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Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: Mr1Croft on June 07, 2013, 01:23:34 pm

Title: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: Mr1Croft on June 07, 2013, 01:23:34 pm
Just came across this on Youtube of the 1998 documentary about DRFC's demise and Halifax's rise. Well worth a watch and brings a lot of memories back...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u70gcbdYEGY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u70gcbdYEGY)
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: MrFrost on June 07, 2013, 01:42:03 pm
Does anyone know where I can find the documentary Channel 5 did around the same time?
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: 1879Rovers on June 07, 2013, 02:57:31 pm
For those under the age of 20 who whinge and whine, look at what us older fans had to put up with.

I have just sat and watched it for the first time. As good as it has been in the past ten years, watching that still makes me feel sick and want to cry.

Looking back, it is unbelievable that is was allowed to happen at a Football League club. I left Belle Vue on the final day against Colchester and I honestly thought I would never see Doncaster Rovers play again. Thank god for John Ryan.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: RobTheRover on June 07, 2013, 03:00:26 pm
For those under the age of 20 who whinge and whine, look at what us older fans had to put up with.

I have just sat and watched it for the first time. As good as it has been in the past ten years, watching that still makes me feel sick and want to cry.

Looking back, it is unbelievable that is was allowed to happen at a Football League club. I left Belle Vue on the final day against Colchester and I honestly thought I would never see Doncaster Rovers play again. Thank god for John Ryan.

Spot on.

After that Colchester match ended, and we all started to leave the on-pitch protest, me and my mate climbed over the railings onto the old condemned Town End, and stood in the spots where our Dads' had first brought us to see the Rovers as nippers.  I promised myself no tears that day, and I failed.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: bradford exile on June 07, 2013, 03:18:28 pm
Mr Frost

Check your pm's mate

Regards

Ray
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: Ldr on June 07, 2013, 03:31:51 pm
Ray, can I check my pm too? I was in the c5 one
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: boro_rover on June 07, 2013, 05:07:24 pm
I remember as a young lad being there on the last day, being part of the "funeral procession" with my old man. I was 10 at the time and disnt understand quite how bad it was. I remember laughing at my dad crying at the end. I thought it was just because we had been relegated.
I rember him saying we might not have a club to follow next year son. Then jr came to the  fore amd saved the day, by god am I thankful now.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: not on facebook on June 07, 2013, 05:36:56 pm
Anyone recall the 3 donny lads Who ran onto BV pitch at half time vs brighton,and sat down in centre circle?
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: boro_rover on June 07, 2013, 05:42:35 pm
Anyone recall the 3 donny lads Who ran onto BV pitch at half time vs brighton,and sat down in centre circle?
I do, did they put tacks on the pitch to try get the game off as well?
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: RedJ on June 07, 2013, 05:56:47 pm
Who was it that chained themselves to the goal at one stage?
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: BobG on June 08, 2013, 12:16:43 am
That was our Geography teaching friend Red. I'll let him identify himself if he wants to. Oh. He plays in a band too. And he goes to Wishbone Ash concerts. Good man!

As for the 3 guys in the middle, I can't for the life of me remember their names right now. But I knew them all. The first one on might have been called Smith?

The tin tacks should have worked. Publicity was the only thing the club and the supporters had left. I wish I could have found out who it was that decided to ignore the risk.

BobG
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: not on facebook on June 08, 2013, 06:00:18 am
Anyone recall the 3 donny lads Who ran onto BV pitch at half time vs brighton,and sat down in centre circle?
I do, did they put tacks on the pitch to try get the game off as well?

No no tacks on the pitch.the idea was to get into the centre circle and hope rest Of the BV crowd would follow suit.

Brighton had done the the exact same week before at
Their home game and got massive press coverage over
It.

The ref Asked the donny lads ...if you move off the centre spot Now he would not report the issue to FA and DRFC would not lose any points...

...too late for that ref as rovers are allready relegated to conference was answer.

