18.00

£20.00 £17.00

£17.00

£24.00

£17.00

£25.00

£12.00

£20.00

£28.00

£18.00

£12.00

£17.00

£25.00

£22.00

£18.00

£18.00

£17.00

£24.00

£15.00

£31.00

£14.00 £17.00

£14.00

£20.00

£14.00

£21.00

£10.00

£16.00

£24.00

£15.00

£10.00

£14.00

£21.00

£18.00

£15.00

£15.00

£14.00

£20.00

£12.00

£27.00

£14.00

£18.00

£24.00

£16.00

£16.00

£22.00

£16.00

£24.00

£13.00

£18.00

£26.00

£17.00

£13.00

£18.00

£23.00

£20.00

£17.00

£17.00

£16.00

£22.00

£14.00

£29.00

£16.00

£17.00

£22.00

£16.00

£17.00

CON

NON-MEMBERS ADULT

£14.00 £17.00

£15.00

CON

£15.00

8.30AM 8.35AM

£16.00

ADULT

£12.00 £15.00

AFC Wimbledon

Blackburn Rovers 10.20 AM 10.25AM 10.30AM 10.30AM 10.40AM 10.45AM 10.50AM 11.00AM

4.30PM

RET

09/09/17 Northampton Town 10.15 AM 10.20AM 10.30AM 10.30AM 10.35AM 10.45AM 10.50AM 11.00AM

26/08/17

12/08/17

08/08/17 Brad City EFL Cup

DATE

MEMBERS

SUPPORTERS COACH DEPARTURE TIMES

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ACTION REPLAY - AFC WIMBLEDON 2 ROVERS 0

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Full Time

Proud partner of Blue C100 M89 Y0 K0) Red C3 M100 Y70 K12)

OFFICIAL PARTNER

49 *IRI data MAT 26.03.16

ACTION REPLAY - GRIMSBY TOWN 1 ROVERS 1

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CLUB DONCASTER SPORTS COLLEGE

Club Doncaster Sports College students are celebrating another incredible year of success with a 100 per cent pass rate across all their nationally recognised sports qualifications.

qualifications. All first year L2 students have attained qualified gym instructor status and all second year students have become accredited personal trainers as part of their courses.

A record number of 124 students contributed to an overall pass rate of 96.4 per cent for all further education academic courses in 2016/17.

Alongside the academic programmes, students represent Doncaster Rovers and Doncaster Rugby League FC in national college leagues as well as experiencing a host of other sports.

With the introduction of higher education courses this year, taking total learners past 140, and a girls’ football academy, the Sports College, based at the Keepmoat Stadium, continues to flourish.

In partnership with Selby College, Club Doncaster Sports College departments have achieved 18.7 per cent above the national rate in L2 Diploma in health and fitness qualificdtions and 15.2 per cent above for L3 BTEC diploma in sport

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Student Morgan Monaghan achieved D* D* D*, the highest grade which can be achieved at BTEC. He said: “I am delighted with my grades which mean I can stay to study the HNC next year and continue playing rugby league at the Dons Academy.”

For more details on the Sports College go to clubdoncastersportscollege.co.uk or call 01302 764663.

CLUB DONCASTER FOUNDATION

Doncaster Rovers player Matty Blair spent an afternoon inspiring the next generation of footballers last week at Club Doncaster Foundation’s summer camps.

Keen to continue the coaching plan implemented throughout the courses, Matty talked tactics with the excited bunch before a kick-about and a question and answer session.

the sessions delivered by our coaches look exceptional. We’re really pleased how successful the courses have been.

“It’s always brilliant to have a what we do and this was no different. Matty is a class act, he really got into the spirit of the camps and it’s safe to say it was an unforgettable experience for the children.”

The visit rounded off a hugely successful five weeks at the Keepmoat Stadium, which saw 86 children from across the borough experience a fun football development course.

Delivered by UEFA B and Level 2 licenced coaches, the development courses hosted at the Keepmoat Stadium allowed children up to five weeks of fun and learning as well as the opportunity to have a personalised tour of the ground.

