Doncaster Rovers v Cheltenham Town October 23, 2021

MATCHDAY vs CHELTENHAM TOWN . Saturday 23rd October 2021 . Sky Bet League One . KO: 3.00pm

HERE’S A ST AT I BET YOU DIDN’T KN W

OVER HALF A MILLION SKY BET CUSTOMERS USE DEPOSIT LIMITS TO MANAGE THEIR BETTING BUDGET. THAT’S ENOUGH TO FILL: 6 WEMBLEYS. 201 ALLY PALLYS. OR 8 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP DAYS. (THAT’S A LOT OF TWEED)

ALL GOOD BOOKMAKERS HAVE DEPOSIT LIMITS. SO WHOEVER YOU BET WITH, SET AN APPROPRIATE ONE FOR YOU AND THEN ENJOY THE SPORT. DEPOSIT LIMITS

THAT’S BETTING BETTER.

DONCASTER ROVERS FC MAIN CLUB SPONSOR LNER

CONTENTS

ASSOCIATE CLUB SPONSOR Stoneacre Motor Group TECHNICAL KIT SUPPLIER Elite Pro Sports Chairman: David Blunt Major shareholders: Terry Bramall, David Blunt, Gavin Baldwin Directors: Terry Bramall, David Blunt, Gavin Baldwin Chief executive: Gavin Baldwin FOOTBALL STAFF Manager: Richie Wellens Assistant manager: Noel Hunt Goalkeeping coach: Paul Gerrard Physiotherapist: Jonathan Chatfield Club doctor: Dr Tim Douglas CLUB STAFF Director of finance: Richard Poole Head of administration & football operations: Mary Lally Head groundsman: Andy Thompson Head of commercial: Jon Warburton Ticket manager: Tracy Bawden Chief operating officer: Shaun Lockwood Marketing manager: Mark Hughesman Supporter liaison officer: Dean Medcalf CLUB DONCASTER FOUNDATION Chair of trustees: Linda Tully Trustees: Gavin Baldwin, Nigel Brewster, Natalie Shaw, Allan Stewart, Rupert Suckling, John Wallbank Honorary ambassador: Stuart Highfield Chief executive officer: John Davis NCS programme manager: Tom Foy CLUB DONCASTER SPORTS COLLEGE Principal: Adi Turnpenny Deputy principals: Joe Burton, Ben Thompson PROGRAMME Contributors: Robbie Andrews, Dan Breslin, Jon Warburton, Mark Hughesman, Hayley Ford, Sophie Scargill, Gavin Hepworth, MATCHDAY John Coyle, Abi Rodwell, Clare Bailey Photography: Phil Ryan, AH Pix, Heather King, Rex Features Design: Daniel Parker Published by: ACA Creative Limited www.aca-creative.co.uk vs CHELTENHAM TOWN . Saturday 23rd October 2021 . Sky Bet League One . KO: 3.00pm

04

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

07

13 05

Richie Wellens

07

Jon Taylor

11

Player Sponsorship

13

Academy Update

14

Donny Kicks

21

Cheltenham Town

23

We've Met Before

25

On This Day

28

Fixtures & Results

30

Community News

23

30

IN CHARGE:

RICHIE WELLENS "WE HAVE A YOUNG TEAM WHO ARE LEARNING AND PROGRESSING BUT I’M SEEING IMPROVEMENTS ALL THE TIME" Good afternoon everyone, I’d like to begin by welcoming Gareth Ainsworth, and the players, staff, fans and directors of Wycombe Wanderers to the Keepmoat Stadium for this afternoon’s Sky Bet League One match.

Wycombe are a very strong team in this division. They’ve shown a desire to bounce straight back up to the Championship and have been going about their business like a team who are more than capable of doing that.

They have a very clear identity with Gareth and the way he wants to play football – the stability around the club and the length of time he’s been in charge means that everyone knows their roles and responsibilities. They are a wellcoached side and will provide a tough test for us this afternoon.

We are focusing on ourselves. We had a good result last time out and the support from the fans that day really helped us stay in the game and get the late winner

against a very good team. We need that same atmosphere and positivity today as that translates onto the field and helps our players play their best football with freedom and creativity.

We have a young team who are learning and progressing but I’m seeing improvements all the time.

We’ve been training really well this week, and it’s been great to get a long time with nearly a full set of players – having Jon Taylor back in and around training has been a big boost for everyone too.

I will, of course, not be in the dugout this afternoon. I think I’ve spoken about the incident enough now but I got caught up in the heat of the moment and will learn from it. While I'm unable to go pitch side, I’m confident that Hunty, Copps, and Paul Gerrard will do an excellent job in my absence this afternoon.

Thanks, as always, for your support.

Richie

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

05

LNER PERKS MEANS REWARDS FOR EVERY JOURNEY (Jump onboard)

Join a loyalty scheme where you get £5 free for joining + 2% back every time you travel with us.

Book Direct at LNER.co.uk or on our app and travel smarter. This is our

JOHN BOSTOCK: FOOTBALL, REJECTION AND ME

WORDS: Abi Rodwell

EVERY FOOTBALLER HAS A STORY. JOHN BOSTOCK IS NO DIFFERENT. From 14-year-old 'wonderkid' with a 10-year contract offer from Barcelona, to falling out of love with the game completely, his is a story like no other.