The brighton CF Then approached the donny lads and
Said....i feal sorry for Your Club and we had a pitch at goldstone ground last week,only difference Been There was 100s on are pitch,good luck lads.

This is When SYP came bouncing Across,to which one donny lad Flicked a coin with the ref in centre circle via the gesture

Should we Stay or go

And ref called it correctly
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: nightporter on June 08, 2013, 10:55:14 am
Took me ages to read this thread. Every time I tried i got side tracked looking at Jamie Lee Curtis's tits.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: les@donr on June 08, 2013, 11:37:30 pm
I wonder if Miles is attending Rovers games. It was very sad to see him lose his position at the club.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: VivaRovers on June 09, 2013, 12:38:36 am
Anyone recall the 3 donny lads Who ran onto BV pitch at half time vs brighton,and sat down in centre circle?
I do, did they put tacks on the pitch to try get the game off as well?

No no tacks on the pitch.the idea was to get into the centre circle and hope rest Of the BV crowd would follow suit.

Brighton had done the the exact same week before at
Their home game and got massive press coverage over
It.

The ref Asked the donny lads ...if you move off the centre spot Now he would not report the issue to FA and DRFC would not lose any points...

...too late for that ref as rovers are allready relegated to conference was answer.

The brighton CF Then approached the donny lads and
Said....i feal sorry for Your Club and we had a pitch at goldstone ground last week,only difference Been There was 100s on are pitch,good luck lads.

This is When SYP came bouncing Across,to which one donny lad Flicked a coin with the ref in centre circle via the gesture

Should we Stay or go

And ref called it correctly

Good story that Oslo... only it was against Hull not Brighton... and Rovers had not yet been relegated at that stage... and there wasn't three lads, just one lad initially (the Mr Smith identified by BobG), joined by another (Tisso), and then joined en masse by more from the Pop Side... and that conversation didn't take place... nor did the coin flicking. Still, good story.

Mind, the bit about everyone's favourite alt rock star turned geography teacher chaining himself to the posts is true.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: the vicar on June 09, 2013, 08:24:42 am
I wonder if Miles is attending Rovers games. It was very sad to see him lose his position at the club.
I was talking to miles and richard haley at brentford so yes is the answer
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: 1879Rovers on June 09, 2013, 09:23:30 am
For those under the age of 20 who whinge and whine, look at what us older fans had to put up with.

I have just sat and watched it for the first time. As good as it has been in the past ten years, watching that still makes me feel sick and want to cry.

Looking back, it is unbelievable that is was allowed to happen at a Football League club. I left Belle Vue on the final day against Colchester and I honestly thought I would never see Doncaster Rovers play again. Thank god for John Ryan.

Spot on.

After that Colchester match ended, and we all started to leave the on-pitch protest, me and my mate climbed over the railings onto the old condemned Town End, and stood in the spots where our Dads' had first brought us to see the Rovers as nippers.  I promised myself no tears that day, and I failed.

I stood on the Town End or went in the cowshed when I first started going. I used to go right behind the goal and still remember vividly Ian Nimmo's goal that sent us up in 1981. I then stood against the wall near the little three wheel blue noddy cars (whatever happened to those?) on the pop side.

I went on the main stand side after first the Town end went and then the pop side was knocked down.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: not on facebook on June 09, 2013, 10:05:10 am
Anyone recall the 3 donny lads Who ran onto BV pitch at half time vs brighton,and sat down in centre circle?
I do, did they put tacks on the pitch to try get the game off as well?

No no tacks on the pitch.the idea was to get into the centre circle and hope rest Of the BV crowd would follow suit.

Brighton had done the the exact same week before at
Their home game and got massive press coverage over
It.

The ref Asked the donny lads ...if you move off the centre spot Now he would not report the issue to FA and DRFC would not lose any points...

...too late for that ref as rovers are allready relegated to conference was answer.