Co-ordinator Heather King said: “The turn out each week was fantastic: come rain or shine the children were bursting with enthusiasm and, because of this, it made

For more information about the work Club Doncaster Foundation do, visit www. clubdoncasterfoundation.co.uk or contact the team on 01302 764663.

K I N D LY S U P P O R T E D B Y F I R S T

CLUB DONCASTER FOUNDATION PROUD PARTNERS

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CLUB DONCASTER The Dons players and coaching staff were in attendance at Bentley ARLFC for their annual club night, which saw the firstteam squad join in with some of the junior training sessions on the night.

“It was brilliant to see all the kids down at Bentley with their colours on, it brought back memories for me, coming down to take part in personal training sessions,” he said.

Players such as Jason Tali, Pete Green and Jordie Hedges were there to pass on their insight and knowledge of the sport to some of the younger members of the ever-growing rugby league culture within Doncaster.

“It is something that we are keen to do more of, the players really enjoy it as well because they are doing a lot of the same for eight or nine months, so they need a bit of freshening up and they love it.

Former Dons winger Dean Colton and local lad Liam Higgins who made more than 100 appearances for Super League side Castleford Tigers, are coaches at Bentley and CEO of the Dons Carl Hall was impressed with the turn out.

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“We are looking at setting up the junior dons next season, which will see them become a team within the club, we want to help all the teams in the Doncaster area.”

DONCASTER ROVERS BELLES Season tickets for the 2017/18 FA WSL 2 campaign are now on sale.

Adult: £40 (£32 for Spring Series season ticket holders)

Your season ticket gives you access to all nine FA WSL 2 home games in the competition’s inaugural winter season, plus any and all home cup games in both the Women’s FA Cup and the FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup.

Concession (ages 16 or under; 65 and over): £10 (£8 for Spring Series season ticket holders)

The Belles are offering an early bird scheme on all season tickets purchased

by Friday September 15 , plus a 20 per cent discount for anyone on record as having purchased a season ticket for the 2017 FA WSL Spring Series.

Tickets are available online or through the Club Doncaster Box Office on 01302 762576, option 1. Early bird prices are as follows:

Family (2x adults and 2x children aged 16 or under): £85 (£68 for Spring Series season ticket holders) All purchases are subject to a £1.50 service charge.

Belles will open their 2017/18 FA WSL 2 campaign with a trip to London Bees. on September 24.

Their first home game will come on October 1, with Millwall visiting the Keepmoat Stadium.

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FIXTURES / RESULTS Date

Opp

K/O

Comp Score Att

AUGUST Sat 05 Tue 08 Sat 12 Sat 19 Tue 22 Sat 26 Tues 29

Gillingham Bradford City Blackburn Rovers Blackpool Hull City AFC Wimbledon Grimsby Town

3.00PM 7.45PM 3.00PM 3.00PM 7:45PM 3.00PM 7.45PM

EFL1 EFLC EFL1 EFL1 EFLC EFL1 CT

SEPTEMBER Sat 02 Peterborough United Sat 09 Northampton Town Tue 12 Rochdale Sun 17 Scunthorpe United Wed 20 Arsenal Sat 23 Plymouth Argyle Tue 26 Shrewsbury Town Sat 30 Bradford City

3.00PM 3.00PM 7.45PM 3.00PM 7.45PM 3.00PM 7:45PM 3:00PM

EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 EFLC EFL1 EFL1 EFL1

OCTOBER Tue 03 Sunderland U21 Sat 07 Southend United Sat 14 Charlton Athletic Tue 17 Portsmouth Sat 21 Walsall Sat 28 Bury Tue 31 Scunthorpe United

7.30PM 3.00PM 3.00PM 7.45PM 3.00PM 3.00PM 7:30PM

CT

EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 CT

NOVEMBER Sat 11 Rotherham United Sat 18 Fleetwood Town Tue 21 Wigan Athletic Sat 25 MK Dons

3.00PM 3.00PM 7.45PM 3.00PM

EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 EFL1

DECEMBER Sat 09 Oxford United Sat 16 Oldham Athletic Sat 23 Bristol Rovers Tue 26 Northampton Town Fri 29 Rochdale