Instead of signing a potentially life-changing contract with the Spanish giants, over a decade later Bostock's footballing journey has included 14 clubs in as many years.

Having become the youngestever player to play for both Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur, the London-born midfielder tells the club about being labelled the 'next big thing', handling rejection and why he was willing to leave the game behind completely.

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

07

Bostock joined Crystal Palace - the club he and his family supported when he was five years old.

I BELIEVE IF YOU LIVE FOR PEOPLE'S ACCEPTANCE, YOU'LL DIE

BY THEIR REJECTIONS AND I HAD COMPLETELY LOST MY JOY FOR THE GAME

Naturally talented, technically gifted and a 'wand' of a left foot, Bostock would often play above his age group growing up and it wasn't long before the midfielder's 'wonderkid' label started attracting interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs.

"One of those clubs was Barcelona,” he says.

"It's something I look back on and think 'wow', it was a huge compliment at the time but we decided that the best thing for me at that age was to continue my development in London."

Ten years after attending his first game in the stands at Selhurst Park and while most of his friends we're choosing their GCSE's - he would go on to become the club's youngest-ever player - a record he still holds to this day.

"When I was about 12 I thought to myself, 'why can't I be their youngest player?'I even told the club that I wanted to break that record, so that's what I set out to do."

And that's exactly what he did. He may have only made a handful of firstteam appearances for Palace, but his debut as a 15-year-old lives long in the memory.

"I remember my dad trying to call me at school.

"When he eventually got hold of me he told me not to kick about in the playground after school but to come straight home because he had something to tell me.

"I got home and he just said, 'Neil Warnock's just phoned. He wants you in the squad for tonight.' It was surreal!

08

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

"Because of my age I wasn't even allowed to change in the same dressing room as the lads, but it was an absolute honour. For the club I support as well, it meant so much.

As interest from other clubs resurfaced, Bostock chose a move to north London to continue his development at Spurs, where his competitive debut came in the UEFA Cup against Dinamo Zagreb in 2008. Aged 16 years and 295 days, another record was broken as he became their youngest-ever player too.

However, due to strong competition for players the teenager found himself unable to cement a place in the first-team squad and back training with his own age group.

"It was really tough because I felt like I'd proved myself at that level but I learned that as a young athlete you've got to continue to prove yourself no matter what," he continues.

"I was labelled 'wonderkid' at one point but I wasn't. Every position at Spurs had two or three internationals fighting for that place.

"I was playing with the likes of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric a future Ballon d'Or winner. It was a squad full of world class players at the time."

And so, with no further first-team opportunities coming his way, Bostock was forced to go out on loan.

It was as simple as that," he admits.

"I couldn't get in the first team, I was just a kid and I needed to get experience. I had to go out on loan. If I speak to any young player that goes out on loan I just tell them to go out and learn as much as they can to come back a better player."

The 29-year-old speaks with a refreshing openness and honesty. Five loan spells later a distinct lack of first-

team football in north London affected his self-belief, his performances and eventually his "joy" for the game. When his contract at Spurs ended he wondered whether football was even for him.

"My confidence had been hit really hard. I was playing football for people's opinions and that's when I really fell out of love with it.

"I believe if you live for people's acceptance, you'll die by their rejections and I lost my joy for it. I remember praying and saying 'God, if you want me to stop football, tell me right now'.

"Ever since I was young I held so tightly onto John Bostock the footballer and I needed to let that go. I was willing to let it go at that point but I believe God took me to a place where my foundation was no longer in sport, but in him and it wasn't until I started to let that go that I found real joy and contentment in the game again."

And so with Bostock's change in mentality came fresh opportunity.

A move to Belgium's second division was followed by spells in Turkey and France as he began to rekindle his love for football.

"Going abroad for me was great, I just needed a chance.

Because they were permanent moves I had no safety net to come back to, nothing to fall back on - I needed that.

"I needed to play, learn the game and find my joy for it again. I was given that platform and it was like a new beginning. In my first spell abroad in Belgium I was 21 years old and that was the first time I played more than 11 times in a season. From there I really flourished."

Now with 14 clubs under his belt and plenty of setbacks along the way, there's nothing the midfielder isn't prepared for in the professional game.

"I think I've experienced enough in football to prepare me for everything in both life and football," he jokes.

Determined to never live with regrets, Bostock - who moved back to the UK in 2019 - instead uses his experiences to help others who may be on a similar journey.

"I don't ever live with regrets, but I know now that the journey I've been on will allow me to help other young players in their careers and I'm doing that. I mentor a lot of players, I'm able to input into their lives and my life experiences have been invaluable because I can relate to what they may be going through.

"I may have made different decisions if I had my time again, but knowing what I know I don't regret anything."

But what piece of advice would 29-year-old John Bostock give his 15-year-old self?

"What a question," he says.

"I'd tell teenage me two things; Firstly, I’d tell him to remember why you started to play football and enjoy it, even in the tough times. My second piece of advice would just be to have faith in your ability."

