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Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: RoversAlias on April 18, 2020, 06:14:53 pm

Title: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: RoversAlias on April 18, 2020, 06:14:53 pm
Hi folks,

Thought I'd try and get a bit of discussion going by asking who people feel fit the category of Cult Hero at DRFC over the years?

By that I mean, rather than the more celebrated players we go on about all the time like Sharp, Copps or Jeffrey, those players who have received less attention but who we love despite the fact they may not have achieved as much as the so-called club legends people usually laud.

One for me would be Mark Wilson, and discussing him the other day on here conjured up this idea in my head. Some others may be Dave Mulligan or Chris Brown perhaps from the past 15 years, but who would you say?

I'll probably run a Twitter vote or something next week with the most popular ones but for now I thought it would be good just to discuss the topic whilst there's no current football to watch!

 :scarf:
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Prez on April 18, 2020, 06:32:18 pm
Must be loads i guess, but ill put 5 forward....

David Jones, Alan Little, Gary Brabin, Johny Muir and Vinnie Brockie.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Filo on April 18, 2020, 06:35:06 pm
The Animal himself Alan Little
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: NickDRFC on April 18, 2020, 06:40:15 pm
I think Mark Wilson was underrated but I really think you’d struggle to make an argument for him as a cult hero. Surely one of the main requirements for being a cult hero is that they were well liked by the majority of the fan base which sadly you can’t really say for Willo.

I’ll go for Tim Ryan and Gary Brabin.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: NickDRFC on April 18, 2020, 06:42:14 pm
Oh and the Afro Goal Machine!
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Lifelong supporter on April 18, 2020, 06:43:15 pm
Albert Broadbent, Alan Little, Alan Warboys, Colin Douglas, Mike Jeffrey, Tommy Gaynor.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: bigbadjack on April 18, 2020, 07:29:10 pm
Colin Sutherland, Steve Nicol
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: StocktonRover on April 18, 2020, 07:31:40 pm
Snod’s - both of them.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: drfchound on April 18, 2020, 07:31:50 pm
Sulli
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: StocktonRover on April 18, 2020, 07:32:27 pm
Big Bren and Kitch’ with a bit of Ian miller thrown in for good measure.

Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Bentley Bullet on April 18, 2020, 07:42:00 pm
I wouldn't call him a hero but what about Mark Weaver's next-door neighbour, goalkeeper Dave Smith?

Oh CULT! Sorry.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: bradford exile on April 18, 2020, 07:46:24 pm
Andy Warrington Laurie Sheffield John Nicholson Stuart Robertson Brian Kelly for us oldies. Regards Ray
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Bentley Bullet on April 18, 2020, 07:46:57 pm
Alfie May
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: mushRTID on April 18, 2020, 07:55:56 pm
I think JJ Price was a bit of a cult hero.

disagree strongly on Mark Wilson.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: roversdude on April 18, 2020, 08:06:01 pm
Dennis
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Dutch Uncle on April 18, 2020, 08:15:38 pm
Alan Warboys and Rob Jones

Of the ones already mentioned I think Colin Douglas would be my pick, followed by Colin Sutherland

Some of those mentioned like the Snodins, Kitchen, Sheffield IMHO are in the OP's word too 'celebrated'
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Bentley Bullet on April 18, 2020, 08:18:01 pm
Alfie Hale
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: DRNaith on April 18, 2020, 08:23:17 pm
Simon Marples and Jamie Lawrence for me
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Draytonian III on April 18, 2020, 08:27:50 pm
Colin Douglas,Alan Little,Andy Warrington,Alfie May in that order
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Swifty62 on April 18, 2020, 08:34:09 pm
For me, Peter Kitchen, Brendan O'Callaghan, Stan Brookes,Ian miller, Joe Laidlaw
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Chris Black come back on April 18, 2020, 09:08:24 pm
Many of these already mentioned but for me Colin Sutherland, Jamie Paterson, Tim Ryan, John Doolan, Gary Brabin and JJ Price.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: RedRover45 on April 18, 2020, 09:16:22 pm
I'll throw in Mark Albrighton, Colin Douglas, Alan Little, Tim Ryan and JJ Price
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: pib on April 18, 2020, 09:18:36 pm
I was thinking of John Doolan too. First one to pop into my head. Paul Keegan is also a good shout, as is Dave Mulligan.