3.00PM 3.00PM 3.00PM 3.00PM 7.45pm

EFL1 EFL1 EFL1

EFL1 EFL1

JANUARY Mon 01 Peterborough United Sat 06 Scunthorpe United Sat 13 Plymouth Argyle Sat 20 Shrewsbury Town Sat 27 Bristol Rovers

3.00PM 3.00PM 3.00PM 3.00PM 3.00PM

EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 EFL1

FEBRUARY Sat 03 Portsmouth Sat 10 Charlton Athletic Tue 13 Walsall Sat 17 Fleetwood Town Sat 24 Rotherham United

3.00PM 3.00PM 7.45PM 3.00PM 3.00PM

EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 EFL1

MARCH Sat 03 Sat 10 Sat 17 Sat 24 Fri 30

Bury Southend United Bradford City Blackburn Rovers Blackpool

3.00PM 3.00PM 3.00PM 3.00PM 3.00PM

EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 EFL1

APRIL Mon 02 Sat 07 Sat 14 Sat 21 Sat 28

AFC Wimbledon Gillingham MK Dons Oxford United Oldham Athletic

3.00PM 3.00PM 3.00PM 3.00PM 3.00PM

EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 EFL1 EFL1

Wigan Athletic

5.30PM EFL1

MAY Sat 05

56

0-0 D 2-3 W 1-3 W 3-3 D 2-0 W 0-2 L 1-1 D

Away

7,512 568 3,175 388 12,223 7,558 432 7,139 2,179 4,144 561 862 319

Pos 13 - 6 8 - 12 -

Lawlor Lawlor Lawlor Lawlor Marosi Lawlor Marosi

Mason Andrew Wright Butler Blair Mason Andrew Wright Garratt Garratt Mason Andrew Wright Butler Blair Mason Andrew Wright Butler Blair Alcock Andrew Wright Blair Ben Khemis Mason Andrew Wright Butler Blair Alcock Garratt Wright Butler Ben Khemis

Whiteman Coppinger Rowe Mandeville Marquis Marosi Whiteman1 Kongolo1 Rowe May1 Marquis Marosi Whiteman Coppinger1 Rowe Mandeville Marquis1 Marosi Whiteman Coppinger Rowe Mandeville Marquis1 Marosi Whiteman Kongolo Rowe1 May1 Marquis Lawlor Whiteman Coppinger Rowe May Marquis Marosi 1 Middleton Kongolo Beestin Mandeville Williams Ogley

1st Sub

2nd Sub

3rd Sub

Alcock Garratt Kongolo Beestin Longbottom May Alcock Fielding Prior Beestin Fletcher Longbottom Alcock Garratt Ben Khemis Kongolo May1 Williams Alcock Garratt Ben Khemis Kongolo May1 Williams Butler Garratt Mason Beestin Mandeville Williams Alcock Garratt Ben Khemis Kongolo Mandeville Williams Mason Prior Townrow Fletcher Scattergood Longbottom

57

Appearances & Goals As of 21/08/2017

EFL EFL Trophy

Carabao Cup

Career totals 2017/18

Rovers total

App Sub Goals App Sub Goals App Sub Goals App Sub Gls App Sub Gls

ALCOCK, Craig 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 54 7 0 ANDREW, Danny 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 0 0 6 0 0 BAUDRY, Mathieu 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 6 5 BEESTIN, Alfie 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 6 4 1 BEN KHEMIS, Issam 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 BLAIR, Matty 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 0 0 53 0 3 BUTLER, Andy 4 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 6 0 0 136 1 10 COPPINGER, James 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 475 61 61 FIELDING, Reece 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 FLETCHER, Jacob 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 GARRATT, Tyler 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 7 3 0 JONES, Louis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 KIWOMYA, Alex 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 KONGOLO, Rodney 0 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 3 4 1 3 4 1 LAWLOR, Ian 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 0 0 24 0 0 LONGBOTTOM, WIll 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 7 1 MANDEVILLE, Liam 3 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 20 25 11 MAROSI, Marko 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 33 4 0 MARQUIS, John 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 0 2 54 0 28 MASON, Niall 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 5 2 0 46 3 0 MAY, Alfie 8 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 3 3 4 12 10 6 McCULLOUGH, Luke 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 92 6 1 MIDDLETON, Harry 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 45 34 0 OGLEY, Declan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 PRIOR, Cody 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ROWE, Tommy 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 6 0 1 62 1 16 WALKER, Tyler 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 WHITEMAN, Ben 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 6 0 1 6 0 1 WILLIAMS, Andy 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 76 20 28 WRIGHT, Joe 4 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 7 0 0 30 4 0