The brighton CF Then approached the donny lads and
Said....i feal sorry for Your Club and we had a pitch at goldstone ground last week,only difference Been There was 100s on are pitch,good luck lads.

This is When SYP came bouncing Across,to which one donny lad Flicked a coin with the ref in centre circle via the gesture

Should we Stay or go

And ref called it correctly

Good story that Oslo... only it was against Hull not Brighton... and Rovers had not yet been relegated at that stage... and there wasn't three lads, just one lad initially (the Mr Smith identified by BobG), joined by another (Tisso), and then joined en masse by more from the Pop Side... and that conversation didn't take place... nor did the coin flicking. Still, good story.

Mind, the bit about everyone's favourite alt rock star turned geography teacher chaining himself to the posts is true.

It was against brighton fella for sure,and if i was playing poker i go all in with me chips.

The said lads were all from cantley

MT,GW and ME
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: VivaRovers on June 09, 2013, 10:43:01 am
Well unless there was a pitch invasion against Brighton too... http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Protest+at+Doncaster.-a060649250
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: boro_rover on June 09, 2013, 10:48:09 am
I wonder if Miles is attending Rovers games. It was very sad to see him lose his position at the club.
I was talking to miles and richard haley at brentford so yes is the answer
I can vouch for this as well, Miles is my dad. I begged him not to go to Brentford because he had not seen us win all season.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: BobG on June 09, 2013, 11:01:35 am
The Brighton home game was quite early in the season. It was the first time that there was a concerted attack on Firestarter. TBH, it was led by them. It was after that match that my Dad and I decided to see if we could do something about it. I set up my website immediately after that game.

Hull City at home, which i think we actually won (!) - they were a shit team with owner problems of their own at the time - was noticeable for a pitch invasion. The last game, Colchester, might have had an invasion too. I can't remember that one for sure now.

The abuse on that day of the Brighton home match was so vitriolic that FS was, by the cops, advised to leave the ground. I'm not sure he ever came back on a match day tbh.

BobG
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: RedRover45 on June 09, 2013, 11:07:46 am
If I remember correctly the Brighton game marked the only game where Weavers fat neighbour Smith played in goal for us. He was allegedly a Sunday league player and he was as mobile as a snowman.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: RobTheRover on June 09, 2013, 11:12:09 am
The Brighton home game was quite early in the season. It was the first time that there was a concerted attack on Firestarter. TBH, it was led by them. It was after that match that my Dad and I decided to see if we could do something about it. I set up my website immediately after that game.

Hull City at home, which i think we actually won (!) - they were a shit team with owner problems of their own at the time - was noticeable for a pitch invasion. The last game, Colchester, might have had an invasion too. I can't remember that one for sure now.

The abuse on that day of the Brighton home match was so vitriolic that FS was, by the cops, advised to leave the ground. I'm not sure he ever came back on a match day tbh.

BobG

There were 3 pitch invasions at the Colchester game, Bob.  We were handing out leaflets to the Colchester fans on the Rosso end and although initially quite hostile (didnt understand why we were on the pitch) soon began to applaud the Rovers fans and many joined in with the protest in front of the main stand at the end.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: BobG on June 09, 2013, 11:16:33 am
Thank you Rob. Not surprising really! Was it Colchester or Hull when AB chained himself to the Town end goalpost? Top man AB.

BobG
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: dickos1 on June 09, 2013, 11:26:35 am
Remarkable when you look where ourselves, Brighton and hull are plying their trades now..
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: RobTheRover on June 09, 2013, 12:37:57 pm
Peaks and troughs, mate.  Peaks and troughs.  Look at Pompey, Port Vale (although on their way back), and Plymouth as the opposite.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: not on facebook on June 09, 2013, 02:12:11 pm
Well unless there was a pitch invasion against Brighton too... http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Protest+at+Doncaster.-a060649250

The one against brighton at BV iam sure was that "fans United game"

Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: VivaRovers on June 09, 2013, 05:13:10 pm
Thank you Rob. Not surprising really! Was it Colchester or Hull when AB chained himself to the Town end goalpost? Top man AB.