I’d also throw in Billy Paynter. Not here long enough to be called a legend, but for me was one of the great characters of that 2012/13 promotion season, and knocked in some handy goals too. I’d also put Iain Hume in a similar bracket.

Here’s a few other ideas: Mathieu Baudry, Andy Williams, Ricky Ravenhill, Neil Roberts.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: wilts rover on April 18, 2020, 09:24:55 pm
Easy for Dennis (Peacock), Joe Laidlaw, Willie Boyd, Sean Parish, Lee Warren, Mickey Norbury
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Robbdog on April 18, 2020, 09:34:49 pm
Dennis, animal, brabin, rob jones and joe laidlaw for me
On a separate note can a fellow old timer help me? I have a recollection of a cold Friday night, 7.30 kick off and beating Hereford 1-0 with the portly Laidlor turning on a sixpence and slotting into the bottom corner. But I have a vision of watching this from the Rosso end, could we watch from there in the 70’s?
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: tommy toes on April 18, 2020, 09:49:55 pm
Willie Nimmo.
Archie Irvine
Jimmy Kelly
Chris Rabjohn


Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Welling Rover on April 18, 2020, 09:55:30 pm
Tony Coleman
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Glyn_Wigley on April 18, 2020, 10:33:17 pm
Syd Bycroft
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Nudga on April 19, 2020, 08:38:54 am
Mark Rankine
Rufus Brevett
Mark Samways
Mike Jeffrey
Gary Brabin
Bruno Jones
Kev Noteman
Eddie Gormley
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Branton Rover on April 19, 2020, 08:49:46 am
we’ve had loads of cult heroes - probably the biggest Charlie Williams - think Football Focus ran a cult hero thing many years ago & Charlie came out as ours - he was interviewed for it - can anyone dig out the clip and attach it - greatly appreciated
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Branton Rover on April 19, 2020, 09:30:47 am
1920’s Tom Keetley
1930’s Dizzy Burton / Wilf ‘Cocky’ Shaw
1940’s Syd Bycroft
1950’s Charlie Williams
1960’s Albert ‘Yogi’ Broadbent / Tony Coleman
1970’s Big Brendan O’Callaghan
1980’s Alan ‘Animal’ Little / Colin Douglas
1990’s Gary Brabin
2000’s Jamie Patterson / Jason Price
2010’s Rob Jones
2020’s ???
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: colfromdonny on April 19, 2020, 09:47:11 am
For me, Peter Kitchen, Brendan O'Callaghan, Stan Brookes,Ian miller, Joe Laidlaw
and Terry Curran
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: ravenrover on April 19, 2020, 09:51:30 am
Bobbie Gilfillan, some games you loved him others you hated him for being too nesh. Scored lots of vital goals and a very underestimated player
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: selby on April 19, 2020, 10:25:22 am
  Mike Elwiss, the best striker we had in the early 70's and could have gone on to great things if injury had not intervened, mostly overlooked by our supporters of that time I feel, but our stand out player of ability  at that time.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: keith79 on April 19, 2020, 10:42:30 am
Maybe not now but in years to come people with talk about marquis as a cult hero.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: The Red Baron on April 19, 2020, 12:24:42 pm
Dennis, animal, brabin, rob jones and joe laidlaw for me
On a separate note can a fellow old timer help me? I have a recollection of a cold Friday night, 7.30 kick off and beating Hereford 1-0 with the portly Laidlor turning on a sixpence and slotting into the bottom corner. But I have a vision of watching this from the Rosso end, could we watch from there in the 70’s?

Yes, I remember watching the odd game, or part of it, from the Rosso. Usually when there were very few away fans, so Hereford on a Friday night would be a case in point.