58

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REFEREE Graham SALISBURY ASSISTANT REFEREES

MANAGER Darren FERGUSON

MANAGER Grant McCANN

DONCASTER ROVERS 01 Ian LAWLOR (GK) 02 Craig ALCOCK 03 Danny ANDREW 04 Luke McCULLOUGH 05 Mathieu BAUDRY 06 Andy BUTLER 07 Rodney KONGOLO 08 Niall MASON 09 John MARQUIS 10 Tommy ROWE 11 Andy WILLIAMS 12 Ben WHITEMAN 13 Marko MAROSI (GK) 14 Liam MANDEVILLE 15 Joe WRIGHT 17 Matty BLAIR 19 Alfie MAY 20 Tyler GARRATT 21 Will LONGBOTTOM 22 Alfie BEESTIN 23 Alex KIWOMYA 24 Harry MIDDLETON 25 Mitchell LUND 26 James COPPINGER 27 Issam BEN KHEMIS 29 Reece FIELDING 30 Jacob FLETCHER 31 Tyler WALKER 32 Cody PRIOR 33 Louis JONES (GK)

PETERBOROUGH UNITED 01 Jonathon BOND (GK) 02 Liam SHEPHARD 03 Andrew HUGHES 05 Ryan TAFAZOLLI 06 Jack BALDWIN 07 Gwion EDWARDS 08 Chris FORRESTER 09 Ricky MILLER 10 Danny LLOYD 11 Marcus MADDISON 14 Jack MARRIOTT 15 Jermaine ANDERSON 16 Junior MORIAS 17 Alex PENNEY 18 Leonardo DA SILVA LOPES 19 Idris KANU 20 Michael DOUGHTY 22 Adil NABI 23 Callum CHETTLE 24 Joshua TIBBETTS (GK) 25 Conor O’MALEY (GK) 27 Steven TAYLOR 28 Mathew STEVENS 32 Lewis FREESTONE 33 Morgan PENFOLD 38 Andrea BORG 42 Anthony GRANT

Alan CLAYTON Steven RUSHTON FOURTH OFFICIAL Steven MEREDITH IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE TO ENTER THE PITCH OR PERIMETER TRACK. ANYONE DOING SO WILL FACE ARREST AND A BAN FROM WATCHING FOOTBALL ANTI DISCRIMINATION POLICY Doncaster Rovers Football Club is determined to treat with equal consideration all supporters, regardlessof Gender, Race or Ethnic origin, Religious Belief, Age, Sexual Orientation, Disability, or any other unjustifiable reason. The club, in association with its governing bodies (the FA and the Football League) and all footballing authorities, is determined to eradicate racism in football by ensuring that no barriers exist to anyone playing/enjoying the national game, whatever their ethnic background. To this end, Doncaster Rovers Football Club will not tolerate any form of racism amongst spectators. Anyone found to be culpable of displaying any form of racist behaviour will be removed from the stadium immediately.

RESPECT THE LAW Supporters are reminded that the Keepmoat Stadium is a strictly NO SMOKING venue. It is an offence to purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol for anybody under the age of 18. Anybody caught doing so will face ejection from the stavdium and prosecution. Anybody who appears to be under the age of 21 will be asked for ID. We appreciate supporters’ co-operation.

MATCH SPONSOR

Next Up

Northampton Town (A) Sky Bet League One Sixfields Saturday September 9 2017 // kick-off 3pm

MATCHBALL SPONSOR

Rochdale (A) Sky Bet League One Crown Oil Arena Tuesday September 12 2017 // kick-off 7.45pm