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Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: Filo on September 30, 2025, 09:35:14 am

Title: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Filo on September 30, 2025, 09:35:14 am
As chosen by Chatgpt

Thought?

Position
Player
Why they deserve selection
Goalkeeper
Harry Gregg
Regarded as the greatest ever Rovers goalkeeper by fans. Even though his time at Doncaster was not long, his quality was outstanding. 
Right Back
Brian Makepeace
Long-serving, very reliable, club captain. Plenty of appearances and great consistency. 
Centre Back
John Nicholson
Strong defender, helped win the Fourth Division title in 1965-66. Hall of Fame material. 
Centre Back
Andy Butler
A modern legend, solid in defence, leadership and consistency. 
Left Back
Colin Douglas
“Duggie” has made nearly 500 appearances for the club; very much part of the fabric of Doncaster. 
Right Midfield / Wing
James Coppinger
Probably the top pick for midfield: creativity, loyalty and longevity. Club appearance record holder. 
Central Midfield
Richie Wellens
Key in successful periods, great passing and composure. 
Central Midfield
Mark Rankine
A steady performer over many years, consistently putting in strong performances. (If wanting someone older, multiple midfield legends could contest) 
Left Midfield / Wing
David Cotterill
Skillful winger, good delivery, important in better Rovers seasons. 
Striker
Billy Sharp
Prolific, emotional favourite, multiple spells. Always a handful for defenders. 
Striker
Alick Jeffrey / Brendan O’Callaghan / Clarrie Jordan** (picked one depending era)
If forced to pick one: Clarrie Jordan for his 42 league goals in one season and record for goals in consecutive league games.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: tommy toes on September 30, 2025, 10:07:30 am
Harry Gregg was here for 5 years.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: craigdrfc on September 30, 2025, 10:34:25 am
Interesting and very difficult subject I’ve always found.

For example, Ive always fimd it hard to ignore ‘favourite’ players over technically better ones.

My personal prime example would be the goalkeeper. Andy Rhodes. Absolutely loved him. Unlikely to be the best we have ever had, but I’d always struggle not to include because he was good, popular, and I loved him at the time.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: ctay on September 30, 2025, 10:48:45 am
Something debated a number of times with friends over the years. I started watching from the 80's, so would go with:
GK -Andy Rhodes
RB - Les Robinson
LB - Rufus Brevett
CB - Matt Mills
CB - Rob Jones
RM - James Coppinger
CM - Brian Stock
CM - Richie Wellens
LM - Michael McIndoe
CF - Billy Sharp
CF - Mike Jeffrey
Subs - Colin Douglas, Mark Rankine & Kevin Hulme
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: tommy toes on September 30, 2025, 11:02:43 am
GK Sully
RB Jimmy O’C
LB Glyn Snodin
CB Stuart Robertson
CB Joe Oluwu
RM Copps
LM Brian Usher
CM Ian Snodin
F Steve Briggs
F Kitch.
Some not the best, but personal favourites.

Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Draytonian III on September 30, 2025, 11:16:27 am
I once heard a story about Andy Rhodes laughing and joking after a defeat and saying along the lines of “ I see Barnsley won “ and one of his teammates pinning him against the wall.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: donnievic on September 30, 2025, 04:51:58 pm
Dougie never played left back
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: donnievic on September 30, 2025, 05:13:02 pm
Possibly not the best but number of favs in there but think I could pick a squad nowadays rather than team lol,

Gk Rhodes
LB G.Roberts
CB Mills
CB Jones
Rb O’Connor
Md K.brady
Md Redfearn
Md Wellens
Md coppinger
Fw cramb
Fw Mike Jeffery

Subs Sam Johnstone
Chris Swailes
L.Robinson
I.Snodin
Mcindoe
Stock
Sharp

And possibly another 10/15 players I could change on another day or forgot about
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: NickDRFC on September 30, 2025, 05:23:03 pm
I initially read the title as Rovers all time xL. Gary Brabin & John Doolan would definitely be in that.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: The Red Baron on September 30, 2025, 05:45:47 pm
Nothing against Billy,  but Peter Kitchen gets in every time.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: selby on September 30, 2025, 06:43:22 pm
 Woodcock?
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Draytonian III on September 30, 2025, 06:48:14 pm
Don’t think you can pick Tony Woodcock he was only here for a month, it’s about his time at Doncaster not about a player’s pre or past career from Rovers
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Nudga on September 30, 2025, 06:56:03 pm
Sullivan

O'Connor
Mills
Moore (prick)
Brevett

Coppinger
I Snodin
Wellens
McIndoe

Sharp
Jeffrey
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: donnievic on September 30, 2025, 07:24:37 pm
Don’t think you can pick Tony Woodcock he was only here for a month, it’s about his time at Doncaster not about a player’s pre or past career from Rovers
depends how good he was for us surely ??? I have beast in mine only played 4 or 5 games on loan before injury ruined his career
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: scawsby steve on September 30, 2025, 08:02:15 pm
If we're talking about the best Rovers X1 ever, it's got to include Harry Gregg, who was not only the best keeper in the country at that time, he was arguably the best in the world.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: selby on October 01, 2025, 05:26:38 pm
 Collin Booth?
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Ldr on October 01, 2025, 05:55:26 pm
Collin Booth?