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

09

ONE HUNDRED P A R T N E R S CLUB

DIAMOND

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

AVAILABLE AVAILABLE

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

MAIN BRANCH

AVAILABLE AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

MATT SMITH

PONTUS DAHLBERG

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE

MAIN BRANCH

AVAILABLE AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE AVAILABLE

TIBERIUS BATCHELOR & ROSSINGTON HALL

AVAILABLE AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

20

AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE

25

AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE

31

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

JOE DODOO

IN MEMORY OF CHOCCO

24

DENNIS & DAVE HARVEY

MARK & SIAN LISTER

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

RODRIGO VILCA

AVAILABLE

14

RETFORD BRANCH

AJ GREAVES

AVAILABLE

30

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

CHARLIE SEAMAN

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

19 TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

27 TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

OMAR BOGLE

RO-SHAUN WILLIAMS TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

ED WILLIAMS

AVAILABLE

BEN BLYTHE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

CAMERON JOHN

AVAILABLE

29

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE

RICHIE WELLENS

AVAILABLE

BEN SCHOFIELD

23

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

32

AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

28

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

18

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

LIRAK HASANI

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

KEITH McGLONE

22 TIBERIUS BATCHELOR & ROSSINGTON HALL

AVAILABLE

07

AVAILABLE

12

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

11

17

AVAILABLE

DAN GARDNER

TIAGO CUKUR

AVAILABLE

BRANDEN HORTON

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

DENNIS & DAVE HARVEY

BEN BOTTOMLEY

AVAILABLE

21

BARRY JOHNSON

CARA & JACK LISTER

06

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

ETHAN GALBRAITH

AVAILABLE

RED VIKING RAIL

AVAILABLE

LIAM RAVENHILL

AVAILABLE

JAKE & ZACK SKINN

JORDY HIWULA

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

10

IDEAL ELECTRICITY

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

KEITH McGLONE

05

AVAILABLE

JON TAYLOR

TOMMY ROWE

AVAILABLE

AIDAN BARLOW

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

16 TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

09

15

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

MAIN BRANCH

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

MONEYFIELDS FOOTBALL CLUB

RETFORD BRANCH

HSR LAW

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

LAUREN & HOLLY BYTHWAY

04

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

RETFORD BRANCH

JOHN BOSTOCK

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

08

REECE KERRIDGE-McCOLL

AVAILABLE

FEJIRI OKENABIRHIE

AVAILABLE

02

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

AVAILABLE

JOSEPH OLOWU

TOM ANDERSON

KYLE KNOYLE

LOUIS JONES

AVAILABLE

BEN CLOSE

TRAINING AWAY HOME MAIN

01

STADIUM STARS

AVAILABLE RITA JILL & PAUL

AVAILABLE AVAILABLE

TO SPONSOR YOUR FAVOURITE ROVERS PLAYER, CALL US ON 01302 764665

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

11

E R E H T IS R E T T E AB O T Y A W R U O Y BUY ?

R A C NEXT O O Z A C YEAH!

Buy or finance a car online and we’ll deliver it to your door with a 7-Day Money Back Guarantee.

ACADEMY UPDATE YOUNG ROVERS' U18S SIDE CRUISED TO VICTORY OVER OLDHAM ATHLETIC IN THE EFL YOUTH CUP. The U18s went ahead just before half-time after a magnificent strike from Tavonga Kuleya.

McSheffrey said: “Overall I am pleased with the performance as we played some good stuff.

Manager Gary McSheffrey made changes to his side early in the second period, Rovers dipped momentarily as they settled into which allowed Oldham back into the game equalising against the run of play around the hour mark.

“A lot of what we worked on in training came into fruition during the game.

Rovers eventually got back the momentum and a Jack Goodman masterclass in the final six minutes of the game saw him bag a brace. That took his goal tally up to six goals in eight competitive games for the Academy.

Despite the impressive performance and result, the U18s exited the competition having lost their earlier two group stage games against Bolton Wanderers and Mansfield Town.

“After not winning for a while, it felt extra special to win. Especially when this is probably the youngest side we have ever fielded in an U18s game with an U15 (Sam Brown) and U16 (Will Green) player featuring and only two second year scholars starting.

“We need to back the win up with some consistency, which is something we have struggled with this season.”

The U18s were in action earlier this morning to local rivals Rotherham United. You can find out how they got on by following DRFC_Academy on Twitter.

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

13

Hello everyone Welcome to our game against Cheltenham Town and thank you for coming today.

Did you see my new retro shirt last week? I have included some photos and thanks to everyone who stopped to have a photo with me. I even got a photo with boxer Terri Harper.

Enjoy the game!

Donny Dog

Donny’s Score prediction

1 0

+ x

-

SQUAD NUMBER MATHS Donny is has been set some homework by Richie Wellens, can you help him out with some squad number maths?

+

=

-

=

+

=

ANSWERS (PLEASE DON’t CHEAT!!!) 1. 9+ 10 + 29 = 48 2) 2 x 24 - 16 = 32 3) 14 - 6 + 17 = 25

Jon TAYLOR

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW...