Joe Laidlaw was also the subject of one of the greatest ever football chants:

"Five foot eight,
Overweight,
Joey Laidlaw's f**king great."
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: wilts rover on April 19, 2020, 02:41:13 pm
1920’s Tom Keetley
1930’s Dizzy Burton / Wilf ‘Cocky’ Shaw
1940’s Syd Bycroft
1950’s Charlie Williams
1960’s Albert ‘Yogi’ Broadbent / Tony Coleman
1970’s Big Brendan O’Callaghan
1980’s Alan ‘Animal’ Little / Colin Douglas
1990’s Gary Brabin
2000’s Jamie Patterson / Jason Price
2010’s Rob Jones
2020’s ???

C'mon Brants, how can you make a list like that with James Coppinger on it?
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: NickDRFC on April 19, 2020, 02:57:16 pm
1920’s Tom Keetley
1930’s Dizzy Burton / Wilf ‘Cocky’ Shaw
1940’s Syd Bycroft
1950’s Charlie Williams
1960’s Albert ‘Yogi’ Broadbent / Tony Coleman
1970’s Big Brendan O’Callaghan
1980’s Alan ‘Animal’ Little / Colin Douglas
1990’s Gary Brabin
2000’s Jamie Patterson / Jason Price
2010’s Rob Jones
2020’s ???

C'mon Brants, how can you make a list like that with James Coppinger on it?

I think anyone who thinks Copps should be labelled a cult hero doesn’t really understand what a cult hero is...
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: knockers on April 19, 2020, 03:08:54 pm
Dennis, Animal and Cramb for me. Really surprised nobody has mentioned Cramb yet as he was a bit of a lad!
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: DonnyNoel on April 19, 2020, 04:02:15 pm
Maybe not "heroes" but I'd chuck Hakan Hayrettin and Mirsad Bubalovic in there as cult figures still mentioned beyond their warranted merits.

And that's ignoring the buzz around the signing of Dominico Tedaldi....

PS - did Coventry ever pay us for Robert Betts?
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: VivaRovers on April 20, 2020, 12:42:52 am
1920’s Tom Keetley
1930’s Dizzy Burton / Wilf ‘Cocky’ Shaw
1940’s Syd Bycroft
1950’s Charlie Williams
1960’s Albert ‘Yogi’ Broadbent / Tony Coleman
1970’s Big Brendan O’Callaghan
1980’s Alan ‘Animal’ Little / Colin Douglas
1990’s Gary Brabin
2000’s Jamie Patterson / Jason Price
2010’s Rob Jones
2020’s ???

Bloody hell, how old are you!?!
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: IDM on April 20, 2020, 09:47:00 am
Paul Green.?

Sam Hird.?

Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: IDM on April 20, 2020, 09:49:40 am
we’ve had loads of cult heroes - probably the biggest Charlie Williams - think Football Focus ran a cult hero thing many years ago & Charlie came out as ours - he was interviewed for it - can anyone dig out the clip and attach it - greatly appreciated

After Charlie Williams died, there was supposed to be a minutes silence before the next game at Belle Vue.

This actually turned into a minute of applause, which if I remember rightly was spontaneous, and at the time was quite unusual.  Perhaps this may have been the first time that was done.?
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: ditch_drfc on April 20, 2020, 10:36:02 am
I'd put Gaz Roberts in cult hero status, was a big loss when he left us.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: keyser_soze on April 20, 2020, 12:05:26 pm
I think JJ Price is the epitomy. Limited talent but a big character who can do no wrong in fans eyes. Kind of the inverse Lewis Guy.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: NickDRFC on April 20, 2020, 12:30:52 pm
I think JJ Price is the epitomy. Limited talent but a big character who can do no wrong in fans eyes. Kind of the inverse Lewis Guy.

Except Lewis Guy didn’t have unlimited talent (apart from perhaps in training)
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Campsall rover on April 20, 2020, 01:36:21 pm
Paul Green.?

Sam Hird.?

Well Sam is from Campsall but cult hero? Think Sam would be very flattered with that status.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: RoversAlias on April 20, 2020, 04:01:29 pm
To be fair, I've had a few suggestions for Sam Hird on Twitter and here!

Overall we've had 74 nominations that I'm going to whittle down slightly to 64 for a vote - as well as 20 or so others who I would class more as Club Legends than Cult Heroes. Obviously there's no steadfast way to determine this one but I had a *loose* cut off of 200+ appearances and/or 30+ goals, but some over that I do feel fit the criteria (Tim Ryan, Dennis Peacock) have been included whereas some under that amount (Ian Snodin, Rob Jones) I would certainly class as celebrated Rovers legends.

I'll be running the vote on Twitter but I'll try and look into some kind of online form I could use for the forum, for those who don't use social media. Any ideas on that one are welcome!
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: RoverAtUni on April 20, 2020, 04:06:37 pm
Leo Fortune west?
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: keyser_soze on April 20, 2020, 04:46:27 pm
I think JJ Price is the epitomy. Limited talent but a big character who can do no wrong in fans eyes. Kind of the inverse Lewis Guy.

Except Lewis Guy didn’t have unlimited talent (apart from perhaps in training)

Fair! I kind of meant the aspect that he could do no wrong. Sean O'Driscoll was obviously convinced, by both.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: essexrover on April 20, 2020, 05:06:24 pm
I'd defo go for Animal, Brabin & Gaynor. Also Lee Warren, Rufus Brevett and for his name alone Jermaine McSporran !!! 😀 Lastly I'd Chuck in Willie Boyd & Billy Russell, a pair of Scots who were favourites of mine in the '80s.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Campsall rover on April 20, 2020, 05:59:04 pm
A cult hero to me has to be someone with a bit of an edge. A character in the team.
A leader, a winner, or someone who was a bit of a nutter ( in the nicest possible way )

So for me since watching Rovers from 1975 onwards, I would go for
Alan Little, Colin Douglas, Gary Brabin, Tim Ryan & Rob Jones.
There are others that could be considered of course but those 5 epitomise the cult hero phrase to me.
Many would put Colin Sutherland into that group also but to me he was just a bit too much of a nutter. :facepalm:
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: NickDRFC on April 20, 2020, 07:35:27 pm
A cult hero to me has to be someone with a bit of an edge. A character in the team.
A leader, a winner, or someone who was a bit of a nutter ( in the nicest possible way )

So for me since watching Rovers from 1975 onwards, I would go for
Alan Little, Colin Douglas, Gary Brabin, Tim Ryan & Rob Jones.
There are others that could be considered of course but those 5 epitomise the cult hero phrase to me.
Many would put Colin Sutherland into that group also but to me he was just a bit too much of a nutter. :facepalm:

I think a cult hero is a player whose popularity/status exceeded their ability or success on the pitch. Rob Jones captained a league one title winning side (and was player of the season I think) so I’d say he’s more of a club legend than a cult hero, but the others you’ve mentioned are fair enough.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: DonnyNoel on April 21, 2020, 09:24:47 am
Forgot to mention Mustapaha Dumbuya. World class for 90 minutes against Nathan Dyer one Saturday in the Championship and just genuinely seemed to be so humble and happy to be a footballer.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: ss1953 on April 21, 2020, 09:49:12 am
Like all the best ???? ever  surveys, the more recent players get remembered.

Mine would be Bobby Gilfillan  and Stanley Brookes
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: DonnyOsmond on April 21, 2020, 01:01:38 pm
Marc de Val <3
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: Silkscarf on April 21, 2020, 01:26:43 pm
Kieron Brady. Seemed like a really exciting player on the basis of about 3 games on loan when we were in quite poor shape.

Chris Black. Looked a decent enough player on the basis of that game at Oxford. Then he gave up football as he obviously thought 'Oh no, it's come to this, I'm playing for Donny effin Rovers'.

Tony Woodcock. Seemed to be the answer to our prayers at the time. He looked too good for us, and he was.
Title: Re: Cult Heroes of Rovers?
Post by: RoversAlias on April 21, 2020, 01:36:38 pm
Like all the best ???? ever  surveys, the more recent players get remembered.

Mine would be Bobby Gilfillan  and Stanley Brookes

Whilst I can't say it won't be a factor in the vote, I have tried to offset that recency bias in the selections for the 64 players with as even a split as possible between what I'd consider the modern era and the past.

When I last looked at the vote so far, the generation difference between Twitter and the forum was also quite apparent in that first vote too - Alan Little is last in one poll, first in the other.