Bobby Faulkner?
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Super Colin Cramb on October 01, 2025, 08:34:13 pm
I’m surprised Marquis hasn’t got in more teams. He was prolific for us and was loyal when we got relegated to League Two.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Donnybax on October 01, 2025, 08:35:52 pm
He wasn't with us when we got relegated to league 2
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Nudga on October 01, 2025, 09:35:31 pm
I’m surprised Marquis hasn’t got in more teams. He was prolific for us and was loyal when we got relegated to League Two.

Spent more time on his arse gobbin off af the referee or Alfie May.

It must kill him to see what career Alfie has had.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Dutch Uncle on October 02, 2025, 10:41:49 am
As a statto I find it strange that Rovers' all time leading goalscorer by a country mile (180 league goals in 231 appearances) never gets a mention in these threads.

Of course I know, why, I am one of the oldest on here and Tom Keetley was playing 25 years before I was born   :lol:
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Ldr on October 02, 2025, 11:21:31 am
As a statto I find it strange that Rovers' all time leading goalscorer by a country mile (180 league goals in 231 appearances) never gets a mention in these threads.

Of course I know, why, I am one of the oldest on here and Tom Keetley was playing 25 years before I was born   :lol:

Ahem

https://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=138517.0
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Dutch Uncle on October 02, 2025, 12:27:19 pm
Brilliant Ldr - thank you so much - well done you. I had totally forgotten about your excellent effort :thumbsup:

Am I then the second person in 14 years to mention him  :lol:
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Move DRFC on October 02, 2025, 12:49:28 pm
Not an all time 11 but the best players in terms of quality whilst at the club in the last 20 years or so would prob be:

Johnstone

O'Connor
Mills
Shackell
Roberts

Oster
Whiteman
Wellens

Coppinger
Sharp
Diouf

Subs:

Dieng
Jones
McIndoe
Stock
Green
Mason
Marquis
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: TonySoprano on October 02, 2025, 01:41:23 pm
Sully

Roberts
Mills
Jones
O'connor

Mcindoe
Bailey
Wellens
Copps

Sharp
Marquis
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Goole Rover on October 02, 2025, 02:02:56 pm
I’m surprised Marquis hasn’t got in more teams. He was prolific for us and was loyal when we got relegated to League Two.

Spent more time on his arse gobbin off af the referee or Alfie May.

It must kill him to see what career Alfie has had.
Well said you’ve hit the nail on the head. Thank goodness that a few of us appreciated Alfie. Bad management was his success. Thanks Darren I hope he bags a hat trick when you next meet.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: graingrover on October 02, 2025, 04:49:20 pm
Bert Tindill is in my eleven for sure !
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: i_ateallthepies on October 02, 2025, 06:06:55 pm
Rovers all time xl? I suspect none of us are qualified to give an authoritative answer to this since nobody has seen everyone who has played for us.  Then all we really have to go own would be what the stats say and Dutch Uncle and The Red Baron are perhaps by far the best qualified on here to answer it but I suspect we all would want to see some of our favourites in there and besides, the stats only tell part of the story.  Those of us old enough to have seen King Alick - even in his second coming - would say he should be there even though his stats due only to his horrendous bad luck would perhaps exclude him.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: JonWallsend on October 02, 2025, 09:08:27 pm
Just my opinion  but any all time Rovers XI, that doesn't include Ian Snodin can not be an all time XI.
Then again, I'm probably including Neil Redfearn and John Buckley, which dates me, and reinforces what other posters have alluded to that  your views will be somewhat impacted by the era you consider to be yours
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: scawsby steve on October 02, 2025, 09:36:51 pm
I’m surprised Marquis hasn’t got in more teams. He was prolific for us and was loyal when we got relegated to League Two.

Spent more time on his arse gobbin off af the referee or Alfie May.

It must kill him to see what career Alfie has had.

Yeah, 60 odd goals in 3 seasons is really shite.

Never mind though, we've got Hanlan and Olusanya now. They'd really show Marquis how to hit the back of the net.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Pancho Regan on October 02, 2025, 11:15:30 pm
Any reason we’ve got 2 threads running at the same time on the same subject?

Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Draytonian III on October 02, 2025, 11:46:10 pm
One thread is best XI and one is favourite XI, I haven’t done either of mine yet, but as a bit of clue on will feature Colin Douglas and one won’t.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: Nudga on October 03, 2025, 07:32:27 am
Any reason we’ve got 2 threads running at the same time on the same subject?



I did caption mine with favourite XI and not best XI.

You tend to see more of the mavericks, bad boys, hard men and crowd pleasers.

Scawsby Steve, I never said he was shite for us. Good goal record for us but my God, what an arsehole he was.
Title: Re: Rovers all time xl
Post by: River Don on October 03, 2025, 10:32:16 pm
Interesting none of these lists feature Paul Green, who I thought was such a consistent and creative midfielder and with the club a longtime.