JORDY HIWULA

1. What is Jordy’s full name?

YOUR ANSWER

2. Where was Jordy born?

YOUR ANSWER

3. Jordy has played for two other Yorkshire club’s can you name them?

YOUR ANSWER

4. How tall is Jordy in centimetres?

YOUR ANSWER

5. How old is Jordy?

YOUR ANSWER

6. What squad number is Jordy?

YOUR ANSWER

7. With which Premier League club did Jordy start his career?

YOUR ANSWER ANSWERS (DON’T CHEAT) 1) Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila; 2) Manchester; 3) Huddersfield Town and Bradford City; 4) 178 cms; 5) 27 6) 17; 7) Manchester City

TODAY’S MASCOTS

George Dooley

Izobel Dooley

Age: 11 Hobbies: Football, Xbox and boxing Favourite Player: Jon Taylor

Age: 8 Hobbies: Football, dancing and swimming Favourite PlayeR: Jon Taylor

A very happy birthday to our Donny Dog Club Members Colby Beckett-Atkins Myles Dryden Ruby Winterman

Emma Clark Ethan Smillie

Happy 18th Birthday Abigael Stewart Love from all the family

Izobel Dooley Noah Swindell

IN OPPOSITION:

CHELTENHAM TOWN MEET THE BOSS:

MICHAEL DUFF

In a playing career spanning from 1995 to 2016, in which he made more than 700 appearances, Duff played as a defender for Carterton Town, Cheltenham Town, Cirencester Town (on loan) and Burnley. At international level, Duff earned 24 caps for Northern Ireland.

On 10 September 2018, Duff was appointed to his first managerial appointment at his former club Cheltenham Town in League Two. He was awarded the League Two Manager of the Month award for September 2019 and February 2020. On 1 November 2019, Duff signed a contract extension which will keep him at Cheltenham Town until June 2023.

Duff led Cheltenham Town to their first ever automatic promotion from League Two last season with his side’s superb finish to the campaign meaning they were crowned champions. In the same season they also had a memorable FA Cup Campaign reaching the fourth Round, they took the lead against Manchester City, however the Premier League Champions scored 3 goals in the last 10 minutes to prevent a major upset.

This season, Duff will be hoping for consolidation in League One and after an encouraging start it seems more than possible.

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

21

ONES TO WATCH SCOTT FLINDERS

Rotherham born, the 35-year-old has plenty of experience making more than 550 career appearances, the bulk of these coming for Hartlepool United between 2009 and 2015, he also managed to weigh in with a goal for them in the 2010/11 against Bournemouth.

Flinders signed for Cheltenham in 2017/18 and has been pretty much ever present since, providing a safe pair of hands.

ALFIE MAY

Well known to Rovers fans, Alfie will be sure to get a warm welcome back at the Keepmoat Stadium this afternoon. He always gives 100% and is a constant menace for opposing defenders. He became an instant hit at Cheltenham where he scored 6 goals in his first 14 games for them in 2019/20 and has continued to do well since.

WILL BOYLE

Joined the club in January 2017 from Huddersfield Town and is an established member of the squad at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium. In his time with Huddersfield the Garforth born centre back spent time on loan at Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town and York City. He also had a spell on loan with Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock. He’s one of the longest serving players with the Robins, and despite his defensive duties he weighs in with his fair share of goals from attacking set pieces.

SHARED 5-A-SIDE DANNY ANDREW DRFC 2017-19 61 APPS 5 GOALS CTFC 1991-92 64 APPS 4 GOALS

NEIL GRAYSON DRFC 1989-91 34 APPS 7 GOALS CTFC 1998-2002 162 APPS 48 GOALS

MATTY BLAIR DRFC 2016-20 162 APPS 10 GOALS CTFC 2020 - present 66 APPS 3 GOALS

ANDY WILLIAMS DRFC 2015-18 106 APPS 29 GOALS CTFC 2020 – present 58 APPS 10 GOALS

LIAM SERCOMBE

The highly rated midfielder made the switch to Gloucestershire having come to the end of a three-year spell at Bristol Rovers.

He started his career with hometown side Exeter City and helped the Grecians claim back-to-back promotions from the National League to League One. Aftermore than 240 league appearances for the Grecians, he made the switch to Oxford United in May 2015, going onto appear twice for Oxford at Wembley in EFL Trophy finals. In May 2017 he joined Bristol Rovers for a six-figure undisclosed fee and has gained a reputation for his goal scoring abilities from a midfield area.

22

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

ALFIE MAY DRFC 2016-19 117 APPS 23 GOALS CTFC 2019 - present 82 APPS 23 GOALS

WE'VE MET BEFORE CHELTENHAM TOWN COMP CONF CONF FL FL FL FL FL FL FACP FACP FL FL

DATE 24/10/1998 09/01/1999 13/12/2003 13/03/2004 14/10/2006 17/03/2007 29/09/2007 03/05/2008 13/01/2009 20/01/2009 20/08/2016 11/03/2017

VENUE A H A H A H H A A H A H

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

WORDS: John Coyle SCORERS Hume Goodwin, Duerden McIndoe (pen), Morley, Melligan Brown Guy, Forte Guy, Mills Green Stock (2), Hird Marquis Butler, Marquis

Cheltenham Town was formed in 1887 and joined the Southern League in 1935, spending fifty years in that competition.

Between 1985 and 1992 they were members of what became the Football Conference. Having been promoted again to the Conference in 1997, they won the FA Trophy in 1998 and a year later were promoted to the Football League as Conference champions.

1998-99 was Rovers’ first season (of five) in the Conference and the teams first met at Cheltenham’s Whaddon Road on 24th October 1998. The home side opened the scoring via John Brough after six minutes, but after 28 minutes Mark Hume scrambled in the equaliser. Two minutes later Michael Duff, now Cheltenham’s manager, headed in a corner to make it 2-1. Cheltenham could have gone further ahead when Scott Maxfield was adjudged to have handled in the area. He received a red card but Rovers keeper Andy Woods saved the spot kick. Rovers ten men battled tirelessly during the second half, but Cheltenham hung on to win 2-1.

CHELTENHAM TOWN HAM TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB | ISSUE 03 | £3.00 THE OFFICIAL 2016/17 MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF CHELTEN

vs.

DONCASTER ROVERS Sky Bet League Two Saturday 20th August 2016 Kick-Off: 3.00pm LCI Rail Stadium

The return game was on 9th January 1999 at Belle Vue and two goals from Dale Watkins put Cheltenham 2-0 up at the break. Rovers fought back in the second half and goals from Shaun Goodwin and Ian Duerden secured a 2-2 draw.

The teams did not meet again until December 2003 which was Rovers first season back in the Football League.

The match was at Whaddon Road and Michael McIndoe opened the scoring with

a penalty before former Rover Mark Yates made it 1-1 after 19 minutes. Dave Morley headed Rovers back into the lead on 24 minutes and they went further ahead six minutes into the second half through J. J. Melligan to ensure Rovers won 3-1.

The teams met again at Belle Vue on 13th March 2004 and Chris Brown snatched a last-minute equaliser for Rovers after Martin Devaney had put Cheltenham ahead. Rovers were promoted to League One at the end of the season and Cheltenham joined them two years later.

The most dramatic match between the teams came at Whaddon Road on 3rd May 2008. Cheltenham needed to win to give themselves a chance of staying in League One while Rovers knew a win would seal automatic promotion to the Championship.

Steven Gillespie put Cheltenham ahead after 24 minutes and they held the lead until fourteen minutes from time when Paul Green levelled. Rovers’ attacks were thwarted by the brilliance of Cheltenham goalkeeper Shane Higgs. With five minutes to go, Paul Connor netted the winner for the home side, who retained their League One status. Rovers went into the play-offs where they won promotion to the Championship by beating Leeds United at Wembley.

Since that season, the teams have met four times, Rovers winning three with the other game drawn. A fourth win from five will do very nicely this afternoon.

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

23

ON THIS DAY 23RD OCTOBER

WORDS: John Coyle

EDDIE GORMLEY was born on this day in 1968 in Dublin. In 1987 Tottenham Hotspur signed him from Bray Wanderers on a three-year contract. He didn’t make the first team at Tottenham and Rovers snapped him up on a free transfer in July 1990. He made his debut on 25th August 1990 in a 3-2 win at Carlisle United. He went on to make 46 appearances in a team that led Division Four on several occasions in that season but faltered after selling two key players as a result of financial difficulties.

Stewart Gray

Over the next two seasons Eddie proved himself as a dependable midfielder with an eye for goal. He was Rovers Player of the Year in both 1991-92 and 1992-93, but after the latter season he decided to return to Ireland, where he joined Drogheda United before moving on to St Patrick’s Athletic. His Rovers record was 135 games and seventeen goals.

Two players who featured for Rovers in the 1990s were born on the same day, 23rd October 1974. LEE THEW was born in Sunderland and spent time in Rovers’ Youth system before making his senior debut in November 1993. He had two seasons for Rovers, making 37 appearances and scoring four goals before moving to Scarborough. On 12th August 1995 IAN CLARK made his debut for Rovers in a 1-0 home win over Scarborough.

Matty Caudwell

Born in Stockton-on-Tees, the winger joined Rovers after a successful trial. He went on to make 54 appearances for Rovers, scoring four goals. In October 1997 he joined Hartlepool United, where he played alongside James Coppinger and made over 150 appearances. However, perhaps his best season came when he moved to Darlington in 2001 and scored 13 goals, by far his highest haul. After leaving Darlington in 2005 he played for Scarborough and Harrogate Town.

On this day in 2010 Rovers’ Championship clash with Sheffield United at the Keepmoat Stadium was shown live on BBC One. Billy Sharp was on top form against his boyhood club, setting up James Coppinger to score the opener on 33 minutes. Nine minutes later a shot by James Hayter was parried by United’s goalkeeper and Sharp made it 2-0. He celebrated by lifting his shirt to show a t-shirt bearing the words “Fat Lad from Sheffield,” a joke he had shared with Rovers manager Sean O’Driscoll. Rovers won 2-0.

Mike Elwiss

Two years later Rovers faced League One leaders Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park. Billy Paynter put Rovers ahead after 48 minutes, but Jake Cassidy equalised three minutes from full-time. In stoppage time, Iain Hume swooped to score the winner for Rovers against his former club. So, the points went back to Yorkshire and helped Rovers to win the League One title six months later.

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

25

Giving Football Back to Small Business At eBay, we know small business and football clubs used to be like chips and gravy, two peas in a pod – a match made in community heaven.

Ironmongers, ship workers, spring makers and cobblers, all formed clubs which decades later are still prospering.

But nowadays, you’d think it was all eyewatering transfers, Super Leagues and mega sponsors, detached from the humble origins of our historic clubs.

That’s why eBay are proud to support 300,000 small businesses who help power EFL clubs nationwide. We’ll be donating our advertising space to a lot of these businesses – on match day hoardings, around grounds and beyond – throughout the coming season, to ensure they can continue to thrive in our local communities. So, join us in giving your support to Small Business Power, because today, they need us more than ever.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

ON THIS DAY 23RD OCTOBER

WORDS: John Coyle

ROVERS RESULTS ON THIS DAY: LEVEL SEASON

OPPONENT

H/A

1948/49

Darlington

A

15,326 W 5 1 Reeve (3), Todd, Antonio

Fr

1956/57

Carlisle Utd

A

4,014 W 3 0 R.Walker (2), McMorran

4

1962/63

Rochdale

A

3,534 L 1 3 Booth

3

1970/71

Walsall

H

4,762 L 1 2 Evans o.g.

3,301 L 0 2

3N

To view the programme from a recent fixture with Cheltenham, please click the image if viewing digitally:

ATT RESULT GOALSCORERS

4

1973/74

Barnsley

A

4

1979/80

York City

A

4,707 W 3 1 Lister (2), Lewis

3

1982/83

Bradford City

A

5,526 L 0 1

3

1984/85

Cambridge Utd

H

3,873 W 3 2 I.Snodin (2, 1Pen), Buckley

4

1990/91

Cardiff City

A

3,891 W 2 0 Gormley (Pen), Grayson 2,614 W 2 1 Morrow, Brady (Pen)

4

1992/93

Hereford Utd

H

4

1993/94

Shrewsbury Town

A

2,675 W 1 0 Jones

3

2004/05

Chesterfield

A

6,219 D 0 0

JPT2

2007/08

Oldham Ath

H

4,608 W 3 0 Price, Green, Woods

2

2010/11

Sheffield Utd

H

8,985 W 2 0 Coppinger, Sharp

3

2012/13

Tranmere Rovers

A

7,386 W 2 1 Paynter, Hulme

3

2018/19

Sunderland

H

11,881 L 0 1

DONCASTER ROVERS vs SUNDERLAND TUESDAY 23RD OCTOBER 2018 7.45PM | ISSUE 10 | £3 SKY BET LEAGUE ONE

19 L CLUB 2018/ ERS FOOTBAL NCASTER ROV GAZINE OF DO MATCHDAY MA THE OFFICIAL PROGRAMME SPONSOR

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

27

FIXTURES & RESULTS DATE

OPPOSITION

COMP

RES/KO

ATT

AWAY POS

2021/22

STARTING XI

AUGUST Sat 7

AFC Wimbledon

H

EFL1

L

1-2

6,419

612

20

Dahlberg

Knoyle

Anderson

R Williams

Rowe

Close

Tue 10

Walsall

A

CC1

D

0-0*

2,384

310

-

Dahlberg

Knoyle

Anderson

R Williams

John

Close

Sat 14

Sheffield Wednesday

A

EFL1

L

0-2

24,738

1,980

23

Dahlberg

Knoyle

Anderson

R Williams

Rowe

Close

Tue 17

Accrington Stanley

A

EFL1

L

0-1

2,223

463

23

Dahlberg

Knoyle

Anderson

R Williams

Rowe

Close

Sat 21

Portsmouth

H

EFL1

D

0-0

6,660

1,292

23

Dahlberg

Knoyle

Anderson

R Williams

John

Close

Tue 24

Stoke City

A

CC2

L

0-2

6,193

541

-

Jones

Knoyle

John

Blythe

Horton

Close

Sat 28

Rotherham United

A

EFL1

L

0-2

9,748

1,716

24

Dahlberg

Knoyle

John

R Williams

Horton

Close

SEPTEMBER Tue 7

Rotherham United

H

PJTG

L

0-6

1,765

tbc

-

Jones

Seaman

Rowe

R Williams

Horton

Close

Sat 11

Wigan Athletic

A

EFL1

L

1-2

8,975

568

24

Dahlberg

Knoyle

Olowu

R Williams

Rowe

Close

Sat 18

Morecambe

H

EFL1

W

1-0

5,651

410

24

Dahlberg

Knoyle

Anderson

R Williams

Rowe

Close

Tue 21

Manchester City U21s

H

PJTG

W

2-1

1,802

102

-

Jones

Seaman

Olowu

R Williams

Horton

Bostock

Sat 25

Plymouth Argyle

A

EFL1

L

1-2

11,003

261

24

Dahlberg

Knoyle

Anderson

R Williams

Rowe

Close

Tue 28

Ipswich Town

A

EFL1

L

0-6

18,111

165

24

Dahlberg

Knoyle

Anderson

R Williams

Rowe

Close

OCTOBER Sat 2

Milton Keynes Dons

H

EFL1

W

2-1

5,927

400

24

Dahlberg

Knoyle

Anderson

R Williams

Rowe

Close

Sat 16

Wycombe Wanderers

H

EFL1

L

0-2

6,134

464

24

Dahlberg

Knoyle

Anderson

R Williams

Rowe

Close

Tue 19

Gillingham

A

EFL1

L

0-1

tbc

tbc

24

Dahlberg

Knoyle

Anderson

R Williams

Rowe

Close

Sat 23

Cheltenham Town

H

EFL1

15:00

Tue 26

Cambridge United

H

EFL1

19:45

Sat 30

Charlton Athletic

A

EFL1

15:00 19:45

NOVEMBER Tue 2

Crewe Alexandra

A

EFL1

w/e 5

Scunthorpe United

A

FAC1

TBC

Tue 9

Scunthorpe United

A

PJTG

19:00

Sat 13

Fleetwood Town

H

EFL1

15:00

Sat 20

Lincoln City

H

EFL1

15:00

Tue 23

Bolton Wanderers

A

EFL1

20:00

Sat 27

Burton Albion

A

EFL1

15:00

DECEMBER Tue 7

Oxford United

H

EFL1

19:45

Sat 11

Shrewsbury Town

H

EFL1

15:00

Sat 18

Lincoln City

A

EFL1

15:00

Sun 26

Sunderland

H

EFL1

15:00

Wed 29

Cambridge United

A

EFL1

19:45

JANUARY 2022 Sat 1

Morecambe

A

EFL1

15:00

Sat 8

Rotherham United

H

EFL1

15:00

Sat 15

Wigan Athletic

H

EFL1

15:00

Sat 22

Milton Keynes Dons

A

EFL1

15:00

Sat 29

Plymouth Argyle

H

EFL1

15:00

FEBRUARY Sat 5

Sunderland

A

EFL1

15:00

Tue 8

Ipswich Town

H

EFL1

19:45

Sat 12

Portsmouth

A

EFL1

15:00

Sat 19

Sheffield Wednesday

H

EFL1

15:00

Tue 22

Accrington Stanley

H

EFL1

19:45

Sat 26

AFC Wimbledon

A

EFL1

15:00

MARCH Sat 5

Cheltenham Town

A

EFL1

15:00

Sat 12

Gillingham

H

EFL1

15:00

Sat 19

Fleetwood Town

A

EFL1

15:00

Sat 26

Charlton Athletic

H

EFL1

15:00

APRIL Sat 2

Wycombe Wanderers

A

EFL1

15:00

Sat 9

Crewe Alexandra

H

EFL1

15:00

Fri 15

Bolton Wanderers

H

EFL1

15:00

Mon 18

Shrewsbury Town

A

EFL1

15:00

Sat 23

Burton Albion

H

EFL1

15:00

Sat 30

Oxford United

A

EFL1

15:00

*won 4-3 on penalties

28

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

USED SUBS Gardner

Smith

Seaman

Barlow

Cukur

Bostock, Bogle, John

P

GD

PTS

Gardner

Bostock

E Williams

Barlow

Bogle

Horton, Greaves , Cukur

1 Plymouth

14

13

29

Gardner

Bostock

Galbraith

Barlow

Cukur

Bogle, E Williams, Horton

2 Sunderland

12

12

28

Gardner

Bostock

Galbraith

Barlow

Cukur

John, Bogle, Horton

3 Wycombe

13

8

27

Galbraith

Bostock

Seaman

Rowe

Cukur

Horton, Smith, Gardner

4 Wigan

12

13

25

Smith

Greaves

Gardner

Barlow

E Williams

Seaman, Rowe, Harrison

5 Rotherham

13

10

24

Smith

Bostock

Galbraith

Rowe

Seaman

Cukur, Barlow

6 MK Dons

13

6

22

7 Burton

14

-1

22

8 Oxford Utd

13

5

21

9 Sheff Wed

13

2

20

10 Accrington

13

-6

19

Smith

Bostock

Dodoo

Vilca

Hiwula

Knoyle, Gardner, Greaves

Smith

Galbraith

Dodoo

Seaman

Hiwula

Vilca, Gardner, Bostock

Smith

Galbraith

Dodoo

Vilca

Hiwula

Cukur, Seaman

Gardner

Barlow

Dodoo2

Cukur

Hiwula

Vilca , Galbraith, Rowe

Smith

Galbraith

Dodoo

Cukur

Hiwula

Vilca, Barlow

11 Bolton

14

-3

18

Smith

Gardner

Dodoo

Cukur

Hiwula

Vilca, Olowu, Barlow

12 Cheltenham

13

-6

18

13 Ipswich

13

6

17

Bostock

Galbraith

Dodoo

Vilca

Hiwula

Barlow, Smith, Cukur

14 Wimbledon

13

-1

17

Bostock

Vilca

Dodoo

Cukur

Hiwula

Galbraith, Smith, Taylor

15 Lincoln City

13

-1

15

Bostock

Galbraith

Dodoo

Cukur

Hiwula

Smith, Olowu, Barlow

16 Cambridge

12

-2

15

17 Portsmouth

13

-3

15

18 Morecambe

13

-1

14

19 Gillingham

14

-6

14

20 Fleetwood

12

1

13

21 Shrewsbury

14

-10

11

22 Charlton

13

-8

9

23 Crewe

13

-13

8

24 Doncaster

12

-15

7

ROVERS ROLL-CALL 21/22

DRFC

A

G

A

G

01 Jones

3

0

20

0

02 Knoyle

14(1)

0

15

0

04 Anderson

11

0

139

8

05 Olowu

2(2)

0

4

0

06 Williams, R

15

0

15

0

07 Bogle

1(3)

0

21

2

08 Close

15

0

15

0

09 Okenabirhie

0

0

52

16

10 Rowe

13(2)

3

159

34

11 Taylor

(1)

0

65

10

12 Dahlberg

13

0

13

0

14 Smith

8(4)

0

12

0

15 Bostock

10(2)

0

30

0

16 Barlow

6(5)

0

11

0

17 Hiwula

9

1

9

1

18 Williams, E

2(1)

0

20

0

19 Seaman

6(2)

1

8

1

20 Dodoo

9

2

9

2

21 Cukur

9(4)

1

13

1

22 Galbraith

9(2)

0

11

0

23 Gardner

7(3)

0

10

0

24 John

4(2)

0

65

5

25 Vilca

4(4)

0

8

0

27 Greaves

1(2)

0

15

0

28 Horton

4(4)

0

21

0

29 Hasani

0

0

5

0

30 Blythe

1

0

2

0

31 Ravenhill

0

0

2

0

32 Bottomley

0

0

0

0

33 Harrison

(1)

0

1

0

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

29

Images: Heather King

COMMUNITY NEWS

EFL KIDS CUP A SUCCESS! THE CLUB DONCASTER FOUNDATION HOSTED THE EFL KIDS CUP TOURNAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019 WITH MORE THAN 20 SCHOOLS TAKING PART ACROSS THE DAY.

The cup was split into two mini tournaments with a morning and afternoon session. Two winners were crowned with an overall final due to be played at the Keepmoat Stadium in December.

A spectacular overhead kick secured Travis St Lawrence’s place in the final, but they fell short against a clinical St Peter’s.

Shaw Wood were 1-0 victors over Airmyn in the final of the afternoon tournament and will now meet St Peter’s in the grand final which will be played ahead of a Doncaster Rovers league match in December.

Sport development officer Kelly JacksonPowell said: “This is the first time we’ve been able to host a tournament like this since the pandemic started and it’s been brilliant to see so many schools getting involved.

“Some of the teams travelled from Goole,

30

doncasterroversfc.co.uk

Selby and Retford which just shows how popular these kinds of events are for primary schools.

“All of the teams showed fantastic sportsmanship and the standard of football was really good too. Congratulations go to champions Shaw Wood and St Peter's and we look forward to seeing them in the final at the Keepmoat Stadium in December.”

Rovers defender Kyle Knoyle went along to the tournament after training to meet some of the teams involved.

He added: “It’s great to see these young players getting the chance to come back and play football again after a long break because of COVID. “I’ve just been told that the finalists will be playing in the Keepmoat Stadium so that will be brilliant for them.”

Football is a game of many opinions, but there is one that we must all share. There is no place for discrimination in our game. If you do not agree, then you are not welcome.

If you see or hear discrimination in this stadium, please report it to the nearest steward or via the Kick it Out App. Because we are all #TogetherAgainstDiscrimination Download the Kick it Out app for free from your app store.

EFL.com

DONCASTER ROVERS

CHELTENHAM TOWN

1 Louis JONES

1 Owen EVANS

2 Kyle KNOYLE

2 Seàn LONG

4 Tom ANDERSON

3 Chris HUSSEY

5 Joseph OLOWU

4 Mattie POLLOCK

6 Roshaun WILLIAMS

5 Charlie RAGLAN

7 Omar BOGLE

6 Lewis FREESTONE

8 Ben CLOSE

7 Conor THOMAS

9 Fejiri OKENABIRHIE

8 Liam SERCOMBE

10 Tommy ROWE

9 Kyle VASSELL

11 Jon TAYLOR

10 Alfie MAY

12 Pontus DAHLBERG

11 Ellis CHAPMAN

14 Matt SMITH

14 Andy WILLIAMS

15 John BOSTOCK

15 Will BOYLE

16 Aidan BARLOW

16 Callum WRIGHT

17 Jordy HIWULA

17 Matty BLAIR

18 Ed WILLIAMS

18 Taylor PERRY

19 Charlie SEAMAN

19 George LLOYD

20 Joe DODOO

20 Scott FLINDERS

21 Tiago CUKUR

21 Kyle JOSEPH

22 Ethan GALBRAITH

22 Max HARRIS

23 Dan GARDNER

23 Elliot BONDS

24 Cameron JOHN

24 Grant HORTON

25 Rodrigo VILCA

25 Callum EBANKS

27 AJ GREAVES

26 Dylan BARKERS

28 Brandon HORTON

27 Christian NORTON

29 Lirak HASANI

28 Dan CROWLEY

OFFICIALS REFEREE: Neil Hair ASSISTANTS: Daniel Woodward Alan Clayton FOURTH OFFICIAL: Conor Brown

NEXT HERE

CAMBRIDGE UNITED

Tuesday 26th October KO: 7.45pm Sky Bet League One

30 Ben BLYTHE 31 Liam RAVENHILL 32 Ben BOTTOMLEY

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 and 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.

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, regardless of 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 EFL) 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 stadium and prosecution. Anybody who appears to be under the age of 21 will be asked for ID. We appreciate supporters’ co-operation.