Record breaking?

[Chris Black come back]

One for Dutch Uncle or The Red Baron, but this must be our best start (points) to the first ten games for decades.

I did think our 2002/03 season start was the marker but I see we only realised 20 points for the first ten league games then, bested by our current 21 points.

Any ideas gents?

[Dutch Uncle]

In Crete at the moment and don’t have access to all my data, but I am sure someone else can check before I am back.

[Chris Black come back]

I think last time we had a better start to a league season was 1981/82 when after ten league games (also in third tier) we had 22 points - and had completed a six game winning streak in league as part of this.

Could be wrong on this but if correct then this is our best start to a season for 37 years.

Note of caution that in 1981/82 we didn’t win a league game from 31 October until 13 February and eventually finished absolutely nowhere.

[eastender]

I think last time we had a better start to a league season was 1981/82 when after ten league games (also in third tier) we had 22 points - and had completed a six game winning streak in league as part of this.

Could be wrong on this but if correct then this is our best start to a season for 37 years.

Note of caution that in 1981/82 we didn’t win a league game from 31 October until 13 February and eventually finished absolutely nowhere.

1980/81 was the 6 game winning run. But that was after we had   W1  D1  L4  of our opening 6 games , making that 12 games into the season.

[The Red Baron]

I'll have a look at Dutch's figures (I have a copy). Off the top of my head I think the record-breaking 1946-47 season was our best start ever, W 9 L 1. However in recent times 81-82 was certainly one of our best.

[Dutch Uncle]

Thanks TRB

Off the top of my head 1968-69 and one in the early fifties (1953-54?) were also very very good, and I think there was a season in the 1920’s (ca 1927) which had either a fabulous start and disastrous finish, or vice versa. I also think the mid 1930’s had a season with great start. Maybe also 1969-70.

[Chris Black come back]

I think last time we had a better start to a league season was 1981/82 when after ten league games (also in third tier) we had 22 points - and had completed a six game winning streak in league as part of this.

Could be wrong on this but if correct then this is our best start to a season for 37 years.

Note of caution that in 1981/82 we didn’t win a league game from 31 October until 13 February and eventually finished absolutely nowhere.

1980/81 was the 6 game winning run. But that was after we had   W1  D1  L4  of our opening 6 games , making that 12 games into the season.

There were six game winning runs in both 1980/81 and 1981/82, both early in the season.

[BillyStubbsTears]

That 81/82 season was quite something. We had a superb first XI but the squad was paper thin. We lost Little, Warboys, Nimmo and Dowd to injury from the promotion winning side and Brenner was very open about the mistakes he made in replacing some of them.

I remember us beating Bristol Rovers 4-2 at home in late October, probably going into the top 2 or 3, and reading  Bremner in the Evening Post or Star on the Monday going apoplectic about the fact that we'd let in two late goals and how we had to be more demanding. He must have known how the wind was blowing, cos looking at the results from that season, we only won 1 of the next 15 league games. We didn't finish nowhere CBCB, we collapsed and only just stayed up.

[The Red Baron]

1969-70 was very similar to 1981-82. Great start, awful middle and then a few wins scraped at the end of the season to keep us safe.

[eastender]

I think last time we had a better start to a league season was 1981/82 when after ten league games (also in third tier) we had 22 points - and had completed a six game winning streak in league as part of this.

Could be wrong on this but if correct then this is our best start to a season for 37 years.

Note of caution that in 1981/82 we didn’t win a league game from 31 October until 13 February and eventually finished absolutely nowhere.

1980/81 was the 6 game winning run. But that was after we had   W1  D1  L4  of our opening 6 games , making that 12 games into the season.

There were six game winning runs in both 1980/81 and 1981/82, both early in the season.

In 1981/82 we only had a 4 win run early on , games 9  to 12.

[RedJ]

1969-70 was very similar to 1981-82. Great start, awful middle and then a few wins scraped at the end of the season to keep us safe.

2010/11 felt like that as well - even though in actual fact there was something like 6 points (a fairly comfortable gap anyway) in it by the time Boro tonked us at the Riverside.

[Chris Black come back]

I think last time we had a better start to a league season was 1981/82 when after ten league games (also in third tier) we had 22 points - and had completed a six game winning streak in league as part of this.

Could be wrong on this but if correct then this is our best start to a season for 37 years.

Note of caution that in 1981/82 we didn’t win a league game from 31 October until 13 February and eventually finished absolutely nowhere.

1980/81 was the 6 game winning run. But that was after we had   W1  D1  L4  of our opening 6 games , making that 12 games into the season.

There were six game winning runs in both 1980/81 and 1981/82, both early in the season.

In 1981/82 we only had a 4 win run early on , games 9  to 12.

Soccerbase has us winning six - Exeter, Wimbledon, Burnley, Brentford, Preston and Millwall. First game 11 September and last of those 7 October.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

That 81/82 season was quite something. We had a superb first XI but the squad was paper thin. We lost Little, Warboys, Nimmo and Dowd to injury from the promotion winning side and Brenner was very open about the mistakes he made in replacing some of them.

I remember us beating Bristol Rovers 4-2 at home in late October, probably going into the top 2 or 3, and reading  Bremner in the Evening Post or Star on the Monday going apoplectic about the fact that we'd let in two late goals and how we had to be more demanding. He must have known how the wind was blowing, cos looking at the results from that season, we only won 1 of the next 15 league games. We didn't finish nowhere CBCB, we collapsed and only just stayed up.

I think Bobby Gould played in that game if memory serves. We were playing some good stuff but those injuries particularly to Warboys cost us.

[Standanista]

That 81/82 season was quite something. We had a superb first XI but the squad was paper thin. We lost Little, Warboys, Nimmo and Dowd to injury from the promotion winning side and Brenner was very open about the mistakes he made in replacing some of them.

I remember us beating Bristol Rovers 4-2 at home in late October, probably going into the top 2 or 3, and reading  Bremner in the Evening Post or Star on the Monday going apoplectic about the fact that we'd let in two late goals and how we had to be more demanding. He must have known how the wind was blowing, cos looking at the results from that season, we only won 1 of the next 15 league games. We didn't finish nowhere CBCB, we collapsed and only just stayed up.

We lost Boyd as well, although Steve Humphries proved a decent backup. The writing was on the wall once we went into free fall for what would happen the following year.

[Dutch Uncle]

Back in rainy old Northern Ireland.

Rovers best starts after 10 games (ordered by points at 3 per game):

1946-47 Tier 3 W9 D0 L1; Points @ 2pg/3pg: 18/27
1953-54 Tier 2 W8 D1 L1; Points @ 2pg/3pg: 17/25
1968-69 Tier 4 W7 D2 L1; Points @ 2pg/3pg: 16/23
1981-82 Tier 3 W7 D1 L2; Points @ 2pg/3pg: 15/22
2018-19 Tier 3 W6 D3 L1; Points @ 2pg/3pg: 15/21
1949-50 Tier 3 W6 D3 L1; Points @ 2pg/3pg: 15/21
1980-81 Tier 4 W7 D0 L3; Points @ 2pg/3pg: 14/21

So equal 5th best start ever in Football League and Football Conference seasons 

[IDM]

Didn’t realise we were doing so well in 53/54, mind you I was living in Bagdad at the time

What happened the rest of that season, after such a good start.?

[Dutch Uncle]

Didn’t realise we were doing so well in 53/54, mind you I was living in Bagdad at the time

What happened the rest of that season, after such a good start.?

Did OK till Christmas then fell away badly and finished 12th.

[Not Now Kato]

Didn’t realise we were doing so well in 53/54, mind you I was living in Bagdad at the time

What happened the rest of that season, after such a good start.?

Strangely, given the mixed results for that season we were in the top 10 for most of it and the top 5 until we drew 2-2 at home against Everton in game 28.  It went completely downhill after that....
 

[RedJ]

Slow day at work?

[Not Now Kato]

Slow day at work?

Nope.  I have a spreadsheet with every result from the 1902-02 season right up to date.  Results, position in table, cups etc, so just a copy and paste job for the relevant season.   
 
Thought it might help show what went wrong that season.

[Dutch Uncle]

Slow day at work?

Nope.  I have a spreadsheet with every result from the 1902-02 season right up to date.  Results, position in table, cups etc, so just a copy and paste job for the relevant season.   
 
Thought it might help show what went wrong that season.

Did you import them from Statto.com? That site now seems dead unfortunately.

[Not Now Kato]

Slow day at work?

Nope.  I have a spreadsheet with every result from the 1902-02 season right up to date.  Results, position in table, cups etc, so just a copy and paste job for the relevant season.   
 
Thought it might help show what went wrong that season.

Did you import them from Statto.com? That site now seems dead unfortunately.

 
No, I built them up over time and with a little research, (a lot of research actually  ).  Keeping them current is the easy bit of course.  I'm sure they are not as complete or complex as your records though.

[Dutch Uncle]

Slow day at work?

Nope.  I have a spreadsheet with every result from the 1902-02 season right up to date.  Results, position in table, cups etc, so just a copy and paste job for the relevant season.   
 
Thought it might help show what went wrong that season.

Did you import them from Statto.com? That site now seems dead unfortunately.

 
No, I built them up over time and with a little research, (a lot of research actually  ).  Keeping them current is the easy bit of course.  I'm sure they are not as complete or complex as your records though.

I do have scorers, attendances, and where possible sources of data, and like you I built them up over a long time and keeping them going is easier than starting up. But I don't have position in table on a game by game basis - I used to go to Statto.com for that. Rothman's/Sky annuals would have that info back to 1972-73 (they didn't do it in their first 3 years).

By the way The Red Baron is the real expert for Rovers data in my eyes, and Bristol Red Rover has far more than me as well.

Always good to see others interested in Rovers data 

[Bristol Red Rover]

...and Bristol Red Rover has far more than me as well.

Always good to see others interested in Rovers data 

I doubt I do!

So a win tonight will be our League/Conf 3rd best start 

[RedJ]

bas**rds, the lot of you.

[The Red Baron]

Slow day at work?

Nope.  I have a spreadsheet with every result from the 1902-02 season right up to date.  Results, position in table, cups etc, so just a copy and paste job for the relevant season.   
 
Thought it might help show what went wrong that season.

NNK

I have a similar database of results but I don't have League positions. It's a great shame that Statto.com went down because it was a fantastic resource and was very useful when I was writing about the 1946-47 season for the programme a couple of years ago.

I do wonder whether us Rovers historians and stattos shouldn't try to pool our resources. Maybe form some kind of online group. Dutch and BRR have been working together with me on a couple of things recently. I am always happy to share my work because I know I won't be around forever!

[BillyStubbsTears]

TRB

Starting.com was wonderful. I assumed it went down because of copyright issues with fixtures?

It would be excellent if you folks could get your combined knowledge online. Except that it may result in me doing even less work than I already am.