BobG

That was Hull too Bob... whilst Matt was in the centre spot. I wrote it up for the fanzine the other year; http://thetwounfortunates.com/hopeless-football-league-teams-7-doncaster-rovers-1997-98/
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: not on facebook on June 09, 2013, 05:29:18 pm
If I remember correctly the Brighton game marked the only game where Weavers fat neighbour Smith played in goal for us. He was allegedly a Sunday league player and he was as mobile as a snowman.

Thats the game iam on about as the salad swerver Of a rovers goal keeper fell onto the back Of his net,he could not Get up quick enough to prevent the brighton
Player from hitting the back Of rovers ONION bag.

It was bloody painfull watching the rovers lard Arsè trying to roll Get up and back into play.

Never seen Owt like it from a footballer,Well i have When playing for likes Of paddock pub in donny sunday league ffs
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: 1879Rovers on June 09, 2013, 08:21:17 pm
Remarkable when you look where ourselves, Brighton and hull are plying their trades now..

I think the bottom five the season we went down were, Swansea, Cardiff, Hull, Brighton and Rovers.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: BobG on June 09, 2013, 10:47:41 pm
You ever speak to AB and Matt these days Glen? If you do, please give them my very best? Top blokes those two.

BobG
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: roversdude on June 10, 2013, 05:36:40 pm
Just watched this in poor quality on you tube, can remember couldn't stand Jamie Paterson when he played against us, different story when he played for us
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: les@donr on June 11, 2013, 05:47:14 am
I wonder if Miles is attending Rovers games. It was very sad to see him lose his position at the club.
I was talking to miles and richard haley at brentford so yes is the answer

Thanks The Vicar for the update. Good to hear Mike is still around.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: les@donr on June 11, 2013, 05:51:24 am
I wonder if Miles is attending Rovers games. It was very sad to see him lose his position at the club.
I was talking to miles and richard haley at brentford so yes is the answer
I can vouch for this as well, Miles is my dad. I begged him not to go to Brentford because he had not seen us win all season.

Please give your dad my best regards. We used to chat regularly in the Main Stand at BV. He is a real gentleman.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: VivaRovers on June 11, 2013, 11:15:26 am
You ever speak to AB and Matt these days Glen? If you do, please give them my very best? Top blokes those two.

BobG

Yes Bob, both still involved with the R'sonists, just getting set for our 16th jaunt to WorldNET
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: MrFrost on June 12, 2013, 08:34:44 pm
Just watched the Channel 5 documentary.
Jesus, how close were we to getting Anton Johnson as chairman.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: BobG on June 13, 2013, 11:39:15 pm
At the time even he would have been better than the then incumbent. God. I would actually have been happy if AJ had taken over!

Would have simply prolonged our death agony though.

BobG
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: RedJ on June 14, 2013, 02:48:14 am
I wonder though if Uncle Ken hadn't turned out to be such an all round Kitson would we have experienced anything even remotely like the last decade or so?

That always crosses my mind when he crops up.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: Champagne Super Rovers on June 14, 2013, 09:40:15 am
Just watched the Trading Places programme and can't believe how far we have come since those days.  I shed no tears at the Colchester game.  In a way it was like a release from what we had had to endure over the previous 18 months.  I came away thinking that it would be the last time I would visit Belle Vue and that I would have to watch my football at Armthorpe or Brodsworth Welfares (no disrespect to them). 

The most emotional moment came for me when we played our first home game in the conference.  Can't remember who against but it was a Tuesday night and I think we lost 1-0 but it didn't matter.  We still had a team to support.  Since then it's been fantastic 4 promotions, Cardiff and Wembley finals and some of the best football I've seen in over 40 years watching the Rovers.  But I'll never forget that feeling I had on a Tuesday night in August 1998 when I knew we had our club back and no matter what results are like on the pitch, whist ever there is a club to support, I'll be there.  RTID
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: MrFrost on June 14, 2013, 09:47:34 am
Just watched the Trading Places programme and can't believe how far we have come since those days.  I shed no tears at the Colchester game.  In a way it was like a release from what we had had to endure over the previous 18 months.  I came away thinking that it would be the last time I would visit Belle Vue and that I would have to watch my football at Armthorpe or Brodsworth Welfares (no disrespect to them). 

The most emotional moment came for me when we played our first home game in the conference.  Can't remember who against but it was a Tuesday night and I think we lost 1-0 but it didn't matter.  We still had a team to support.  Since then it's been fantastic 4 promotions, Cardiff and Wembley finals and some of the best football I've seen in over 40 years watching the Rovers.  But I'll never forget that feeling I had on a Tuesday night in August 1998 when I knew we had our club back and no matter what results are like on the pitch, whist ever there is a club to support, I'll be there.  RTID

Was Southport. Can remember it well.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: The L J Monk on June 14, 2013, 09:57:46 am
Was Southport. Can remember it well.

What were ticket sales like?
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: MrFrost on June 14, 2013, 10:07:10 am
Was Southport. Can remember it well.

What were ticket sales like?

If I remember correctly, the attendance was 3663.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: Rosso Exile Deux on June 14, 2013, 10:10:07 am
I'm with Champagne. Leaving the Colchester game was in my mind the last time I'd ever see a Rovers team. So a packed BV vs Southport was stunning and I like many others was close to blubbing. Not sure I've ever known so many fans so happy about a game we lost.     

PS was that nev's only home appearance ?
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: not on facebook on June 14, 2013, 07:06:47 pm
Got a great picture Of the 1st ever goal scored at BV by rovers in conference.

It was a penalty at the cowsheds end,think it was against kiddyminster?

Cant recall Who took the pen and if rovers Won.

Picture is Of the ball hitting the back Of the onion bag with pic taken side on from mainstand terracce in line with six yard box.

Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: RedRover45 on June 14, 2013, 07:23:03 pm
Got a great picture Of the 1st ever goal scored at BV by rovers in conference.

It was a penalty at the cowsheds end,think it was against kiddyminster?

Cant recall Who took the pen and if rovers Won.

Picture is Of the ball hitting the back Of the onion bag with pic taken side on from mainstand terracce in line with six yard box.

If I remember correctly, it was the equaliser in a 1-1 draw and was scored by Shaun Goodwin ?


Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: Ldr on June 14, 2013, 07:58:15 pm

Shaun Goodwin?
Got a great picture Of the 1st ever goal scored at BV by rovers in conference.

It was a penalty at the cowsheds end,think it was against kiddyminster?

Cant recall Who took the pen and if rovers Won.

Picture is Of the ball hitting the back Of the onion bag with pic taken side on from mainstand terracce in line with six yard box.


Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: not on facebook on June 14, 2013, 09:41:03 pm
Thats the player Shaun goodwin

Took the picture with one Of them Throw away fun things.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: BobG on June 14, 2013, 11:58:45 pm
I think you're right RedJ. What else would, could, have triggered that change of mind set, that change of Board, than Richardson and his idiocies? In the long run we benefited massively from him and his reign. It transformed the club. It motivated the supporters after decades of boredom in the doldrums. It motivated John Ryan who had walked away previously. It brought us friends in all sorts of unlikely but important places. It gave us goodwill. And it got the Council involved in a big way too.

I really don't think much, if any, of the last 10 years would have turned out the way they did without good old Firestarter and that asshole Gob on a Stick, Weaver. God. How I hated him.....

BobG

PS I still hate him too. And I use that word very, very rarely indeed.
Title: Re: 1998: Trading Places
Post by: Dagenham Rover on June 15, 2013, 12:12:19 am
and I would presume with the East Riding Sacks  sponsorship Rovers actually got nowt that actually involved real money   :ohmy: